Umrswimr

Me too- did so last week, in fact. The lounge was PACKED.

mohan12

I thought I'd chime in to help FTers avoid the same mistake I made last time I landed at LHR as an AA EXP a few weeks ago.

Given I didn't have to run to the office upon landing in T3, I ambitiously planned to visit at LEAST the BA and CX lounges, if not all three (AA one really is great for showers, which I def. needed)

Upon arrival, one goes thru the usual trek from gate to customs. However -and this is the key-, after you get your bags post-customs, DO NOT EXIT THE IMMIGRATION AREA (towards AA lounge, airport exit, car pickups, etc.)
Instead, collect your checked bag(s) and follow the signs for "Connecting flights".. basically you walk BACK towards other departing gates with your newly-collected checked bag(s).... this is how you access the BA & CX lounges.

In my case, I exited the customs area as normal, only to realize shortly after that I was out of luck re: my well-intentioned (but poorly executed) plan to visit the non-AA arrivals lounges in T3. Won't make that mistake again

Side note:
-I do recall the AA lounge agent stating that BA is 'strict' about not allowing pax landing in T3 to access their lounge in T5. He said AA/BA/etc wanted to keep arriving pax in their respective terminals. I know there are stories of folks getting into the T5 lounge from T3 but just a heads up that its considered the exception.

Hope this helps.

brp

This only works because BAA seem not to check for onward boarding passes going back into T3 via Flight Connections. This would not work, for example, in T5 where they do check. You would simply not be allowed back into T5, so couldn't access the lounges there. The situation in T3 could change at any time if they were to start checking for onward flights.

Also, be aware that one is not in T3 "legally" in this situation. I personally don't care about the "legality" of it, but it is worth noting. Some clubs (and I think BA may be one of them) will check for an onward BP before allowing admission. AA may do this as well. Inasmuch as you are not in the terminal "legally" having no onward flight, there is a strong possibility that the lounges will not allow access. And, of course, there is no recourse in this case.

So, yes, it can work, but there is a high probability of failure.

Cheers.

dmsdfw

I don't think they can realistically check in T3 because you may not have a boarding pass for your next flight if the arriving airline can't issue them for the connecting airline. In fact, I'm not sure how this works at T5 since if you are connecting T1/T3/T4 -> T5 you could have the same problem.

becket5

The Oneworld lounges in T3 are almost certain not to allow entry without a boarding pass. There could also be problems when you try to re-enter the customs hall to exit the terminal. I suppose you could try walking out through the security lines for people entering the departures area but you I'm sure you would get stopped and asked to explain what you're doing.
Best to just go to the AA arrivals lounge which is fit for purpose.

dmsdfw

You would get more than that, because at that point you would be trying to enter the UK without having gone through passport control. Detention and deportation would not be an impossible outcome. I suspect you are also committing criminal trespass by being in the T3 departure area without a valid reason.

Now, I'll shut up as this is still off-topic for this thread. Perhaps the mods should move these last few posts to appropriate thread.

becket5

Is it really off topic? This is a thread on T3 arrivals lounges and the suggestion was made (incorrectly) that the departure lounges could double as arrivals lounges. I guess it's not Emerald specific though so it probably deserves to end.

stifle

I think you may have a somewhat confused understanding of Heathrow T3's structure and facilities.
1. As the lounges are airside and arriving and departing passengers are segregated, you will not be able to bring checked baggage through.
2. You collect bags before customs, not after. [Are you mixing up immigration and customs?]
3. You can follow the connecting flights route before immigration or baggage reclaim and go through security without a boarding pass, but you won't be admitted to the BA or CX lounges without one. I doubt you'll get in the AA departures lounges either.
4. Having done all that, you now cannot get out of the terminal. There is no exit door like they have in American airports. You would need to get a staff member to escort you to immigration, and you'd better have a good story why you went through the connections route when you didn't have one. And your bags will probably have been taken as you didn't claim them.
If you're arriving LHR T3 on AA as an Executive Platinum member, you can use the AArrivals lounge, if it's open.
There are transit desks before the boarding pass and security checks at T5 connections, where a passenger without an onward boarding pass can get one.

mohan12

All-

I apologize if I misspoke or raised feathers; obviously that wasn't my intent (quite the opposite- FT is a huge source of info and help.. I was trying to help others who are interested in this topic as I was a few weeks ago)

As I mentioned in my earlier note, I almost always land at LHR, get through border security queue (thank goodness for fast track...most of the time), collect my checked bag (checked only when necessary), and head to AA lounge to shower before shooting to office in central.

That said, I skimmed this thread about better T3 lounge options and wanted to see for myself since I finally had time to do so. I honestly didn't pay much mind to it and only realized I couldn't do it after I exited T3 customs area (into public arrivals area of airport). I headed to AA lounge as usual and asked attendant (awesome guy who is good at what he does; do *not* want to imply he gave me bad or inappropriate info) about availability of BA and/or CX T3 access... he echoed what some others in this and other related threads have stated: follow the signs for connecting flights and -based on carrier/OW status or class of service- pax should be able to get in.

Hope that clarifies. If anyone has luck entering BA and/or CX lounges in T3 upon arrival at LHR on an AA flight, do let us know!

stifle

For the sake of further extreme clarity, there are three AA lounges in LHR T3. The Flagship lounge and Admirals Club for departing passengers and the Arrivals lounge for arriving passengers.

JDiver

NOTE: This is the archived thread for this subject, and is now closed.

The current thread is: LHR / London Heathrow T3 AA / US Arrivals Lounge (consolidated)

/Moderator