THE LOUNGE LOWDOWN
Tom Otley and Marisa Cannon round up places to refresh, work and refuel across Heathrow’s four terminals
Our guide to Heathrow’s lounges, terminal by terminal
Welcome to our round-up of Heathrow lounges, covering both departure and arrival facilities in T2, T3, T4 and T5 (Terminal 1 closed last year). In the UK, departure lounges are generally airside, while arrivals lounges are landside – the divide isn’t quite as clear-cut as it may seem, though, because a transiting passenger may well use the airside facility as both an arrivals and departures lounge. In addition, the arrivals lounges listed here are accessible only to those who have “arrived” in the UK by clearing customs.
Access for you and any guests differs for every lounge, as do the costs of paying your way into ones that allow this. Membership programmes such as Priority Pass provide access to various venues – check what facilities you can use before you travel.
To save space, we assume that all lounges have work areas, sufficient power for your devices, free internet, cold food and complimentary soft drinks (although we may mention these where notable). You can find much more detail in our lounge reviews online (businesstraveller.com/tried-and-tested), and we welcome your own reviews on our online forum (businesstraveller.com/forum).
TERMINAL 2
AER LINGUS GOLD CIRCLE Directly to the right of security on the upper concourse, the Irish flag carrier’s lounge features white oak walls and shag green carpets. Floor-toceiling windows face the southern runway and provide plenty of natural light. A small buffet offers soup, rolls and pastries, and cereal at breakfast. On the right of the entry hall is a spacious seating area with leather recliners, a good range of magazines, and tables and chairs for working. There are also showers and two small meeting rooms, one of which looks on to the runway. aerlingus.com
AIR CANADA MAPLE LEAF Located in Terminal 2B, the Maple Leaf lounge features materials native to Canada – Eramosa marble from Ontario, maple hardwood from Quebec and birch furniture from Calgary. Curved walls guide people from reception through to a refreshment zone on the left, a business centre and workzone with computers directly ahead, and an expansive seating area with a mezzanine level to the right. This part of the lounge has views of the runway through full-height windows. The “bistro” has selfservice food (both hot and cold throughout the day), Molson lager on tap, an espresso machine and a staffed bar where you can order a glass of champagne. There are also three showers. aircanada.com
LUFTHANSA BUSINESS AND SENATOR Next to the Aer Lingus facility, this is Lufthansa’s largest lounge outside Germany, at 1,600 sqm, and comprises both a Business and a Senator section, which are connected. It has an apron view and a parquet floor. There is a good selection of hot and cold food to choose from, as well as a business area with a board table and a selection of magazines to browse through. It can get busy when other Star Alliance members choose to use it. lufthansa.com
PLAZA PREMIUM ARRIVALS Plaza Premium is expanding across the airport, with openings due in T3 arrivals, T4 arrivals and T5 departures over the next year. Along from the United Arrivals lounge, this has a small buffet with pastries and fruit, and a bar that offers unlimited tea, coffee and alcoholic drinks. A high bench at the back is good for working on laptops. Showers, treatment rooms for massages and “napping rooms” (for a fee) are in a concealed back area. A new English breakfast menu was recently launched and an afternoon tea offering is soon to come. Open 5am-10pm; £25 for one hour. plazanetwork.com
PLAZA PREMIUM DEPARTURES To the right of the escalators on the lower concourse, this public lounge is an atmospheric place – there are no windows so it feels like a peaceful spa, with showers and day-bed rooms. It has a bar and several seating areas that are given privacy by slatted walls. There’s a good selection of food and alcohol available, although it’s the ability to book a room to sleep in that sets this lounge apart, with packages of up to ten hours available for transfer passengers. Access costs £35 for two hours. plaza-network.com
SINGAPORE AIRLINES SILVERKRIS Located on the upper level of Terminal 2B (along with United and Air Canada), the Singapore Airlines Silverkris lounge features the carrier’s new “home away from home” design and is split into a living room, a dining room with a self-service buffet, a bar, “productivity pods” and showers. Waiting staff are on hand to deliver drinks. The first class area also has a self-service buffet, as well as à la carte dishes (there are five different menus per day, with at least two available at any one time). singaporeair.com
UNITED CLUB The airline’s first facility outside the US to feature its new United Club design concept, this business class lounge is large, airy and luxurious, seating more than 280 guests. It has floor-to-ceiling windows
overlooking the airfield, with refreshment stations at either end. There is a circular TV lounge and a range of seating, from sofas and wing chairs to communal tables and dining areas. united.com
UNITED GLOBAL FIRST LOUNGE Across from the United Club business class lounge, the first class facility is for passengers of any Star Alliance carrier. Featuring airfield views, luxurious décor and vintage aviation-themed artwork, standout features include a Big Ben-style clock in its tea lounge, a wine room and a quiet zone with sofas and privacy drapes. There is a pressing service, along with eight showers (shared with United Club). united.com
