Lounges: are they all like T5 North?

coffeehound

Plumped for a BA Club upgrade to see what's on the other side of the door. The nearest BA lounge was Heathrow T5 north.

Really it wasn't worth the upgrade. Free paper, magazine, a couple of glasses of vino and a light lunch. Very crowded, so much so I couldn't sit down to eat at a proper table and instead had to perch cheek-by-jowl on bench seats with side tables.

So is this typical of what lounges have to offer in your experience? I suppose if one trousered a few bottles of wine like a former colleague did each week, that might just claw back your upgrade cost, but beyond that, the value isn't obvious.

jpsartre

coffeehound wrote: »

So is this typical of what lounges have to offer in your experience?

Actually the BA lounges at T5 offer a superior product to the average business class lounge IMO at least in European airports. Many pay lounges don't offer food, just drinks and snacks. The South lounge is bigger so if Noth is crowded it might be worth it to move there. I tend to use North because it's immediately after security and I'm probably not the only one.

Keep in mind that there are other advantages of flying Club with BA than the lounge.

richardw

Experienced travellers thru T5 don't choose anything North.

I do see people putting a snack and a drink in their bag para llevar.

jpsartre

richardw wrote: »

Experienced travellers thru T5 don't choose anything North.

It has a convenient location and better views. I actually prefer it to the South lounge.

PeacefulWaters

I like an airport lounge. But I wouldn't place huge value on it. If you go to the airport to down a few drinks, fab. I tend to get a sandwich and a Coke, so £10 would be my "price". Certainly not worth paying for a BA Club Europe upgrade just to sit in the lounge and avoid paying for Percy Pigs on board.

BA Heathrow South is fine, albeit it feels industrial in scale and was crowded on my sole visit.

I quite like the BA Manchester lounge, but food is uninspiring.

Concorde Room at Heathrow is a thing of beauty. BA Boston is too, which provided wonderful service to me last week.

Aspire lounges at Manchester and Luton impressed me, although not as good as the BA ones I've mentioned. Escape at Manchester a little less so.

Ljublana's lounge was very basic, but at least away from the masses.

The Admirals Club AA lounges I've used in Philadelphia and Denver have been pleasant, but with poor food options.

Hilton hotel lounges have been handy on recent stays too!

I don't like shopping in airports. I object to their high food prices, and most lounges give me a bit of space and comfort. They're not a must have, but I do like them.

Caz3121

coffeehound wrote: »

So is this typical of what lounges have to offer in your experience? I suppose if one trousered a few bottles of wine like a former colleague did each week, that might just claw back your upgrade cost, but beyond that, the value isn't obvious.

I would certainly not pay to upgrade just for a lounge. The upgrade is really for the flat bed onboard
I have status so can use the lounge any time I fly with BA whatever class, it costs me the same price to upgrade to get the flat beds as it does for someone with no status to get flat beds + lounge access

dickydonkin

coffeehound wrote: »

Really it wasn't worth the upgrade. Free paper, magazine, a couple of glasses of vino and a light lunch. Very crowded, so much so I couldn't sit down to eat at a proper table and instead had to perch cheek-by-jowl on bench seats with side tables.

If you are just after a drink and a bit of lunch, then you are arguably far better off spending the extra you paid for the upgrade on a decent lunch before boarding.

On a bad day, I agree that the club lounges can be like a zoo and the food is certainly nothing to write home about, however, there is a reasonable drinks selection.

Galleries First lounge is a little better, although the food again, is unremarkable at best.

I find the Concorde Room (T5) somewhat dated and shabby in areas, and when compared with the premier lounges of QR and CX for example, it is an OK lounge living off its heyday.

It is also worth noting that for those travelling in a J cabin with BA, if you don't have status, you have to pay for seat selection, although you can select the dregs for free on check in or for some, a few days prior to departure.

I avoid BA wherever possible nowadays and earn my BAEC status on other carriers - which does come in handy for reward flight savers for positioning flights on a better carrier.

Blue264

Caz3121 wrote: »

I would certainly not pay to upgrade just for a lounge. The upgrade is really for the flat bed onboard

Hate the flatbeds personally. They set my BPPV (vertigo) off big time.
I'm another that wouldn't pay for lounge access. If it's included in the fare, then fine. I'm not keen on the BA lounges at T5, but really enjoyed the Emirates lounges at Manchester and LHR.

coffeehound

Many thanks for the replies; that's been a useful orientation.