bhbloke

For me, if you remove the Haagen Dazs from the IB lounges then there isn't much else on offer so they're not a patch on the BA T5 lounges.

Jed

Smid

I've never been in a LHR PP lounge. East Midlands had hot pies, pasta and salad. Luton had a pretty decent spread, as did Stansted. I must admit the Aspire in BHX wasn't great for food, but I usually chose that because of the self pour wine, over decent food in the other PP lounge there, with a bar which was barely staffed.

My memory of BA J food is bullet bacon rolls. A slop of some sort of tomato pasta which I'd probably turn down in a school canteen. I'd eat elsewhere in the airport over the BA J lounges which I remember.

I was gold for about three years, and since then I've pretty much flown from T3, so CX J for me, so not seen the BA J lounges since about 2014. I remember South being a zoo, north being a hellhole. B was nice because you could actually get a server for the champers, but the food was pretty much something I'd not touch.

Maybe next time in T5 I'll have a look if I fly from there. I don't expect much. PP lounges have upped their game in the last four years though.

corporate-wage-slave

Thanks for clarifying this, I don't think it reflects current reality. There have been some warmly supportive comments over some of the GC food changes in more recent times, such as the dual breakfast and salad lunch options in T5B and the later timings of the bacon rolls, and that there wouldn't be many people who would these days trade (e.g.) Aspire South for GC North or South, let alone B. I know Luton Aspire and Stansted Escape PP lounges well, and STN is used by BACF. And again they have about half the food options compared to GC. The one exception is at breakfast time when are some hot options available in PP not available in GC. For the salads there are 4 bowls in STN, 5 in LTN, GC has 7 salad items plus the tapas options and quiches. Both can be so crowded that PP cardholders aren't always allowed entry unless they pay extra and pre-book. In the case of STN the protocol is to split that queue into two, with the first 8 passengers downstairs by the lounge entrance, anyone else is kept upstairs by the corridor to the WCs. If you think that is better than North, even on a bad day, then I would have to gently disagree.

schrodingerdog

IB main base customer is Spanish, and Spanish people normally prefer cava to champagne.

Same with breakfast offering. Spanish people tends to eat a lighter breakfast and a strong lunch and dinner.

Circusplaza

Velazquez service, selection of food and beverages is by far better than Galleries Lounge, even F.
No champagne, true, but it does not make sense to serve champagne in a country that you have cava which you won't notice are not champagne... In regards to cheap wines, I do not agree, but again turning back to the same point, IB serves normally Spanish wines.
Can you see AF serving Californian or Italian wines?

Different strokes from different folks!
By the way... I am BAEC Gold and Briton

Ldnn1

Now I'm not as critical of LTN as some on here - and I use it regularly - but I think it's fair to say that the LHR Galleries Clubs are significantly better than the LTN Aspire. The Aspire is fine when it's not overcrowded (which it often is) but drinks require a long wait at the bar and are served weak, food options are fine but boring, and overall the space feels cramped. I'd be hard-pressed to find something better about it than GC. The new Clubrooms look a nice step up, however.

Back on topic, I think I'm about even on the BA GC vs IB Velzquez comparison - pros and cons to both as mostly noted by others above. Experience in both (as with LTN) varies markedly depend on how busy they are.

Oaxaca

kingstontoon

IB all the way for me, although with Speedbird 100 BA has the edge on beer selection. I find myself going out of my way to fly via MAD so I can visit the lounges there, whereas I'll often turn up late at LHR and just head to the gate to avoid the lounge zoos at T5.

orbitmic

I'm pretty close to this view. I too cannot see any possible ground to see the BA TXL lounge as equivalent (let alone superior) to Velazquez. I find Velazquez generally nicer than GC and less good than GF (and Dali weaker than both), but of course, it all depends on what you look at. As you say, BA has much nicer drinks than the two IB lounges. Conversely, both IB lounges have much nicer showers than the whole BA offering bar the cabanas. BA has more international press available but Velazquez has better places to rest. The food at Veazquez is in my view of better quality than GC. You get more "real food" s opposed to slop. By contrast, GF wins thanks to a small but valuable element of made to order food and it is less "time dependent" (GC has some ghastly moments during the day).

The space is generally nicer in the two IB lounges, but the food offerings at Dali are really quite poor and short of living on gazpacho, mediocre salads, and fuet, the place is best only patronised for the shortest possible amount of time.

AJA_

I was in the Velasquez lounge last week and I also think it's lovely, spacious, airy, and great views of the runway. I think it's much nicer than the T5 Galleries CW lounges (Never been in the Gallieries First so can't compare).

The Haagen Dasz ice creams were in the buffet area at the far end after turning left into the lounge going past the toilets I.e. at opposite end of lounge to the bar ( I hope that makes sense).

flygod

Oh dear, IB is dreadful !

They are the only airline which has served me wine which I then have gone out and bought - a pedro ximinez sherry, Old & Plus by Romate. It was in the lounges and on the aircraft.

Not only was it £50 for 50cls, but I then went on to try other - non airline - PX sherries and ended up spending £200+ on one that Robert Parker gave 100 points to!

(The only other time was a pink Veuve Cliquot on Thai, but then I had already tasted that)

Crofton138

This must be a wind up. However, if that's what you enjoy and believe, each to their own.

I've never been to a PP lounge that I would describe the food offering as decent. Some of the No 1 lounges are good, if you can get in, and there's a small selection of reasonable PP lounges dotted around. However, the majority are really poor value, even on a PP that my employer buys for me. I often think that if I'd paid full price entry to some of the lounges, like Aspire at LHR T5, I'd be quite upset.

Andriyko

Hannibal Lecter

There's pre-flight dining in Velázquez for long-haul business pax.