Best lounge-LHR for elderly mum & me?
Jul 16, 2014, 5:55 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: BA Blue; AA Platinum; Marriott Gold
Posts: 75
Best lounge-LHR for elderly mum & me?
Friends, my first post following many months of learning a wealth of great info here. So thanks. I hope to be able to "give" not only "take" info on this Forum.
My 83 year young mum & I will arrive LHR T5 at 0935 after a long haul F flight from DFW in Oct and onward to BUD in CE from T3 at 2030.
Is our best option to head straight to Galleries First in T3 with our 10 hr + connection? (I requested a wheelchair, though Mum gets around short distances fine with a cane.) Ideally, would love views of action on the tarmac.
This is a very special trip - first BA First so any recommendations most appreciated.
(I have diligently studied the Maximizing the First experience thread, as well.)
Many thanks in advance,
Thomas
PS love BA, flew extensively to BUD via LHR back in the day; typically was in the cockpit for takeoff/landings numerous times and BA typically took us by private car to our onward connections. Also many Private tours of Concorde with Captain Leo Budd...all 30 years ago!
My 83 year young mum & I will arrive LHR T5 at 0935 after a long haul F flight from DFW in Oct and onward to BUD in CE from T3 at 2030.
Is our best option to head straight to Galleries First in T3 with our 10 hr + connection? (I requested a wheelchair, though Mum gets around short distances fine with a cane.) Ideally, would love views of action on the tarmac.
This is a very special trip - first BA First so any recommendations most appreciated.
(I have diligently studied the Maximizing the First experience thread, as well.)
Many thanks in advance,
Thomas
PS love BA, flew extensively to BUD via LHR back in the day; typically was in the cockpit for takeoff/landings numerous times and BA typically took us by private car to our onward connections. Also many Private tours of Concorde with Captain Leo Budd...all 30 years ago!
Jul 16, 2014, 7:24 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold, AF Gold, some hotels...
Posts: 547
Hi Thomas,
Welcome on this forum (by someone who has not been a member for that much longer than you!) and indeed I hope your experience with BA spanning all these years can bring some interesting comments and memories that will be interesting for us all!
What you have described is the most rationale trip, e.g. minimises walking for your mother. However with 11 hours of layover, you may quickly get bored, especially as the T3 lounge is not the most exciting, nor the best views for apron action. Here are a few suggestions, in no particular order (they all assume you are allowed to go landside, e.g. have the right to enter the UK, not just connect)
1. Exit at T5 rather than use connections to T3, and use the T5 arrivals lounge to have a shower and breakfast. It is open until 2pm so you have plenty of time. Then go to T3 later in the day by taxi.
2. Any reason why you want to have such a long layover in LHR? BA typically operates a mid-afternoon flight to BUD (2.35pm) still giving you plenty of time to enjoy LHR lounges, both T5 arrival and T3F departure.
3. A better view of the airport action can be found at the F lounge south in Terminal 5, or the club world south on the second floor of the same complex (rather than the Concorde Room for first class passengers, also in the same lounge complex). I do not think they will let you use it, despite the long layover, given you are due to depart from T3. So if you are not afraid of a bit of administrative complications, do the following: Book separate fully flexible CE trips from London that departs in the afternoon on that day from T5. Re-enter T5 after the arrivals lounge on these tickets and enjoy the action from the lounge. When you are ready to move to T3, get yourself escorted out of T5 (typically every hour), and make your way to T3 by taxi.
4. Obviously with 11 hrs layover, you would have time to go to London - given your mother can only cover short distances, I would not attempt the tube or Heathrow express but just book a car for the day, go and have lunch in town and come back for 3 or 4 pm into LHR, still plenty of time to enjoy the airport at T3.
Have a great trip!
Welcome on this forum (by someone who has not been a member for that much longer than you!) and indeed I hope your experience with BA spanning all these years can bring some interesting comments and memories that will be interesting for us all!
What you have described is the most rationale trip, e.g. minimises walking for your mother. However with 11 hours of layover, you may quickly get bored, especially as the T3 lounge is not the most exciting, nor the best views for apron action. Here are a few suggestions, in no particular order (they all assume you are allowed to go landside, e.g. have the right to enter the UK, not just connect)
1. Exit at T5 rather than use connections to T3, and use the T5 arrivals lounge to have a shower and breakfast. It is open until 2pm so you have plenty of time. Then go to T3 later in the day by taxi.
