First Wing at T5
May 20, 2017, 2:28 am
#721
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,926
I asked both Alex Cruz and Troy Warfield about the CCR's future and both were very clear and unequivocal in their response - the CCR is here to stay.
May 20, 2017, 2:30 am
#722
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: BAEC (Gold), SPG (Lifetime Plat), Star Alliance, One World, Virgin (Gold)
Posts: 211
I still don't understand why the First Class Lounge is called the First Class lounge when in fact it is a business class lounge and the real First Class Lounge is called the Concorde Lounge... all a bit misleading to me... but hey ho...
May 20, 2017, 2:38 am
#723
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,926
It is not a business class lounge, travelling in business class will not allow you access. The First Class lounge is for passengers travelling in (or connecting from) first class on oneworld airlines and for oneworld Emerald frequent flyers. The CCR is for passengers who are flying in First on BA.
May 20, 2017, 3:02 am
#724
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,741
It is not a business class lounge, travelling in business class will not allow you access. The First Class lounge is for passengers travelling in (or connecting from) first class on oneworld airlines and for oneworld Emerald frequent flyers. The CCR is for passengers who are flying in First on BA.
That said, I'm happy enough when I get in there...
May 20, 2017, 3:02 am
#725
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: BAEC (Gold), SPG (Lifetime Plat), Star Alliance, One World, Virgin (Gold)
Posts: 211
It is not a business class lounge, travelling in business class will not allow you access. The First Class lounge is for passengers travelling in (or connecting from) first class on oneworld airlines and for oneworld Emerald frequent flyers. The CCR is for passengers who are flying in First on BA.
The one and only negative I have found about the Wing is for some reason the Galleries F lounge is now generally heaving. Whether the CCR room passengers cant be bothered to go into the CCR or whether there is another reason why, but I have certainly noticed the F lounge is filling up much quicker and on occasions, finding 'real estate' can be a challenge.
I hear through the grapevine, there may soon be some design changes to the lounges..
May 20, 2017, 3:04 am
#726
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,435
The CCR is about the same standard (champagne aside) as 4 LHR business lounges - VS, UA, EY and QR.
However the First Wing is a genuine enhancement and brings the check in and security experience in line and even beyond Virgin at T3.
However the First Wing is a genuine enhancement and brings the check in and security experience in line and even beyond Virgin at T3.
May 20, 2017, 3:11 am
#727
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,926
May 20, 2017, 3:15 am
#728
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: BAEC (Gold), SPG (Lifetime Plat), Star Alliance, One World, Virgin (Gold)
Posts: 211
The one enhancement I think would work for the First Wing is to move one member of staff from the front end to the entry point in the F lounge, just to welcome/greet and direct passengers to where they would like to go..
May 20, 2017, 3:17 am
#729
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,926
As for the quality of the provisions, that's a subjective point and a discussion I am not getting involved in.
May 20, 2017, 3:35 am
#730
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,741
Of course it's a First Class lounge, BA has designated that way for the exclusive use of first class passengers and OWE - ergo it is a First Class lounge. BA provides Business Class lounges for business class passengers and OWS. Nothing misleading about it at all.
As for the quality of the provisions, that's a subjective point and a discussion I am not getting involved in.
As for the quality of the provisions, that's a subjective point and a discussion I am not getting involved in.
But, lets agree to disagree...
May 20, 2017, 3:46 am
#731
Join Date: May 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 5,380
You make it sound like it is not a proper F class lounge but a business class one. If you were right about that, what would that make the three galleries club lounges? You seem a little hard on BA in this regard.
May 20, 2017, 3:56 am
#732
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: UK/Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 15,926
I really don't understand your difficulty in accepting or understanding that concept.
May 20, 2017, 4:14 am
#733
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: BAEC (Gold), SPG (Lifetime Plat), Star Alliance, One World, Virgin (Gold)
Posts: 211
@Tobias - its not just about how a lounge in named - its about what's inside.
I actually prefer the Galleries First over the CCR (even when travelling First), but apart from their names, you can not put either lounge in the same category as the LH, CX or QF, First Class lounges & probably some ME lounges.
May be First in name, but like BA F class itself, it is not a First class experience. Can you imagine being in any of the "real" First class lounges and having to put up with the filthy tables you get at LHR.
I see staff are now leaving trays on trestle tables for the rubbish to pile up.
Sure its First class in name - but not in service.
I actually prefer the Galleries First over the CCR (even when travelling First), but apart from their names, you can not put either lounge in the same category as the LH, CX or QF, First Class lounges & probably some ME lounges.
May be First in name, but like BA F class itself, it is not a First class experience. Can you imagine being in any of the "real" First class lounges and having to put up with the filthy tables you get at LHR.
I see staff are now leaving trays on trestle tables for the rubbish to pile up.
Sure its First class in name - but not in service.
May 20, 2017, 4:16 am
#734
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,964
BA F passengers can go to the CCR though so that would be the comparison to any other airlines lounge for their F passengers.
May 20, 2017, 4:18 am
#735
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London, Sth Africa or LAS
Programs: VS Silver, BA Blue - finally; but hotels.com Gold :)
Posts: 1,858
Having now been thru the F Wing more than a handful of times, broadly I like. It takes away my previous choice of occasionally cutting thru North Fast Track, but the stroll Land-side on T5 departures level is nice enough (from HEX or Tube) and the wander through the F area and podiums and BP readers is pretty good.
I've noticed only one of the two scanner lanes operational my last three trips, but the tailback wasn't more than 60 secs or so.
Still can't get on with T5 F-lounge though ... the wi-fi is persistently awful, so I use the business centre terminals. And, what, its up to four advertising podiums now I think including two on the terrace. I do miss the CCR pre my evening hops short-haul
I've noticed only one of the two scanner lanes operational my last three trips, but the tailback wasn't more than 60 secs or so.
Still can't get on with T5 F-lounge though ... the wi-fi is persistently awful, so I use the business centre terminals. And, what, its up to four advertising podiums now I think including two on the terrace. I do miss the CCR pre my evening hops short-haul