Bad news - BA's NCL lounge reportedly to close permanently
#46
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,228
This is shockingly bad and sad news. I really do feel for the staff who have always been fantastic. The lounge itself was always a haven of peace and quiet before the flight down to London and I always enjoyed spending time there. It's a real shame that BA has decided to close the lounge. It's another kick in the teeth for customers.
#47
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Newcastle, England
Programs: BAEC, Flying Blue
Posts: 106
Really sad to see this happen, it’s been worrying me for a while about the relationship between Newcastle and BA, just worried now that we will never see a night stopper again.
#49
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Newcastle
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 80
I really hope they do keep the frequency. Even for someone that was doing the flight weekly and working in the Victoria is still worked out the same as travelling by train (if not quicker).
The trains arent going to get much quicker from the North East for quite a while and the early/late flights are needed for some connections.
Even Durham Tees Valley; my closest airport, (or what ever they call it on Wednesdays in September) is picking up flights including to London City.
#51
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: BAEC Gold/GGL, IHG Diamond AMB
Posts: 1,074
This is quite incredible news - and very sorry to hear about the staff who are potentially affected. NCL lounge is a great space and friendly staff - I just don’t understand the logic given in normal times it always seemed busy to me.
I will send a note to GGL tomorrow with some feedback.
I will send a note to GGL tomorrow with some feedback.
#52
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Newcastle
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 80
No but management are known to travel up and down.
Flights were often used by crew in the North East to position themselves for work also.
It was also the main IT location at one point (not sure how much IT still exists in the North East)
Flights were often used by crew in the North East to position themselves for work also.
It was also the main IT location at one point (not sure how much IT still exists in the North East)
#53
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Arizona
Programs: BA (GGL G4L), AA (Gold), HH (Diamond); Marriott (Gold)
Posts: 3,011
#54
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,770
I'm not sure why you view it as incredible. Pretty much everything is 'at risk' right now, and even with that in mind, a regional lounge closing is very much at the credible end of the credibility spectrum.
As intimated upthread, I wouldn't be particularly surprised if NCL were at risk of losing BA service altogether, much like LBA was.
As intimated upthread, I wouldn't be particularly surprised if NCL were at risk of losing BA service altogether, much like LBA was.
#55
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,440
I'm not sure why you view it as incredible. Pretty much everything is 'at risk' right now, and even with that in mind, a regional lounge closing is very much at the credible end of the credibility spectrum.
As intimated upthread, I wouldn't be particularly surprised if NCL were at risk of losing BA service altogether, much like LBA was.
As intimated upthread, I wouldn't be particularly surprised if NCL were at risk of losing BA service altogether, much like LBA was.
#56
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Newcastle, UK
Posts: 2,379
Very disappointed to hear this news. Always enjoyed our visits to the BA lounge and the staff are so pleasant. The Aspire lounge often turns guests away as it is often full, so can't imagine it could cope with the extra BA guests. It also doesn't compare with the BA lounge which is usually a haven of peace and such a pleasant start to our holidays. Good luck to all the staff.
#57
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LHR, LGW
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,436
Personally, if this is part of his initial ‘okay we need to do this as I’ve done it before so it works’ strategy for helping Alex Cruz & IAG save costs then I really fear for what else Alex Cruz and Luis G decide and sign off, or should we say...sign away.
I understand it’s desperate times and these can call for desperate measures but it’s not all short term. There is and will be a long term. It’s not all end of world stuff.
#58
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,228
The only advantage to the Aspire lounge is that it offers hot food. A sausage stottie in the morning is definitely a step up from BA's offering. However, I do agree with what others say about the capacity issues. I have been refused entry on more than one occasion on the basis that the lounge was "full" (although when looking in the window it was anything but). It is indeed used for Emirates passengers, and priority is also given to those who have pre-booked and paid. If you're trying to get in on the back of a Priority Pass membership you are seemingly bottom of the pecking order.
#59
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,293
Places like SXB lost all their Paris flights when the TGV came along, and AF now codeshare with rail to get people to connect long-haul via CDG (I don't know if you collect XPs though). If and when HS2 starts, I'd be surprised if MAN still gets many flights. Of course it would be even easier if HS2 extended to LHR and LGW via Thameslink but that may yet happen.
#60
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,613
The difference with LBA is Leeds isn't that long a train ride from London. It will be even shorter come HS2 if they branch off to that line. NCL is much further so the time saved by flying is much bigger for now.
Places like SXB lost all their Paris flights when the TGV came along, and AF now codeshare with rail to get people to connect long-haul via CDG (I don't know if you collect XPs though). If and when HS2 starts, I'd be surprised if MAN still gets many flights. Of course it would be even easier if HS2 extended to LHR and LGW via Thameslink but that may yet happen.
Places like SXB lost all their Paris flights when the TGV came along, and AF now codeshare with rail to get people to connect long-haul via CDG (I don't know if you collect XPs though). If and when HS2 starts, I'd be surprised if MAN still gets many flights. Of course it would be even easier if HS2 extended to LHR and LGW via Thameslink but that may yet happen.
MAN flights have been reducing over the last few years because of the non-BA options that are available from MAN. The direct US flights have been decimated over the last year, and it wouldn't surprise me if BA tried to pick up some of that once things start to normalise.