Showers at Heathrow *A lounge...wait times?
Apr 28, 2012, 2:08 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite, cattle-class with many others
Posts: 55
Showers at Heathrow *A lounge...wait times?
Quick question for anyone familiar with the *A lounge at Heathrow Terminal 1. How short or long are "typical" morning wait times for arriving passengers desiring to take a quick shower? I'm flying SFO->LHR next week (scheduled arrival time of 7:10 AM) and would love to do so on arrival if I can expect to get in and out of the lounge within say 60-90 minutes.
And before anyone asks....no I"m not checking bags.
Many thanks.....!
And before anyone asks....no I"m not checking bags.
Many thanks.....!
Apr 28, 2012, 2:15 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: Alas, the Gravy Train Hath Ended...just happy to be an OW Sapphire and a ST Ivory...whatever
Posts: 4,389
FWIW I arrived on the late VS flight from LAX, transited to the *A terminal and lounge and walked straight to the showers with no wait. YMMV.
Apr 28, 2012, 2:17 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NCL
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. DL Gold for one more year.
Posts: 5,305
You won't be able to access the airside lounge after arriving, unless you have a connection... Are you flying premium class, so that you're eligible for access to the Arrivals lounge?
Apr 28, 2012, 5:50 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
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Posts: 55
Thanks all for the replies!
Apr 28, 2012, 6:09 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SFO, LON
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Biz class gets in (technically it's paid biz class, but with the LHR *A no one usually checks this). *G does not. In any case, you should be able to get in. Used this many times, never had to wait at all. Probably depends on day of week to some extent, but LHR Arrivals is not a busy lounge by and large. Nice shower rooms, decent spread and hot breakfast will be produced cooked to order.
Apr 28, 2012, 6:43 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: London, UK
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Visited on Friday off UA928 from ORD - landed (early) around 8h; straight through an 'E' Gate at Passport Control with no queue at all, and similarly straight into a shower room with no wait.
There are 10 rooms in all (if I remember correctly) and breakfast is indeed available to order in several different forms once ablutions are complete.
No more than five other guests taking breakfast when I was there - a welcome moment of calm between the flight and the onward journey.
JW
There are 10 rooms in all (if I remember correctly) and breakfast is indeed available to order in several different forms once ablutions are complete.
No more than five other guests taking breakfast when I was there - a welcome moment of calm between the flight and the onward journey.
JW
Apr 28, 2012, 7:05 pm
#8
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Quick question for anyone familiar with the *A lounge at Heathrow Terminal 1. How short or long are "typical" morning wait times for arriving passengers desiring to take a quick shower? I'm flying SFO->LHR next week (scheduled arrival time of 7:10 AM) and would love to do so on arrival if I can expect to get in and out of the lounge within say 60-90 minutes.
And before anyone asks....no I"m not checking bags. Many thanks.....!
And before anyone asks....no I"m not checking bags.
Many thanks.....!As others have noted, you will have access for flying C/J (doesn't matter if you are upgraded). You have no access as *G.
Exit into the Arrivals Hall and walk across to bank of elevators on far side (past car rental desks).
I've never had to wait more than 5 mins for a shower.
Apr 28, 2012, 7:50 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: DC|NYC
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Posts: 3,201
Never a wait and if you have 60-90 minutes, you're golden. If you're ever short on time, I place my breakfast order before hitting the shower and it's ready when I'm done. Great, underused (hopefully not so much that they close it) arrivals lounge.
May 11, 2012, 10:19 pm
#11
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May 12, 2012, 12:42 am
#12
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
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As I answered in the M&M forum LH does not have any arrival lounge in LHR, but as a passenger arriving on LH in F bizorbetter will have access to the FCL in FRA.
Sep 30, 2012, 11:21 am
#13
Join Date: May 2008
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Here's a follow up-
I am flying SQ into LHR T3 in Y, and then I have a long layover before departing T1 on UA in Biz class. From any research I can find, there really isn't a good "arrivals" option for *A into T3 in Y class, even if you are *G or 1K whatever.
I'm thinking of transferring to T1, leaving my bags for the day at the small bag keep near the entrance of the arrivals lounge in T1, and spending 5 or 6 hours in London. I have a 10 hour layover lol.
The ? is, can I get into the T1 arrivals lounge on a DEPARTING biz class ticket? OR is it better to just go back through security and then I would use the Star Alliance lounge in T1 past security AFTER I've been in London all day....
Any thoughts? I've researched a bunch and broken it down to that...any help/experience appreciated.
I am flying SQ into LHR T3 in Y, and then I have a long layover before departing T1 on UA in Biz class. From any research I can find, there really isn't a good "arrivals" option for *A into T3 in Y class, even if you are *G or 1K whatever.
I'm thinking of transferring to T1, leaving my bags for the day at the small bag keep near the entrance of the arrivals lounge in T1, and spending 5 or 6 hours in London. I have a 10 hour layover lol.
The ? is, can I get into the T1 arrivals lounge on a DEPARTING biz class ticket? OR is it better to just go back through security and then I would use the Star Alliance lounge in T1 past security AFTER I've been in London all day....
Any thoughts? I've researched a bunch and broken it down to that...any help/experience appreciated.
Sep 30, 2012, 6:10 pm
#14
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
The ? is, can I get into the T1 arrivals lounge on a DEPARTING biz class ticket? OR is it better to just go back through security and then I would use the Star Alliance lounge in T1 past security AFTER I've been in London all day....
Any thoughts? I've researched a bunch and broken it down to that...any help/experience appreciated.
Any thoughts? I've researched a bunch and broken it down to that...any help/experience appreciated.
You can get into the *A lounge with your UA ticket and get a shower there.