pwacher

I’d like to check out the lounge when I’m at LHR later this month. Out of curiosity, as it’s been a while since I’ve been through LHR, is there a way to transit airside from T5 to T3?

serfty

no.

You won't get airside at a LHR terminal that you do not have a flight departing from.

For the QF lounge you need a flight departing from t3.

pwacher

Aus_Mal

Agree. And there are a decent number of short haul BA ones that leave T3 at relevant times too. The only general terminal hopping exception at LHR is if you sign up for the Heathrow Shopper assistance, where time permitting they will escort you from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3 under supervision, however 'shopping' in the lounge isn't something you can request !

sydneymike

sitting in the lunge right now on way to Sydney... very much a case of smoke and mirrors. Large restaurant (empty) downstairs with the apparently 'famous' gin bar... small lunge getting totally smashed upstairs with not enough seating and one grumpy staff member at the bar. Really don't like the one size fits all lounge model being churned out across the globe (ala Singapore)... how long until the Sydney F lounge goes?...

should have gone for yum cha next door!

LifeTimeBronze

Just arrived for my first visit. on QF2 tonight.
What a disappointment.
Small
Stuffy
Lacklustre furnishings
Poor wine selection
Gin a bar a joke - G&T from house gin and that's it.

Off to BA F which I have always found satisfactory.
Not fond of noodles so will gibe CX a miss.

serfty

@LifeTimeBronze, can you elaborate? What was the Gin situation please?

serfty

Did you know at as a oneworld emerald you have access to the CX Fist section which has a-la-carte dining?

Alse the AA Flagship First section has some quite nite catering.

GoldCanyon340

BA F is a good lounge but to not visit the entire CX J/F complex because of a distaste of noodles seems an odd decision.

gliderpilot

I'm getting a 1815 BA short haul flight out of T3 in March and was planning on doing a bit of CX(J) / QF lounge hopping. Not sure which order to do them in? Both airlines seem to have flights around that time. I'll probably have 3-4 hours to kill. Any suggestions as to which order to do them in?

GoldCanyon340

QF first to have an aperitif at the bar and then CX for a decent late lunch/early dinner. Settle into CX and enjoy.

serfty

With BA boarding 5:30pm, I'd go to CX early then decamp to AA ~4:30pm to awai you flight. These lounge entrances are all within a 30 second stroll of each other.

CX gets crowded around 4pm-5pm with two flights leaving.

The AA FL is rather serene.

frandrake

Visited the new lounge for the first time on my way to DXB. Mixed feelings. The decor is great and quite unique compared to the other OW lounges at LHR, which makes for a nice change. Overall, though it seems skewed towards drinking with two bars and plenty of lounge seats while food options and work spaces are fairly limited.

Also, did not like at all the wine offering. To everyone they serve a frankly undrinkable Australian sparkling wine, while to the lucky few who dare to ask (and know how to find info online) they serve Perrier Jouet Champagne, regardless of class flown.

I did not like at all this service discrepancy.

All in all, CX lounge remains by far the very best OW lounge at T3 unless you plan to get drunk on cheap wine, for which QF lounge seems perfect.

Aus_Mal

The "undrinkable" Australian sparkling is Croser, which is actually decent, I'd suggest it's better than the Moet in the Cathay F lounge, but perhaps not as nice as the Baron, and certainly better than whatever Cathay serve in their J lounge. But everyone has different views when it comes to sparkling wines and everyone has a different palate.

The Perrier Jouet should be reserved for certain passengers, primarily ticketed First, Chairmans Lounge and Platinum One Qantas members, if others are getting it then it's a service failure (but likely in a good way for those pax in the know).

serfty

I'm still wondering about this:@LifeTimeBronze, can you expand on this?

Was a 'base' gin and tonic the only option?