British Airways working on a 5-year plan to fully renovate the Heathrow lounges

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• gumshoe says:

  5 Mar5 March 05:13

  Obviously, any improvements to the current woeful offering are welcome and long overdue.

  But I hope BA hasn’t just gone for style over substance. I’m sure the artists impressions will be stunning and it’ll all be designed to look wonderful on Instagram and TikTok.

  But will the seats be comfortable? Will they still be serving cheap canteen slop? And crucially, will they address capacity issues?

  I shudder to think how they’ll manage the crowds over the next five years – it’s bad enough as it is. Unless there’s a cunning plan to tighten up the access rules and/or cull the golds & silvers …

  • TGLoyalty says:

    5 Mar5 March 10:56

    T5B is usually well under capacity.

    Any news of a T5C lounge @ Rob? That would certainly help.

• Andrew says:

  5 Mar5 March 05:34

  I’m usually quite lenient on HfP journalism as in fairness it’s a well-intentioned blog –
  but honestly this is beyond appalling.

  Almost no substance or specifics, praise for a private reveal of some lounge renders, and the announcement of the refurbishment of lounges that are now 16 years old (!!!) which won’t start until next year and will take FIVE YEARS to complete?

  At best this is naive intern journalism and at worst paid-for promotion from a struggling tired brand. I’m not sure which is worse?

  • Erico1875 says:

    5 Mar5 March 06:23

    You are the guy who turns up to boo his football team every week aren’t you, Andrew.?

  • Ziggy says:

    5 Mar5 March 06:27

    1) If BA hasn’t released specifics, how can HfP?
    2) What’s wrong with praise for something HfP was shown. Are only things viewable by all worthy of praise?
    3) I’ve reread the post and fail to see where there’s praise for BA finally refurbishing the lounges. There excitement that the refurbishments are finally going to be done, and the concepts to be employed in the refurbishments appear to be praised, but not the act of refurbishment, so you seem to be tilting at windmills here.

    • Andrew says:

      5 Mar5 March 09:14

      @Ziggy The audacity to call a press event to reveal a long overdue refurbishment of your tired product is one thing but to write a puff piece when there’s not even a modicum of specifics is… bizarre.

      Imagine me hosting a party and announcing to my friends and family that I will be renewing my 18 year old car lease sometime in the next 5 years – but no specifics to share and nothing to start for over a year.

      The gall of it !

      • Ziggy says:

        5 Mar5 March 10:29

        You’re floundering.

        Firstly , you still haven’t backed up your original ranty claim that HfP was praising BA for announcing a refurbishment and now have moved on to calling an article that mostly just reports what was revealed yesterday a puff piece. The change of attack line suggests to me that you’ve realised you’ve made a misstep but can’t quite bring yourself to admit it.

        Secondly, you still haven’t said how HfP was meant to provide more details of BA’s plans (another one of your criticisms of this site) if BA hasn’t supplied those details.

        Thirdly, your attempt to compare a service company’s announcement to the media and its customers (some of whom will have wanted to hear what BA had to say) with you announcing something about a car lease that affects absolutely no one but you, is both bizarre and ridiculous.

        Fourthly, to distract from your original attack on HfP (which appears to be unwarranted), you’re now back to ranting at BA. What, exactly, has BA done to you to draw out this level of bile?

        The fact is that there’s plenty to be annoyed about with BA, but ranting over an airline’s media briefing (and the reporting of that briefing) which will have absolutely no real world affect on your life seems more than a little over the top, and seems to suggest a worrying loss of perspective.

      • Rhys says:

        5 Mar5 March 10:39

        Hi Andrew. Let me spell out what new things we learned about last night:
        – it was finally confirmed that BA would introduce a new lounge concept not just abroad but in London
        – it was confirmed that all Heathrow lounges would eventually get this concept
        – it was confirmed that the refurbishment program is currently a ~5 year program
        – it was confirmed that the arrivals lounge would be refurbed first, with specific details (fewer, but larger showers, baths, barista coffee)
        – it was confirmed that they are looking at structurally altering the south lounge complex and changing the existing layout to allow direct entry into the Concorde Room
        – it also includes reportage of three renders that were on display of the lounges.

        This is all new information that was not available prior. If that’s not specific enough for you then I’m afraid you’ll just have to wait patiently until BA are ready to reveal more!

  • Lee says:

    5 Mar5 March 07:52

    I must agree. Ba has cut down on the real offering so much. I just like to get through security and relax with something decent to eat and drink before the flight. Ba is not offering much in the First lounge but this canteen slop.

    • Rhys says:

      5 Mar5 March 07:56

      Don’t fly KLM then, their lounge food is worse in Amsterdam 🙂

      • BahrainLad says:

        5 Mar5 March 08:39

        I think the non-Schengen Crown lounge in Amsterdam has better food than the F lounge. You can at least get some protein to have in your salad.

        • Rhys says:

          5 Mar5 March 08:55

          It really doesn’t!

      • Novice says:

        5 Mar5 March 11:08

        @Rhys, last time transit time was less than 2 hours and I didn’t even get any time to go to lounge at AMS. I have noticed this a few times now with klm flights of mine. Hardly have anytime for the lounge by the time I am off one flight and trying to find the next.

