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For those who don’t have lounge access, are there any decent showers at Heathrow?
Without sounding like a snob, are ones in public areas nice and clean?
Or are there any in lounges that let anyone pay on the door to use them?
Or nice, near the airport hotel you can rent a room for 3 hours?
My partner is arriving in terminal 3 at around midday tomorrow, 29th December, and we both take a flight from terminal 5 at around 19:00. To go home is a 3 hour round trip, so I think it’s cutting it too tight to attempt that. Assuming his plane lands on time and he can get through border control and get his suitcase by 1pm, and the Elizabeth line and Thameslink is running without issues, he’d only have about 30 minutes spare before getting back 2 hours before the next flight.
The Plaza Premium lounge airside at T5 has showers, but it seems that you pay an extra £15 on top of the lounge access fee, so that’s probably going to get expensive for what is a rather mediocre lounge anyway.
You could book a day use room at any of the nearby Hiltons for £55-£99 depending which one you go for (via hilton website, just select same date for check in and check out) or look at dayuse.co.uk – I see they have the Thistle for £60.
Years back there was an arrivals lounge in T2 – Plaza Premium I think. I used the showers there one morning and they were better than the BA facility for T5 arrivals (admittedly a low bar…) Am sure that’s now closed. Also the Aerotel in T3 does rooms for a few hours, again book direct.
Thanks Tony. Really useful advice.
No problem. Also looks as if the Club Aspire lounge at T5 has showers too. I think consensus is that it’s now the better of the two open access lounges in T5, but you’re still going to be looking at a punchy bill unless you can get in using Priority Pass or similar.
And bear in mind, if your partner can’t check bags through to the final destination, I believe the rule is he won’t be able to check bags in at T5 until three hours before departure (I’m assuming you’re in Economy as otherwise there are showers in the BA lounges anyway). That might impact your decision.
I have seen suggestions that the Sofitel at T5 will let you buy a day pass for the spa (shower/sauna type thing) but can’t corroborate that.
Only Plaza Premium has a shower in T5 – Aspire does not.
The AA arrivals lounge in T3 has wonderful showers but I don’t think you can pay cash to get in.
T2 *A Arrivals lounge is also a great place to shower but again don’t think it takes cash bookings.
Actually we’re flying Business Class with Iberia from Terminal 5. Do we get free lounge access?
Yes you get to use the British Airways lounges.
I can confirm that I have showered my children there, both of whom pick up all and every available infection. Neither had any subsequent issues so the level of bacterial and viral contamination must be relatively low.
OMG!!! I didn’t realise that we could use the BA lounge! Doh!
That’s good to know too Froggee as my partner caught a really bad cold after our trip to the US for Thanksgiving…. probably in a casino in Vegas!!
And the business class bit also means you can check your bags in whenever you want, so you can ignore my comment about the 3hr cut off. Fast track security is also available for you to use, then your choice of three lounges. Whole other debate to be had about which one to use etc and I’m not opening that can of worms.
@TooPoorToBeHere I’ll take your word for that re Club Aspire having no showers as I’ve never set foot in the place, but the LHR website and PP app both say otherwise.Great! Seems I didn’t ask the right question from the start but that day room website link is useful.
Now a fun fact for NYE in Spain…
The most famous tradition is the eating of 12 grapes on the 12 strokes leading up to midnight, a practice popular throughout Spain. That’s one a second and harder than it sounds. They say if you can successfully cram all 12 pieces of fruit in your mouth in time with the chimes, and without spilling any, then you’re going to have a great upcoming year.
Another tradition is that of wearing red underwear on the night…. my wardrobe means I’ll be giving that tradition a miss!
Hmmm….
https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/lounges/business
Eligibility
Our lounges are available for passengers who are:Flying on a scheduled British Airways flight in First, Club World or Club Europe.
A Silver or Gold Member of the British Airways Executive Club on a scheduled flight operated by British Airways or one of our oneworld partners.
