Buying access to Heathrow lounge

[Chivvy]

Hi
We,(3 adults), have a trip coming up later in the year departing from Heathrow early (8 am) on a Saturday morning.

I’ve never used any airport lounges but would consider buying access to one. My issue is that I have read about how busy the lounges at Heathrow can be and I’d hate to buy access for the 3 of us only to be turned away.

If anyone thinks that it would be worth purchasing access could they suggest which lounge would be best to purchase?

Oh, it’s probably important to say which airline we will be using to ascertain which terminal! We will be going with QR.

Thanks

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

QR = Terminal 4

The pay to enter lounges are listed on the LHR website.

Unlikely a pre-paid entry would be denied.

for 3 mioght be cheaper to have something in one of the eateries in the terminal.

[Rob]

Have a look at our reviews of the T4 independent lounges here – https://www.headforpoints.com/uk-airport-lounge-reviews/

[NorthernLass]

Food options tend to be limited in lounges, so if you’re paying money, unless you’re intending to drink loads, I’d second the suggestion about eating in the terminal restaurants!

[Chivvy]

Ok thanks for the information everyone. I guess that, unless I find a good offer for lounge passes, then I’ll continue to sit in the main terminal building.

One other point, I should be eligible for a new sign up bonus with AMEX gold shortly before we fly. These come with 4 passes, right? Maybe they could be utilised in terminal 4?

Whilst I’ve had the gold card previously I was never in a position to use a lounge (tried in Orlando but was turned away as it was full). Can anyone remind me how long after signing up for the AMEX card the passes arrive?

Thanks again for the responses, most helpful

[yonasl]

The passes will get to you with the card. The only thing is that they are not guaranteed to work if the lounge is full (in some you can pay a small amount to pre-book your spot. You still then have to use your voucher to enter).

[executiveclubber]

If you’re departing 8am, you will likely not be consuming much at all, let alone a full meal or alcohol. Would staying in a nearby hotel with breakfast make more sense? It would for me! If not, you’d probably get much better value for money at an airport eatery and using Club Avolta for any discounts?

[Chivvy]

Thanks yonasl, I guess that comes back to my original point about being able to get access earlier on a Saturday. I suppose it doesn’t matter too much if I’m using the AMEX vouchers but, having read the lounge reviews Rob put in the post above, access is rather limited in independent lounges in T4

[Chivvy]

executiveclubber wrote:

If you’re departing 8am, you will likely not be consuming much at all, let alone a full meal or alcohol. Would staying in a nearby hotel with breakfast make more sense? It would for me! If not, you’d probably get much better value for money at an airport eatery and using Club Avolta for any discounts?

Sorry executiveclubber, for some reason I didn’t see your response. We will actually be driving up from Devon overnight and arriving at T4 around 5am so we would be looking for some type of breakfast. Whilst I would definitely not now be looking to pay for entrance to a lounge I am thinking that using an Amex voucher (hopefully the lounge won’t be too busy at that sort of time on a Saturday morning) each would probably be worth it?

I would imagine that these are likely to be the only flights that we will take from one of the bigger airports over the next 18 months and so, if I didn’t use the vouchers on this trip then they would only get thrown away anyway. The choice, therefore, is either use them at Heathrow (or, at least, attempt to) or use them in Bangkok on the way home. The Bangkok flight would be an evening flight so the lounges may be busier?

The only other option to actually use them is that we have a near 4 hour layover at Hamad airport on our way out – I think that would be arriving at Hamad at 5pm so, again, potentially a busy period on a Saturday.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[The real Swiss Tony]

I doubt you would have any problem using the passes at Bangkok as they have so many lounges. And whilst the number of PP ones has been reduced, I suspect there will be some juggling amongst the airlines to accommodate this, too.

I’ve also read very good things about the Doha lounge PP but this is flagged as potentially busy between 5pm and 7pm on the app. However that’s also going to be the most expensive place to buy a drink…

So, I would forget Heathrow, just go and buy breakfast as you’ll get better food then try to use the passes in Doha and if that fails, use them in Bangkok.

[Chivvy]

Thanks Swiss Tony. I have read that PP is losing/has lost a number of the airline lounges at Bangkok which was disappointing to learn. Interesting that you think that they will still have plenty of options – something to consider.

I very much appreciate you sharing your lounge knowledge and opinion

[The real Swiss Tony]

Chivvy wrote:

I very much appreciate you sharing your lounge knowledge and opinion

You’re most welcome. I used the contract lounge at the satellite terminal (where I believe all QR flights go from) last year before the 8pm or so QR flight, as I had to make a phone call just before departure and it is some distance from the QR lounge. The contract one was fine and quiet enough – I think there’s some variation across the airport so you might want to do some digging but I doubt there’s much in it.

[Chivvy]

The real Swiss Tony wrote:

Chivvy wrote:

I very much appreciate you sharing your lounge knowledge and opinion

You’re most welcome. I used the contract lounge at the satellite terminal (where I believe all QR flights go from) last year before the 8pm or so QR flight, as I had to make a phone call just before departure and it is some distance from the QR lounge. The contract one was fine and quiet enough – I think there’s some variation across the airport so you might want to do some digging but I doubt there’s much in it.

Ah, interesting. Thanks for the input