BA T5 Arrivals Lounge
May 19, 2016, 5:22 am
#136
Suspended
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 9
On a positive note, myself and my wife arrived into T3 one afternoon to take an evening flight if I recall on CX in F to HKG. We went to the BA F lounge and its virtually empty. They told us dinner will not start until I think say 5pm. The manager came out with a chef and asked to tell them what we would like and they would cook it which they did. It was very much appreciated and we got on board and quickly went to sleep. By the time we left it was filling up and I have to say we were made to feel most welcome when we left.
Jun 21, 2016, 7:39 am
#137
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 4
The information in this thread has been very useful, so thank you all for that. I do have one question that I am hoping you all can answer:
How much time should I allow between actual landing time and the time that we meet our driver to take us to Central London so that we can shower/bathe, eat, collect luggage, etc.?
Wife and I are travelling BA F, IAD to LHR for the first time and we'd like to take advantage of all that entails. BA0216 is scheduled to arrive at 6:50am. We are in no hurry to get to our hotel, since we won't be able to check in until afternoon, so we'd like to have a nice breakfast, shower, massage, etc. How long should we allow ourselves? Any other services that we should experience? Thanks!
How much time should I allow between actual landing time and the time that we meet our driver to take us to Central London so that we can shower/bathe, eat, collect luggage, etc.?
Wife and I are travelling BA F, IAD to LHR for the first time and we'd like to take advantage of all that entails. BA0216 is scheduled to arrive at 6:50am. We are in no hurry to get to our hotel, since we won't be able to check in until afternoon, so we'd like to have a nice breakfast, shower, massage, etc. How long should we allow ourselves? Any other services that we should experience? Thanks!
Jun 21, 2016, 9:06 am
#138
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,933
The information in this thread has been very useful, so thank you all for that. I do have one question that I am hoping you all can answer:
How much time should I allow between actual landing time and the time that we meet our driver to take us to Central London so that we can shower/bathe, eat, collect luggage, etc.?
Wife and I are travelling BA F, IAD to LHR for the first time and we'd like to take advantage of all that entails. BA0216 is scheduled to arrive at 6:50am. We are in no hurry to get to our hotel, since we won't be able to check in until afternoon, so we'd like to have a nice breakfast, shower, massage, etc. How long should we allow ourselves? Any other services that we should experience? Thanks!
How much time should I allow between actual landing time and the time that we meet our driver to take us to Central London so that we can shower/bathe, eat, collect luggage, etc.?
Wife and I are travelling BA F, IAD to LHR for the first time and we'd like to take advantage of all that entails. BA0216 is scheduled to arrive at 6:50am. We are in no hurry to get to our hotel, since we won't be able to check in until afternoon, so we'd like to have a nice breakfast, shower, massage, etc. How long should we allow ourselves? Any other services that we should experience? Thanks!
Jun 21, 2016, 9:34 am
#139
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Welcome to FT, RoseyPSU!
If you really are in no rush, you could positively decide to treat the morning as part of your holiday (if you are on holiday). Why don't you ask the driver to collect you at 12 noon or something like that? Then you can spend the entire morning enjoying the facilities at a leisurely pace.
IME, you can usually get an appointment at the spa for an actual treatment (ie not just an automatic massage in the chair) within 2½ hours, and often sooner than that. If you allow yourself that extra time margin, you can be reasonably confident that this will work out. You would also have time to enjoy a bath if that appeals to you, rather than simply sliding into and out of the shower. You'd also have time to enjoy the luxury of reading the newspaper(s) over numerous cups of tea. There are also computers in the lounge (as well as wifi if you want to use your own).
Wife and I are travelling BA F, IAD to LHR for the first time and we'd like to take advantage of all that entails. BA0216 is scheduled to arrive at 6:50am. We are in no hurry to get to our hotel, since we won't be able to check in until afternoon, so we'd like to have a nice breakfast, shower, massage, etc. How long should we allow ourselves? Any other services that we should experience?
IME, you can usually get an appointment at the spa for an actual treatment (ie not just an automatic massage in the chair) within 2½ hours, and often sooner than that. If you allow yourself that extra time margin, you can be reasonably confident that this will work out. You would also have time to enjoy a bath if that appeals to you, rather than simply sliding into and out of the shower. You'd also have time to enjoy the luxury of reading the newspaper(s) over numerous cups of tea. There are also computers in the lounge (as well as wifi if you want to use your own).
Jun 21, 2016, 12:27 pm
#141
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 4
Welcome to FT, RoseyPSU!If you really are in no rush, you could positively decide to treat the morning as part of your holiday (if you are on holiday). Why don't you ask the driver to collect you at 12 noon or something like that? Then you can spend the entire morning enjoying the facilities at a leisurely pace.
Jun 21, 2016, 2:15 pm
#142
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,857
One way to avoid having to decide this in advance is to simply take the Heathrow Express to central London and then use the black taxi service from there. Even if you have a mountain of luggage, it's relatively easy to do this since there lifts and trolleys throughout. Alternatively if using Uber, you can fairly reliably do this from the lounge when you have had enough.
