The new, much expanded, No 1 Traveller lounge in Gatwick South has just opened.
(Remember that British Airways is moving to Gatwick South next January, so even if you have no plans to visit this lounge in the near future you are highly likely to be seeing it at some point.)
The original No 1 Traveller lounge was, frankly, too small. The company has built a brand new space in a different location, just next to the Club Rooms private lounges which I reviewed last year.
Here are some pictures sent in by a reader, who described it as ‘absolutely beautiful’:
and
and
and
and
and
and
In terms of access, you get in via Priority Pass (free with Amex Platinum) or Lounge Club (two free entry passes free with Amex Gold). You can also book in advance for cash via the No 1 website. The special offer of £20 entry plus 750 Avios is still running.
No idea at this point if there will be a formal press launch or not – if there is, I will hopefully be able to get a closer look.
About Head for Points
Hopefully it will not be blighted by the no Priority Pass due to full lounge problems of its predecessor and its friends at North Terminal and Birmingham. I have given up trying
I hope they have put in more loos than its cousin in LGW North!
I think you can still get £15 passes using the Gourmet Society DragonPass offer.
I was in there for a fairly brief visit on Thursday. I guess it had only just opened as there were loads of people going round with clipboards, checking things. There’s a temporary entrance at the moment, and a small check-in counter. Then you get a more personal welcome in the lounge – very enthusiastic and pleasant, and not from behind a counter. As has already been said, it’s much bigger and more open but with some separate areas at the side like the ‘Library’ (not for kids under 12). Kids get an activity pack – stickers and colouring, always welcome. We had the one-free-per-person hot food ordered at the bar – same as in the old lounge. There didn’t appear to be a cold buffet like before – just the cakes were on offer. Not sure whether this is going to be introduced later…? Seemed to be plenty of toilets. All very nice. I used Lounge Club to get in.
In gatwick north today flying ba. The lounge is chaos – genuinely not a seat and can hardly move. Not a relaxing time.
I’m there in a couple of weeks. I’m thinking of just staying in the terminal because by the sound of the comments on here it is a real shambles.
If you’re getting access via BA Business class ticket be sure to complain.
BA seem happy to appease my complaints with Avios – they didn’t budge when I asked for a specific number of tier points to take me from silver to gold! Instead they gave me 8000 avios last year when I complained about waiting for an hour for my bag to arrive! (which i know is nothing to do with them!).
(Incidentally complain about everything, Cathay recently gave me 75 USD when I complained about IFE screen not working!). The only reason I had bothered to send an email was because they damaged my Antler suitcase, which they remedied with a brand new Samsonite equivalent.
where exactly do you people complain to get avios? In my case, I cancelled a 2-4-1 redemption, BA did not refund almost GBP 600 of taxes and fuel surcharge (though I got all Avios back). It took me 3 months and 7-8 calls (each lasting 30 mins incl wait time) to get back my money and I didn’t even get a decent apology from BA.. forget 1 extra avios !!
Call the helpline / send a ‘secure message’ and make a complaint. I complain about anything and everything. Got 57k avios back last year for a 2x30k CE RFS last year. Not bad – 3k avios and £100 for two people to southern Spain.
Unfortunately BA are absolutely brilliant on our route 🙂
We flew paid J BA on Friday and that is exactly what we did, due to the previous comments on the article that Rob ran a few weeks ago suggesting people couldn’t even get a seat. We just went to Jamie’s for breakfast and then went straight to the plane once boarding was announced, without ever seeing the lounge.
Flying in j with ba in may from lgw north. Would it be better to visit this lounge in south then and leave enough time to connect to n terminal?
Don’t you need to check in, go though security first before you can use a lounge?
Great tip. Thanks
I visited this lounge on Wed this week. I wouldn’t say fab, but it was definitely nicer than before. Very limited food choices. I liked the quite area though with conference table and dimmed lighting.
Wrote to BA regarding a delayed flight and lack of lounge in INN We just got an apology. I again wrote back and asked specifically for avios.
The reply we got was that they understood why we would ask but they couldn’t offer anything!