UNITED ARRIVALS On the left as you exit baggage claim, the lounge features white walls, cream chairs and polished gleaming surfaces, although, thankfully, the lighting isn’t too bright if you are still waking up after a long-haul flight. It has good shower suites with items such as razors and toothbrushes available, and offers suit pressing and a variety of hot and cold food. Air Canada and South African Airways passengers can also use it. Open 5am-2pm. united.com
TERMINAL 3
AMERICAN AIRLINES FLAGSHIP/ADMIRALS AA’s first class Flagship lounge has a newly launched à la carte dining space plus a small buffet of hot and cold dishes. A private corridor connects it with the business class Admirals lounge, which has a kitchen and a buffet at its centre, with secluded nooks surrounding for reading and working. A revamped menu by catering agency Rhubarb (of London’s Sky Garden) offers smoothies, superfood salads and protein pancakes, as well as a “build your own burger” station. There are nine showers, a TV room and business centre. aa.com
AMERICAN AIRLINES ARRIVALS To the right of the T3 customs hall, AA’s arrivals facility opened in August and has 29 showers – the most of all the lounges in the terminal. A pressing service is available and, during peak hours, passengers are given a buzzer to notify them when a shower is free. A conference room holds ten people, and the buffet serves a hot brunch alongside jugs of mimosas and Bloody Marys. There is also a bistro station with jars of sweets and cookies. Open 5am-3.30pm. aa.com
BRITISH AIRWAYS GALLERIES This is a larger lounge than it initially looks, although suffers slightly from a lack of natural light and a
low ceiling. These two elements also contribute to it feeling cluttered and sometimes crowded – still, it has all the facilities you’d expect, and a good choice of food and drink. The space is broken into different areas so it’s possible to find a quiet corner, and there is also a business centre. Located in Zone F. ba.com
CATHAY PACIFIC THE PIER Designed by London-based studio Ilse Crawford, the airline’s newly refurbished lounge was set to open as we went to press in September. The design will reflect the Hong Kong flagship lounge, which features shower suites, a relaxation room and a self-service food hall and noodle bar. cathaypacific.com
EMIRATES This is the only lounge in the terminal from which passengers can board directly. Following an extension last October, the U-shaped lounge now holds up to 400 guests, with a sizeable dining area, showers, a prayer room and bars at both ends. There is a good range of hot dishes with Western, Asian and Middle Eastern options, as well as a large selection of cheeses and desserts. emirates.com
NO 1 LOUNGE Like the BA Galleries lounge, this is a classy space, if rather dark. The décor is modern, with atmospheric spot lighting, and it offers a good choice of food and drink, including a bar with alcohol. There are also showers, a wide choice of magazines and several TVs. Located in Zone F, entry is £36. no1lounges.com
VIRGIN ATLANTIC REVIVALS Now welcoming not only Virgin Upper Class guests but Delta One passengers, Virgin’s Arrivals lounge is a short walk from customs on the terminal’s upper level. Recognisably “on brand”, with plenty of bright red touches, it has showers, a Cowshed spa, a business centre, newspapers and magazines, a bar and a deli serving breakfast and healthy (and unhealthy) snacks. Open 5am-1.30pm virgin-atlantic.com
VIRGIN ATLANTIC CLUBHOUSE Still one of the best lounges in the world, the 2,500 sqm Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse has lavish
both buffet dining and an à la carte restaurant. There are showers, a business centre, and staff serving food and drinks. Located opposite Gate 6. qatarairways.com SKYTEAM Opened in 2009, this two-level facility was the first of Skyteam’s Exclusive Lounges, and is located at Gate 10. The upper floor is aimed at business travellers and intended as a “quiet zone”. Like the lower level, it features a green vertical garden by Patrick Blanc – it also has more power points. There’s a Clarins spa for pre-boarding pampering, and hot and cold food is available. skyteam.com
TERMINAL 5
ASPIRE, THE LOUNGE AND SPA AT LHR T5 Particularly welcome for anyone lacking Oneworld status, this paid-for facility, which opened last year, offers showers (£20 for 30 minutes) and spa treatments (soon these will be bookable in advance). Most drinks are free, although some alcohol costs extra. It costs £30 for a three-hour visit. executivelounges.com BRITISH AIRWAYS GALLERIES British Airways has a Galleries Club lounge at both the north and south ends of Terminal 5, as well as in the T5B satellite building. The North Galleries can get very busy, especially in the mornings, but is the first you reach after security; the ones at South and at T5B both have Elemis spas. ba.com BRITISH AIRWAYS GALLERIES FIRST Located at T5 South, this is a large space with an outdoor terrace, a buffet and two business areas. It ranges from being peaceful to crammed, and either a wide choice of food, magazines, good wines and champagne, or a limited one. ba.com BRITISH AIRWAYS CONCORDE ROOM As well as the possibility of a treatment in the Elemis spa (First passengers can book in advance), the chandelier-clad Concorde Room has its own à la carte restaurant, and a quieter atmosphere than the Galleries. There are also private cabanas with beds and en suite bathrooms. ba.com CLUB MILLESIME AT SOFITEL LONDON HEATHROW Take the lift to Level 1 from T5 arrivals and follow signs to the Sofitel hotel, where you’ll find the lounge on the ground floor. Priority Pass members can take in four guests for up to five hours. Showers and paid-for spa treatments are available, plus a buffet, à la carte food and free wifi. Open 6.30am10pm. £40 for non-members. sofitel.com