Originally Posted by
echoch
I will be arriving at LHR Sunday 11:35AM with a connecting flight to JNB at 9PM. I am arriving from ORD on AA in Terminal 3 and departing on BA from Terminal 5.
Ok, I'm going to chop up your post up a bit to reply.
- as you don't have (physical) access to all the lounges you ask about. And there are a couple of other lounge options you don't mention.
Is there a way to remain in Terminal 3 and make use of the T3 lounges before moving to T5?
No - not the airside lougnes you mention (the No1 Traveller and the Aspire).
Well certainly not officially or easily. As arrivals and deparatures are segregated from each other, and you are REALLY NOT meant to be able to get airside in any temrinal that you don't have a Boarding Pass for (unless you are doing interterminal shopping - and comitting to spend 250+ GBP).
The fact you have arrived in T3 certainly does not make it any easier.
Even if you could get airside, the lounge may not give you entry without a BP for a flight.
Are there lounges at T2 or T4 that make sense to visit?
There are LANDSIDE - so physically easily accessible to you - arrivals lougnes in T2 and T4 operated by Plaza Premium that you have entry to with your priority pass card.
(There is one T3 also but it is NOT open to Priority Pass holders - it has an Amex sign on the door, but I've not seen what they charge).
I don't know how well you know Heathrow, but T2 and T3 are close to each other in the 'central area' of the airport, an 'island' between the runways, and they share stations, etc.
(T4 and T5 are separate from each other on the outside of the airport).
As you arrive in T3, and have plenty of time, I'd go landside in T3 - then follow signs for the Underground and Terminal 2.
This will lead you by a below ground corridor past the Heathrow Express station, then past the underground station and then up into T2.
The arrivials lougne in there DOES have showers - BUT I've never used them. I I assume you get to use them with PP entry and without extra charge, but I don't know as I've not done it myself.
Note: When you see it, it looks at first like a small restaruant / bar, but it is a lounge.
After that, you could walk back to the heathrow express station and use that to get to T5 (it is free of charge between terminals).
Similarly, the Aspire Lounge in T5 is said to be often crowded, without bathrooms, with showers that cost either 10 or 20 GBP, and sometimes have waits. Any thoughts on that lounge?
Now the good news - a second public lounge at T5 airside is meant to open any day now.
With a MUCH higher capacity.
It might just be open before your trip. If it is, make sure you report back to FT - you might be among the first people to use it.