Last edit by: seanp7
related thread: Consolidated connection time/logistics at LHR
Comparative Review of Five Different Star Alliance Lounges at Heathrow T2
United Club Hours 5:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m. daily (as of October 2023) (standard UC access policies0
Global First Class GS / VIP lounge (newly open May 2022) (GS and at time 1K Polaris customers -- based on space)
Arrival Lounge Hours 6:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. (open as of June 13, 2022)
Archive thread: LHR Terminal 2 United Club, GS Lounge (was GFL) & Arrivals Lounge Discussion[Archive]
Comparative Review of Five Different Star Alliance Lounges at Heathrow T2
United Club Hours 5:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m. daily (as of October 2023) (standard UC access policies0
Arrival Lounge Hours 6:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. (open as of June 13, 2022)
The arrivals lounge at London Heathrow, located immediately after immigration and customs, is a shared space with shower suites, breakfast items and more. This lounge is exclusively available for United Polaris business class travelers.
Eligible travelers must be flying on a same-day ticket arriving before noon and cannot bring guests. Additionally, United Club memberships and one-time passes dont grant access to this lounge.
LHR Terminal 2 UA UC (open), GS Lounge (open) & Arrivals Lounge (now open)
#736
Join Date: Jun 2022
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#737
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Houston
Programs: UA GS 2.6MM & Lifetime UC, Qantas Platinum, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Platinum, HawaiianMiles
Posts: 8,633
#739
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Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
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That's unfortunate! Why? I thought LHR was pretty important to at least UA and SQ! I thought there would be more of an effort at least alliance-wide to match the T3 and T5 experience provided by VS and BA.
Do you have more details on the access requirement? Surprisingly, none of the travel blogs covered it. I do see information on VS and BAs priority security in T3 and T5. Is it 1K that can access or it's simply because 1K have *G that can access fast track? If so, I'm assuming UA Gold and Platinum will have fast track when flying in economy as well?
Do you have more details on the access requirement? Surprisingly, none of the travel blogs covered it. I do see information on VS and BAs priority security in T3 and T5. Is it 1K that can access or it's simply because 1K have *G that can access fast track? If so, I'm assuming UA Gold and Platinum will have fast track when flying in economy as well?
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...s/premier.html
VS and BA are supposedly British airlines, UA isn't and LHR is just an outstation to it.
#740
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Posts: 21,177
In terms of the airport experience, that's pretty much universally true. I suppose there are a few dedicated 1K checkin lines in some airports, but that's about it. The last 1K-specific clubs closed, what, 20 years ago?
#741
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,924
I'm always in Polaris, but I think 1K/Polaris T2 checkin is combined at the podium(s) just downwind of the GS checkin podium? It's right next to Premier Access podiums, so worth a quick look.
#742
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,754
This thread is about lounges at Heathrow and not general 1K benefits - in terms of lounge access, as stated, all Star Gold have same entitlements.
#743
Join Date: Jun 2022
Posts: 98
There is an effort. That's why United has an arrival lounge there and also why the United Club at Heathrow is probably the best United Club in the network (at least it used to be). I suppose maybe the next step would be a Polaris lounge but the roll out has been very slow, even in the US hubs
This thread is about lounges at Heathrow and not general 1K benefits - in terms of lounge access, as stated, all Star Gold have same entitlements.
This thread is about lounges at Heathrow and not general 1K benefits - in terms of lounge access, as stated, all Star Gold have same entitlements.
#744
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,158
So given what you guys have said, and I know it's not a perfect comparison, but it's safe to say that flying VS and BA will give the best experience flying into and out of LHR?
From the pictures that I've seen of the English breakfast served at the UC, I think you may be right. I had the privilege of checking out the breakfast at UC SFO and it was a massive disappointment. I haven't flown UA to LHR during the pandemic so I don't know what the breakfast spread is like. The OneWorld and Virgin lounges at LHR T3 are simply fantastic! Plus, there's the Centurion Lounge.
From the pictures that I've seen of the English breakfast served at the UC, I think you may be right. I had the privilege of checking out the breakfast at UC SFO and it was a massive disappointment. I haven't flown UA to LHR during the pandemic so I don't know what the breakfast spread is like. The OneWorld and Virgin lounges at LHR T3 are simply fantastic! Plus, there's the Centurion Lounge.
#745
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Hiding under the trees in Denver, CO
Programs: UA 1K 2.5MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,303
I was at LHR in March and earlier this month (June). I had the privilege of checking out all of the Star Alliance lounges -- Lufthansa, Air Canada, Singapore Air, and United.
- The United Club is indeed beautiful and nicely laid out. However, it was very busy on both of my visits. On my most recent visit, the staff seemed to be having trouble keeping the food area stocked.
- Air Canada was quieter and felt more spacious than the United Club. Their food & bar area is very nice, with appealing food offerings. Of all the lounges, they had the best English bacon & sausages.
- The SQ lounge is my favorite, especially for ordering a hot meal that is brought from the kitchen to your chair. The LHR food isn't as good as it is in the SIN lounges, but then, nowhere is better than Singapore... ;-)
- Lufthansa was standard Lufthansa. The food & drink in the Senator Lounge was identical to the Business Lounge, but the space was quieter.
#746
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: IAH & CMH
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20 minutes from check in through Fast Track security to the lounge today. Regular security was a winding mess out the door.
Painfully slow progress on the ramp continues
Painfully slow progress on the ramp continues
#747
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K 0.7MM (trying to get to 1MM!)
Posts: 1,271
Thanks for the update...good to know! I'm flying out or LHR tomorrow, and have been wondering how early I needed to get there. I'm shooing for 3ish hours (mainly to give myself some time to hop around to the misc lounges...I'm flying out of T2A, so will have to make the walk back from T2B at some point).
#748
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BA at T3 benefits from the CX lounge which is excellent. But, generally, the key difference between BA and UA is that BA offers First whereas UA doesnt.
#749
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K 0.7MM (trying to get to 1MM!)
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#750
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