Ba/Philadelphia Airport Lounge???
 

We will soon be traveling to LHR from PHL on Business Class tix.

In checking BA website, it seems to indicate a lounge at PHL but in checking PHL Terminal Maps, I don't see it!

Can anyone tell me whether BA has lounge in PHL, where it is located and if we can get in with Business Class tix?

Thank you in advance to anyone who responds.

BA operate Galleries First and Galleries Club lounges at PHL.

You have access to the Galleries Club lounge with a Club World ticket.

More details here; http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...-database.html

It's in Terminal A, airside in the west concourse. Decent lounge - far better than the horrid underground hobbit-hole it replaced.

Yes, your ClubWorld tickets will get you access, and a buffet dinner before boarding on the sleeper service.

As others have alreasy said yes there is a lounge you can use.

After checking in go up the escaltor to your left, through security and then turn left and it is about 20m down on your left.

It is lovely, a welcome respite from a frankly weird airport, and the staff are some of the nicest people in Philly. (no mean feat..)

I believe it, along with Brussels, was original prototypes for the new Galleries concept.

:confused: What about PHL strikes you as weird? It's a totally normal US airport.

My top ten concerns, in no real order

1. International arrivals and domestic connections are some of the worst I have ever experienced, anyplace, anytime, ever. Awful, even with Global Entry.

2. Even more so if one arrives in A and departs from F -- a remarkable walk.

3. The runway configuration is heavily predisposed towards exacerbating delays.

4. TSA have been some of the worst in the country (planting fake drugs on passengers, child porno scandal, retaliatory searches for liking the Dallas Cowboys, just google PHL Airport TSA scandal and take your pick, really).

5. US Airways sets the tone.

6. Luggage delivery makes the old days of BA's operations at LHR T1 seem swift.

7. Signage is misleading.

8. As is typical of the Northeast, the airport itself was built for a different era, and thus is cramped, tired and really rather dirty.

9. Philly attitude tends to grate.

10. Concessions are hugely overpriced and lacklustre (a bit of a concern given the lack of food at US Airways clubs and the withdrawal of BA open doors for golds).

PHL is my home airport, so I don't ever come in and connect, but in my 15 years of experience there, international arrivals is just fine. Even when I am not in the front of the plane, I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've had to wait more than 10 minutes to get through immigration. I just got Global Entry a few months ago and have used it twice so far...with no one in line ahead of me.

There is a shuttle bus, no need to walk. It is really far...which is why there is a bus.

True.

I have never been affected by any of this; have you? I get through security at PHL with very little fuss and no attitude from TSA (perhaps because I don't have one myself).

Not sure what this is supposed to mean. If you are not flying US, then you are nowhere near US personnel; they are all in B/C and F.

True.

Not sure what you mean by this, either. There is poor signage to the exits in the international arrivals baggage hall, but it shouldn't slow down even a new traveler for more than 3-4 minutes.

Partially true, with regard to the older terminals (A-East, B/C, D, and E). The international terminal A-West is just a few years old and very spacious; F is also newer and reasonably spacious and comfortable, especially for a commuter terminal.

Guess you haven't been to LHR, then. I have never experienced anything like the stunning rudeness of BAA staff there. No one in the US airport system can hold a candle.

Prices are exactly like every other airport in the US. There is nothing different or worse about PHL. There are a select few US airports with better restaurants, but in general, one is much like another.

The C onwards terminals at PHL used to be much worse, almost like a cross between a school locker room and a prison, they are vastly better than the used to be, even the layout with the new A gate is better than the miles of walking to the old one.
I usually look up the art displays to go an look at before I go to the lounge, I love the bird things as well.

• I have had bad experiences with the TSA at PHL, also MIA EWR LAS
• the signage could be better at the lifts in arrivals- if you get to the bottom of the lift and look for a push bar door on the left its a shortcut to outside
• the luggage delivery is slow but I think thats a function of getting off first
• I always walk outside to smoke for the D E F terminals but a shuttle bus does go past me
• "Phillytude" I visit 4-6 times a year so I probably dont notice it
  The place is a palace compared to the VS gates at EWR