AZ pax can use EY LHR lounge [no longer available for AZ passengers]
Feb 23, 2016, 3:40 am
#31
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
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Presumably you could then leave them there and decamp to the Etihad lounge! (though, strictly speaking, a guest is supposed to be accompanied at all times so don't do it blatantly)
It's a rather nice lounge in its own right, but it is inferior to the Etihad lounge.
Feb 23, 2016, 4:52 am
#32
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SJJ/AMS
Posts: 4,649
I hope you'll enjoy it - and please do report back. Are you on the first morning service out of LHR? The breakfast offer has recently been improved but I also find the afternoon snack not bad at all either and certainly much better compared to other airlines (see AF/KL/LH), even though I haven't tried BA's CE for quite long time now.
G
G
Feb 23, 2016, 5:41 am
#33
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
I hope you'll enjoy it - and please do report back. Are you on the first morning service out of LHR? The breakfast offer has recently been improved but I also find the afternoon snack not bad at all either and certainly much better compared to other airlines (see AF/KL/LH), even though I haven't tried BA's CE for quite long time now.
The LHR-FCO is at 4:25 pm, whilst the FCO-LHR is at 5:20 pm. What kind of meals should I expect?
Feb 23, 2016, 6:02 am
#34
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SJJ/AMS
Posts: 4,649
G
Feb 23, 2016, 6:07 am
#35
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
It is very likely that you will get a salad on both services (last time I was served grilled pumpkin, parmigiano cheese, a bowl of sliced fruit, warm bread needless to say & a tiny piece of cake). During meal times, you'd normally get pasta or lasagna. In any case, decent meals and above average I'd say.
G
G
It's quite annoying there is nowhere on the internet that lists meal times for Alitalia flights. I'm spoilt with resources when it comes to BA!
I will make sure I have a big lunch in the Etihad lounge then!
Feb 23, 2016, 6:28 am
#36
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SJJ/AMS
Posts: 4,649
G
Mar 4, 2016, 7:00 am
#37
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
Sadly my first experience of Ottima and of the Etihad lounge will have to wait.
Troubles with my wisdom tooth have led me to cancel the trip. :-( Well, I've just postponed it until May.
Troubles with my wisdom tooth have led me to cancel the trip. :-( Well, I've just postponed it until May.
Mar 12, 2016, 8:22 am
#38
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Milan
Programs: BA Gold (CCR), Cartafreccia, HH Diamond, Esselunga Fidaty Gold
Posts: 443
Right now at the EY lounge, flying AZ207 to FCO. First time flying AZ out of LHR (I am usually a loyal BA customer on the route from LHR to Italy) but I rerouted one of my business trip with AZ just to try this lounge.
First of all I can confirm that for AZ CFP passengers a guest is permitted in the EY lounge: I asked at the reception and the lady told me no problem for a guest.
Today I arrived quite early at LHR (coming from Portsmouth with train plus coach I was not confortable with a last minute arrival) and after passing security screen (I can’t understand why AZ CFA or CFP passengers flying economy cant’t use the fast track at T4, and with all the security lanes almost empty I had to spend 20 minutes waiting at the security, because I was lucky enough for an unuseful secondary screening) at 1PM I reached the EY lounge that was full at 70%, but by 2PM, when the EY flight started to board all the guests left the lounge and I suddenly realized I was the only passenger remaining in the lounge. It was very nice, quite funny, and perhaps a bit embarassing to have the whole lounge for me for an hour, with all the staff wandering around and asking if I am flying to AUH.
Now some comments about this lounge, and some comparison with the BA Concorde Room (CCR) First Class lounge at T5. I don't have any experience with other lounges at LHR apart the OneWorld lounges at T3 (AA, BA, CX) but they are not worth any comparison.