• Craig says:

  5 Mar5 March 06:12

  My wife and I have just returned from Mexico City on a BA Business Class flight. It wasn’t a great experience. The brand is tired and lags so far behind the competition. We chose not to visit the lounges at Heathrow. The South Lounge in terminal 5 was ready for updating 10 years ago. In Mexico City Airport we visited two of the Amex Platinum lounges. Wow!!! Food made to order, professional service and top shelf premium drinks including cocktails. All delivered with a smile. There was the option of free massages and manicures. Even a haircut. Absolutely amazing.

  • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

    5 Mar5 March 06:24

    I can think of little worse than having a randomer cut my hair, then sitting with bits still dropping out during a long haul flight. The presence of in-airport hairdressers has always mystified me. A blow dry bar for ladies (or gentlemen of flowing locks) yes, but not haircuts.

    • executiveclubber says:

      5 Mar5 March 06:48

      … do you not wash your hair after a haircut? 😂

      • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

        5 Mar5 March 07:23

        Yes, i run home to have a shower and re-style it myself. Can’t guarantee you can have the time or facilities available to do that in an airport lounge.

        • Paul B says:

          5 Mar5 March 08:06

          I’d be surprised if any lounges big enough to have hairdressers didn’t also have showers…!

    • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:

      5 Mar5 March 08:27

      VS used to have barbers / hair dressers in the LHR CH

      Last year I had my hair cut at the landside barbers at T5. Mind I was staying overnight at the Sofitel so it got a wash before flying.

    • Novice says:

      5 Mar5 March 11:12

      @blair waldorf salad, I agree. I am OCD. I can’t stand the thought of no shower after cut. Or at the very least: change of clothes.

      • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

        5 Mar5 March 11:59

        Oh yes it goes without saying from my comments on here I am a total headcase. High functioning though so i muddle along.

  • lumma says:

    5 Mar5 March 08:21

    The lounge for Iberia business class at Mexico City is one of the worst lounges I’ve ever been to and the airport is a hot sweaty mess. I’d rather spend 3 hours in the main T5 terminal than that lounge

• Andrew J says:

  5 Mar5 March 06:21

  Questions:
  – Are the NHS style toilets being replaced?
  – Will the arrivals lounge be closed completely for the refurbishment?

  • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

    5 Mar5 March 06:26

    +1. I feel I’d need a year’s notice before arrivals lounge closure. I’ve got future trips booked on the basis of being able to arrive and shower, have my work clothes ironed, then head straight to the office. If I can’t expect that, I’d have needed to choose alternative flight times.

    • Andrew J says:

      5 Mar5 March 06:46

      Especially as all the PP arrivals lounges at LHR seem to be gone for good now.

    • daveinitalia says:

      5 Mar5 March 08:21

      Don’t think the ironing service has been available for a while

      • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

        5 Mar5 March 12:00

        Really? Eek. I have work clothes I was expecting the two-sided door system in arrivals lounge to iron for me. 🙁

    • jjoohhnn says:

      5 Mar5 March 10:55

      Perhaps they will do a deal with the Sofitel, or perhaps tell everyone to head over to AA’s lounge in T3

    • Lady London says:

      5 Mar5 March 18:07

      Perhaps we can prompt BA to make something available at the Sofitel while the Arrivals Lounge is closed? ISTR long, long ago they had some arrangement at T4 with the Hilton adjoining

  • Rhys says:

    5 Mar5 March 07:05

    Yes, the refurbishment will be top-to-bottom. Not clear re: how they will manage the refurbishment.

    • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

      5 Mar5 March 12:01

      KLM sent passengers to a nearby Accor hotel when refurbing the non-Schengen lounge showers. It was disastrous; huge waits and plenty of no-shows muddling up the waitlist.

• KS says:

  5 Mar5 March 06:40

  At least they’re going to do something which is positive. Shouldn’t be hard to improve on what’s there now I agree. I would echo other posts though, please get more seats (or less people) in somehow. No good having a great lounge if you can’t find a place to sit. That would be worse than having a crap lounge with nowhere to sit.

  • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

    5 Mar5 March 07:26

    The lounges are overcrowded, I will not dispute that. But culturally, Brits seem unwilling to share tables or groups of seats. In my last 6 visits to the DAA Lounge in Dublin, I’ve had someone come sit down at the other side of ‘my’ table 3 times.

    • Steve says:

      5 Mar5 March 07:58

      That makes the rather bold assumption that the majority of people in the lounges are Brits. In my reasonable experience, there’s usually a strong bias in favour of non-Brits.

      • Rob says:

        5 Mar5 March 08:03

        I had this EXACT thought yesterday morning. Whilst Galleries F was fairly empty at 7am, it was hard to find a seat because it is virtually all block of 4 now and each block had one person on it. And, indeed, a British person would not join a group of four when one person was occupying one seat.

        I had an interesting situation with my wife when she went up to Scotland two weeks ago. Her train was cancelled so she was moved to the next one. The only empty seats left in First Class for reservation were on tables for four. I went to apologise to her for putting her on a table for four with other people and (in her German way) she was ‘what are you talking about? Why won’t you British people sit with others?’.

