BA ABZ Lounge Closing 30 July 2017 [to be refurbished]
Aug 1, 2017, 5:33 am
#76
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Honors Diamond, Mucci de buveur de gin
Posts: 3,060
Ever-generous BA giving Silver elites a £5 ($6.60) voucher. Usage restrictions include no alcohol nor duty free. Nor can it be used on-board.
Departed ABZ mid-afternoon 31 July, the first day of lounge closure: A landside restaurant refused to honour 'light refreshment' voucher on burger plus pint deal because the bundle included beer. Offered frank & forthright feedback to BA's check-in manager at ABZ. He promised to share all feedback with BA & I wasn't the first Silver flyer to complain about the voucher's low value & restrictions.
No end-date for BA's lounge closure has been set. ABZ is moving security into the area now used by BA's old lounge. It is troubling that ground staff has very little information and are not empowered to resolve complaints. ABZ charges £25 to access its shiny upstairs 'Northern Lights' Lounge (or £15 as Priority Pass guest). I expect a voucher to cover, at minimum, what I'd likely consume in a BA lounge (£15+, including any food & beverage). Ground staff explained to me that access to ABZ's lounge is restricted due to capacity issues. Since this airport fleeces passengers £2 to drive to the curb, IMHO BA and ABZ are just cutting costs and keeping space free for paid users in ABZ's multi-airline lounge. Very disappointing and yet another reason to avoid BA at ABZ.
Departed ABZ mid-afternoon 31 July, the first day of lounge closure: A landside restaurant refused to honour 'light refreshment' voucher on burger plus pint deal because the bundle included beer. Offered frank & forthright feedback to BA's check-in manager at ABZ. He promised to share all feedback with BA & I wasn't the first Silver flyer to complain about the voucher's low value & restrictions.
No end-date for BA's lounge closure has been set. ABZ is moving security into the area now used by BA's old lounge. It is troubling that ground staff has very little information and are not empowered to resolve complaints. ABZ charges £25 to access its shiny upstairs 'Northern Lights' Lounge (or £15 as Priority Pass guest). I expect a voucher to cover, at minimum, what I'd likely consume in a BA lounge (£15+, including any food & beverage). Ground staff explained to me that access to ABZ's lounge is restricted due to capacity issues. Since this airport fleeces passengers £2 to drive to the curb, IMHO BA and ABZ are just cutting costs and keeping space free for paid users in ABZ's multi-airline lounge. Very disappointing and yet another reason to avoid BA at ABZ.
Aug 1, 2017, 6:10 am
#77
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Aberdeen
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 751
Not much wonder they wanted to keep that quiet, it's disgraceful, I like "lounge access" for the "lounge access"!
Sometimes I don't eat and drink - rarely I'll admit - but it's the actual lounge I like, and have qualified for through gaining Silver. Ok I'm Gold now, but I have friends and family who are Silver and are really disappointed. Very poor decision BA - again.
Sometimes I don't eat and drink - rarely I'll admit - but it's the actual lounge I like, and have qualified for through gaining Silver. Ok I'm Gold now, but I have friends and family who are Silver and are really disappointed. Very poor decision BA - again.
Aug 1, 2017, 6:42 am
#78
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Aberdeen
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold
Posts: 751
One Silver friend has asked about guests. £5 each or between two? I think I know the answer...
Aug 1, 2017, 7:06 am
#79
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Honors Diamond, Mucci de buveur de gin
Posts: 3,060
Aug 1, 2017, 9:14 am
#80
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 246
On a more positive note, I really like the new Northern Lights lounge: the décor is elegant, the service friendly and competent as ever, and the F&B offering good (my husband is particularly looking forward to the Lorne sausage on his next visit 
). Speaking to one of the staff members, they too prefer it to the previous 'cave' (her description). It's certainly lovely having runway views.
It does seem a bit off not to give Silver members access considering the size of the lounge, but I suppose numbers, especially combined with presumably high numbers of KL/LH members at ABZ, might present capacity problems at times. However, surely access could be restricted - as it is currently in other lounges, in theory, at least - at busy times, and vouchers issued then if necessary?
