Bad news - BA's NCL lounge reportedly to close permanently
#271
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Up North
Programs: BA Gold , Hilton Diamond
Posts: 152
Visited on 27/5 as a family. Not offered overspill even though we are all Silver and in CE.
Place was packed and full of groups clearly partaking in a drinking competition (‘down it’ being repeatedly shouted out loud was somewhat a giveaway).
As others have stated, place was full of empty drinks/plates and the place needed a good clean.
Staff friendly enough but overall experience was dreadful.
Letter going in to BA to register dissatisfaction. Maybe if enough letters of no confidence get submitted we may see some action 😜
Place was packed and full of groups clearly partaking in a drinking competition (‘down it’ being repeatedly shouted out loud was somewhat a giveaway).
As others have stated, place was full of empty drinks/plates and the place needed a good clean.
Staff friendly enough but overall experience was dreadful.
Letter going in to BA to register dissatisfaction. Maybe if enough letters of no confidence get submitted we may see some action 😜
#272
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: NCL
Programs: BA Exec Club: Gold HHons:Diamond FB:Ivory Accor:Plat Hertz: PC USA:GlobalEntry
Posts: 225
I'm on the 6am BA1321 tomorrow, likely to be in the NCL 'Perspire' lounge from about 5am-ish.
I'm looking forward to sharing it with pax on the following flights:
ZAKYNTHOS 0550
AMSTERDAM 0555
BA1321 LONDON HEATHROW 0600
THESSALONIKI 0600
SKIATHOS 0600
RHODES 0600
PARIS 0615
MAHON 0635
PAPHOS 0640
SOUTHAMPTON 0645
ALICANTE 0645
FARO 0645
PALMA 0650
MALAGA 0705
I'm looking forward to sharing it with pax on the following flights:
ZAKYNTHOS 0550
AMSTERDAM 0555
BA1321 LONDON HEATHROW 0600
THESSALONIKI 0600
SKIATHOS 0600
RHODES 0600
PARIS 0615
MAHON 0635
PAPHOS 0640
SOUTHAMPTON 0645
ALICANTE 0645
FARO 0645
PALMA 0650
MALAGA 0705
#273
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,362
They are open from 4am tomorrow, I suspect they will invite you to use the Plus section. It's going to be a busy travel day tomorrow.
I do recognise some of the comments above. I use the lounge several times a week (I'm typing this inside the lounge, as it happens) and I've managed to avoid the tales above, but keeping the place spick and span is seemingly difficult - just sheer weight of numbers since it's the business lounge for many legacy carriers as well as Priority Pass and bundled into deals with easyJet and TUI. I suspect NCL either needs a bigger lounge or the airport's own lounge development to come to fruition. But ultimately the loss of BA own lounge was pretty devastating to the customer experience at NCL.
I do recognise some of the comments above. I use the lounge several times a week (I'm typing this inside the lounge, as it happens) and I've managed to avoid the tales above, but keeping the place spick and span is seemingly difficult - just sheer weight of numbers since it's the business lounge for many legacy carriers as well as Priority Pass and bundled into deals with easyJet and TUI. I suspect NCL either needs a bigger lounge or the airport's own lounge development to come to fruition. But ultimately the loss of BA own lounge was pretty devastating to the customer experience at NCL.
#274
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: York, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, Honors Diamond
Posts: 1,181
I only used the BA lounge once (generally an LBA user until they made it so connections didn't work very well), and I've used Aspire (plus) once now too.
Whilst my first impressions of the BA lounge weren't great (in need of refurbishment etc), I would take that over the current Aspire setup any day! A haven of peace and tranquillity without any struggle to find a seat.
Whilst Aspire Plus was quiet, it was difficult to find a seat as KLM were being sent in there too. I just wanted some water, so it was a faff to have to go back into the other side just for that.
It's funny how LBA never used to have these issues with their lounges, but it could be because they have/had 3, a leisure, a business and a first lounge, with BA and KL using the business lounge.
For reference I'm Gold and was travelling in Traveller when I got into Plus.
Whilst my first impressions of the BA lounge weren't great (in need of refurbishment etc), I would take that over the current Aspire setup any day! A haven of peace and tranquillity without any struggle to find a seat.
Whilst Aspire Plus was quiet, it was difficult to find a seat as KLM were being sent in there too. I just wanted some water, so it was a faff to have to go back into the other side just for that.
It's funny how LBA never used to have these issues with their lounges, but it could be because they have/had 3, a leisure, a business and a first lounge, with BA and KL using the business lounge.
For reference I'm Gold and was travelling in Traveller when I got into Plus.
#275
Join Date: Feb 2020
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 1,760
They are open from 4am tomorrow, I suspect they will invite you to use the Plus section. It's going to be a busy travel day tomorrow.
