New British Airways and oneworld arrivals lounge opens in Heathrow Terminal 3

The American Airlines arrivals lounge in Heathrow Terminal 3 has reopened after a five month refurbishment.  Whilst AA branded, this is also the arrivals lounge used by British Airways long haul flights into Terminal 3 as well as all Qantas and Cathay Pacific flights.

The lounge features an impressive 29 shower suites, stocked with C.O. Bigelow toiletries.  A valet service is also available to help with clothes pressing.

It is, interestingly, the only American Airlines arrivals lounge anywhere in the world.

The catering has been outsourced to Rhubarb, best know for event catering at outlets such as the Royal Albert Hall.  According to the AA publicity:

Now offering champagne and Bucks Fizz

Upgrading the breakfast buffet to include made to order smoothies and omelets, pastries, pancakes and porridge

Features a new a la carte menu option

Introducing a lunch service including a buffet, artisan breads, a British cheese board and seasonal dishes

New buffet options will be offered every four weeks, and the a la carte menu will change every three weeks

Access rules are NOT the same as for airside lounges.

In order to get access, you will need to have arrived on a First or Business Class ticket on a oneworld airline or have British Airways Gold status or a oneworld equivalent.  A British Airways Silver card will not do the job unfortunately.

The lounge will be open from 5am to 3.30pm.

Next up is the reopening of the Cathay Pacific airside lounge in Terminal 3 which is now expected in very early September.  

Accessible to British Airways status card holders, this will be managed by Plaza Premium following the refurbishment.  The new year will see the impressive new Qantas lounge which I wrote about here.  Both of these will make a pleasant change to the British Airways Terminal 3 lounges.

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How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (May 2025)

Here are the six options to get FREE airport lounge access via a UK credit card.

Your best value option (but no points):

The cheapest route to a Priority Pass airport lounge card is via the Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard.

The credit card has a fee of £15 per month, and comes with a Priority Pass which gives unlimited free access for the cardholder. If you add a free supplementary cardholder, they will also receive unlimited free access.

Unlike the version of Priority Pass you receive with American Express, the Lloyds Bank version also lets you access £18 airport restaurant credits.

Even better, the credit card has 0% FX fees and comes with 0.5% cashback. Full details are in my Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard review.

Lloyds Bank World Elite Mastercard

A Priority Pass, 0% FX fees and up to 1% cashback for £15 per month Read our full review

Lounge access via American Express cards:

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,500 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.

You also get access to Eurostar, Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines lounges.  Our in-depth review of The Platinum Card from American Express is here.

You can apply here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with four free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.

Additional lounge visits are charged at £24.  You get four more free visits for every year you keep the card.  

There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus.  Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card review here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

Lounge access via HSBC Premier credit cards (Premier account holders only):

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free Priority Pass card, allowing you access to the Priority Pass network.  Guests are charged at £24 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £290 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer.  Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

A good package, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review

Got a small business?

If you have a small business, consider The American Express Business Platinum Card which has the same lounge benefits as the personal Platinum card:

The American Express Business Platinum Card

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

You should also consider the Capital on Tap Pro Visa credit card which has a lower fee and, as well as a Priority Pass for airport lounge access, also comes with Radison Rewards VIP hotel status:

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.