2. Any reason why you want to have such a long layover in LHR? BA typically operates a mid-afternoon flight to BUD (2.35pm) still giving you plenty of time to enjoy LHR lounges, both T5 arrival and T3F departure.
3. A better view of the airport action can be found at the F lounge south in Terminal 5, or the club world south on the second floor of the same complex (rather than the Concorde Room for first class passengers, also in the same lounge complex). I do not think they will let you use it, despite the long layover, given you are due to depart from T3. So if you are not afraid of a bit of administrative complications, do the following: Book separate fully flexible CE trips from London that departs in the afternoon on that day from T5. Re-enter T5 after the arrivals lounge on these tickets and enjoy the action from the lounge. When you are ready to move to T3, get yourself escorted out of T5 (typically every hour), and make your way to T3 by taxi.
4. Obviously with 11 hrs layover, you would have time to go to London - given your mother can only cover short distances, I would not attempt the tube or Heathrow express but just book a car for the day, go and have lunch in town and come back for 3 or 4 pm into LHR, still plenty of time to enjoy the airport at T3.
Have a great trip!
Jul 16, 2014, 8:16 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: BA Blue; AA Platinum; Marriott Gold
Posts: 75
Many thanks Gold77 for your kind welcome and most considerate reply!
Unfortunately, the 1435 flight is not available using Avios; however, I check daily.
The Arrivals lounge or visit to London are wonderful suggestions. (Afterall, London is my favorite city, thanks to the British people.)
Based on my reading, we would be unable to use the T5 Lounges, just as you also point out (we are ticketed DFW-BUD).
Many thanks again for the kind reply.
Unfortunately, the 1435 flight is not available using Avios; however, I check daily.
The Arrivals lounge or visit to London are wonderful suggestions. (Afterall, London is my favorite city, thanks to the British people.)
Based on my reading, we would be unable to use the T5 Lounges, just as you also point out (we are ticketed DFW-BUD).
Many thanks again for the kind reply.
Jul 16, 2014, 11:46 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: RTW
Posts: 677
As per the above reply, you haven't explained why you want to spend all day at LHR rather than connecting on an earlier flight? I'd certainly not recommend spending all day in the BA T3 lounge.
If you think your Mum will be full of energy, have a shower & relax in T5 arrivals and get a taxi to pick you up or take the LHR Express for a nice lunch in London (if by taxi, Knightsbridge has Harrods & plenty of lunch venues on the airport road or Kensington nearby has shops,museums.restaurants etc.).
If you haven't been there, call a Windsor taxi to pick you up (not a black cab!) for a wander around the town & castle or a Thames boat trip (or you could even take a taxi to Cliveden for lunch & the gardens if you want the continuing F experience). Hampton Court or Kew Gardens are also on the Heathrow side of London & nice if the sun is shining…
If on the other hand you feel that you & she might need to relax given that you'll be arriving in the early hours DFW time, book a day room in a LHR hotel. This forum has ideas how to get the Lastminute.com discounts at the T5 Sofitel, or if you really do want an airport view there's the Sheraton Skyline amongst others on the north side (but request a runway view!). There's a Hotel Hoppa bus to the latter.
I guess if it were me, I'd research the options and arrive with the relevant contact details so that I could make a late decision from the comfort of the BA Arrivals Lounge based on the day's weather and whether your Mum had enjoyed a good night's sleep on the flight.
Either way, wasting 10 hrs in the T3 lounge would be low on my list.
Have a great trip!
If you think your Mum will be full of energy, have a shower & relax in T5 arrivals and get a taxi to pick you up or take the LHR Express for a nice lunch in London (if by taxi, Knightsbridge has Harrods & plenty of lunch venues on the airport road or Kensington nearby has shops,museums.restaurants etc.).
