Eurostar to open a cocktail bar in the London St Pancras lounge

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• Smid says:

  25 Jul25 July 07:44

  Personal platinum amex. Business does not get access (or hilton gold).

• George says:

  25 Jul25 July 08:53

  Very happy to meet a fellow AdP addict. The brand has been taking a regular bite out of my disposable income for a good decade now with no signs of letting up…

  • Lady London says:

    25 Jul25 July 13:32

    Are people using all the new scent variants in AdP or just sticking to the original ?

    • George says:

      25 Jul25 July 13:51

      Original for me, but, have also gone for the Intensa and, to a lesser extent, the Essenza. For Mrs George, it’s Peonia or Rose Nobile (so far!)

      • Rob says:

        25 Jul25 July 14:07

        Of the ‘yellow’ ones, I only really like the original. However, I do like the blue ‘Blu’ ones for Summer – I always ensure I get a good pile of free samplers when buying something else and then take them on holiday over July / August.

    • JC says:

      25 Jul25 July 16:48

      Rob you should rename the site “Head for Perfume”

• JC says:

  25 Jul25 July 08:59

  How lovely – flying FY in J in November so look forward to sampling. Nice to see them enhancing the product after recent cuts…

• @mkcol says:

  25 Jul25 July 09:37

  As it’s “Bits” I’ve a little train-related lounge news from Virgin Trains – they were doing a survey about thoughts on their lounges & the following were some of questions which came up:

  In future, 5 of these lounges will be upgraded to become ‘flagship’ First Class lounges and will continue to be managed by Virgin Trains. These are the lounges at London Euston, Birmingham New Street, Liverpool Lime Street, Glasgow Central and Manchester Piccadilly. These lounges would only be for the use of First Class customers travelling with Virgin Trains.

  The remaining 5 will be managed by selected partner organisations, providing a fresh and unique offer at each. Organisations that are a good brand fit and that will offer a great service will be chosen for these lounges at Runcorn, Birmingham International, Stoke, Coventry and Crewe. All Virgin Trains customers, both First and Standard Class, will be able to use the facilities within these lounges. First Class customers will be able to show their ticket to receive a complimentary snack and drink. The lounges will also sell food and beverages to all customers.

  From your first impressions, how appealing do you find the idea of running 5 lounges as flagship Virgin Trains lounges and 5 managed by selected partner organisations?

  and then…

  Virgin Trains has already agreed a partnership with Titanic Brewery, who will manage the lounge at Stoke. The new café will offer a selection of beers, coffees and food.

  and this bit I found most interesting…

  Another consideration for the future is the introduction of a new ‘lounge card’, usable across the whole Virgin Group.
  There would be a fee for membership. Lounge card holders would be able to use both the flagship and regional Virgin Trains lounges alongside First Class Virgin Trains customers. Lounge card holders would also have access to Virgin Atlantic lounges and Virgin Money lounges.

  • Rob says:

    25 Jul25 July 09:51

    OK, that is just weird. I mean … the Virgin Trains lounges are nothing special, the Virgin Money lounges are free anyway if you take out a credit card or put £1 in a savings account and the Virgin Atlantic lounge at Heathrow is a super-exclusive ‘money can’t buy’ experience. It would be like selling a restaurant card which gave you free meals at The Ritz and McDonalds.

    • the real harry1 says:

      25 Jul25 July 10:35

      I can’t see that a new lounge card giving access to the airport lounges would be cheap. Probably more like PP ie £260 pa unlimited access, £160 pa 10 shot pass

      • Rob says:

        25 Jul25 July 11:10

        I doubt anyone values a Virgin Trains lounge at more than £10 though – and that is being generous. Whilst the Clubhouse could easily sell day passes for £100 – I’d save a chunk of that just from the free haircut! I would actually pay for the Virgin Money lounges but there is no need.

      • ankomonkey says:

        25 Jul25 July 12:25

        @Rob – Just had the haircut last Sunday during first visit to the LHR Clubhouse 🙂

        But I don’t need those posh toiletries. For years I’ve been using whatever I pick-up during hotel stays. My daughter likes it when I use Peter Thomas Roth as it reminds her off our holidays. I sometimes take surveys and they don’t code logic in for people who don’t buy toiletries or have them bought by a household member.

    • Jon says:

      25 Jul25 July 13:42

      A train station lounge that anybody can use.

      Isn’t that just a waiting room?

  • Lady London says:

    25 Jul25 July 13:40

    Wonder how they’re going to work that out with the banking side assuming the sale of Virgin Money to Clydesdale will go through?

