Are the private airport lounges worth the extra cost?

breadlinebetty

C_Mababejive wrote: »

I really dont see the point. Its just another form of snobbery. modern airports have facilities to suit all and really, if you time things right and check in on line,you shouldnt be in the airport too long anyway.

I don't see how liking your comforts is snobbery?:cool:

When I flew Club Class it was lovely and relaxing sitting in a big comfortable chair in peace and quiet, and being able to help myself to a really nice spread and pour any drink I fancied. Plus there was all the newspaper, computers etc......it was just relaxing

It comes into its own if there's a delay, too - much better being able to snooze in a lovely comfortable room than curl up like a sardine with all that din going on around you. PLUS, you can eat and drink without having to pay top whack for rubbish food!

I know First Class has personal shoppers to go and buy your Tax Free or whatever shopping you want for you, too.

The other benefit of flying Club or First is that you get fast track check-in (no queuing) and your luggage comes of the flight first.

If you can afford it then why not travel in comfort???

Of course, you don't get all these privileges with the paid-for lounges by the sound of it, so I doubt that I'd bother with those ones.;)

zagfles

breadlinebetty wrote: »

The other benefit of flying Club or First is that you get fast track check-in (no queuing) and your luggage comes of the flight first.

At Heathrow they have (or at least did) a "fast track" at passport control as well, with someone checking your tickets before you join the queue. A couple of times (both early morning arrivals IIRC) the queue in the "fast track" was longer than the queue for the normal desks! Once there was nobody at all in the "slow track" and 5-6 in the "fast track". Yet people still joined the "fast track" queue!

I was so tempted to shout across "there's no queue in the slow track" but decided better of it...:)

breadlinebetty

zagfles wrote: »

At Heathrow they have (or at least did) a "fast track" at passport control as well, with someone checking your tickets before you join the queue. A couple of times (both early morning arrivals IIRC) the queue in the "fast track" was longer than the queue for the normal desks! Once there was nobody at all in the "slow track" and 5-6 in the "fast track". Yet people still joined the "fast track" queue!

I was so tempted to shout across "there's no queue in the slow track" but decided better of it...:)

Five or six people is hardly a queue...especially in fast track. lol They were probably businessmen if it was early morning, which is why they were busy.....but 5 or 6 isn't bad when you compare it to a long long queue that can happen. Fast track are duty bound to get the passengers through quickly, so they would never let the queue grow - they would bring in more staff to keep it speedy :j

zagfles

breadlinebetty wrote: »

Five or six people is hardly a queue...especially in fast track. lol They were probably businessmen if it was early morning, which is why they were busy.....but 5 or 6 isn't bad when you compare it to a long long queue that can happen. Fast track are duty bound to get the passengers through quickly, so they would never let the queue grow - they would bring in more staff to keep it speedy :j

I just loved the irony of getting through much quicker than those in the "fast track" who had paid hundreds or even thousands more for their ticket;)! And they way they joined the "fast track" queue rather than mingling with the plebs (or pleb in this case).

But I was probably a very scruffy looking backpacker that smart-suited businessmen wouldn't have wanted to get too near:rotfl:

spannerzone

I got into the BA lounge at LGW once and the biggest benefit to me was the lovely clean toilets with quality toilet paper to hand!

I'm quite easily pleased but hate the typical toilets found at most airports

Doshwaster

zagfles wrote: »

At Heathrow they have (or at least did) a "fast track" at passport control as well, with someone checking your tickets before you join the queue. A couple of times (both early morning arrivals IIRC) the queue in the "fast track" was longer than the queue for the normal desks! Once there was nobody at all in the "slow track" and 5-6 in the "fast track". Yet people still joined the "fast track" queue!

There still is a Fast Track passport control line but it is only for non-EU passport holders flying in Business or First. The reason for this is (allegedly) that because the passport check is run by the Borders Agency (part of the Home Office) which is a public body, they cannot discriminate between EU passport holders so all must go into the "slow" queue.

When departing, the security check is done by BAA which as a business the same rules don't apply to. They give Fast Track to anyone who the airlines are willing to pay a higher fee for.

breadlinebetty

Doshwaster wrote: »

There still is a Fast Track passport control line but it is only for non-EU passport holders flying in Business or First. The reason for this is (allegedly) that because the passport check is run by the Borders Agency (part of the Home Office) which is a public body, they cannot discriminate between EU passport holders so all must go into the "slow" queue.

When departing, the security check is done by BAA which as a business the same rules don't apply to. They give Fast Track to anyone who the airlines are willing to pay a higher fee for.

I've got a British Passport and I'm sure I went through Fast Track passport control when flying Club?