The very first time was with a colleague who guested me into the Flounge at LGW at the end of a very long and tiring day with a difficult client. I'm not sure if I got through the entire bottle of champagne on my own but memories of the flight itself are hazy, at best...

A few months later I got access to LGW Terraces in my own right, when BA did a promotion which gave me a complementary Op-Up to CE. Although it was a very early flight I decided to get there with an hour to spare to make use of the lounge, and as I was watching the sun come up thought "I'm not sure I wouldn't have preferred slightly more time in bed!"

All before I achieved status, of course.