BA lounge in GVA
Feb 26, 2010, 4:48 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Basingstoke, UK
Programs: Virgin Flying Club Silver, Executive Club Blue, Miles & More, Priority Club Gold, Skywards Blue
Posts: 437
BA lounge in GVA
Hi all,
Just booked a reward trip to Switzerland in May.
Managed to get a very good deal in CE using my miles.
I was wondering where I could find information and maybe pictures of the BA lounge in Geneva.
Thanks a lot in advance for your help !
Julmops
Just booked a reward trip to Switzerland in May.
Managed to get a very good deal in CE using my miles.
I was wondering where I could find information and maybe pictures of the BA lounge in Geneva.
Thanks a lot in advance for your help !
Julmops
Feb 26, 2010, 4:59 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,095
As a result of the new security lanes at GVA the lounge is now airside which is much better - it used to be landside and they would turf you out of the lounge at about 45 minutes before the flight so you could go through security. Sometimes you sailed through, sometimes you almost missed your flight. Thankfully this is all a thing of the past.
Lounge is quite spacious but a long rectangular layout. Fully 'terraced' up with all the patio furniture etc. Bar with a few nibbles - crisps, olives etc. Sometimes they put nice sandwiches out but these go quickly. Fairly average spirit selection. Free wi-fi and a couple of ancient PCs. No real view.
Pleasant enough for an hour or so but not much more!
Lounge is quite spacious but a long rectangular layout. Fully 'terraced' up with all the patio furniture etc. Bar with a few nibbles - crisps, olives etc. Sometimes they put nice sandwiches out but these go quickly. Fairly average spirit selection. Free wi-fi and a couple of ancient PCs. No real view.
Pleasant enough for an hour or so but not much more!
Feb 26, 2010, 5:15 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver Card
Posts: 120
Food
Admittedly it was a few years ago, but at that time it appeared the lounge had a finite fresh food allocation - so if the passengers on the flight before you were particularly hungry and ate all the sandwiches - tough!
Feb 26, 2010, 5:31 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 862
It's a bit of a walk there, but the main guy who always seems to be there is very helpful — especially when there's delays (most of the time providing information before it hits the screens).
There's a little quiet bit at the back of the lounge. And there's a nice selection of sweet and savory canapes that are always topped up — but do go pretty quickly. It's pretty much the usual terraces with a self-help bar and free wifi.
The only annoying thing is the door-bell going off every time someone comes in — also the toilets are outside meaning more ding-dongs than necessary.
There's a little quiet bit at the back of the lounge. And there's a nice selection of sweet and savory canapes that are always topped up — but do go pretty quickly. It's pretty much the usual terraces with a self-help bar and free wifi.
The only annoying thing is the door-bell going off every time someone comes in — also the toilets are outside meaning more ding-dongs than necessary.
Feb 26, 2010, 6:25 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: BAGold PCGold HH LH EK blahblah...
Posts: 45
Am sitting in the GVA Terraces lounge just now (what timing!). As BahrainLad said, it's nice that you now pass security before the lounges (it's 2 years since I was here last). It is a comfortable lounge with the basic offerings of all Terraces lounges. But no canapes/sandwiches this afternoon
. Sorry I don't have my camera with me to snap a few pics.
. Sorry I don't have my camera with me to snap a few pics.
Feb 26, 2010, 6:35 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Bristol, UK
Posts: 453
Was there in January. Security queues were long but moved with swiss efficiency due to having loads of time to prepare before being scanned. Trays relied on gravity rather than over-engineered crap at T5.
Terraces Lounge is a pleasant enough way to while away an hour. Any more and you'll be bored.
Terraces Lounge is a pleasant enough way to while away an hour. Any more and you'll be bored.
Feb 26, 2010, 6:39 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 123
I was there on a Sunday a couple of a weeks ago, and it was very busy. Don't rely on it for food - there was very little. Sandwiches/canapés were rarely replaced (it was about four portions every half an hour for a lounge with about 50-60 people in it.)
Feb 26, 2010, 6:43 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Basingstoke, UK
Programs: Virgin Flying Club Silver, Executive Club Blue, Miles & More, Priority Club Gold, Skywards Blue
Posts: 437
Hi all,
Thanks a lot for all your answers ! Much appreciated ! I will fly back to the UK on a Saturday (8th May) on the 6.45pm flight so hopefully not too busy ...
Thanks a lot for all your answers ! Much appreciated ! I will fly back to the UK on a Saturday (8th May) on the 6.45pm flight so hopefully not too busy ...
Feb 26, 2010, 7:20 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DC Metro Area
Posts: 407
In my experience, canape/dessert selection is small and, while decent, very unreliable in when and how they appear - don't go in there hungry! Also, don't go in with too many expectations - it's a quiet place to sit and have a hot or cold drink, a shuffle through some UK papers (not to be taken out of the lounge) but otherwise, not much.
By the way, one new trick: you can take the escalator up to the lounge, but there are only stairs going down. There is an elevator, though, tucked away round the corner (go past the stairs, through the smoking area and turn right). Handy if you have heavy carry on.
By the way, one new trick: you can take the escalator up to the lounge, but there are only stairs going down. There is an elevator, though, tucked away round the corner (go past the stairs, through the smoking area and turn right). Handy if you have heavy carry on.
Feb 26, 2010, 7:47 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/LON/LAX
Programs: BA Gold, AA Platinum
Posts: 476
Was out in GVA a couple of weeks back. In addition to what the others have said make sure you use the First/Business security line. As you go up the stairs to where security is it on the far left.
Feb 26, 2010, 8:14 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Basingstoke, UK
Programs: Virgin Flying Club Silver, Executive Club Blue, Miles & More, Priority Club Gold, Skywards Blue
Posts: 437
Very good point !! I should have asked about separate security line, definitely an added bonus !! Thanks a lot !
Feb 26, 2010, 10:48 am
#13
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GVA
Programs: BA Gold, LH FTL, KL/AF Ivory
Posts: 1,878
As this is my home turf, I was going to answer, but most has been already said. There isn't a lot in the way of food, but the staff are always very pleasant. By the way Open-doors doesn't work in GVA even though it's a BA lounge. I wouldn't want to spend more than hour there.
BA flights usually leave from the 30s gates in the satellite and you'll have to get there and go through immigration, though that's very rarely more than a couple of minutes wait. These are the same gates used by EZY flights to the UK and other short-haul flights to non-Schengen destinations so on weekends the satellites can get quite crowded. You don't want to be there longer than necessary.
BA flights usually leave from the 30s gates in the satellite and you'll have to get there and go through immigration, though that's very rarely more than a couple of minutes wait. These are the same gates used by EZY flights to the UK and other short-haul flights to non-Schengen destinations so on weekends the satellites can get quite crowded. You don't want to be there longer than necessary.
Feb 26, 2010, 11:03 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SQ Gold, KQ Platinum, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Gold, Marriott Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,341
There are a few pictures in Fraser's recent trip report here; http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...ad.main/162425
Feb 26, 2010, 12:36 pm
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,335
Second the comment that you wouldn't want to spend more than an hour here. The nearby LX F and SEN lounges are much quieter and decorated in a more contemporary style - but sadly no access unless you're LH / LX HON.
It's quite a hike from the lounge to the gates, so do respect the boarding call.
BA seems to rigorously and effectively enforce priority boarding at GVA too. Which was a pleasant surprise.
It's quite a hike from the lounge to the gates, so do respect the boarding call.
BA seems to rigorously and effectively enforce priority boarding at GVA too. Which was a pleasant surprise.