FrankIII

Hello forum members.

Fairly new to the forum.

First time poster.

I have a future flight with a 4 hour layover at LHR. I have never been. Does anyone have any recommendations for lounges at LHR?

I should have access to a variety of lounges at LHR.

I'll be flying Delta Business into LHR
Departing Alitalia Business from LHR (booked through Delta)

I also have access to: Admiral Club, United Club, Priority Pass (via AMEX Platinum), Lounge Club (Via Ritz-Carlton Card)

Thanks in advance to all respondents.

azimax

Sky team lounge no other choice as star alliance
Operates from different terminal

FrankIII

Thanks for the reply. I was curious if I would have any access to different terminals at LHR.

UAPremExecflyer

You can put a better foot forward.
You are arriving on DL into T4 or T3 (depending on point of origin). You are transferring to AZ which departs from T4.
I would suggest you look at this comprehensive thread from the DL forum that outlines connecting at LHR.
The LHR website also is informative and explains the T4>T4 transfer process as well as the T3>T4 process.

Winston3-4

LHR is very restrictive - pretty sure you're stuck with the terminal you're going out of, unless you want to exit secure area and then only if there is an arrivals lounge at that particular (arrival) terminal. Good news is that some of those lounges are in better shape than the T5 lounges, which see a LOT of traffic and are pretty threadbare. I thought BA Galleries in T5 seemed a little rundown last time I was there.

zkzkz

Where are the other posters' manners? Welcome to FT!

At Heathrow T1 and T2 are connected airside, T3 is connected landside to T1 and T2 but not airside. T4 and T5 are separate buildings you need to take a bus to get to -- actually two buses. The process takes about 20-30 minutes and then you have to go through security which can be very variable.

The above poster is was incorrect however, but has since edited his post. DL *probably* will land at T3 in which case you have two options:

1) You can follow the purple signs to "Flight Connections" which will bus you to an interchange point, then another bus to T4. Then you'll go through security and go to your new gate (or check in with AZ if you need to). This path will only give you access to the Skyteam departure lounge in T4. It'll take anywhere from 30min to an hour or so. You shouldn't need to clear UK immigration to do this.

2) If you have a passport or visa that allows you to enter the UK you can alternately choose to follow the "Arrivals" directions in T3. That will take you through UK immigration and the baggage claim area (Your bags should be checked through to Italy however). Landside there's the Delta Arrivals Lounge where you can get a shower and breakfast. Then you need to make your way to T4 yourself -- probably by taking the Tube one stop but there are several choices. The Tube isn't super frequent, I think it's about every 20 minutes, so you need to allot a reasonable amount of time and not cut it too fine. At T4 go through the regular entrance and security and you can use the Skyteam lounge in T4.

With 4 hours personally I would go landside and visit both lounges. But I'm more familiar with Heathrow transport options and how long it'll take. In a new airport I might be inclined to just follow the connection signage even with time to spare. If you do visit the Delta arrivals lounge you should leave it with plenty of time to get to T4 -- 90 minutes to 2 hours. Two hours gives you a little over an hour in each of the arrivals lounge and the Skyteam departure lounge. That's not exactly a luxurious relaxing visit to either.

http://news.delta.com/2014-12-09-Del...rrivals-Lounge
http://www.skyteam.com/en/Why-SkyTea...ndon-Heathrow/

Incidentally the PP lounge in T4 is the Skyteam lounge which your Alitalia boarding pass will already give you access to so no need to bust out the PP card.

If you land at T4 you similarly have two options as well, you can go landside and use the Yotel for an hour or head for connections which will send you to security and airside. The Yotel is interesting but not worth a detour unless you really need a 1-hour nap or just want to see it. The Skyteam lounge has showers and better food anyways.

wrp96

Actually it depends on where he is flying from (and when his flights are) which terminal the Delta flight will arrive at as Delta currently uses both T3 and T4.

obscure2k

Welcome to Flyertalk FrankIII
Please continue to follow this discussion in the Flyertalk UK Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Gagravarr

If you land in T3, another option is to go through security to enter the terminal at T3 (if questioned say you're there to use the pay lounge - that's a valid reason according to the signs up at flight connections). The No.1 Traveller Lounge is quite well regarded, and takes Priority Pass. Then, after a visit there, exit T3 following the purple Flight Connections route, take the bus over to T4, re-clear security there and then use the SkyTeam lounge

The No.1 Traveller Lounge in T3 is the 2nd or 3rd best Priority Pass lounge in Heathrow (opinions vary). The best is the United Club in T2 (really!), other close one is the Plaza Premium in T2. I don't believe you'd be able to access T2 on your itinerary - they have some special rules about pay lounges in T3 and long layovers, but I haven't seen anything about it applying to T2 yet

Andy33

Just an idle question. How do you get from an airside lounge at T3 to Flight Connections? Unless they've altered things since my last visit, Flight Connections is only visibly accessible to arriving passengers, who are strictly segregated from departing ones. I suppose you could try to go through the Flight Connections security point in the opposite direction to the main flow of people, but I've always thought this was forbidden without an HAL escort.
I know how to do this trick at T5, but since there are no pay lounges there...

Gagravarr

I'm actually not sure... I have seen the signs up in T5 flight connections telling you about the fact that T3 has paid-for lounges that you can access if you have time. I've yet to need to try the exit, perhaps someone else here knows the trick?

lhrsfo

It should not be possible. I didn't know you could access T3 paid lounges without a T3 bp but, if you can, there must be a way out. It's probably not via Flight Connections though.

FrankIII

Thank you everyone for your most helpful replies.

From some of the references provided, I was able to determine that my flight should arrive into T3. (DL34)

I also noticed that both the DL Arrival and VS Revivals lounges will be closed by the time I arrive (3:50pm).

With this information, is the Sky Team Lounge in T4 my best option?

Also, can anyone confirm that I will be able to bypass UKBA since I will only be connecting at LHR, even if I need to get from T3 to T4?

Thanks again for all your recommendations.

jerry a. laska

As advised earlier if you take the flight connections route you do not enter the UK. See:
http://www.heathrowairport.com/heath...-international

rwoman

Upon arrival, follow the purple flight connections signs and make your way to T4. You will not need to clear UKBA nor will you need to collect checked baggage so long as it's checked through to your final destination.

The SkyTeam Lounge in T4 is nice - food, showers, etc.

This thread may be useful to you:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...london-dl.html