Which British Airways lounges have pre-flight dining?

Available at a handful of British Airways lounges worldwide, pre-flight dining offers an upgraded lounge dining concept with table service.

It is typically found at airports where the majority of British Airways flights are overnight, allowing premium passengers to eat before they board in order to maximise sleep time.

Let’s take a look at what you get and where you can get it.

What is British Airways pre-flight dining?

Pre-flight dining is a concept British Airways offers in several of its lounges, predominantly in the United States.

The majority of flights from the US to the UK are overnight red-eye affairs, and with the tailwind of the jet stream virtually all flights are shorter than their outbound counterparts.

Even West Coast flights, such as those from San Francisco, have a flight time around 9 hours – on average, 90 minutes less than on the way out. When you consider taxi, takeoff and landing, your time between when the seatbelt signs turn off and when they come back on again is reduced to eight hours or so.

On East Coast flights the effect is even worse, with the actual flight time hovering around the six-hour mark.

All that means is that for a lot of people – and particularly for business travellers – getting a good night’s sleep is more important than dining on board.

With that in mind, British Airways offers pre-flight dining. This is a restaurant-style table service at key lounges where you can eat before you step on your flight. You can go straight to sleep as soon as the seatbelt sign is off, and wake up refreshed in London the following morning.

What’s on the menu with British Airways pre-flight dining?

Last time I was in the Washington Dulles First Dining Room I had scallops (see below).

British Airways periodically changes the menu in its dining rooms, and in many cases it will also vary by location. Here is an example menu from the US lounges, provided by BA:

Starters:

• Heirloom tomato gazpacho (choice to add crabmeat)
• Tuna poke

Salad

• Summer vegetable salad – heirloom tomatoes, charred asparagus, cucumber, mozzarella, balsamic vinaigrette with toasted sourdough

Main course

• Chicken paillard, Satur Farms rocket, roasted tomatoes, shaved fennel, lemon vinaigrette
• Prawn Masala curry, basmati rice, naan bread and coriander chutney
• Tagliatelle pasta, choice of lamb bolognaise or vegetarian bolognaise
• British Airways burger – angus beef short rib blend, brioche bun, lettuce, tomato, pickle, choice of cheddar, blue cheese, American cheese, bacon, sautéed mushrooms and onions

Dessert

• Fig almond tart, vanilla gelato
• Lemon posset, shortbread cookie, candied lemon, mint
• Selection of ice cream and sorbets
• Selection of cheese

Where does British Airways offer pre-flight dining?

There are currently ten airports where pre-flight dining or some sort of table service is available:

Boston Logan International Airport

Concorde Dining is available for First Class passengers in the British Airways lounge in Terminal E, opposite gate E11. Pre-flight dining is open from 4pm.

Dubai International Airport

Whilst not a true dining room, British Airways has a bar dedicated to First Class passengers with table service.

Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport

First Dining is available for First Class passengers in the British Airways lounge in the International Departures Terminal, on the mezzanine level.

London Heathrow Terminal 5

BA’s flagship lounge, the Concorde Room, offers restaurant-style table service for First Class passengers departing from Heathrow Terminal 5.

London Heathrow Terminal 3

First Dining is available for First Class passengers in the British Airways First Class lounge in Terminal 3.

Newark Liberty International Airport (New York)

First Dining is available for First Class passengers in the British Airways lounge in Terminal B, near gates B50-B58.

New York JFK International Airport

British Airways offers first class dining in conjunction with American Airlines at their shared Chelsea Lounge in Terminal 8 of JFK International Airport.

San Francisco International Airport

First Dining is available for First Class passengers in the British Airways lounge in Concourse A of the International Terminal.

Singapore Changi Airport

Like Dubai, British Airways has a bar dedicated to First Class passengers with table service.

Washington Dulles International Airport

First Dining is available for First Class passengers in the British Airways lounge in Concourse B, after security. Dining is available from 4pm. Our review is here.

Can I use First Dining if I’m a BA Executive Club Gold or Silver member?

No. Only passengers travelling in First or Executive Club Gold Guest List members have access to First Dining facilities or indeed the Concorde Room/Bars.

You won’t go hungry though. British Airways still provides a buffet in its lounges for passengers – you just won’t get restaurant-style table service.

It appears that the rule change put in place in September 2021, allowing all Gold and Silver members of British Airways Executive Club to use pre-flight dining, irrespective of travel class, has been quietly withdrawn.

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