Lounge Review: JER The Executive Lounge (ex-British Airways Terraces Lounge)
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The Executive Lounge at Jersey has had an interesting history. BA operated until around 2009, what then became a third party lounge continued with much of its original Terraces fit-out until 2015, when it was refurbished almost completely.
The lounge is located adjacent to Gate 2, and is comprised primarily of one square-ish room divided into two spaces. Beyond a reception desk complete with incongruous and definitely not on-brand BA logo, the lounge opens out with a bar and buffet to the left and the main seating area to the right. A smaller secondary seating area is separated from the main lounge by a dividing wall (not full height in places) and doors, and was added during the 2015 refurbishment by taking space from the adjacent Gate 3.
The main seating area is comprised of basic fabric and leather armchairs and sofas arranged in groups around cheap-looking glass tables that are impractically loud when placing anything on them. Historical travel poster prints adorn the walls, whilst a globe hangs from the central skylight. Sporadic indoor plants and tiffany standard lamps complete the interior design, if it can be described as such - the fit-out was undeniably done on a tight budget. When I visited in July, the lounge was quite full, and so I unfortunately couldn't get a clear photo of this part of the lounge facing the apron.
The secondary seating area has the same furniture set-up and design, although the awkward shape of this space means the seating feels even tighter than in the main part of the lounge. Curiously for a non-BA operated lounge, a poster detailing BA's Jersey history was on display here. Brooks Macdonald advertising features prominently here too. Shortly after finding a seat in this space, the area was closed and we were asked to move to the main part of the lounge for no discernible reason.
Views from both spaces are limited, with one window in the secondary seating area and a glazed door leading out onto the apron from the main seating area. This door used to be used for direct boarding of BA flights, but I don't believe this has been available since the pandemic. Despite the limited views, the lounge does feel quite airy thanks to skylights above both the main seating area and the buffet. Power sockets are limited, with just the odd wall socket to be found. Flight information display screens can be found above the magazine rack in the main seating area (where a TV can also be found), and at the far end of the secondary seating area. Incidentally, this magazine rack is an original from the BA Terraces days.
The back bar is one of the other few remaining Terraces features, although it was re-clad in the 2015 refurbishment. Whilst there was an adequate selection of drinks, food was extremely limited at the time of my visit; some leftover breakfast pastries, whole fruit, crisps, biscuits and cake was about all that was available in the evening. The buffet where much of the food is now displayed was a new addition to the lounge in the 2015 refurbishment, but certainly has not been utilised to its full extent.
Washrooms are available inside the lounge, although the space would've been better used as additional seating such is the miserable condition of them. The fit-out reminds me of school toilets and is about as far removed from a premium airport lounge as you would expect.
In summary, the Executive Lounge at Jersey is a disappointing experience. Its dated, cheap design and uncomfortably cramped seating layout combine with limited food offerings and dismal washrooms to result in a sub-par experience, all the more notable given Jersey's passenger demographic.