dylanks

The T3 FLounge is very pleasant this morning, very quiet and clean, attentive staff, and plenty of open seats. So much so that I've not found a reason to go to the CX or AA lounges. Spa treatments available though a fair wait (4+ hours), though no wait for a shower!

Contrast that with the TS Flounge yesterday which was rammed full. Though I did manage to find a menu and order a burger, much to the surprise of the many people seated near me yesterday afternoon.

corporate-wage-slave

Just to put a note here, I've added something to the CCR wiki and I'll probably put notes in the main Flounge and CCR threads over time. There have been a few comments about this already but just to make things clear:

First Pre-Flight Dining - T3 First Class Lounge

There is a First Dining Room inside T3 - in the evenings this is for First travellers (as opposed to Gold cardholders) plus a few others. This is open to general use until approx 17:30 hrs on a self serve basis, when a trolley goes across the entrance. It then offers the CCR menu from 18:30 onwards to eligible passengers. The CCR dining thread is available via the Forum Dashboard. Full waiter(ess) service from this point onwards at the table. This is what the sign says:



This actually looks like the old sign, if my memory serves correctly.

CCR Cardholders: I used this yesterday, I was led through by the Specials so I wasn't able to check eligibility in a direct sense, however I recognised the BaxterStorey lounge manager (she has worked in the Lounges a long time) and without prompting she said CCR cardholders were welcome. So ask for her if there is a problem. You will need the card, they do not have a membership file to hand, and the front desk is some distance away.

lost_in_translation

So am I to interpret the above as I'm not eligible as a JL F passenger along standard CCR lines or is it just saying I need to be a Gold in F on any airline?

corporate-wage-slave

Correct. You can still use the rest of the lounge, including the order menu, but you can't use the First dining area in the evening. (I actually think Qantas is a mistake, now the Joint Business agreement is over they shouldn't get access, that is why I think it is an old sign but it is clearly displayed on the pulpit).

lost_in_translation

Thank you! Was the additional Qantas bit that made me question how I was reading it.

ASUDan130

So is this a new enhancement for F dining? How I amu nderstanding it They are getting rid of the old F lounge menu and now its using anexpanded menu from the CCR that they are currently using?

Land-of-Miles

The pre-flight dining will not be a lot of good for my YVR flight next month then given the departure time. Why not offer the CCR menu form lunchtime?

corporate-wage-slave

Not quite, the Dining Room in the far right corner of FLounge T3 is reserved for a CCR menu for a few hours primarily for (at the moment) the late Cape Town service. The rest of the lounge will stay on the existing First menu.

themapelligroup

I noticed that sign last week when I first used the BA Flounge, although I was able to sit in the dining area during my meal as I was there before 17.30.

I have to say that I preferred the CX lounge, BA was very quiet but I didn't really like the ambience and the artificial lighting (T5 Flounge spoiled me in that sense). Furnishing seemed a little tired as well, not a bad lounge overall but CX has my preference in T3.

corporate-wage-slave

This is a bit of a repeat of other recent postings just for completeness here - the Cathay lounge is about to close until June 2016, its last day being Thursday this week.

Tobias-UK

Or indeed the MIA and LAS flights.

ASUDan130

Aside from the Cape Town flight wouldn't also be there designed to service the Qantas flight to Sydney that leaves late in the evening as well?

corporate-wage-slave

In theory yes, going by the sign. I have my doubts that should be allowed, however.

themapelligroup

Just in time then! Can't wait to visit the renovated lounge. In the meantime I'll stick to BA for my YVRs.

Flythe96flag

Interesting development...

I'm curious to see whether this will ever be rolled out to an all-day service, or at least from an earlier time... Seeing as I rarely fly from T3 in the evenings.

There's a couple things I was wondering about this... As a CCR holder, am I able to use the pre-flight dining even if not travelling on BA. I'm assuming yes, if showing your CCR card is sufficient for entry?