Following the recommendations above, I had a full English in the CX F side yesterday. It was excellent, and of a slightly higher quality than what comes when you order off the menu (rather than using the buffet) at BA Galleries F. And there was toast (I didn't ask for it but it was appreciated).

Need to try AA F again. Have been avoiding it for years :D

Bright blue jacket?

Haha. No, sadly! Beige silk jacket and my colleage was wearing a blue suit. Sorry to have missed you; we were there from approximately 8:15 am to 9:30 am, sitting at the table along the back wall just behind the podium to the left as you enter the room.

Ah yes, I did see you then, I left the dining area as you pulled in.

CWS photographic T3 breakfast guide for Emeralds to follow.

Photo guide for hot breakfast options for BA Gold/Emerald/First passengers at T3

I have got together a set of photos which give the options for those able to get into the First lounges in T3. In the case of Qantas there's no difference, it's one business class and first lounge, buffet only, no order menu. In the case of Cathay there is effectively no buffet arrangement, it's order menu only but there is a hot buffet arrangement in their business section. AA and BA have both buffet and order menu options.

In the case of BA and AA, the business/Silver/Sapphire option is much reduced on the First options - for these passengers they probably best go to Qantas or Cathay instead if they want hot food, depending on tastes. For Emeralds, I think there are various nuances at play, and it's good that we have such a good selection available to us in T3.

So in alphabetical order:

American Airlines - International First lounge

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/oHmkpy.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/YFzeAD.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...922/LvBb1P.jpg

This is a new arrangement for AA, previously they used long trays on a hot plate. Essentially the options are the fewest in number compared to the alternatives, and also the departure of AA's own flights often makes this the busiest lounge in the mornings. Personally I wouldn't be heading for this lounge unless there were specific things of interest, perhaps on the order menu. AA is the only lounge with both freshly squeezed orange and grapefruit. The lounge is run by Rhubarb, with a high staff ratio, and that aspect counts in their favour. Tea and coffee is a bit of a disaster area here, but there are the pick and mix sweet jars. And very fast wifi (20 mb/s).

British Airways - Galleries First lounge

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/kcPLJO.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/E8q9E9.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...923/e2K3I4.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/qc8ebv.jpg

BA has the most comprehensive offering in terms of range of items, including the all important black pudding. There are 3 other areas for the cereals, porridge and fruit that I've not added here. I also think the arrangement of both dining area and lounge seating, buffet and menu, gives a good flexibility all round. BA also has the more comprehensive drinks options, and have the best tea range. It also open the longest hours of the lounges, opening at 05:00 hrs, closing at 22:30 hrs.

Cathay - First lounge

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...923/lDmU66.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/8...923/nmdO7k.jpg

For Cathay there is only the order menu, there is a buffet in the Business lounge, but First lounge users are not encouraged to eat outside the dining area. It takes about 8 minutes from order taken to delivery and it's cooked to order. The menu above also shows a diversity of other options not available in the other lounges. Slowest wifi of the lounges, 2 mb/s. The lounge opens at 05:30 except on Sundays when it is 07:30 hrs.

Qantas - London Lounge

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/iOugN0.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/6...924/gosrsl.jpg

The Qantas USP is the gin bar, on the ground floor, and I suspect breakfast is not their strongest offering, which may be later in the day. However there is a role for this lounge, in that it offers items not offered elsewhere, including healthier eating items. It also has a barista led coffee bar, with the best coffee option among the 4 lounges. In the last photo you will see 2 of the 4 hot trays, for bacon, sausage, scrambled egg and baked beans. If you wanted more of a continental breakfast with coffee, this is probably a good choice. The lounge only opens at 08:00 hrs.

On days when Qantas operate their own flights in the morning, the ground floor area is open for breakfast, and there is an à la carte menu also available to all passengers, including non Qantas travellers, at that time.

Hi,
I'll be passing through LHR T3 on my way to the US later this month. I will be flying in J but am only a bronze with BA which does not count for anything as far as lounge access goes. I will be landing around 0630 on BA in T5 and connecting to an AA flight at 0915 from T3. What would be my best option be in terms of lounges if I am looking for a shower and some hot breakfast? Sadly the CX lounge won't open till 0730 with that day being a Sunday otherwise the noodle bar would be something I'd have liked. Which of the lounges have the best showers? I am assuming the ones in BA lounge are similar to the ones in the T5 lounges and I would rather avoid those. How far are the AA gates from the other non AA lounges?

By the time you make it to T3, you'll be getting very close to 7:30 so CX may still be an option for you. Otherwise it's AA or BA lounges; the Qantas lounge opens around 8am it seems. I've only used the CX showers which are great, others will chime in on BA and AA showers.

AA gates are further away from CX, QF and BA lounges - probably 15-20 mins walk. Still leaves you with 45-60 mins at the CX lounge

Next Friday I am connecting in from Austin in CW at T5 at 10.00 then out to Budapest (12:55) from T3 in CE - I'll have made BAEC Gold by virtue of my outbound flights.

Which lounge is likely to be the best option for a quick shower at those times?

Cathay, followed by BA. QF and AA don't have the scale of the other options. The other 2 possibilities if you have plenty of time is BA T5 Arrivals (though that gives a slower landside transfer to T3) or the AA Arrivals lounge in T3, the latter has the best appointed showers of all.

Many thanks...it has been many moons since I've passed through T3 - all of a sudden it will be three times in a week....

The message is out there well and truly...arrived at CX F and there’s not a spare table in the restaurant. Never seen that before. And they’ve only Moët due to having run out of the (marginally better) Baron de Rothschild....

What time are you there? After 5pm the bank of CX flights depart so it could be legitimate CX travellers.

Please check out the QF lounge and report back on the crowds at this time.