Last edit by: Prospero
Two routes will be moving to LGW South ahead of the formal move date.
from 11 January 2017: BA2273 will depart for JFK out of the South Terminal
from 12 January 2017: BA2272 will arrive into the South Terminal from JFK
from 19 January 2017: BA Naples flights will operate in/out of the South Terminal
Customers on these flights should check in at Zone A within the South Terminal
from 25 January 2017: all other BA flights will operate in/out of the South Terminal.
The BA First and Terraces lounges in the North Terminal closed on the evening of 04 January 2016. BA passengers can now use the No.1 Lounge and My Lounge in the North Terminal until the date BA moves its operations to the South Terminal (currently estimated to happen in November 2016), where there will be a new British Airways lounge. The new British Airways lounge in the South Terminal is anticipated to follow the latest concept found at EDI, GLA, IAD, CPT and SIN, and will include a dedicated area for First and oneworld Emerald passengers. It is not yet clear what form this area will take (ie. whether it will be a separate First lounge or include a Concorde Bar/Dining concept). For more information, see here and here
For information on the temporary lounge arrangements in LGW North, see this thread:
Temporary BA Lounge at LGW North - No. 1 Lounge - Photos, reviews, questions
By way of guidance, the above Lounge thread is for direct questions and experiences on the No. 1 lounge, whereas the thread here below is suitable for discussing the broader issues arising from the move to South.
from 11 January 2017: BA2273 will depart for JFK out of the South Terminal
from 12 January 2017: BA2272 will arrive into the South Terminal from JFK
from 19 January 2017: BA Naples flights will operate in/out of the South Terminal
Customers on these flights should check in at Zone A within the South Terminal
from 25 January 2017: all other BA flights will operate in/out of the South Terminal.
The BA First and Terraces lounges in the North Terminal closed on the evening of 04 January 2016. BA passengers can now use the No.1 Lounge and My Lounge in the North Terminal until the date BA moves its operations to the South Terminal (currently estimated to happen in November 2016), where there will be a new British Airways lounge. The new British Airways lounge in the South Terminal is anticipated to follow the latest concept found at EDI, GLA, IAD, CPT and SIN, and will include a dedicated area for First and oneworld Emerald passengers. It is not yet clear what form this area will take (ie. whether it will be a separate First lounge or include a Concorde Bar/Dining concept). For more information, see here and here
For information on the temporary lounge arrangements in LGW North, see this thread:
Temporary BA Lounge at LGW North - No. 1 Lounge - Photos, reviews, questions
By way of guidance, the above Lounge thread is for direct questions and experiences on the No. 1 lounge, whereas the thread here below is suitable for discussing the broader issues arising from the move to South.
BA to move to LGW South Terminal Nov 2016 [revised to 25 Jan 2017]
#481
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Buckinghamshire
Programs: BAEC Gold Guest List, Hilton Honours Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 2,303
I'd be astonished if they changed the terms of the One World agreement if BA are telling their pax they are welcome to use the No1 lounge. For example, not allowing you to guest someone in.
Additionally: Taking people's number to let them know when there is a free space?! It's hardly a top West End London restaurant. If it's full when we fly out in 10 days time we'll simply have breakfast in Jamie's upstairs.
Additionally: Taking people's number to let them know when there is a free space?! It's hardly a top West End London restaurant. If it's full when we fly out in 10 days time we'll simply have breakfast in Jamie's upstairs.
#482
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,223
I've just had a conversation with BA on Twitter about this. Apparently, entry to No. 1 Traveller lounge is offered "as long as capacity allows". Given that the Club lounge at Gatwick was about the same size as the No. 1 Traveller lounge and now all BA's passengers have to fit in there also I suspect this is going to be a significant issue. I can see a situation whereby Club World / First passengers who've paid thousands for tickets are turned away at the door.
Next I asked about what was included in the lounge. Apparently, champagne is not complimentary whereas it is in the BA lounge. I think this is a really poor show by BA. They could easily have ensured that production of an eligible boarding pass (status or passenger in Premium cabin) could have had ensured access to complimentary champagne. This all smacks of cheapness by BA. I've got three tickets in Club World in April and suddenly we're not guaranteed lounge access and there's no complimentary champagne if we do manage to.
Yes - it's a first world problem - but if you've paid for something I really think you should receive it.
Next I asked about what was included in the lounge. Apparently, champagne is not complimentary whereas it is in the BA lounge. I think this is a really poor show by BA. They could easily have ensured that production of an eligible boarding pass (status or passenger in Premium cabin) could have had ensured access to complimentary champagne. This all smacks of cheapness by BA. I've got three tickets in Club World in April and suddenly we're not guaranteed lounge access and there's no complimentary champagne if we do manage to.
Yes - it's a first world problem - but if you've paid for something I really think you should receive it.
#483
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London
Posts: 1,542
I've been using the No1 for a few years - it does get crowded in there. In the last few months, they've remodelled the space to add some more seating/tables by the bar area. But I'll be amazed if they don't suffer overcrowding issues now that the BA lounge customers are added to the existing customer base.
#484
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BA Silver (OWS)
Posts: 654
I last visited the No 1 lounge in mid-2014, and it was quite crowded then with PP holders and the like. I would hope BA and No 1 have guesstimated demand in reaching this agreement, but who knows.
#485
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: London
Programs: BAEC bouncing from Blue to Gold to Blue VSFC Red CXGreen Club Accor Platinum Hilton Silver.
Posts: 911
the Last time I used No1 at LGW we had paid access and we left within 10 mins nowhere to sit rude staff due to my bag and I were in her way. thankfully I have no plans to use LGW for the foreseeable future and will be actively avoiding, that's from someone who previously avoided LHR....
