Cap'n Benj

Weird, I’m only in there once a year, mainly camped on the terrace and each and every time have seen someone proactively taking orders. Perhaps not as frequently as would be ideal but there’s always been someone doing it

Nicoolio

I take all marketing with a shaker of salt. However, there is a bigger gap between the BA "promise" and what is actually delivered than the ones I mentioned. There are of course worse offenders.

In terms of FCT vs FCL, I prefer the FCT but based on where my connection is leaving from and how much time I have, the FCLs are nice too.

mjh0

This.

The BS staff slouch and shuffle and slop around. They are so obviously lacking motivation for some reason. Who knows if they are lazy, poorly managed, just don't care, aren't paid enough to care, etc.

As a lowly peasant Silver these days, and connecting to domestics a lot, T5A North lounge is one of my more usual spots passing through LHR.

Unless one arrives at a particularly quiet time, there's dirty tableware piled up all over the place, and the staff would struggle to keep up with clearing-in patrols even if they worked at something quicker than a snail's pace.

I honestly wouldn't mind clearing up after myself (i.e. dropping my dirty dishes one of the two sculleries this lounge has) if there was a facility to do that, but there isn't.

My observations lead me to believe that BaxterStorey are struggling to deliver the contract at an acceptable level.

I don't remember things ever seeming quite so bad under Restaurant Associates/Compass.

St Elmos Fire

My observations of Baxter Storey in GF and GC is that they are delivering the contract at a very much acceptable price to our good friend Alex. I used the LH business lounge in T2 last week at breakfast time and the Do & Co catering was way better than anything I've had from the Baxter Storey canteens.

Never yet used the CCR but I don't think my First First is ever likely to be on British Airways, regardless of my pile of Avios.

And you're spot on about staff attitude and demeanour in Galleries Clubs in London. Zero motivation or initiative.

TheFlyingCyclist

Four visits in the last 18 months here. All brilliant - people serving, proactive offers of food and drinks, even canapés offered on the terrace. The only downside was one bad piece of ribeye! Love the CCR - just so much more chilled than other F lounges; here’s looking at you AA F dining JFK and Malaysian lounge KUL... fabulous food and drink in both but only if you want to sit at a dining room table. Give me a lounger on the terrace any day.

Yes, the cabanas and loos need a refurb. Gatwick showers and the modern lounges show what BA are doing these days and it’s much better.

The CCR gets a bad rep on here but I do wonder if that’s just whingey people who will complain about anything...

TFC

THEOBCMAN

Three visits in the last year for me, all superb !! I’ve dined (never waited) food was superb, service friendly, a few glasses of LPGS sat at the bar & terrace. All very relaxing and could not fault it ! (Maybe I got lucky)

jplondon

There once a week.

I like to be able to use the door, as early mornings the First security wing now often busier than fast-track, and seems shorter.

For months I walked straight through to GF so I could just grab some things and no need to wait.

Changed strategy few months ago and now just immediately approach someone and ask same three items each time.

So yes proactiveness could improve but if you just ask it's pretty good and preferable to GF.

Can't complain.

Lefly

That's a problem I have observed in a lot of lounges across different airlines. I really would like a a movable cart, a corner near the kitchen, a whatever collecting point where anyone could leave plates and glasses instead of waiting for someone to clear a table. But no, there are none.

bullroot

defnitely preferable to GF as it is way quieter. GF seems hard to get a seat in these days, especially if you're not travelling alone.

bullroot

I admit I do give it a bad rep in terms of service proactivity especially on the terrace. Many, many times I have been or seen people being ignored, orders taken wrongly or not turned up, and general malaise. My data sample is much higher than yours so I stand by my points. It's still a good lounge, nice and quiet, though could do with more power points for sure. Best lounge in T5 by a mile. I'm not a whingey person complaining about anything, I'm calling the service on terrace for what it is that is all. it is a far cry from the BA blurb, or the CCR 'defenders' opinions. I lose my CCR card in a couple months and am a tad sad about that, mostly due to ability to avoid the crowds in GF and lower bathroom/persion ratio. But on the flip side, I get to spend much less time in LHR and when I am in GF I realise I can still order the breakfast kippers and an espresso martini. Though who knows where I would find space in GF to consume these items but that is a first world problem I am happy to solve. Doing an extra 6+ CW flights/year on BA just to get the CCR card is not worth the hassle any more.

alex67500

I thought that if you were connecting onto F they would pick you up at the plane to take you there?

DYKWIA

No. They pick you up, but drop you at connections. You then go through security and head to the normal F lounge.

Alternatively, you go through immigration and walk outside to the FCT. It's only about 5 minutes walk from what I remember.

HIDDY

Yet another lounge that didn't match the praise heaped on it from individuals on a certain airliners site.

DYKWIA

It's fantastic IMO. Private security, great service and a great menu. Then a car to the plane 10 minutes before departure.

And rubber ducks... if you're into that sort of thing.

HIDDY

The rubber ducks were the highlight of my visit. Still got them although they have suffered some dog toothmarks over the years.