Food: Restaurant full service area for 36 pax, most of the tables are for 2 but at least a couple of tables are for 4, and by the way tables near the windows can be easily joined together. Very close there is the buffet area, with about 24-30 seats (and from the restaurant you can also choose anything from the buffet). At the end of the buffet area, on the left, there is a private VIP section with a few setted tables and some lounge chairs (now closed). The general appearence of the restaurant area is better than the CCR cubicles, and the service is almost the same, fast enough and very attentive.
Food selection is quite poor if compared to the CCR offering: only a couple of appetizers and only 3 main courses (grilled North Sea salmon fillet, Pan-fried lamb, and Imam Bayildi) plus two desserts and a British cheese plate. I tryed the lamb (very small portion) and the salmon (very good), both of them well presented and served about 5 minutes after I made the order.
Wines and spirits: here the CCR wins hands down. The CCR selection is better and more prestigious: in my opinion a true first class wine and spirit offering. In the EY lounge no wine list is available. When I requested a glass of champagne I was offered an almost unknown brand (André Rogier).
Bar area: many spirits are available, but the CCR bar appearence and spirit selection is better (and is offering also a cocktails list). Anyway the coffee is better in the EY lounge (trust me, I am italian).
General appearence of the lounge: the EY lounge is better. There is also a children area and a spa. CCR furnitures are worn and in the need of a change.
Staff: the same in both the lounges, very attentive and quickly available for any request. Service slightly faster in the EY lounge (but today is saturday, I only visited the CCR during weekdays and usually it was very busy).
So at the end in my opinion I will consider these two lounges almost at the same level, but remember that EY lounge is a “Business and first class” lounge and the CCR is the BA flagship lounge, available only for BA own first class passengers (or CCR card holders).
If you like wine and spirits CCR is the best option, but if you are not interested in this particular aspect (like the most part of Arabian people) probably the EY lounge is better.
At 3PM the lounge starts populating again: it was nice to have the whole lounge for me for one hour. Anyway online you will find many review fort the LHR EY lounge, more complete and with many pictures.
First of all I can confirm that for AZ CFP passengers a guest is permitted in the EY lounge: I asked at the reception and the lady told me no problem for a guest.
Today I arrived quite early at LHR (coming from Portsmouth with train plus coach I was not confortable with a last minute arrival) and after passing security screen (I can’t understand why AZ CFA or CFP passengers flying economy cant’t use the fast track at T4, and with all the security lanes almost empty I had to spend 20 minutes waiting at the security, because I was lucky enough for an unuseful secondary screening) at 1PM I reached the EY lounge that was full at 70%, but by 2PM, when the EY flight started to board all the guests left the lounge and I suddenly realized I was the only passenger remaining in the lounge. It was very nice, quite funny, and perhaps a bit embarassing to have the whole lounge for me for an hour, with all the staff wandering around and asking if I am flying to AUH.
Now some comments about this lounge, and some comparison with the BA Concorde Room (CCR) First Class lounge at T5. I don't have any experience with other lounges at LHR apart the OneWorld lounges at T3 (AA, BA, CX) but they are not worth any comparison.
Food: Restaurant full service area for 36 pax, most of the tables are for 2 but at least a couple of tables are for 4, and by the way tables near the windows can be easily joined together. Very close there is the buffet area, with about 24-30 seats (and from the restaurant you can also choose anything from the buffet). At the end of the buffet area, on the left, there is a private VIP section with a few setted tables and some lounge chairs (now closed). The general appearence of the restaurant area is better than the CCR cubicles, and the service is almost the same, fast enough and very attentive.
Food selection is quite poor if compared to the CCR offering: only a couple of appetizers and only 3 main courses (grilled North Sea salmon fillet, Pan-fried lamb, and Imam Bayildi) plus two desserts and a British cheese plate. I tryed the lamb (very small portion) and the salmon (very good), both of them well presented and served about 5 minutes after I made the order.
Wines and spirits: here the CCR wins hands down. The CCR selection is better and more prestigious: in my opinion a true first class wine and spirit offering. In the EY lounge no wine list is available. When I requested a glass of champagne I was offered an almost unknown brand (André Rogier).
