Lounge Options in LHR
May 28, 2009, 9:36 am
#61
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
I've lost count now of the times that either (a) it says "boarding", you go up to the gate, and by the time you get there boarding hasn't even started
, or (b) it doesn't say anything, but you go up to the gate anyway at the time you would expect boarding to be almost completed (because you don't want to risk missing the plane), only to find that departure is delayed an hour but the screen didn't tell you this. They then stop you from going back down to the lounge, so you're left sitting for anything up to a couple of hours in what can often be an uncomfortably hot gate area with the sun streaming in through the large windows.....
This isn't a good way to treat your C pax, 1Ps, 1Ks, etc, IMHO. If they were to tell us they'd make announcements if there were delays, then at least that would be something.
What happens for folk sitting in the 1st Class part of the lounge (I've never been fortunate enough to go in there), now that there's no concierge to escort them to the plane? Do they get any kind of indication of what's going on?
May 28, 2009, 10:04 am
#62
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: INN
Posts: 2,907
I've lost count now of the times that either (a) it says "boarding", you go up to the gate, and by the time you get there boarding hasn't even started , or (b) it doesn't say anything, but you go up to the gate anyway at the time you would expect boarding to be almost completed (because you don't want to risk missing the plane), only to find that departure is delayed an hour but the screen didn't tell you this.
, or (b) it doesn't say anything, but you go up to the gate anyway at the time you would expect boarding to be almost completed (because you don't want to risk missing the plane), only to find that departure is delayed an hour but the screen didn't tell you this.
May 28, 2009, 10:22 am
#63
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,322
I can't speak for every airport, but this is something QF/BA get right at LHR / SIN / BKK / SYD - the lounge staff notify patrons of delays, boarding calls, etc, and it makes complete sense for passengers in the lounge to stay there and enjoy themselves if the flight is still a while from boarding.
Jun 7, 2009, 1:59 pm
#64
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Programs: UA 1K (MM), MR Plat Prem, Hertz Pres
Posts: 1,164
Well, no recent posts in here, so I'll visit the *A lounge tomorrow morning and see how it's coming along. (UA departure via IAD.)
Jun 7, 2009, 2:06 pm
#65
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
I was there a week and a half ago, it was pretty much the same as my previous trip. Reasonably OK breakfast stuff, self serve drinks and a decent shower.
Jun 8, 2009, 1:56 am
#66
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Programs: UA 1K (MM), MR Plat Prem, Hertz Pres
Posts: 1,164
Not too crowded here at 08.30. Decent food for a lounge. WiFi not so much. I had to use my T-mobile account... Couldn't find the "Netgear" network.
Jun 8, 2009, 3:39 am
#67
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
But that's not really a LHR-specific issue. This happened to me with almost any airline at just about every airport. Just make sure to board as late as possible by the regular schedule and make sure you have enough reading material or other entertainment if you still have to wait at the gate area..
Jun 8, 2009, 11:35 am
#68
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: The road less traveled
Programs: UA Gold MM, AA EXP, Delta Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HHonors Diamond, Natl EE, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 5,118
New bmi international lounge! bmi no. 1 Heathrow
Don't forget that bmi just opened a fantastic new lounge in T1 last week. I haven't had a chance to visit yet myself, but initial reports (on the bmi forum) are top notch.
Photos/video here:
http://www.flybmi.com/bmi/en-gb/the-...-heathrow.aspx
And from the bmi forum, a description of the access rules:
Photos/video here:
http://www.flybmi.com/bmi/en-gb/the-...-heathrow.aspx
And from the bmi forum, a description of the access rules:
The Star Alliance departures lounge at Heathrow operates under Star rules with no additional caveat. A Star Gold customer travelling on a BD domestic flight is eligible to use this lounge (although its location remote from the domestic departure gates means that you probably wouldn’t want to).
The following examples should help clarify further. For each scenario, the Heathrow lounges which are available in Terminal 1 to that customer are shown. This assumes that the scenario takes place after 16 June (the date when LH are due to move into T1):
1. Diamond Club Gold cardholder travelling on BD international flight in any class – access to bmi Number One Heathrow and Star Departures Lounge.
2. Diamond Club Silver cardholder travelling on BD international flight in any class – access to bmi Number One Heathrow only.
3. Star Alliance Silver cardholder travelling on BD international flight in economy class – no lounge access available.
4. Star Alliance Silver cardholder travelling on LH international flight in economy class – no lounge access available (unless a bilateral arrangement is in place between LH and a lounge operator*).
5. Star Alliance Gold Cardholder travelling on UA international flight in any class – access to bmi Number One Heathrow and Star Departures Lounge.
6. Star Alliance Gold Cardholder travelling on BD domestic flight in any class – access to bmi Domestic Lounge and Star Departures Lounge.
7. Non-FFP customer travelling on a UA international flight in First Class – access to bmi Number One Heathrow and Star Departures Lounge.
8. Non-FFP customer travelling with BD to Amsterdam on a Y-fare – access to bmi Number One Heathrow only.
9. Non-FFP customer travelling with BD to Baku on a Y-fare – no lounge access available.
The following examples should help clarify further. For each scenario, the Heathrow lounges which are available in Terminal 1 to that customer are shown. This assumes that the scenario takes place after 16 June (the date when LH are due to move into T1):
1. Diamond Club Gold cardholder travelling on BD international flight in any class – access to bmi Number One Heathrow and Star Departures Lounge.
