Lounge Access in LHR
 

These questions have been answered before. . .but I am at my wits-end with the Google Search. . .

I am booked IAD-LHR in a full Y ticket and upgraded into NC. If I remember correctly, I will not receive an arrivals lounge invitation upon arrival at LHR. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Upon arrival at LHR, are there any options for getting a shower? I am connecting on to BMI to Dublin, will BMI offer a *G any shower facilities there?

thanks!

I wish that I could correct you with respect to the NC arrivals question (as this is how I generally get to LHR!), but alas, you are correct you do NOT have access to the arrivals lounge. However, its probably worth giving it a try on the outbound, as you may have a nice GA who decides to print you an invitation, and on the inbound, the worst possible thing they can say is NO.

A more LHR savvy traveler will have to answer your other q's, but IIRC last time I connected to BMI as *G, there were no showers in the lounge.....I do hope I'm wrong about this for your sake, altho I expect that "paid" showers are still avail throughout...

Best wishes for a great trip! Dave

Correct, you will not get a United Arrivals invitation. I don't know if BMI has facilities, but Heathrow airport has public showers available. United flies into termnal 3 at Heathrow and according to the Heathrow website http://www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/heathrow/ there are also showers in Terminal 1 (where bmi is) and in the flight connections center.



Showers
Showers are available in the following locations throughout the airport:
Terminal 1
Before security

Terminal 3
Departure lounge - these facilities are currently unavailable due to development works.

Terminal 4
Available in the toilet areas on the Arrivals level, before security and further facilities are available after security control

Additional shower facilities are available in the Flight Connections Centre.

Only revenue First and Business Class passengers, award First and Business Class passengers, and UGS members (regardless of class flown) are invited into the Arrivals Lounge per policy.

I think IIRC that you can buy a pass to the arrivals lounge. It's an Amenity benefit for $50 (?), but I believe others reported that anyone can buy this, not just Amenity members. AA certainly allows this (for $35?). Also, you may need to pay the fee at the ticket counter and then take a pass to the lounge (at least that's how it works with AA). Someone who has done this will hopefully chime in here and help you.

Thanks guys. I think I just might pay the $50 for the Arrivals Lounge if that is an option.

I am guessing that the arrivals lounge is outside of security. I took a look on the BAA website and it looks as if I have to go outside T3 to get to BMI anyway.

You can pay the $50. You need to go over to ticketing which is downstairs near the United CI area at terminal 3

But not F pax?!? :p

The BMI Business Lounge (the step BELOW their *G lounge) has a nastly little shower. I used it in Sept 04. They give you a towel in a bag. It's no UA Arrivals Suite.

Yeah, well them too, but since the OP is in upgraded Business, I tailored my answer to Business Class access (and added UGS for the heck of it).

What about the new SQ/AC "London lounge" by gate 12 in T3...IIRC correctly, they have smallish showers there, too (and free computer access).

True, but if the OP is connecting on to Dublin, they'll leave from T1 and won't be able to access T3. BAA security rules and not UA (FWIW).

Can you pay the $50 at your origin at ticketing or do you have to do it at the destination? Can you do it at any of the cities where UA has an arrivals lounge?

FWIW AA's arrival lounge costs $35 and it's outside security. It's said to be nice, though I'm unsure whether an AA stub is a pre-req. Guess not.

AA and UA arrive at the same LHR terminal. Give them a try and get to know the dAArk side. ;)

The LHR AA arrivals lounge is just down the hall from the UA one. The AA lounge by the lift on the floor above the ATM's (in fact it is above the ATM's).