Bar area: many spirits are available, but the CCR bar appearence and spirit selection is better (and is offering also a cocktails list). Anyway the coffee is better in the EY lounge (trust me, I am italian).
General appearence of the lounge: the EY lounge is better. There is also a children area and a spa. CCR furnitures are worn and in the need of a change.
Staff: the same in both the lounges, very attentive and quickly available for any request. Service slightly faster in the EY lounge (but today is saturday, I only visited the CCR during weekdays and usually it was very busy).
So at the end in my opinion I will consider these two lounges almost at the same level, but remember that EY lounge is a “Business and first class” lounge and the CCR is the BA flagship lounge, available only for BA own first class passengers (or CCR card holders).
If you like wine and spirits CCR is the best option, but if you are not interested in this particular aspect (like the most part of Arabian people) probably the EY lounge is better.
At 3PM the lounge starts populating again: it was nice to have the whole lounge for me for one hour. Anyway online you will find many review fort the LHR EY lounge, more complete and with many pictures.
Last edited by Aldebaran; Mar 13, 2016 at 8:12 am
Mar 15, 2016, 12:27 pm
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,593
I should have posted my own impressions on this thread I started back when I visited in December.
I had no problems with a guest then and also to use the Fast Lane, in fact an AZ unformed boy escorted me from check-in to the security lane.
I think the valid comparison is with both the BA Galleries Club and First lounge as an Alitalia pax. As a J pax on AZ you can use the EY lounge or if you are Freccia Alata Plus in Y. Then the comparison is insanely in favour of AZ...GC lounge compared to EY J/F lounge!
I thought the food was better in terms of the quality and freshness of the preparation compared to the CCR but I agree there isn't as much choice. I really dislike buffet food so compared to GF theres no competition when up against the BA Jalfrezi or BA burger or BA industro ham salad with half an egg. Compare that with GC where it could mean no hot food at all, just crap sandwiches at the time you visited.
The Roger champagne was okay...but as you say nothing special. I did however much prefer the staffed bar compared to GF/GC where there is none which means no cocktails, no barista coffee nada...the Mojitos were fine, but nothing can ever be as good as when CCR had Ron Zacapa and not as carefully prepared as they are in CCR. That's something I like about AZ in FCO; the staffed bar with great coffee and a nice Aperol. Lufthansa in MUC and FRA also have this.
Coffee is miles better compared to the crap BA use, its just so bitter.
Also lets remind ourselves theres a free spa treatment which is very unique and not available on BA in any lounge when travelling on a wholly European itin. I don't even think PREM would get it. It was really relaxing and the ambience was much much better than the Elemis spa and quieter than the Clarins CDG one which is open to SkyTeam elites. I guess you could even pop to the ST lounge for a drop of O2 if the machine is working.
So I think as a standard OW Emerald on LHR-MIL/FCO, AZ wins no problems and as also as a J pax on LHR-FCO/MIL its utterly in favour of AZ because the comparison is Galleries Club! As CCR its difficult, there are positives and negatives, but purely to break the monotony I would take AZ particularly if you would enjoy a spa treatment.
I had no problems with a guest then and also to use the Fast Lane, in fact an AZ unformed boy escorted me from check-in to the security lane.
I think the valid comparison is with both the BA Galleries Club and First lounge as an Alitalia pax. As a J pax on AZ you can use the EY lounge or if you are Freccia Alata Plus in Y. Then the comparison is insanely in favour of AZ...GC lounge compared to EY J/F lounge!
I thought the food was better in terms of the quality and freshness of the preparation compared to the CCR but I agree there isn't as much choice. I really dislike buffet food so compared to GF theres no competition when up against the BA Jalfrezi or BA burger or BA industro ham salad with half an egg. Compare that with GC where it could mean no hot food at all, just crap sandwiches at the time you visited.