2. Diamond Club Silver cardholder travelling on BD international flight in any class – access to bmi Number One Heathrow only.
3. Star Alliance Silver cardholder travelling on BD international flight in economy class – no lounge access available.
4. Star Alliance Silver cardholder travelling on LH international flight in economy class – no lounge access available (unless a bilateral arrangement is in place between LH and a lounge operator*).
5. Star Alliance Gold Cardholder travelling on UA international flight in any class – access to bmi Number One Heathrow and Star Departures Lounge.
6. Star Alliance Gold Cardholder travelling on BD domestic flight in any class – access to bmi Domestic Lounge and Star Departures Lounge.
7. Non-FFP customer travelling on a UA international flight in First Class – access to bmi Number One Heathrow and Star Departures Lounge.
8. Non-FFP customer travelling with BD to Amsterdam on a Y-fare – access to bmi Number One Heathrow only.
9. Non-FFP customer travelling with BD to Baku on a Y-fare – no lounge access available.
Jun 8, 2009, 1:59 pm
#69
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K, NW forever
Posts: 1,390
Jun 8, 2009, 2:29 pm
#70
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, Marriott/IHG Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 291
We were at *A lounge @ T1 last month. The food was okay...(better than SFO RCC 
)
However, the wifi was not working...For me it was down > 50% of time and very slow (w/ sony vaio + windows vista). For my bf, he barely got connected (w/ macbook). We tried several locations but still no luck and I saw some people moving around as well.
)However, the wifi was not working...For me it was down > 50% of time and very slow (w/ sony vaio + windows vista). For my bf, he barely got connected (w/ macbook). We tried several locations but still no luck and I saw some people moving around as well.
Jun 8, 2009, 2:45 pm
#71
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
I was at the T1 lounge on June 1. I wish I'd known about the BMI lounge, I would have checked it out.
The *A lounge was nice. The little sausage sandwiches were really good, and it was clean, well stocked and well serviced. I have no complaints. It wasn't busy (AM) and they still don't do announcements, but I wanted to be at the gate early to inquire about an op-up anyway (which i got
)
The *A lounge was nice. The little sausage sandwiches were really good, and it was clean, well stocked and well serviced. I have no complaints. It wasn't busy (AM) and they still don't do announcements, but I wanted to be at the gate early to inquire about an op-up anyway (which i got
)
Jun 8, 2009, 2:57 pm
#72
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: ua 1k, hh diamond, spg PLT, marriott PLT
Posts: 617
[QUOTE=JohnnyP;11873746]Don't forget that bmi just opened a fantastic new lounge in T1 last week. I haven't had a chance to visit yet myself, but initial reports (on the bmi forum) are top notch. QUOTE]
I am traveling in F and am a 1k next week. Should I use the Star First Lounge or the Number 1 Heathrow lounge?
I am traveling in F and am a 1k next week. Should I use the Star First Lounge or the Number 1 Heathrow lounge?
Jun 14, 2009, 3:01 pm
#73
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SIN, ORD, GRR
Programs: UA 1P, SQ PPS
Posts: 91
SQ Lounge in T3 on the 12th June.
Did not look fantastic...
settled in...realised the food was not bad at all if you fancy Singaporean food...
no wi-fi but there is a row of at least 6 desktops for use.
good enough for me...after seeing the crowds out at the shopping area in T3...
Did not look fantastic...
settled in...realised the food was not bad at all if you fancy Singaporean food...
no wi-fi but there is a row of at least 6 desktops for use.
good enough for me...after seeing the crowds out at the shopping area in T3...
Jun 15, 2009, 9:01 am
#74
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Bloomington IN
Posts: 882
I visited the BMI lounge (which just opened this month) yesterday and was the only guest from 5:30-6:30 AM. Staff was very welcoming (and gave them a quick talk about FT). There are three little "cubicles" which are curtained off which seem to be for taking a quick snooze -- nice touch. Difficult to judge how the food selections will be during the rest of the day. For breakfast, two cold cereals, and pastries and coffees, teas, juices.
I did not see any yogurt.
I was surprised that the *A lounge that morning had cut up fresh fruit. Maybe the BMI group is still in their "shakedown" phase.
I did not see any yogurt.
I was surprised that the *A lounge that morning had cut up fresh fruit. Maybe the BMI group is still in their "shakedown" phase.
May 11, 2010, 3:42 pm
#75
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver SPG Lifetime Gold
Posts: 530
Lounge in LHR
What lounge do you recommend in LHR? I'm traveling Business class on Air New Zealand, and then continuing to Cape Johannesburg in First Class.
1) Which carrier has the better lounge?
2) Can I leave my carry-on bags in the lounge? I have a 9 hour layover, and would like to grab some Fish & Chips in London
Thanks!
1) Which carrier has the better lounge?
2) Can I leave my carry-on bags in the lounge? I have a 9 hour layover, and would like to grab some Fish & Chips in London
Thanks!
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; May 11, 2010 at 4:18 pm Reason: already existing thread