By any chance, do any FTer's out there know how close (or distant) the Admirals Club is from the International UA departure gates at London's Heathrow Airport? I understand they are both in Terminal 3.

Any likely/possible problems using an Admiral's Club pass at Heathrow (Terminal 3) when flying internationally on UA that day?

Any construction or other things to avoid at Heathrow currently?

Thanks for any updates and/or experiences. Please post comments here.

I'm not sure what gates UA use but the AC is close to gate 23.

My understanding if you are a member you can use it regardless of who you fly on. It's a nice club with open bar and decent snacks. The internet computer is ancient though.

Security took a bit longer than I thought it usually does and I'd allow an extra 15 minutes. Hey, if you get through early use the club and have a drink.

Good luck

DR

Per the Admirals Club rules, you DO NOT have to be flying on AA (or flying at all for that matter) to use the clubs.

The international Admiral's Clubs always seem to want to see your boarding pass when you enter. I don't know why. I would imagine that if you showed them a UA boarding pass, it might be possible that they try and deny you entry, so just in case I suggest that you go to the AA website to the Admirals Club section and print them out to bring with you just in case.

[This message has been edited by SNA_Flyer (edited 10-11-2000).]

Possibly. SNA_flyer, yet I do not recall ever being asked at the Adnirals Club at FRA! Go figure!

After my previous request the board here advised me to take my friend into Admirals at LHR who was flying VS.

As I was a member they happily let me in with him!

Works perfectly, the counter staff at the club knew all about the rule - even if the check-in staff were a bit vague - but very helpful - they called all sorts of people to make sure it was OK

I think the reason that the lounges check boarding passes at LHR is that arriving pax are forbidden from using the lounges UNTIL they have cleared LHR security and then going to their connecting flight. Arriving pax without a connection cannot use the lounges under any circumstances. As arriving pax use the same corridor as departing ones do, this is the only way for the lounges to check.

The Admirals Club at Heathrow T3 is near gate 12B, not 23. T3 gates are set up in the form of a wide I-beam. You enter through the lower bar, a bit to the right of the vertical crossbar. 12B is where the crossbar comes off the lower bar, on your right. AA and UA gates are all on the upper beam of the I, so the AC is about the same distance from either. There's a moving sidewalk along the crossbar, which is a good thing since the two rows of gates are far enough apart for two sets of aircraft to park between them plus the necessary maneuvering room for them.

Arriving AC members need not be connecting to use the AC. Eastbay1K is in error on this: I have done it myself more than once, usually to shower after an overnight flight before a morning meeting. They must, however, pass a mini-security check (baggage x-ray, get a stamp on your boarding pass). It's a five-minute process from the AC. The staff there can give you directions.

FT Friends:

Thank you all for the details kindly provided. I'll be using a AA lounge pass given to my by an AA marketing employee - I assume I will have the same 'rights' with the pass that a full member would be entitled to, i.e. ability to also admit one guest (the AA website says 2 guests OK for members but I only will be traveling with one wonderful guest, my wife).

All your info is appreciated. Details even more so.

I have the AA website info about their Admirals Club at Heathrow. Will print out appropriate info & bring along.

Thanks, feel free to post more info/suggestions or email me at mailto:[email protected][email protected]</A>

With appreciation,
CCC

I just received an email from the AC stating due to airport regulations at the following locations; LHR, LGW, CDG, you can only use the AC on days that you have a boarding pass.

For some reason the cut and paste for the email didn't work but I'll forward a copy if anyone would like one.

It's worth a try on arrivals and I'll let you know how it goes at LHR on Oct 21.

DR

I suspect the reason for the boarding pass is because those clubs are past passport control so you can't get through unless you're flying. However, incoming passengers are already past it so they're OK as far as that's concerned. In other words, the boarding pass can be either arriving or departing, at least at LHR.

drtravels, I'm sure you won't have a problem.

I had the UA station manager and a LHR security rep explain to me the unique Great Britain rules about use of the lounges. As noted earlier, their law supposedly forbids use by passengers not departing the AP that day. Sounds like Admirals Club rep has been making an exception.

Thanks Efrem

It worked great you can use the AC upon arrival. You go through flight connections (down the hall to the left) get a stamp, go through the shops and back to the club.

Nice shower, snacks and a drink.


Now, does anyone know about doing the same thing at the LGW AC? Leaving 10/27.

Thanks,

DR

Efrem and drtravels, I don't get this. You are having no difficulty using the Admirals Club when you are not transiting or departing. I was specifically told that is not permitted by HM Custom Regs. Elsewhere I've read about the GB airports being unique in this.

Can you recheck this angle when using the club again and let us know what you learn? I am planning some travel that could involve arriving in London (both LGW and LHR) but not transiting onward that day. At present I understand they are supposed to turn me away even with a boarding pass stub stamped by security (if I can get them to do it) because I am not a "departing" pax.

[This message has been edited by Warrenlm (edited 10-23-2000).]

On Oct 21 I went to the AC. They asked to see my boarding pass and I showed them my JFK-LHR for my just arrived segment. The nice ladies told me to go through flight connections and have it stamped and come back. No problem at flight connections as they stamped it after I told them I needed it for entry to the AC. The only problem I had was that I put the ticket in my pocket and smeared all the wording. They just laughed at the AC and said go on in.

Smile and act like you belong there. No worries.