I do recognise some of the comments above. I use the lounge several times a week (I'm typing this inside the lounge, as it happens) and I've managed to avoid the tales above, but keeping the place spick and span is seemingly difficult - just sheer weight of numbers since it's the business lounge for many legacy carriers as well as Priority Pass and bundled into deals with easyJet and TUI. I suspect NCL either needs a bigger lounge or the airport's own lounge development to come to fruition. But ultimately the loss of BA own lounge was pretty devastating to the customer experience at NCL.
I do recognise some of the comments above. I use the lounge several times a week (I'm typing this inside the lounge, as it happens) and I've managed to avoid the tales above, but keeping the place spick and span is seemingly difficult - just sheer weight of numbers since it's the business lounge for many legacy carriers as well as Priority Pass and bundled into deals with easyJet and TUI. I suspect NCL either needs a bigger lounge or the airport's own lounge development to come to fruition. But ultimately the loss of BA own lounge was pretty devastating to the customer experience at NCL.
#276
Join Date: May 2016
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,398
For me, the loss of the lounge and the pretty dire experience of the Aspire (Plus lol) lounge (let's not forget, that people actually pay good money to use that!) means that the train is my preferred option going forward.
#277
Join Date: Feb 2020
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 1,760
No issues getting into the Aspire Lounge today at NCL - lady at the front desk didn’t mention anything about which lounge to use, so I turned left 😉. The Aspire Plus section is open but there isn’t any hot food and staff presence is minimal. I popped next door and grabbed some cooked breakfast from the “normal” lounge. It’s very busy in the “normal” lounge but comparatively very quiet in the Plus section. Although I’m pleased to say that neither section has stag/hen dos or anyone conducting a drinking competition!
#278
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 6
Access for guests
Has anyone had any issues bringing a guest in to the Aspire lounge? I’m silver but my travel companion has no status. Thanks.
#279
Join Date: Feb 2020
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 1,760
You won’t have any issues. My other half is Silver too but the lady at the front desk guested her in under my status the other day to make it faster.
#280
Join Date: May 2018
Location: BLQ 🇮🇹
Programs: BA GGL, Cartafreccia Oro
Posts: 195
One oddity of the old BA NCL lounge is they left the Marmite out (presumably from breakfast) for the afternoon tea. So did anyone ever try it on a scone and if so which order do you put it on? 😂
Afternoon tea - BA lounge NCL
Afternoon tea - BA lounge NCL
#281
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,538
Marmite on a scone. Yum!
I'm partial to bitter marmelade on scones, so Marmite would be great.
I'm partial to bitter marmelade on scones, so Marmite would be great.
#282
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 628
Not a truly BA question as I’m planning for our Emirates (economy) trip in July but I was wondering what the approximate capacity of the Ncl aspire lounge is and thought people on this thread would have the expertise! When I used the lounge previously it quickly got to capacity around the Emirates flight time, however now this has changed it looks like very few flights depart in the evenings from Newcastle. Does this mean it is now less of an issue (flying the Friday evening at the start of the summer holidays). Essentially I’m trying to establish what proportion of emirates passengers would fit in the lounge!
#283
Join Date: Feb 2020
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 1,760
Just entered the aspire lounge as two BA silvers flying Y to LHR. The nice gentleman at the front desk informed us we are entitled to access Aspire Plus due to status, but did say it was very full of “frequent flyers” right now and we were welcome to use the main lounge as well. It is indeed very well full in the Plus section and we have grabbed the last seats available for a couple or group! Main lounge is also fairly busy but not as rammed as I’ve seen.
#284
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,203
#285
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: NCL
Programs: BA Exec Club: Gold HHons:Diamond FB:Ivory Accor:Plat Hertz: PC USA:GlobalEntry
Posts: 225
I’m waiting for the 15:30 NCL-LHR in the ‘Perspire’ Lounge now. It’s rammed but staff are doing their best. One of the lady’s clearing the tables offered to bypass the 20 min bar queue for us and deliver 2 glasses of wine to our table.
The Plus bit is an overspill today so plenty of bucket and spade flights using it.
The couple next us on way to Turkey on Jet2 advised doubling up your drinks order to avoid lining up. Their table glassware was evidence of this strategy working well.
Im travelling economy, lounge access via GC. Anyone paying F or J would rightly be miffed at this lounge offering today.
The Plus bit is an overspill today so plenty of bucket and spade flights using it.
The couple next us on way to Turkey on Jet2 advised doubling up your drinks order to avoid lining up. Their table glassware was evidence of this strategy working well.
Im travelling economy, lounge access via GC. Anyone paying F or J would rightly be miffed at this lounge offering today.