Smid

It is. For multi millionaires. Not for the rest of us.

Took me ages to find a WH Smith last time I was looking, just to buy some coke for the plane, not going to nick it from the lounge or buy onboard. I didn't realise there was one right underneath the lounges, and had to walk absolutely ages to find somewhere which sold coke...

Tobias-UK

That is questionable, both in reality and legally.

Ancient Observer

mrvincent is spot on. I have never worked in catering, but have bought it in a previous corporate life. As soon as big numbers of "guests" are to be catered for, a decent firm can make big improvements with a few extra pennies per head.
This is nothing like restaurants and their a la carte rip offs.

Sealink

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/cliff...b_5903598.html

ManchesterBAFlyer

It is all about the money. BS will provide what BA pays it to provide. I went to the head office of one of BS' main competitors recently, a company which has managed catering contracts on a variety of sites I've worked on. On some sites the food was inedible, on others it was top end restaurant quality. In their head office - wow it was amazing!

Tobias-UK

No. IIRC the bidders were given the budget in advance and were asked to tender their proposition within tha budget. BA preferred the BS proposition.

stifle

For future reference go to Boots (located on the way to gates A1-A7, or pretty much directly under Galleries Club North). They’re cheaper than WHSmith.

Pascoe

Basically agree - I find that as my home and work life combined are so hectic, the actual travel parts of my business trips, even if I am busy working much of the time, still feel like 'me time'.

Any work I get done (ie real output, not just replying to emails etc) are kind of a bonus, and in the meantime no-one is pulling on my time, the nipper isn't lying on his back having a tantrum (or worse).

Hence I tend to err on the side of 'caution' in timing my arrivals at the airport etc.

xenole

I've spent many hours sitting in lounges.
Once the first couple of hours of trying the menus has passed, I'm generally feeling full and the novelty starts to wear off.

I've no interest walking around endless clothes shops, duty free shops and looking at electronics I'm not going to buy. Even if I do, 15 minutes and that's my fill.

Even in places like Hong Kong, once I've done various touristy and non-touristy bits and pieces, sometimes I just want to get out of the crowded streets into a lounge.
Sometimes wandering the streets to waste 3-4 hours is just as boring as sitting in a lounge or you may not have quite enough time to venture too far off the beaten trail.

I usually go to Boots next to South security at LHR or sometimes downstairs to WHSmiths for a bottle of Diet Pepsi. Not a Coke fan.

Last caterers we had a work provided bowls of crisps, wedges of cake and various ham / cheese etc. sandwiches and all went down well. Nothing majorly fancy and everyone got something with loads to spare.

Filthy Monkey

I love the shops in T5! In fact, I do most of my clothes shopping there, particularly for coats and shoes. If there's something I want that's not in store, most of the shops will get it in, so I get to save a fair bit of money and earn points on my Heathrow Rewards card. I recently converted points to cash and had over Ł500 to spend, so it does pay off!

As far as the lounges go, if, for example, I have an evening flight, I'll happily turn up to the CCR a few hours ahead of my flight and work from there, rather than home / office as it's always nicer to do so with food and drinks service.

Disco Volante

When you say IIRC, where do you recall that information from?

Tobias-UK

A discussion I had with someone who is/was employed by one of the parties.

PUCCI GALORE

I nearly choked on my coffee. You naughty boy. Of course. They say that behind every clowns mask is a sad person.

I just have visions of all these people pulling up the rugs to find dirt after scrabbling around on the aircraft floor to find a few crumbs, wine bottles not in the chiller, or other scandalous tidbits to fill this chatboard rather than dealing with it. I’ll bet not one person has a a Lounge Manager out and confronted them or Baxter Sordid.

Still it makes for entertaininme if it’s too early or late for Jeremy Kyle n

hanmer

I apologise for going off topic. But as some of you questioned why I would spend an 11 hour layover in a lounge at T5, earlier in the thread. I thought I would give a follow up. My 11 hour layover is tomorrow (19/10). I am currently writing this from the JFK First lounge where I will be for the next six hours (today being 18/10). I did surprise the check in lady and the lounge angel at my early arrival. But what can I say I like flying, I like visiting lounges to me it is my own money and it is part of my trip. I suppose in my 11 hour layover I can visit all of the BA lounges in T5, (although I have already done that before). I spend a lot of time in London so I have no interest in leaving the airport during the 11 hours, as I will be in central London on Friday and Saturday anyway.

To go back on topic..... I dont care who the food contract goes to as long as I can find something which I like to eat. To that end I dont go hungry in BA's lounges at T5 so therefore I dont care who has the contract. I will only care when I find nothing to eat or edible.

Bri

subject2load

@ hanmer - IIRC, I myself was amongst those who 'questioned' your plan. So thanks for reverting with an answer ^

I must be honest and say that I'm still totally baffled & bemused. Never imagined that free food could be quite so attractive ! But hey... it's your own time and decision. I can't see that you're doing any harm to anyone else ; and there is, AFAIK, no law against it. Have fun !