The Roger champagne was okay...but as you say nothing special. I did however much prefer the staffed bar compared to GF/GC where there is none which means no cocktails, no barista coffee nada...the Mojitos were fine, but nothing can ever be as good as when CCR had Ron Zacapa and not as carefully prepared as they are in CCR. That's something I like about AZ in FCO; the staffed bar with great coffee and a nice Aperol. Lufthansa in MUC and FRA also have this.
Coffee is miles better compared to the crap BA use, its just so bitter.
Also lets remind ourselves theres a free spa treatment which is very unique and not available on BA in any lounge when travelling on a wholly European itin. I don't even think PREM would get it. It was really relaxing and the ambience was much much better than the Elemis spa and quieter than the Clarins CDG one which is open to SkyTeam elites. I guess you could even pop to the ST lounge for a drop of O2 if the machine is working.
So I think as a standard OW Emerald on LHR-MIL/FCO, AZ wins no problems and as also as a J pax on LHR-FCO/MIL its utterly in favour of AZ because the comparison is Galleries Club! As CCR its difficult, there are positives and negatives, but purely to break the monotony I would take AZ particularly if you would enjoy a spa treatment.
May 10, 2016, 3:35 am
#42
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, ITA Club Executive, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,599
Can I say I was rather underwhelmed by the EY lounge at T4?
The a-la-carte food was a bit disappointing. Presentation was nice, but flavour was lacking. Staff was OK, but they certainly were not warm. Spa treatment (facial) was not as nice as at the Elemis spa. EY has changed the policy on spa treatments anyway, so no more free treatment for AZ card holders. I like sitting at the bar in lounges that have one, but no way I would've sat there facing a wall in a corner. I ended up going to the Sky Team lounge after food. I find it more spacious, brighter and more contemporary. Shower rooms are also very nice!
Does anyone know how spa treatments work in the Sky Team lounge? There was no one at the spa I reception I could ask.
The a-la-carte food was a bit disappointing. Presentation was nice, but flavour was lacking. Staff was OK, but they certainly were not warm. Spa treatment (facial) was not as nice as at the Elemis spa. EY has changed the policy on spa treatments anyway, so no more free treatment for AZ card holders. I like sitting at the bar in lounges that have one, but no way I would've sat there facing a wall in a corner. I ended up going to the Sky Team lounge after food. I find it more spacious, brighter and more contemporary. Shower rooms are also very nice!
Does anyone know how spa treatments work in the Sky Team lounge? There was no one at the spa I reception I could ask.
Aug 31, 2016, 3:39 am
#43
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Milan
Programs: BA Gold (CCR), Cartafreccia, HH Diamond, Esselunga Fidaty Gold
Posts: 443
AZ CFP pax can't use EY LHR lounge since 1st August
Starting 1st August 2016 AZ Club Freccia Alata Plus passengers flying Y are not allowed to use the EY lounge at T4, but only the Skyteam lounge.
(Official source: LHR AZ station manager)
(Official source: LHR AZ station manager)
Last edited by Aldebaran; Aug 31, 2016 at 4:42 am Reason: info added
Aug 31, 2016, 4:47 am
#45
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Milan
Programs: BA Gold (CCR), Cartafreccia, HH Diamond, Esselunga Fidaty Gold
Posts: 443
Unfortunately this is true. A few days ago I was not allowed to use the EY lounge .
At the gate I met the Alitalia manager on duty and she confirmed that now the EY lounge is reserved only for AZ business class passengers.
Anyway the Skyteam lounge was not so bad, apart being overcrowded, and my wife and I were able also to choose one of the Clarins Spa massages with a 15 minutes advanced booking.
At the gate I met the Alitalia manager on duty and she confirmed that now the EY lounge is reserved only for AZ business class passengers.
Anyway the Skyteam lounge was not so bad, apart being overcrowded, and my wife and I were able also to choose one of the Clarins Spa massages with a 15 minutes advanced booking.