Jun 22, 2016, 3:07 am
#145
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
Programs: AA EXP 1.7 M, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, AARP Sophomore, 14-time Croix de Candlestick
Posts: 18,669
Arrival on a BA flight in First means that you will be issued invitations to eat at the small, sit-down dining room within the Arrivals facility (same food as the buffet, but served by waitstaff at properly-dressed tables).
This also allows you to maximize sleep on the aircraft.
The dining room serves until noon, so plenty of time. Main decision may be, eat first, then bath/shower or spa? Or the reverse? First-world dilemma, and all that.
This also allows you to maximize sleep on the aircraft.
The dining room serves until noon, so plenty of time. Main decision may be, eat first, then bath/shower or spa? Or the reverse? First-world dilemma, and all that.
Jun 22, 2016, 7:56 am
#146
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 4
And yes, this is all a VERY first world dilemma.
Jun 22, 2016, 8:33 am
#147
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: London
Posts: 3,500
Jan 11, 2017, 3:32 pm
#148
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 957
We're arriving F at 6:30 from EWR next month. Everything in this thread has been tremendously helpful, and I have no doubt we will utilize the arrivals lounge upon landing. I have a quick question re:showers. It seems the reports are that they are somewhat tiny. What can I bring into these rooms? Will a roll aboard fit, or do I need to take a change of clothes in a small bag or garment bag? Does anyone know what type of toiletries and shampoo is provided (wife has some allergies)? Should we bring flip flops, or do they clean the floors after every shower?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Jan 11, 2017, 3:52 pm
#149
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
A rollaboard would be fine - I see lots of people taking these into the showers.I have done this once or twice, but normally only take my small backpack in. The rooms are not actually "tiny", even though they are relatively compact. I know people living in London who have smaller bathrooms in their homes; and if you really needed to, two people could easily share a shower room without much difficulty (eg one in the shower, one at the handbasin).
It's worth remembering that the showers are designed as wet rooms, so water can creep across the floors. Some showers are worse than others for this. So you may want to put your bags on the seat until after you've finished your shower. The bath mat is a useful device for mopping up stray water.
The staff do clean each shower after every passenger, but I couldn't say for sure how much attention is routinely given to the floors. Nevertheless, I've never bothered with anything like flip flops as the bath mat does fine. And as there is usually some stray water to be mopped up by the passenger or by the staff, I've always taken the view that the floors sort of clean themselves naturally.
The provided toiletries are Elemis products - there's shower gel, shampoo, hand wash and moisturiser (the latter two by the handbasin). Some other toiletries and equipment (eg shave gel and disposable razor) are available from the showers reception (although I think none of us would recommend the razor except in an emergency).
It's worth remembering that the showers are designed as wet rooms, so water can creep across the floors. Some showers are worse than others for this. So you may want to put your bags on the seat until after you've finished your shower. The bath mat is a useful device for mopping up stray water.
The staff do clean each shower after every passenger, but I couldn't say for sure how much attention is routinely given to the floors. Nevertheless, I've never bothered with anything like flip flops as the bath mat does fine. And as there is usually some stray water to be mopped up by the passenger or by the staff, I've always taken the view that the floors sort of clean themselves naturally.
The provided toiletries are Elemis products - there's shower gel, shampoo, hand wash and moisturiser (the latter two by the handbasin). Some other toiletries and equipment (eg shave gel and disposable razor) are available from the showers reception (although I think none of us would recommend the razor except in an emergency).
Jan 11, 2017, 4:00 pm
#150
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 957
A rollaboard would be fine - I see lots of people taking these into the showers.I have done this once or twice, but normally only take my small backpack in. The rooms are not actually "tiny", even though they are relatively compact. I know people living in London who have smaller bathrooms in their homes; and if you really needed to, two people could easily share a shower room without much difficulty (eg one in the shower, one at the handbasin).
It's worth remembering that the showers are designed as wet rooms, so water can creep across the floors. Some showers are worse than others for this. So you may want to put your bags on the seat until after you've finished your shower. The bath mat is a useful device for mopping up stray water.
The staff do clean each shower after every passenger, but I couldn't say for sure how much attention is routinely given to the floors. Nevertheless, I've never bothered with anything like flip flops as the bath mat does fine. And as there is usually some stray water to be mopped up by the passenger or by the staff, I've always taken the view that the floors sort of clean themselves naturally.
The provided toiletries are Elemis products - there's shower gel, shampoo, hand wash and moisturiser (the latter two by the handbasin). Some other toiletries and equipment (eg shave gel and disposable razor) are available from the showers reception (although I think none of us would recommend the razor except in an emergency).
It's worth remembering that the showers are designed as wet rooms, so water can creep across the floors. Some showers are worse than others for this. So you may want to put your bags on the seat until after you've finished your shower. The bath mat is a useful device for mopping up stray water.
The staff do clean each shower after every passenger, but I couldn't say for sure how much attention is routinely given to the floors. Nevertheless, I've never bothered with anything like flip flops as the bath mat does fine. And as there is usually some stray water to be mopped up by the passenger or by the staff, I've always taken the view that the floors sort of clean themselves naturally.
The provided toiletries are Elemis products - there's shower gel, shampoo, hand wash and moisturiser (the latter two by the handbasin). Some other toiletries and equipment (eg shave gel and disposable razor) are available from the showers reception (although I think none of us would recommend the razor except in an emergency).