        • TGLoyalty says:

          5 Mar5 March 11:01

          You’d be shocked that I’ve sat with a random on seats of two then in a lounge

          “Is that seat free mate?”

        • Novice says:

          5 Mar5 March 11:22

          @Rob, I am British 😂 I think it’s maybe an age thing for brits. Younger brits are more likely to sit anywhere there is some space in comparison to the older generations.

          I’m not certain about this but it’s my theory.

    • The Savage Squirrel says:

      5 Mar5 March 09:14

      This is a South East problem where everyone avoids even eye contact with each other let alone friendly interaction. Share a table? The horror.

      If this was in Yorkshire it would never even occur to anyone that an “is that one free, luv?” would not be the solution.
      BA should therefore resolve their capacity issues by offering large discounts to northerners while increasing prices and status requirements for Home Counties residents 😉

      • NorthernLass says:

        5 Mar5 March 09:31

        So true! I had the rare experience of getting the train home from Manchester on Saturday, and by the end of the journey was quite well acquainted with the 2 people sitting closest to me; on the tube it seems as though mere eye contact is tantamount to assault 😂

      • Novice says:

        5 Mar5 March 11:26

        True @savage squirrel. I am from the north and honestly have never had an issue with anyone politely asking and sharing the table and I do the same but having said that I would try to get rid of a problem person 😂

      • Lady London says:

        5 Mar5 March 18:10

        Where I come from “Is that seat free?” is code for Get Your ***** Handbag off it so I can sit down”

        • The Savage Squirrel says:

          6 Mar6 March 13:39

          “Where I come from “Is that seat free?” is code for Get Your ***** Handbag off it so I can sit down””

          … and that’s where the ‘luv’ bit comes in to clarify the interaction is friendly and maybe even start a conversation. Don’t worry, even Londoners can get the hang of it with practice 😉 😉

    • Novice says:

      5 Mar5 March 11:18

      @blair waldorf salad, I personally am not bothered if I have to share my table as long as the person asks nicely and doesn’t look like they are going to create a mess. If I can’t find a seat, I ask politely if I see someone has a little too much space for one person. And I make sure not to create any trouble. It’s just manners. I don’t drink alcohol so I’m not likely to be binge drinking at the lounge nor do I stuff myself before flights.

      • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

        5 Mar5 March 12:04

        Glad to see I started a useful discourse! I am regularly stunned at people standing on the Thameslink during its central London section rather than saying “where do you want to put that bag so I can sit down?”

        • Rhys says:

          5 Mar5 March 12:25

          I am often happy to stand if I am only going a few stops in Central London. Standing never hurt anyone!

          That said, I will always ask for a seat if I want one and there is one available but occupied by luggage.

• BahrainLad says:

  5 Mar5 March 07:00

  Since the new furniture and lighting went into the F lounge my opinion is that it’s a very nice space, particularly in the evening. The toilets need sorting out, and newspapers need to come back, but otherwise the ‘hard product’ is pretty good. The food and beverage options are terrible however, and as increasing ongoing costs is not in BA’s dna (despite the recent mood music) I can’t see that improving.

  • Rhys says:

    5 Mar5 March 07:06

    The newspapers are not coming back, ever. Was confirmed by Calum Laming, Chief Customer Officer.

    • Michael C says:

      5 Mar5 March 07:18

      Does that include magazines? Massive “boo” from me, if so: loved stocking up for a long-haul!

    • BahrainLad says:

      5 Mar5 March 08:42

      Rather silly if so. One will have to keep flying VS then, who have a lovely range of newspapers and (proper, not the giveaway) magazines arranged at the entrance to the Clubhouse.

      • Novice says:

        5 Mar5 March 11:30

        I was shocked at the awful tiny Johannesburg VS lounge bit.

        • Novice says:

          5 Mar5 March 15:40

          😂 too true. I mean Barbados. Johannesburg has an awesome lounge for klm biz class.

  • Qrfan says:

    5 Mar5 March 07:18

    Agree with this. The space is fine. This issue is the food offering, which BA recently made worse, and so it’s hard to have any confidence that things will improve with a revamp. There was absolutely no good reason to remove a la carte, either via menu or qr code.

• YitzJ says:

  5 Mar5 March 07:12

  If only the food was as good as the AEGEAN longe at Athens Airport — everything fresh and so tempting and Greek !

  • Rhys says:

    5 Mar5 March 07:17

    Don’t expect Greek food at British Airways lounges, you’ll only be disappointed!

  • lumma says:

    5 Mar5 March 08:28

    However, the sandwiches you get in Aegean economy on London to Athens are absolutely dreadful.

    While it’s true that it’s more than you’ll get on BA in economy, they were so bad they might not have bothered

• Mark says:

  5 Mar5 March 07:20

  Used the arrivals lounge a couple of weeks ago. Lounge area itself wasn’t too bad but the showers are definitely in need of refurbishment. I hope they make it less of a maze as well, trying to hunt around nearly 100 cubicles in the current layout is not what you need after a long haul flight!

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