A Sapphire or Emerald member of any of the oneworld airline frequent flyer programmes on a scheduled flight operated by British Airways or one of our oneworld partners.
Over the age of 18 or, if under the age of 18, accompanied by a responsible adult. Local laws relating to the consumption of alcohol will apply.
Sapphire or Emerald members are welcome to invite one guest to enjoy the lounge with them.We are Blue Executive Club members. We booked on BA website but it’s an Iberia flight. Will we get in?
Yes.
You’re looking in the wrong place
Ahh thanks for that link.
Do you think we can easily walk into a lounge without booking?
You don’t need (and cannot) book Business class lounges.
Check this to see how full they are and make it to the closest/less busy: https://ba-uk-occupancy.livereachmedia.com/
As yonasl says you can’t book airline business lounges. The confusion has come from the fact that we didn’t know you were in business so I was talking at times about the non airline lounges that can be pre-booked.
The BA Lounge you’ll likely see first – right by security at the north end of the terminal – is probably going to be busiest. I have seen queues to get in and even a complete closure when staff couldn’t keep on top of things.
As I suspect you will have plenty of time, I’d suggest you head down one floor after security, walk to the south end of the building (towards gate 18-ish) and head back up the escalator to the other BA lounge complex. It’s bigger and I’ve never seen it as busy as the ‘north’ one.
You also have the option of going to the lounge in the B pier but depending where your flight departs from, this can start to get tricky so I’d really not concern yourself with this. Am sure someone else will chime in to suggest otherwise, mind…
And a word of warning, just manage your expectations re the lounge. Yes it’s free food and drink, but it’s not going to win any AA rosettes, never mind a Bib Gourmand!
Awesome thanks again Tony, and Yonasl.
The most famous tradition is the eating of 12 grapes on the 12 strokes leading up to midnight, a practice popular throughout Spain. That’s one a second and harder than it sounds.
The secret here is seedless grapes.
The secret here is seedless grapes.
Good idea!
We fly to Madrid for a couple of days then Barcelona for NYE and were thinking of going to the magic fountains and watching the fireworks. I’m sure it will be crazy packed, do you recommend it?
The most famous tradition is the eating of 12 grapes on the 12 strokes leading up to midnight, a practice popular throughout Spain. That’s one a second and harder than it sounds.
The secret here is seedless grapes.
And peeling them.
Barcelona for NYE and were thinking of going to the magic fountains and watching the fireworks. I’m sure it will be crazy packed, do you recommend it?
I’m sure it will be very busy! I prefer quieter places so haven’t actually been there at NYE. I’m usually at a rooftop house party, or up the sides of Montjuic (very quiet with city views, good if you take booze and a group of friends!).
The secret here is seedless grapes.
Good idea!
We fly to Madrid for a couple of days then Barcelona for NYE and were thinking of going to the magic fountains and watching the fireworks. I’m sure it will be crazy packed, do you recommend it?
If you have money for BA business class, your partner might think you have money for a ring. Always perilous going away to a picturesque city at New Year/Valentines as it raises expectations!
If you have money for BA business class, your partner might think you have money for a ring. Always perilous going away to a picturesque city at New Year/Valentines as it raises expectations!
Haha! We’re currently points rich cash poor. We are using Avios and yes I’m sure it’s not a good way of using them.
Well while I was sleeping last night (8 hour timezone difference) he books a day room at the Thistle by T5 *facepalm emoji* as he was worried that showers would be out of order in the lounges and by then it would be too late.
Anyway we’re in the South Lounge now and it’s quite busy. I’m sipping awful Prosecco and he’s nibbling sandwiches!
Oh and he moaned the Thistle looked like a cheap motel! I could have told him that if he had booked during UK awake hours!
Anyway we’re looking forward to our flight. Even though it’s business class, seats are individual so I think it’s upper class type seats. Never sat in that kind of seat before so excited even though it’s short haul flight.
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