“The Concorde Bar” – the new British Airways lounge concept for First Class ticket holders

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• AA says:

  30 Aug30 August 06:39

  Is there any indication yet of when the Dubai concorde bar is due to open?

• Danksy says:

  30 Aug30 August 07:11

  I’m lucky enough to fly first once every two years, and I’m always struck by the number of people in the Concorde lounge. I think this is a good thing to differentiate between first and gold members, it makes it more special!

  • Jason says:

    30 Aug30 August 07:41

    As in its not very busy?
    I love the Concorde lounge, especially the balcony which always seems very quiet and we tend to use that with our children.
    I’d be very happy when the Dubai lounge opens as the current lounge isn’t very big.

• Tilly71 says:

  30 Aug30 August 07:26

  Oh, how the Gold Card holders are not going to like this!

• Ralph says:

  30 Aug30 August 07:42

  Slightly OT…leaving Hong Kong in BA F tomorrow night, what is the best lounge for dinner / drinks before a late night flight departure please?

  • CV3V says:

    30 Aug30 August 08:12

    Firstly, check what gate your flight departs from as it can be a long trek to the gates, also HKIA doesn’t offer fast track security. The Wing First Class lounge is just after security and includes a dining room that is operated with staff/chefs from the Peninsula hotel. The food is good, a la carte and buffet options. The actual Wing First class lounge is a champagne bar and i tend to walk into the business section for a seat and the view (and they sometimes have part of the business class seating roped off for first). After that i head down to the lounge nearest my gate – i have only visited the CX lounges (didn’t seem worthwhile trying the other one world lounges).

  • CV3V says:

    30 Aug30 August 08:13

    also, as its a late night departure, you could try and get the use of a cabana (google what the CX ones look like, shows how badly wrong BA got theirs).

    • Ralph says:

      30 Aug30 August 16:37

      Thank you so much for all the info, will look into the cabanas too

  • Mapman says:

    30 Aug30 August 09:04

    I concur about CX’s The Wing at HKG. Used it twice last week, including before my BA HKG-LHR flight and enjoyed dinner in the Peninsular-operated dining area called The Haven. Excellent food and service. Reasonable length walk to the BA departure gate.

    • jeff says:

      30 Aug30 August 14:13

      travelling through HKG in CX/BA biz, can I use any of these fine dining establishments?

      maybe a better query is, what are the best oneworld lounge options in HKG for biz class? (and do any allow the cabana to be booked?)

      (also, anyone know of similar biz lounge option in CGK?)

      thanks!

      • YL says:

        30 Aug30 August 17:32

        For business class lounge I would recommend CX lounge The Bridge. (Apparently Qantas Lounge at HK is also very good, but I have not personally visited yet.)

        Gorgeous space with nice decor and tarmac view. I find this lounge less crowded and has many seating options.

        There is no table service, neither does this lounge have the Cathay signature noodle bar, but the food offering are excellent with good quality.

        Cabana is only available at The Wing first class section, but it does have shower facilities.

        • jeff says:

          30 Aug30 August 20:26

          Thanks YL!

          Can I just check, can I access showers in The Bridge? Also, do I have access to The Wing (non-First Class) ?

        • YL says:

          30 Aug30 August 22:44

          Yes, you can use the showers in The Bridge, and can also access The Wing business class section.
          The Wing is kind of between Gate 1 and Gate 4, and the CX flight to LHR, often departing from Gate 1 or Gate 2, so it is quite convieint if your flight is departing near those gates.

    • Ralph says:

      30 Aug30 August 16:38

      Thank you for this

  • Pierre says:

    30 Aug30 August 09:07

    I totally agree with the posters above, the Wing F is probably the best lounge in HKIA, and if you have time, definitely try the cabanas . it was the first time in years where I could fully strech my 1.85m into a bathtub! 🙂

    • Ralph says:

      30 Aug30 August 16:39

      Brilliant, will do! Although we do have 75 minute massages scheduled at the IC HK shortly before our 4pm checkout 🙂

  • Steve says:

    30 Aug30 August 09:27

    I would suggest that you make your way to The Pier, First Class Lounge. It has recently opened after a major overhaul and is quite fantastic.
    I had The Wing at the top of my favourite OneWorld lounges in the world, I think that The Pier just pips it now. to be fair, i haven’t had any dinner in the dining room, but the space (of which there are lots of different areas) is just great.

    • Steve says:

      30 Aug30 August 09:30

      https://youtu.be/hds_g1UslzE

      • Ralph says:

        30 Aug30 August 16:41

        Thanks so much Steve, and everyone that commented with great advice, looks like the Pier might scrape it

    • Adam W says:

      30 Aug30 August 10:23

      I’m assuming that those recommending The Wing have not visited The Pier since its reopening.

      • Lochlann says:

        30 Aug30 August 10:29

        My thoughts exactly! If you’re going to be there for over an hour it’s worth the extra distance (next visit in December)

        • Polly says:

          30 Aug30 August 14:18

          Ok we will be trying the Pier in Jan if that’s the case, can’t wait… Agree that the. Wing was always our first choice, food just amazing pre flight dinner etc.

        • YL says:

          30 Aug30 August 17:29

          +1. However, just want to add cabanas are only available at The Wing

  • Lady London says:

    30 Aug30 August 12:21

    Singapore Airlines lounge.

    • Lady London says:

      30 Aug30 August 12:25

      Oops scrub that. Thought you said Singapore.

  • reds says:

    30 Aug30 August 13:33

    Head to the PIER for an ala carte meal. Simply fabulous!
    Miles better than the food on board BA F
    Worth the extra 10 mnutes walk to near Gate 66.

