Sitting in this lounge now after a flight from Johannesburg, so I thought I'd make a report before it goes into full operation on the 28th.

The first thing to note is that you'd better figure out ahead of time where this lounge is, because there is not a single sign to tell you as you walk from baggage claim into the T1 arrivals area. We'd asked the flight attendants on the plane, but they had no idea where it was (several didn't even know that it existed). After wandering forlornly among the limo drivers for a while, I finally asked at the main information desk where the lounge was. Turns out that you have to take the lift UPSTAIRS to Departures, then follow a long path through and out of the ticketing area toward T2 (heading toward the new Premier check-in area). There are plenty of signs to the lounge in the Departures level...but none in Arrivals. Hello, BA??

Anyway, once in the lounge itself things improve. It's quite a bit smaller than the T4 lounge, with most things crammed together in one room, but all the essential elements are here: showers, luggage store, MA spa, four computer terminals, full breakfast, and Sanctuary area. I do think this lounge could be quite crowded once the other three long-haul flights move over to T1 next week (although I admit that I have no idea what time all of these flights land).

I hope BA gets those signs up before long. Now I just have to find my way back out to HEX again.