If you haven't been there, call a Windsor taxi to pick you up (not a black cab!) for a wander around the town & castle or a Thames boat trip (or you could even take a taxi to Cliveden for lunch & the gardens if you want the continuing F experience). Hampton Court or Kew Gardens are also on the Heathrow side of London & nice if the sun is shining…
If on the other hand you feel that you & she might need to relax given that you'll be arriving in the early hours DFW time, book a day room in a LHR hotel. This forum has ideas how to get the Lastminute.com discounts at the T5 Sofitel, or if you really do want an airport view there's the Sheraton Skyline amongst others on the north side (but request a runway view!). There's a Hotel Hoppa bus to the latter.
I guess if it were me, I'd research the options and arrive with the relevant contact details so that I could make a late decision from the comfort of the BA Arrivals Lounge based on the day's weather and whether your Mum had enjoyed a good night's sleep on the flight.
Either way, wasting 10 hrs in the T3 lounge would be low on my list.
Have a great trip!
Jul 16, 2014, 11:59 pm
#5
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If no re-booking availabiliy - follow the advice above about leaving the airport.
Jul 17, 2014, 12:27 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: UK
Programs: I go wherever the content takes me.
Posts: 5,698
BA's lounges are quite nice but my own personal tolerance of them is about three hours. Any longer and I'd be climbing the walls with boredom.
If you don't want to take your mum into London, might I suggest a trip to Eton and/or Windsor? It's only a few miles away, and much more sedate with enough to keep you occupied for half a day.
Jul 17, 2014, 12:41 am
#7
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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welcome TCM1976JJC
Greetings to you and your mum. I've got a grandma who loves to fly, luckily she remains fully mobile, and prefers solo travel, I think I must cramp her style. Anyway welcome TCM1976JJC, welcome to Flyertalk and in particular to the British Airways board, and I hope you and mum will continue to post here. So let us know how it goes.
Personally, in your shoes, I would book a day room at the Sofitel in T5, it is connected to T5 internally with step free access and I believe the wheelchair assistants are willing to go over there. She can then have a quiet rest and use of the bathroom, while may be you go over to the Arrivals lounge for a bit, there's a Concorde Breakfast room there. Then about 2.5 (or so) hours before departure think about heading over to T3 via the Heathrow Express. Again it's step free all the way. You should get an hour in the T3 First Lounge there, there are some views in the dining area but also a lot of scaffolding!
Personally, in your shoes, I would book a day room at the Sofitel in T5, it is connected to T5 internally with step free access and I believe the wheelchair assistants are willing to go over there. She can then have a quiet rest and use of the bathroom, while may be you go over to the Arrivals lounge for a bit, there's a Concorde Breakfast room there. Then about 2.5 (or so) hours before departure think about heading over to T3 via the Heathrow Express. Again it's step free all the way. You should get an hour in the T3 First Lounge there, there are some views in the dining area but also a lot of scaffolding!
Jul 17, 2014, 2:44 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,797
I would leave the airport too.
On arrival, head to the arrivals lounge for breakfast/showers etc. then go into London or Windsor. Perhaps your mother would like to see the castle?
Back in T3, you can see the tarmac fairly well from the BA Galleries lounge.
On arrival, head to the arrivals lounge for breakfast/showers etc. then go into London or Windsor. Perhaps your mother would like to see the castle?
Back in T3, you can see the tarmac fairly well from the BA Galleries lounge.
Jul 17, 2014, 5:42 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: scotland/EDI
Programs: BAEC , M&M , VIRGIN FC , FLYING BLUE
Posts: 1,438
id go along with the suggestions to leave the airport
a trip to west London for a spot of window shopping and a late lunch or a trip to Windsor etc can be done quite leisurely in the time you have
kew gardens sounds like an excellent plan
a trip to west London for a spot of window shopping and a late lunch or a trip to Windsor etc can be done quite leisurely in the time you have
kew gardens sounds like an excellent plan
Jul 17, 2014, 5:37 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: BA Blue; AA Platinum; Marriott Gold
Posts: 75
Many thanks for the kind responses and the welcome. If the earlier flight does not open up with any Avios seats, y'all have shared many super ideas to make the time pass. Once again, thanks.
Jul 17, 2014, 6:46 pm
#11
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If heading to Windsor and Eton, I would recommend Gilbeys Wine Bar for a lovely lunch in Eton. I went there after a morning session of Olympics rowing and In many ways the lunch was more enjoyable than the rowing.