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British Airways airport lounge openings over Christmas – where can you go?

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Which British Airways airport lounges are open over Christmas?

We have got hold of a copy of BA’s internal lounge access guidelines for the Christmas period. The good news for anyone flying First Class is that The Concorde Room is back.

This is what you will find open, and when, in Terminal 5:

  • Galleries First – open 5am to 10pm. The terrace area will be available to all passengers, not just ticketed First Class passengers, during those times when the Concorde Room is open.
  • Galleries Club South – open 5am to 9pm, passengers to use Galleries First from 9pm to 10pm
  • Galleries Club North – open between 17th and 23rd December, and 27th/28th December, from 5am to 2pm
  • The Concorde Room – open between 17th and 20th December from 8am to 3pm (First Class ticket holders only, other passengers may be sent there if Galleries First is busy)

All other BA lounges remain closed. It isn’t clear what sort of food and drink service is currently offered.

The two independent lounges in Terminal 5, Club Aspire (buy here) and Plaza Premium (buy here) are also open.

Plaza Premium is by far the best of the two. Remember that it does not accept Priority Pass but you can still get in by flashing your American Express Platinum card at the door. The Club Aspire lounge does accept Priority Pass.

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Category

British Airways and Avios

Comments (47)

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

  • ayearinmx says:
    16 Dec16 December 16:02

    you should probably put ‘LHR’ in the headline somewhere…. otherwise a lot of people will be a bit disappointed upon reading this

  • TM says:
    16 Dec16 December 16:06

    Just an FYI – I think they do check the Amex Platinum is still active…not like the Eurostar lounges where they just inspect the card.

  • Kieran says:
    16 Dec16 December 16:18

    Will the Concorde room be open in January or just for these few days over Christmas?

  • Mike says:
    16 Dec16 December 16:26

    OT – but BA

    BA cancelled Sydney flights before November

    I had managed to get Amex 241 redemption in F for July-August , just been cancelled and have to go in our summer school hols.
    Not Happy

    • Voldemort says:
      16 Dec16 December 16:46

      Get BA to rebook you on QR.

      • Mike says:
        16 Dec16 December 17:11

        They can’t do that on a 241 redemption can they?

        • Harry T says:
          16 Dec16 December 17:56

          They absolutely can, Mike. You have the same rights as anyone else with a cancelled flight.

          • Lady London says:
            16 Dec16 December 19:08

            Including for the 2nd seat booked on a 241, including if you paid 50% avios, including if you got your seat free with a toy out if a cornflake packet etc.

            You have full rights eac seat.

          • Lady London says:
            16 Dec16 December 19:15

            You could wait until very near the flight until you make up your mind. You dont have to decide now. Personally I would be comfortable finally deciding about 2 weeks before.

    • BrightonReader says:
      16 Dec16 December 16:57

      No need to post the same comment across several threads!

      • Mike says:
        16 Dec16 December 17:11

        apologies, but there had been no replies on other thread and this one is at least BA related

    • Harry T says:
      16 Dec16 December 17:55

      You’re travelling in July/August 2021? I mean, BA have probably done you a kindness unless you’re an Australian citizen because the weather is dreary in everywhere but northern Australia, and no one without an Australian passport will be getting in by August 2021.

      You are entitled to a reroute on another airline, a change of dates up to the end of ticket validity, or a refund.

  • Mike says:
    16 Dec16 December 17:13

    At MAN, I noticed BA arrive next to FR and walk out in the rain on the LCC gates.

    Would I be right in thinking the cost of an airbridge at MAN is £150?

    I suppose £150 is a lot of money when you haven’t got it!

    • Lady London says:
      16 Dec16 December 19:16

      BA already did that at various outstations I think.

    • Mike says:
      16 Dec16 December 19:50

      Well, if its per rotation on a typical A320 thats 50p per pax. Otherwise £1 per pax.

      How very premium.

      • Nick says:
        16 Dec16 December 20:18

        That’s not the price charged at MAN… and of course there have to be special arrangements at the moment because T3 is closed for departures but domestic arrivals have to be routed that way for customs reasons. But of course we won’t let facts get in the way of a good rant.

        Also, BA regularly sells tickets for £3 +tax on LHRMAN. So even if it were £1 per pax, that would be a third of their revenue gone in an instant.

  • Andrew says:
    16 Dec16 December 19:25

    Seems odd that Club passengers get upgraded all the way from Galleries Club to CCR if it’s busy – going from sparkling wine, bypassing the cheap champagne in Galleries First and straight to LPGS! Speaking of which, I’m assuming the LPGS will be put away when the CCT is open to regular Galleries First guests – or they’ll find everyone is out there and no one is in the actual lounge!

  • Boon says:
    17 Dec17 December 06:11

    Went to Galleries First for the first time last weekend. My other half has Silver, we had a 10pm flight, and the Galleries Club was closed for the day.

    Was disappointed. Doesn’t look much better than Galleries Club, in terms of decor or furniture. Food menu was also average. A slight improvement, but just 4 measly choices. Didn’t have any alcoholic drinks so maybe that’s an improvement, but the soft menu was also uninspiring.

    Not sure I’d want to pay first class prices for that type of lounge experience!

    • John says:
      17 Dec17 December 06:16

      If you’re talking about pre-covid, you wouldn’t go to GF if you paid for an F ticket.

    • GaryC says:
      17 Dec17 December 06:22

      In “normal” times it’s a decent step up. A bit more space, slightly nicer decor, drinks a bit better, nicer dining arrangements, terrace which galleries south doesn’t have etc. The terrace was always my go to spot pre-flight before I got CCR card (and ironically has been this year too since, it was repurposed as the Concorde Terrace).

  • Kevin R says:
    17 Dec17 December 07:16

    BA are using covid ‘breakout’ to try and justify cancelling flights under 14 days and then trying to avoid EU261. Compo. Payment, do believe this is legal?

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