    Been in a couple of the non-First Class Virgin lounges and I can understand why Virgin would want to get rid of them. They do make me buy Virgin train tickets when there are other alternatives though. Anytime I see the word “selected” partners etc. on a marketing I read “downgrade” I’m afraid. This will not end well for those lounges they don’t want to keep.

• Vasco says:

  25 Jul25 July 10:12

  OT: Is there any point in getting Intercontinental Ambassador for someone who never stays at Intercontinentals? Does it get you any extra recognition in the rest of the IHG menagerie?

  • Charlie says:

    25 Jul25 July 10:15

    Quite simply, no.

    • Rob says:

      25 Jul25 July 11:11

      Not strictly true as Ambassador gets you IHG Gold, but you get IHG Gold for free just by getting the free IHG credit card ….

      • Vasco says:

        25 Jul25 July 11:27

        I’m already Plat, and will probably hit Spire soon, so that’s not much of an advantage. Should have included in the OT.

      • Genghis says:

        25 Jul25 July 11:40

        I renewed AMB last year primarily for the 10% rebate on all (not just IC) redemptions (didn’t have plans for the “241” but used it in Boston) and I’ve done very well out of it.

        (Note the 10% rebate option is only available on renewals)

    • Lady London says:

      25 Jul25 July 13:42

      It will make you feel good.

      Some people would say that’s what’s good about Spire, too.

      • Leo says:

        26 Jul26 July 00:45

        +1 lol.

  • Charlie says:

    25 Jul25 July 10:18

    Quite simply, no

  • will says:

    25 Jul25 July 10:50

    OT, Any news on a date Marriott rewards merger?
    I’m holding off on purchasing and upgrading a travel package as late as possible in the hope they clarify what will happen to them.

• Alex says:

  25 Jul25 July 10:49

  OT What are people’s thoughts on multiple Amex self referrals? Just done one from plat to BAPP and considering another to SPG, has anyone done 2 or more? Appreciate there’s no definitive answer just interested in opinions as to whether it’s worth the risk or not.

  • Jimbob says:

    25 Jul25 July 16:13

    I referred myself the bapp and the spg, then referred my wife another 3.
    Nice little earner, and managed to cancel the plat before getting any annual fee.

• william merrett says:

  25 Jul25 July 10:50

  OT, Any news on a date Marriott rewards merger?
  I’m holding off on purchasing and upgrading a travel package as late as possible in the hope they clarify what will happen to them.

  • Rob says:

    25 Jul25 July 11:08

    I am speaking to the MR CEO today but, whilst he may tell me, I don’t think he will let me tell you! It is NOT 1st August.

    EDIT: I now have the date but I can’t tell you.

    • ankomonkey says:

      25 Jul25 July 12:27

      Are you able to tell us which quadrant of the month – single digit (1st-9th), beginning with a 1, a 2 or a 3?

      I have a resort stay starting on 21/8. Hotel quoted me current benefits, not new programme benefits.

      • Rob says:

        25 Jul25 July 12:39

        See the article tomorrow …

      • Mike says:

        25 Jul25 July 16:15

        Rob, if you were a woman you would be a proper prick-tease! 🙂

        haha

    • Pangolin says:

      25 Jul25 July 14:48

      Rob, can you tell us whether it will even be in 2018? 😉

      • Rob says:

        25 Jul25 July 15:04

        It is August, as promised!

        Bad Travel Package news by the way ….

      • Genghis says:

        25 Jul25 July 16:03

        “Bad Travel Package news by the way ….”
        Bad in so far as we shouldn’t be buying before transition? No need to say yes or no. If no response, I assume yes 🙂

      • Crafty says:

        25 Jul25 July 19:43

        Please will you give the TP news tomorrow? I am literally supposed to be buying one first thing tomorrow.

        • Rob says:

          25 Jul25 July 21:22

          Yes

      • Roger says:

        25 Jul25 July 21:34

        Bummer, only bought one yesterday with another planned for tomorrow.
        Look forward to your article Rob

    • KBuffett says:

      25 Jul25 July 22:45

      August 18th.

      • KBuffett says:

        25 Jul25 July 23:10

        TP will be cancelled and transferred to equivalent points

      • RIccatti says:

        26 Jul26 July 03:21

        Horror story!

      • Genghis says:

        26 Jul26 July 04:52

        Prudence wins the day for once?

• the pitch says:

  25 Jul25 July 13:02

  Can you still get in the Eurostar lounge with a cancelled platinum card or do they swipe it?

  • Stevie G says:

    25 Jul25 July 14:27

    Just passed thru London St Pancras and there is no swipe although checked the card details.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.