*A departures 'super' lounge at LHR T1 - Now Open
Jan 16, 2009, 5:25 pm
#211
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: BHD/DUB
Programs: BA Gold, TK*G, EI Elite
Posts: 7,622
Jan 26, 2009, 3:55 pm
#212
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: UK
Programs: A3 gld, BA bron, KL silv, 6C plat, EH silv, EM, GT, HY, NH, NS, RT, SH, SW gold, BW, WY
Posts: 989
Any one notice that BMI are no longer the handling agent at LHR for LOT? Saw some LOT passengers being refused entry to the BMI lounge last week and they were redirected to the "United" lounge. Menzies are the new baggage handling agent. Been like this for at least a month apparently.
Jan 28, 2009, 2:47 am
#214
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
Manzies started handling LOT in mid-December. Check-in now starts 3 hours prior to departure and there are always 3 counters staffed. On the negative note, yesterday they forgot to attach priority sticker to my baggage tag.
Jan 28, 2009, 3:30 am
#215
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Reading, UK
Programs: BA Silver, IHG Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 666
Jan 28, 2009, 4:39 am
#216
formerly rxfleming
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: AUH, DXB (and GLA)
Programs: BA GGL, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Plat Elite
Posts: 2,459
Flew Business with BMI this weekend, and flew through T1 on Sunday, and used the Star Alliance Lounge at T1. It was crowded (5PM), no seats apart from those god awful tall ones, and the air conditioning was pretty much gone, and so the heat was somewhat disgusting. It just isn't a big enough space for me.
I used the Lounge back in October as well, however, it was a little more empty back then, and didn't have as much of a problem with it.
However, I decided to hop right on out of there and back to the BMI Lounge at the other side of the terminal, where it was spacious and cool. And didn't have to queue to drink or eat.
I used the Lounge back in October as well, however, it was a little more empty back then, and didn't have as much of a problem with it.
However, I decided to hop right on out of there and back to the BMI Lounge at the other side of the terminal, where it was spacious and cool. And didn't have to queue to drink or eat.
Jan 28, 2009, 5:07 am
#217
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: London, England
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 3,772
This has probably been answered before but what will happen when SK/LH/AC/SQ etc are in T1? Will any of these carriers open their own lounges, will the *A lounge be expanded? Seems the existing lounge is already busy at peak times without this extra demand.
Jan 28, 2009, 7:29 am
#220
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: VCE
Posts: 14,165
Mar 1, 2009, 12:33 pm
#221
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: HKG
Programs: Marriott Ambassador (Titanium Lifetime), BA Gold, Ex-Hertz 5* PC, Ex-HH Diamond, Ex-BD*G
Posts: 3,076
Decided to 'treat' myself, by saying my first domestic BMI flight I had to take on a Sunday (work reasons) I'd try out the new lounge (I've been delaying the pleasure for a few weeks since I became gold)... I'll never move back to the dmi domestic, except for somewhere to sit for a few minutes before the flight.
Today (Sunday evening, 7pm), there is a very nice food selection of;
I'm (almost) looking forward to trying it next week when I'm definitely going to do breakfast here on my next domestic (I do LHR-MAN each week).
No problem with entry either, was joking with the staff that their nibbles would be much better than the croissant that is probably in the bmi domestic lounge at the moment.
PS: Even olives too...
Today (Sunday evening, 7pm), there is a very nice food selection of;
- Sandwiches and salad (4 types of sandwich then meat/cheese separately)
- Curry (Chicken Korma)
- Highland soup & bread
- And curry nibbles (Pakoras, somosas and so forth - 5 varieties)
I'm (almost) looking forward to trying it next week when I'm definitely going to do breakfast here on my next domestic (I do LHR-MAN each week).
No problem with entry either, was joking with the staff that their nibbles would be much better than the croissant that is probably in the bmi domestic lounge at the moment.
PS: Even olives too...
Mar 1, 2009, 1:30 pm
#222
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Reading, UK
Programs: BA Silver, IHG Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 666
For WAW-LHR, the Gold check-in staff member mentioned and offered the block.
I felt it polite to accept
I was in Y on a 0.25x points bucket - nothing flashy!
Mar 1, 2009, 7:33 pm
#223
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: HPN
Programs: not anymore! I'm FREE!
Posts: 3,468
Indeed, I read the poster as offering to sign in anyone who just happened to be a-cruisin' round T1 this weekend. 
Looking at the *A website, it defines the *G benefit as :
Airport Lounge Access - available worldwide for you and a friend* when you travel with any Star Alliance member airline, regardless of your class of travel.
*Guests must enter with eligible Star Alliance Gold customer and must depart on a Star Alliance airline, though not necessarily on the same flight.
Looking at the *A website, it defines the *G benefit as :
Airport Lounge Access - available worldwide for you and a friend* when you travel with any Star Alliance member airline, regardless of your class of travel.
*Guests must enter with eligible Star Alliance Gold customer and must depart on a Star Alliance airline, though not necessarily on the same flight.
Mar 1, 2009, 9:04 pm
#224
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: LCY
Posts: 1,223
So just the nice LH/LX/OS/TP/OU(still?) folks from T2 to come down the corridor - and they are well used to the crowded LH lounges so it won't be a big change for them...
Mar 2, 2009, 12:51 am
#225
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,381
Has anyone had any luck trying to bring two guests in to the T1 *A lounge? I'm flying with my elderly parents; my ticket is in BMI business class and I'm *G, but they are in Y on the same flight and have no status. Are the lounge gatekeepers likely to say, "you can bring your mum in, but dad has to stay outside"?