First time in LGW First lounge - Disappointed.
May 10, 2018, 4:48 am
#16
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,393
I’m of the view that in reality, it’s no less possible for a top-tier, first class, lounge to distinguish itself significantly from a business class lounge than it is for a first class cabin to distinguish itself from a business class cabin ............ or a five-star hotel from a three star.
Now ..... a couple of hours or so spent waiting for a flight is always going to be a different experience than that which a top quality hotel aims to deliver during the course of say, a full week - or even a one-night stay. But quality is quality regardless of timespans.
May 10, 2018, 4:56 am
#18
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LHR, LGW
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,396
Yes, it ultimately comes down to the question of investment ; and just how much importance you choose to attach to providing a noticeably superior facility to your high status and high value customers (and I appreciate that those two groups may not necessarily be one and the same .... !).
I’m of the view that in reality, it’s no less possible for a top-tier, first class, lounge to distinguish itself from a business class lounge than it is for a first class cabin to distinguish itself from a business class cabin ............ or a five-star hotel from a three star.
It is certainly possible to distinguish in my opinion.
May 10, 2018, 4:58 am
#20
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,157
I've been to both a few times. I think the Club lounge is great at LGW but prefer the First lounge as:
- table service / food to order is pretty good: I like the BA burger before a flight
- better drink offering: nice champagne on free-pour
- quieter: always pretty quiet in my experience which at peak times is definitely not the case in the Club lounge...also, because it's predominantly GCH/OWE rather than true 'First Class' there are very few people in there for whom the lounge is a novelty or treat: so people (by and large) behave a bit more normally...whereas in Club I've been subjected a few times to the stag/hen do type groups attempting to drink the bar dry, the guy making several phone calls basically just to tell people he's "in the lounge" (yawn) etc etc., the people tutting at the mere thought of my (very quiet, well-behaved) toddler being in the lounge at all - I will get flamed for this but at least in the Flounge everyone is a frequent flyer and by and large is a bit more normal about the whole thing
- table service / food to order is pretty good: I like the BA burger before a flight
- better drink offering: nice champagne on free-pour
- quieter: always pretty quiet in my experience which at peak times is definitely not the case in the Club lounge...also, because it's predominantly GCH/OWE rather than true 'First Class' there are very few people in there for whom the lounge is a novelty or treat: so people (by and large) behave a bit more normally...whereas in Club I've been subjected a few times to the stag/hen do type groups attempting to drink the bar dry, the guy making several phone calls basically just to tell people he's "in the lounge" (yawn) etc etc., the people tutting at the mere thought of my (very quiet, well-behaved) toddler being in the lounge at all - I will get flamed for this but at least in the Flounge everyone is a frequent flyer and by and large is a bit more normal about the whole thing
May 10, 2018, 5:06 am
#21
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kazakhstan
Programs: BA Gold, AirAstana Silver (much use as chocolate teapot)
Posts: 867
I really like it. I tend to be on morning flights, sit in the same place, in the corner overlooking the runway, have a nice full English, couple of glasses of fizz. It\s nice & quiet, uncrowded. I think I prefer it to T5 First lounge.
May 10, 2018, 5:24 am
#22
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,157
I way prefer LGW Flounge to T5Flounge (which is always really crowded and looks a bit tatty now - terrace aside which is quite a nice open space) - LGW Flounge is what I really want from a lounge - nice and quiet with somewhere to sit and watch the planes and drink champagne !!
May 10, 2018, 5:26 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA, U2+, SK, AF/KL, IHG, Hilton, others gathering dust...
Posts: 2,551
I would say the food is better in the Flounge, though the breakfast buffet has tended to run out and not be refilled often enough on some of my visits. Also noticed on previous visits that the wine is sometimes the same in both lounges (self-pour bubbles aside). Agree the LGW Club lounge is of a pretty good standard which narrows the gap, but except in cases of overcrowding, I'd still turn left.
Personally I would take the LHR Flounge over the LGW equivalent anytime, everyone's different.
Personally I would take the LHR Flounge over the LGW equivalent anytime, everyone's different.
May 10, 2018, 5:32 am
#25
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Henley-On-Thames
Programs: BAEC Silver (but only temporarily) AVIS Presidents Club, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 486
May 10, 2018, 5:37 am
#26
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,393
May 10, 2018, 5:37 am
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
Posts: 801
You drink a couple of glasses of wine with your breakfast...?
May 10, 2018, 5:39 am
#28
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: West Sussex
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 897
I think perhaps problem is that the Club lounge in LGW is to a very high standard with plenty of space, attractively laid out, that the First lounge isn't that much of an improvement, particularly when the OP has discounted out the permanent hot food options (and yes the food is different to Club) and the order menu. There is also better alcohol in First lounge, again only of interest to some potentially. However it is twice as big as the previous First lounge and now open much longer hours than North which used to close at 4pm in its final dire status. In the afternoon it can be quite restful if there are a lot of children in Club, and the view in First is great, in my view. Still, people have the choice, and as noted on the main Gatwick thread (in the Dashboard), if you have eaten in First then there may be case to find a nice spot in Club for a drink or two.
I like the quiet ambience (far quieter than GF @ T5), the view is great especially if you snag the right seat near the window. I find the ordering service very efficient and the improved alcohol selection is very welcomed.
So whilst it isn't "wow", I do enjoy my time there and in now way am underwhelmed.
Last edited by BillyBleach; May 14, 2018 at 4:50 am
