Heathrow lounge news: Aer Lingus reopens, Lufthansa closes for refurbishment

It seems like all the Heathrow’s Terminal 2 lounges are getting a glow-up: the Singapore SilverKris lounge was refurbished earlier this year (here’s my review) whilst the Aer Lingus lounge has just reopened and Lufthansa has plans to refurbish.

I suspect the reason we are seeing these rolling refurbishments is because it is ten years since Terminal 2 opened in 2014 and the lounges are starting to need some TLC.

Aer Lingus lounge at Heathrow Terminal 2 reopens

Aer Lingus has quietly reopened its lounge (images above and below) at Heathrow Terminal 2 following a refurbishment program. The lounge was closed for three months.

Rob will be pleased to see an expanded food and drinks offering, which he lamented was the real shortfall of the old lounge in his 2022 review. Here is what Aer Lingus says:

“The Aer Lingus lounge now offers an all-day coffee barista service and an expanded variety of new hot and cold food options. In the mornings, there’s warming porridge oats, served with a selection of toppings. There’s also a range of cereals, yogurts and juices to choose from, as well as freshly baked pastries.  For those who seek something more filling, there’s sausage or bacon served in a fresh bap, or omelette served in a toasted muffin.

Later in the day, customers can enjoy a hearty soup, served with Irish soda bread or a crusty roll. There’s also a selection of fresh sandwiches, as well as a cheese board with savoury biscuits and fruit chutney. An afternoon tea option, featuring a selection of dainty cakes and scones, is also sure to delight customers seeking a sweet treat. For those who want something more filling before they travel, there’s comforting favourites like beef chilli, Irish lamb stew, or a delicious cannellini bean ragu.”

Furniture and soft furnishings have also been replaced, and the lounge has been kitted out for the 21st Century with “power sources at every seat”. (We weren’t quite as addicted to our devices back in 2014!)

A new “relaxing quiet zone” has also been added, although it’s unclear whether this is just a section of the lounge or a totally separate room.

The following Aer Lingus customers are eligible to use the lounge:

• AerClub Concierge, Platinum and Silver members
• AerSpace customers
• Business Class customers
• British Airways Gold and Silver members flying Aer Lingus
• Lounge voucher holders

Note that BA Gold and Silver cardholder are allowed in (no guests) when travelling on Aer Lingus. It doesn’t matter if your ticket is booked as a British Airways codeshare or has an Aer Lingus flight number.

The rules are different for BA Gold and Silver members when flying on Aer Lingus from other airports. The rather complex rules are covered in this article.

Heathrow Lufthansa lounge closes for refurbishment

Lufthansa is closing its lounge in Heathrow Terminal 2 for refurbishment from 1st October until mid-January next year.

All business class passengers and Lufthansa / Star Alliance status members will be sent to the other Star Alliance lounges in Terminal 2:

• Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Heathrow review
• Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Heathrow review
• United Club Lounge Heathrow review

The Lufthansa lounge is the only Star Alliance lounge in the main terminal: the United Airlines, Air Canada and Singapore Airlines lounges are all located in the B satellite. This is a good 10-minute walk from the short-haul A gates Lufthansa typically uses.

The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge is the newest of the lot and would be my recommendation, having just reopened following a big refurbishment earlier this year. It now looks much smarter and has an upgraded bar where you can enjoy a Singapore Sling.

It will also be a lot quieter than the United Club next door – although United runs fewer flights during the winter season from late October – and has a better food and drink offering than the Maple Leaf lounge.

You can see my roundup of the best airline lounges at Heathrow Terminal 2 here.

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How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (October 2024)

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

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 American Express Platinum review is here.

You can apply here.

If you have a small business, consider American Express Business Platinum instead.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 22nd October 2024, the bonus on American Express Business Platinum is increased to up to 80,000 Membership Rewards points, worth 80,000 Avios. You will receive 8 points per £1 spent for the first three months, on up to £10,000 of spending. Click here to read our full card review. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold 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 review here.

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.

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