    • Ralph says:

      30 Aug30 August 16:47

      Thanks for this, much appreciated

• Mike says:

  30 Aug30 August 10:27

  The press release says there will be “dining booths” – is that not separate dining?

  • Rob says:

    30 Aug30 August 22:28

    There is no mention of different food, just a different place to eat it ….

• Mark C says:

  30 Aug30 August 10:42

  Slightly off topic but what are people’s views of taking a toddler in first and / or club? Both from a perspective of if you’ve done it yourself and if you’ve been on a flight with toddlers in those cabins?

  • Pat Butcher says:

    30 Aug30 August 11:06

    Put in cargo hold.

  • Kinkell says:

    30 Aug30 August 11:13

    Don’t do it. Have had a long haul overnight BA flight with (not mine) toddlers and it was a nightmare. Screamed and unsettled most of the time. Felt heart sorry for the parents. However, not what I paid for and felt very cheesed off as it was our first CW flight. Got loads of ex gratia airmiles when I complained it was not the experience zI was expecting.On the other hand, other flights, you would never have known they were there. I would be REALLY miffed if there were toddlers on my hard earned First trip (coming up soon). Can you guarantee a comotose state?

    • Jason says:

      30 Aug30 August 11:23

      I know parents who have given their children medicine, to sleep, before flying! Rightly or wrongly!

      • AndyGWP says:

        31 Aug31 August 14:18

        I don’t have children, but I do know of a doctor who has advised some parents to give their child a piriton prior to flying, to induce some drowsiness.

  • Jason says:

    30 Aug30 August 11:21

    I think it’s luck of the draw. If BA compensate you for a poor experience due to crying babies, what more can they do. Most people,who have had babies, know what it’s like when they are playing up and will have the utmost sympathy, although it’s not pleasant if you are trying to sleep.
    If you earned your ticket in F, enjoy it don’t worry about other people! Ps just don’t book the same flight as me 😉

    • callum says:

      30 Aug30 August 17:22

      There’s a difference between being sympathetic and thinking it’s a reasonable for the child to be there in the first place though.

      That being said, the idea that those in first class are too good to be near toddlers and they should be dumped on those in economy stinks of elitism to me!

      • Rob says:

        30 Aug30 August 22:31

        My kids are doing F next Easter when my youngest will just have turned 5. I would not have done it earlier. Frankly, I didn’t want the mental grief of trying to keep them quiet to avoid annoying other passengers.

        4 is fine, actually – a four year old can work the IFE perfectly well and therefore will be quiet for the whole flight watching TV!

• Mark C says:

  30 Aug30 August 12:52

  Hahaha pretty much the responses I was expecting and having never had a baby until recently I would have felt the same. But at the same time I don’t feel like I should avoid using my hard earned avios for a long haul flight at the front end of the plane just because we’ve decided to over populate the country a tad more! 😉 I’ve never tried First and although I’m eager to do so, I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking him in it for fear of spoiling other’s experience but i don’t see Club as being a problem. Having said that, should / would I feel differently if I shelled out £10k pp on first tickets for us all rather than using Avios (purely hypothetical of course)??

  However, the trip I’m planning is not until early 2017 and I have no idea what he would be like by then (could turn out to be the devil incarnate if he hits the terrible 2’s) and I may regret booking it but then again I cant afford to not book early due to reward seat availability…

  • cheekychappie says:

    30 Aug30 August 14:12

    Cabin class shouldn’t influence whether you think toddlers are OK to travel or not. As it happens, well brought up, better class people are generally more understanding than plebs – but there are plenty of plebs in business and first (and vice versa, nice, classy people in economy).

    Provided you have put a bit of thought into what might interest/ distract/ amuse the kids during the flight, nobody human can rightfully complain if the toddler cries a bit loudly at times, that’s life.

    Personally, having travelled a lot with 3 very young kids on long haul, I have complete & utter contempt for those sour, cross, mean people who think a bit of a cry from the baby has ruined their flight and let you know with frowns and mutterings. OTOH the extremely nice people who sympathise and might even on occasion offer to help out a bit, are perfectly wonderful human beings 🙂

    • Susan says:

      30 Aug30 August 14:32

      And I’m not impressed by parents who think that I should look kindly on their screeching sprog or be charmed that the little anklebiter is running wild whilst the “responsible’ adult is necking the champers. There are few noises more grating than a greeting child – yes it happens but it’s up to the accompanying adult to do their utmost to mitigate the impact on other passengers.

      • Leo says:

        30 Aug30 August 16:10

        +1

        • cheekychappie says:

          30 Aug30 August 20:30

          You 2 are not parents.

          Good choice.

  • Polly says:

    30 Aug30 August 14:17

    Make sure you book just before he makes 2! Just warn us all which flight you are on so we can avoid! Joking! Bit of calpol will really help, as he’s sure to be teething and in pain too, so you won’t be drugging him, not really!

  • BLT says:

    30 Aug30 August 16:08

    Simple answer : If people don’t want to be disturbed by children, fly private jet. Flying first class is open to children and therefore don’t be embarassed or put off from booking. My children have flown 5 CW and 1 F flight over the past 3 years. The F was an overnight flight ATL-LHR and my youngest had only just turned 3. No problems at all, she slept most the way. People on FT often comment it’s the drunken or snoring adults who are more annoying.

    • YL says:

      30 Aug30 August 17:39

      I walked through CW cabin the other day on an A380 flight… The plane is so quiet, but the cabin was rather noisy because of the snoring sound from multiple passengers…

• fin says:

  30 Aug30 August 16:31

  Not sure if there is going to be a Concorde Lounge at Gatwick, but word is that BA is going to be taking over the space currently occupied by the Number 1 Lounge. Number 1 is set to move to a larger space on the ground floor

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