). Speaking to one of the staff members, they too prefer it to the previous 'cave' (her description). It's certainly lovely having runway views.It does seem a bit off not to give Silver members access considering the size of the lounge, but I suppose numbers, especially combined with presumably high numbers of KL/LH members at ABZ, might present capacity problems at times. However, surely access could be restricted - as it is currently in other lounges, in theory, at least - at busy times, and vouchers issued then if necessary?
Last edited by ABZGirl; Aug 1, 2017 at 9:21 am
Aug 1, 2017, 9:39 am
#81
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Honors Diamond, Mucci de buveur de gin
Posts: 3,060
On a more positive note, I really like the new Northern Lights lounge: the décor is elegant, the service friendly and competent as ever, and the F&B offering good (my husband is particularly looking forward to the Lorne sausage on his next visit ). Speaking to one of the staff members, they too prefer it to the previous 'cave' (her description). It's certainly lovely having runway views.
It does seem a bit off not to give Silver members access considering the size of the lounge, but I suppose numbers, especially combined with presumably high numbers of KL/LH members at ABZ, might present capacity problems at times. However, surely access could be restricted - as it is currently in other lounges, in theory, at least - at busy times, and vouchers issued then if necessary?
). Speaking to one of the staff members, they too prefer it to the previous 'cave' (her description). It's certainly lovely having runway views.It does seem a bit off not to give Silver members access considering the size of the lounge, but I suppose numbers, especially combined with presumably high numbers of KL/LH members at ABZ, might present capacity problems at times. However, surely access could be restricted - as it is currently in other lounges, in theory, at least - at busy times, and vouchers issued then if necessary?
Aug 1, 2017, 12:27 pm
#82
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Aberdeen
Programs: BA Gold, Flying Blue Plat, UA Silver, Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold Ambassador
Posts: 537
You'd think so, wouldn't you? I'm thinking between 12-3 when I don't think there are usually any KL/AF/LH flights. But then I suppose that would be, in effect, one rule for Silvers who fly at one time and another for those who fly at a different time. You'll never keep everyone happy. Well apart from us Golds who get access
Aug 1, 2017, 1:15 pm
#83
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,252
Aug 1, 2017, 1:27 pm
#84
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,991
Aug 1, 2017, 1:31 pm
#85
Join Date: May 2009
Location: London
Programs: BA
Posts: 1,410
I flew BA out of ABZ today and was able to sample the temporary lounge offering 'The Northern Lights'. I was extremely impressed to be honest - both for the food and drink offerings, particularly focusing on locally sourced options. I can potentially see why BA have limited it to CE and Gold passengers - there's plenty of space, but I imagine the cost per head is large.
I managed to span the breakfast and lunch offerings, which were a significant improvement on what we used to get downstairs in Terraces. Would have been nice to try some of the Brewdog beers, but was driving upon arrival.
Staff were friendly, and the entire place was spotless. I'm including a few photos as I don't think anyone has posted any yet.
I managed to span the breakfast and lunch offerings, which were a significant improvement on what we used to get downstairs in Terraces. Would have been nice to try some of the Brewdog beers, but was driving upon arrival.
Staff were friendly, and the entire place was spotless. I'm including a few photos as I don't think anyone has posted any yet.
Aug 1, 2017, 2:42 pm
#86
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: ABZ
Programs: BA Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador
Posts: 98
Wow! That was incredibly comprehensive - cheers for that!
I'll be swinging by the lounge on Thursday. If it hasn't been answered on this thread by then, I'll also ask about the rules surrounding guests - i.e. can BAEC Gold still invite a guest in, and do BAEC Silver members get two vouchers, or just one...
I'll be swinging by the lounge on Thursday. If it hasn't been answered on this thread by then, I'll also ask about the rules surrounding guests - i.e. can BAEC Gold still invite a guest in, and do BAEC Silver members get two vouchers, or just one...
Aug 1, 2017, 2:57 pm
#87
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,211
Looks pretty good. ^
Apart from the fry-up that is. The tattie scone especially looks peely-wally.
Apart from the fry-up that is. The tattie scone especially looks peely-wally.
Aug 1, 2017, 2:58 pm
#88
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Honors Diamond, Mucci de buveur de gin
Posts: 3,060
Wow! Best BA lounge in the network now....?! Hehehehe
Aug 1, 2017, 3:47 pm
#89
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,252