John
John
#486
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,223
Apparently Champagne in the lounge is not a guaranteed benefit now but "subject to availability". I suppose the point in all this is that Champagne is "available" but BA just won't pay for it.
It beggers belief that BA choose to treat their premium cabin passengers like this and then when challenged over it just make up a new policy. Talk about misselling their product.
It beggers belief that BA choose to treat their premium cabin passengers like this and then when challenged over it just make up a new policy. Talk about misselling their product.
#487
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: BA GOLD
Posts: 601
#488
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Apparently Champagne in the lounge is not a guaranteed benefit now but "subject to availability". I suppose the point in all this is that Champagne is "available" but BA just won't pay for it.
It beggers belief that BA choose to treat their premium cabin passengers like this and then when challenged over it just make up a new policy. Talk about misselling their product.
It beggers belief that BA choose to treat their premium cabin passengers like this and then when challenged over it just make up a new policy. Talk about misselling their product.
Champagne was available in the BA lounge but a day later it is mysteriously unavailable in the No 1. Cost cutting special of the day.
#490
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brighton, UK
Programs: BA Gold, IC Ambassador, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Fairmont Platinum
Posts: 3,166
I must say as a very regular user of LGW, who actually found it in many ways preferable to LHR, I shall now be very much restricting my flights from LGW (probably to a few JERs), if what has been posted in this thread so far is remotely true.
No Champagne at a BA home hub. Not just no vintage Champagne, no ros Champagne, but no complimentary Champagne at all! If BA pax can be given chits in AA lounges for free alcoholic drinks, is it beyond the ingenuity of BA's Gatwick management to agree the same with No.1?
In the case of LGW premium flyers, many are leisure travellers who have paid their own dime and want the full BA premium experience. No Champagne for a GCH flying in F. Need I say more.
As for lounge capacity restrictions, BA's own only ever affected guests on very rare occasions, usually huge number of IRROPS.
In this case BA should have agreed that its own pax, by virtue of cabin or status, must always be admitted, but any restriction can be applied to guests.
The idea that someone flying an cheap LCC SH flight will be allowed in if they pay, but a BA F passenger will be turned away "due to capacity restrictions" is frankly ridiculous.
If I were BA, I'd just rip out all the J (and F) seats in your LGW 777s, as I doubt you'll be wanting to fly them empty come mid-2016.
LGW's owners have presumably done a deal with BA to cover the move to the South terminal and the interim arrangements. That ought to cover continuance lounge provision in more or less its existing form. A separate F lounge might be pushing it (but premium drinks and free food for F and GCHs would not), but limited capacity and no free Champagne is hardly anything like existing provision. It smacks of an inexperienced junior manager trying to be clever.
It would be interesting to know who is pocketing the saving on this one - LGW's owners or BA.
No Champagne at a BA home hub. Not just no vintage Champagne, no ros Champagne, but no complimentary Champagne at all! If BA pax can be given chits in AA lounges for free alcoholic drinks, is it beyond the ingenuity of BA's Gatwick management to agree the same with No.1?
In the case of LGW premium flyers, many are leisure travellers who have paid their own dime and want the full BA premium experience. No Champagne for a GCH flying in F. Need I say more.
As for lounge capacity restrictions, BA's own only ever affected guests on very rare occasions, usually huge number of IRROPS.
In this case BA should have agreed that its own pax, by virtue of cabin or status, must always be admitted, but any restriction can be applied to guests.
The idea that someone flying an cheap LCC SH flight will be allowed in if they pay, but a BA F passenger will be turned away "due to capacity restrictions" is frankly ridiculous.
If I were BA, I'd just rip out all the J (and F) seats in your LGW 777s, as I doubt you'll be wanting to fly them empty come mid-2016.
LGW's owners have presumably done a deal with BA to cover the move to the South terminal and the interim arrangements. That ought to cover continuance lounge provision in more or less its existing form. A separate F lounge might be pushing it (but premium drinks and free food for F and GCHs would not), but limited capacity and no free Champagne is hardly anything like existing provision. It smacks of an inexperienced junior manager trying to be clever.
It would be interesting to know who is pocketing the saving on this one - LGW's owners or BA.
#491
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BAEC silver
Posts: 775
In seeing what LGW and BA has become, I imagine BA premium pax will be turned away unless you pull out your wallet or a valid membership card for one of the eligible schemes.
#492
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Wedged somewhere between BTS and VIE ✈
Programs: Star Alliance Gold (A3 Gold), Oneworld Emerald (BA Gold), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,336
I know that the current arrangements aren't ideal, but previous (non-BA) users of the No. 1 Lounge will also be suffering now.
#493
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,448
If I were a passenger who had the option of using the No 1 Lounge by paying out of my own pocket (and previously had), I'd be pretty annoyed at not being able to use the lounge because BA had more or less taken it over. BA passengers don't have any more rights to use the lounge than paying passengers.
I know that the current arrangements aren't ideal, but previous (non-BA) users of the No. 1 Lounge will also be suffering now.
I know that the current arrangements aren't ideal, but previous (non-BA) users of the No. 1 Lounge will also be suffering now.
#494
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Surbiton
Programs: Virgin Silver, BA Exec, Oman Gold, Starwood, MAS, Emirates, Hilton
Posts: 43
I have had champagne served in the No.1 traveller lounge whilst travelling on another airline in business class. The lounge agent just handed us a little card to show the barman, after examining our boarding passes to gain access, so BA could easily have negotiated it as part of their contract.
#495
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BA Silver (OWS)
Posts: 654
This at least presents a solution if overcrowding is indeed a problem (which we don't know yet, with no actual experience in the thread!). BA could make similar agreements with the other lounges.