LHR T1: EI or BA lounge?
Apr 18, 2005 | 4:50 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Newcastle, Australia
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LHR T1: EI or BA lounge?
Hi all,
My wife and I are travelling from LHR T1 to Shannon, Ireland on Aer Lingus. I'm a QF Gold (OW Sapphire) so plan to visit a OW lounge before the flight.
Does anyone have any recommendations on which lounge to visit? I know I should be able to access either BA or EI. We have an 11am Saturday flight, after arriving in the night before from ORD, so looking for somewhere quiet to rest, with maybe some food and internet.
If BA is better, any idea how far it is from EI gates?
Thanks in advance
James
My wife and I are travelling from LHR T1 to Shannon, Ireland on Aer Lingus. I'm a QF Gold (OW Sapphire) so plan to visit a OW lounge before the flight.
Does anyone have any recommendations on which lounge to visit? I know I should be able to access either BA or EI. We have an 11am Saturday flight, after arriving in the night before from ORD, so looking for somewhere quiet to rest, with maybe some food and internet.
If BA is better, any idea how far it is from EI gates?
Thanks in advance
James
Apr 18, 2005 | 7:43 pm
#3
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Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
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The BA Terraces lounge is far better -- I would say an order of magnitude better. It is a 3 minute brisk walk from the EI lounge (I did that walk just yesterday). The BA lounge has showers upstairs (highly recommended after arriving from ORD). Quite nice sandwiches are put out around noon but maybe not earlier, otherwise there are always Kettle chips and biscuits. Also yoghurt. If you are flying in J or F you can also use the arrivals lounge but have to clear UK customs to do that (while the Terraces lounge is airside so you can stay in transit).
Apr 19, 2005 | 12:59 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Europe
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On the plus side, the EI lounge is within 30 seconds to 2 minutes (slow)walk of the gate (depending which gate). It is a long, semi-convoluted walk from the BA lounge (which is just past security) to the EI departure gates. number_6 is right with the 3 minute brisk walk - but this is if you know where you are going, or can process the direction signs without stopping!
Perhaps a good plan would be to spend most of the time in the BA lounge, and then head towards the EI lounge shortly before boarding. (Then you'll be able to compare & contrast and then report back here!)
Perhaps a good plan would be to spend most of the time in the BA lounge, and then head towards the EI lounge shortly before boarding. (Then you'll be able to compare & contrast and then report back here!)
Apr 19, 2005 | 9:45 am
#5
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Originally Posted by ropmot141
Perhaps a good plan would be to spend most of the time in the BA lounge, and then head towards the EI lounge shortly before boarding. (Then you'll be able to compare & contrast and then report back here!)
The EI Lounge, and this is so sad it's funny, actually has airport gate area style chairs (the ones where four or five seats are connected together by a common bar). It's like the staff runs out each night and steals them from the rest of the airport. Great stuff!
Apr 19, 2005 | 8:38 pm
#6
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Newcastle, Australia
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thanks
thanks all for your comments. of course, why visit one lounge when you can visit two 
Good thinking.
I dont have big expectations for the EI trip - disappointed the fare (S class) doesnt earn QF points/SCs but for 29 GBP I cant really complain too much i guess. At least they're still in OW, and get the BA lounge visit. Given the price of things in London, I could probably drink my 29 GBP worth of beer in the lounge before i fly. shame its an 11am flight..
Thanks again for the reports. Will try to report back if I see anything noteworthy when i visit
cheers
james
Good thinking. I dont have big expectations for the EI trip - disappointed the fare (S class) doesnt earn QF points/SCs but for 29 GBP I cant really complain too much i guess. At least they're still in OW, and get the BA lounge visit. Given the price of things in London, I could probably drink my 29 GBP worth of beer in the lounge before i fly. shame its an 11am flight..
Thanks again for the reports. Will try to report back if I see anything noteworthy when i visit
cheers
james
Apr 19, 2005 | 9:42 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AA 3 MM, IHG Diamond
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Definitely use the BA lounge. Since you have an 11am flight, the BA lounge should have the continental breakfast spread: croissants, American muffins, cereals, fruit, yoguhrts, self service espresso machine (the Cadbury hot chocolate is excellent). There's also a full self-service bar.
