Up Where They Belong
There is nothing better than getting off a long-haul flight knowing you have 2-3 hours in transit and having the availability of a great airline lounge at your beck and call.
Some airlines even have arrival lounges, whereby (if that city is your final destination and, more importantly, you have time) you can have a shower, sip on a decent coffee and freshen up before getting a taxi or train. British Airways and Etihad have them, as do several others.
Recently, on my sojourn to Europe, I had such a pleasurable experience thanks to British Airways. And, I have to say, after living in the UK a few years ago (prior to Terminal 5 opening) the difference in their lounges from ‘back in the day’ is staggering.
HEATHROW
When Terminal 5 at Heathrow was being designed it enabled British Airways (BA) to radically overhaul their airport lounges.
There are six lounges within the exclusively BA Terminal 5: The Concorde Room, The First Class Lounge, three Club Lounges and an Arrivals Lounge. These were built at the cost of £60 million and are the epitome of elegance and luxury. Collectively know as The Galleries, they are capable of hosting 2,500 people.
The Galleries Club Lounge, which is the one I experienced, is open to Club World, Club Europe, Gold and Silver Executive members – Club World and Club Europe being BA’s business class product (long-haul and short-haul respectively).
The lounge at the southern end of the terminal is the largest, with 830 seats, and features two ‘silver’ bars. Customers can help themselves to the bar’s selection of drinks and fine wines all under the glow of a Swarovski crystal chandelier.
There is an additional Club Lounge at the northern end of the terminal for those travelling on the shorter flights or on BA’s domestic network, as well as a 465-seat lounge in the satellite B building.
The Galleries arrival lounge is available to First Class, Club World and Gold Executive members arriving on long-haul flights and has 156 seats.
Passengers can experience a range of treatments at the Elemis Travel Spa, revive themselves in one of the 94 showers available (whilst BA staff press their suit for them), or make use of one of the cabanas with infinity baths.
The lounge also has limitless free internet access and a news zone to allow customers to catch up on the latest world events.
SINGAPORE
BA’s Singapore lounge is located in Terminal 1 at Changi Airport. It features state-of-the-art facilities and forms part of BA’s £5 billion investment in enhancing the customer’s travel experience. The lounge opens at 3pm daily and closes after the last BA flight has departed the island nation.
Access is available to First Class and Club World passengers, and features fine wines, high quality food and refreshments, all available at the buffet counters and focal island bar.
The lounge also features highspeed complimentary WiFi, a coat and baggage storage area, international newspapers and magazine and the never to under-estimated, friend of the long-haul traveller…the shower.