Then hop over to the EI lounge for a quick visit. Five minutes should be enough to grab a drink and some tasty Irish cheese.
Then hop over to the EI lounge for a quick visit. Five minutes should be enough to grab a drink and some tasty Irish cheese.
Apr 19, 2005 | 10:04 pm
#8
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Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
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Originally Posted by JamesF
I could probably drink my 29 GBP worth of beer in the lounge before i fly.
Apr 21, 2005 | 9:45 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: QF WP, AA EXP
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The EI lounge is kind of dark and dingy with older furniture. No computers, no wireless, no nothing. I spent a good hour in there last January, probably should have used the Terraces lounge. They do, however, have plenty of cold Guinness. Any they are very close to their gates.
Apr 21, 2005 | 8:23 pm
#10
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Location: Newcastle, Australia
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AA vs BA T3?
Thanks for all the great comments. The breakfast is good to hear about too - will save us $$$ on the airport hotel brekky.
On a similar note, a week or so later we'll be flying out of LHR back to ORD on AA via T3. The Admirals Clubs here in the US are pretty ordinary - does BA have a Terraces lounge in T3, and is it worth visiting instead of the AA club?
Looking forward to visiting all these new lounges. I'm sure that compared to all the ones here in the US they're amazing.
James
On a similar note, a week or so later we'll be flying out of LHR back to ORD on AA via T3. The Admirals Clubs here in the US are pretty ordinary - does BA have a Terraces lounge in T3, and is it worth visiting instead of the AA club?
Looking forward to visiting all these new lounges. I'm sure that compared to all the ones here in the US they're amazing.
James
Apr 21, 2005 | 9:02 pm
#11
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BA used to have a lounge in T3 but closed it several years ago. AC is slightly better than the domestic ACs but I've never been in it to see, however judging by the FL it isn't much. CX has opened a new lounge in T3 and that is quite a bit nicer than the AA lounges, however it is open only during the hours that CX is operating its flights to HKG. As CX checkin is right next to AA, if you see that it is open then chances are the CX lounge is also open.
Apr 22, 2005 | 8:31 am
#12
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I'm not as anti the AA T3 FL as others here. It's not The Wing, but it's a perfectly OK lounge, with comfortable seating, reasonable (except by number_6's standards) wine, champagne on request, and some snacks (sandwiches, etc.). It also has internet terminals. But then I tended to use it when flying on CX rather than AA, so it was never crowded. Frankly I don't see that the CX lounge in T3 is significantly better than the AA FL.
Apr 22, 2005 | 10:17 am
#13
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Originally Posted by christep
I'm not as anti the AA T3 FL as others here. It's not The Wing, but it's a perfectly OK lounge, with comfortable seating, reasonable (except by number_6's standards) wine, champagne on request, and some snacks (sandwiches, etc.).
Apr 22, 2005 | 6:55 pm
#15
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Location: Newcastle, Australia
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yes number_6 is right, i'm just a lowly sapphire, but the J lounges are fine for me for now Looks from the cathay website theres a CX flight 2 hrs after my AA flight at 4:30pm, so will see if its open when i check in.
speaking of checking in, does anyone have any information on the "Park Avenue" checkin area? It looks good from the AA website - is it hard to find? the website says something about a "private slip road" opposite T3. Is it well signposted? All sounds very intriguing!
Thanks again for your LHR advice
regards
James
Looks from the cathay website theres a CX flight 2 hrs after my AA flight at 4:30pm, so will see if its open when i check in. speaking of checking in, does anyone have any information on the "Park Avenue" checkin area? It looks good from the AA website - is it hard to find? the website says something about a "private slip road" opposite T3. Is it well signposted? All sounds very intriguing!
Thanks again for your LHR advice
regards
James
Last edited by JamesF; Apr 22, 2005 at 8:27 pm Reason: used wrong oneworld status colour