What will i get in the BA first class lounge at LHR?

[Dr Jekyll]

tim0409 said:

As far as I am aware, you have to be travelling in First and BA Gold (or equivalent).

If you are travelling First (and you aren't gold) you use the First Lounge.

I'm BA Gold and travelled First for the first time last year; the Concorde lounge was nice but the food wasn't that amazing (they might have being an off day though).

Unless they've changed the rules very recently, you get access by EITHER travelling First OR having a Concorde room card which is the step above Gold Card. Gold card isn't relevant for Concorde room access.

The only time I used the Concorde room I only had a BA Blue, though qualified for Silver en route.

[tim0409]

Dr Jekyll said:

Unless they've changed the rules very recently, you get access by EITHER travelling First OR having a Concorde room card which is the step above Gold Card. Gold card isn't relevant for Concorde room access.

They must have changed the rules -

http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/executive-club...

These guidelines were relevant in 2013 (and I'm not sure how long before) -

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-exe...

Edited by tim0409 on Tuesday 17th January 17:45

Edited by tim0409 on Tuesday 17th January 17:46

[silverfoxcc]

So to get into the Concorde Room ,just show the boarding card and you should be ok?

[Dr Jekyll]

silverfoxcc said:

So to get into the Concorde Room ,just show the boarding card and you should be ok?

Yes, providing you are in First.

[tim0409]

Dr Jekyll said:

Yes, providing you are in First.

That's right; I was getting confused.

[W8PMC]

tim0409 said:

As far as I am aware, you have to be travelling in First and BA Gold (or equivalent).

If you are travelling First (and you aren't gold) you use the First Lounge.

I'm BA Gold and travelled First for the first time last year; the Concorde lounge was nice but the food wasn't that amazing (they might have being an off day though).

Reading between the lines I think it was the case a few years ago that you had to be BA Gold & flying First to get into the Concorde Lounge but now you just need to be flying First.

I'm going to Rio on Avios & on my booking it says after security at LHR I should head to the Concorde lounge so it does appear First on points still gets you in.

[paulguitar]

The Ors said:

Greg66 said:

We were delayed one year and spent the time in there. I was absolutely hammered by the time we boarded.

Not surprised you were hammered if you spent a year in there! I would have probably given up after the first few days. Then again, plenty of free food and drink; maybe I would have stayed a year too.

Well played!

[Dr Gitlin]

arfur said:

Not true first ... no CC lounge for you . I did the same a couple years ago ... wouldn't let me in

It doesn't matter if you paid cash or avios for your flight. If it's in F then you can go into the Concorde Room. All my BA F flights have been Avios.

tim0409 said:

As far as I am aware, you have to be travelling in First and BA Gold (or equivalent).

If you are travelling First (and you aren't gold) you use the First Lounge.

If your seat is in F, then you can use the Concorde Room. You even get access if you're flying into T5 in F and then flying on somewhere else in another class.

Edited by Dr Gitlin on Friday 20th January 01:52

[48k]

Dr Gitlin said:

It doesn't matter if you paid cash or avios for your flight. If it's in F then you can go into the Concorde Room. All my BA F flights have been Avios.

Thread hijack / pedant alert: if the ticket was fully or partially bought with Avios it won't be an "F" ticket. F is the fare code for a "full fare" first class ticket. Z is the fare code for a "redemption" (ie. fully or partially with Avios) first class ticket.

[oyster]

W8PMC said:

tim0409 said:

As far as I am aware, you have to be travelling in First and BA Gold (or equivalent).

If you are travelling First (and you aren't gold) you use the First Lounge.

I'm BA Gold and travelled First for the first time last year; the Concorde lounge was nice but the food wasn't that amazing (they might have being an off day though).

Reading between the lines I think it was the case a few years ago that you had to be BA Gold & flying First to get into the Concorde Lounge but now you just need to be flying First.

I'm going to Rio on Avios & on my booking it says after security at LHR I should head to the Concorde lounge so it does appear First on points still gets you in.

That has never been the rule.

Concorde Room in Terminal 5 has been accessible by anyone holding a First class ticket. Regardless of whether the ticket is a redemption or a cash ticket. Regardless of your executive club tier.

[oyster]

48k said:

Dr Gitlin said:

It doesn't matter if you paid cash or avios for your flight. If it's in F then you can go into the Concorde Room. All my BA F flights have been Avios.

Thread hijack / pedant alert: if the ticket was fully or partially bought with Avios it won't be an "F" ticket. F is the fare code for a "full fare" first class ticket. Z is the fare code for a "redemption" (ie. fully or partially with Avios) first class ticket.

Being even more pedantic, it will still be an F ticket, just with a Z fare code.

The boarding card will still say F on it.

[Dr Jekyll]

48k said:

Dr Gitlin said:

It doesn't matter if you paid cash or avios for your flight. If it's in F then you can go into the Concorde Room. All my BA F flights have been Avios.

Thread hijack / pedant alert: if the ticket was fully or partially bought with Avios it won't be an "F" ticket. F is the fare code for a "full fare" first class ticket. Z is the fare code for a "redemption" (ie. fully or partially with Avios) first class ticket.

And the fare code for a non full fare First, (inflexible, Saturday night stay etc), is an A. But you are still in F whether the fare code is F, A or Z.

[LotusOmega375D]

I had the pleasure of an outbound flight once from T5 in first. I book Business (Club World) to India, but occasionally the website offers you a First seat for one way at no extra charge. I guess they have capacity, so don't mind offering. I'm never more than Silver tier and was probably bronze that day.

I got invited through the Concorde Room lower entrance after security and fed (steak) and watered (posh red wine) in there. Very nice and very quiet/empty.

When I boarded in the pointy end of the 747, the ambience was OK and spacious but nothing amazing. I then noticed that the stewardess was going round each customer apologising because this was an older configuration of First. She gave us all 50,000 Avios each, so that paid for the next holiday flights for my family. Result!

[Marc p]

Last time I went BA First was 2 years ago, booked using Avios(plus a bit of cash to top it up), I was Bronze at the time and had no problem using the Concorde room on both outbound and inbound routes, F is F, doesn't matter how the ticket was paid for.

I would agree with others though, get there a little earlier to enjoy the experience.

[LotusOmega375D]

Don't fall for the complementary massage though. It felt like being tortured at Guantanamo Bay!

[The Mad Monk]

Greg66 said:

It's a nice place. We were delayed one year and spent the time in there. I was absolutely hammered by the time we boarded.

I can accept that it is a pleasant enough place to while away an hour or two, whilst waiting for the flight, but I really don't think I could cope with a year in there.

[W8PMC]

oyster said:

That has never been the rule.

Concorde Room in Terminal 5 has been accessible by anyone holding a First class ticket. Regardless of whether the ticket is a redemption or a cash ticket. Regardless of your executive club tier.

It was when I last travelled BA First, but this was pre T5 & may even have been when Concorde was still operating & to get in the Concorde Lounge (no T5) you either had to be flying Concorde (the lounge had direct access to the Concorde gate) or flying First but also a BA Exec Gold. At that same time you could get into the First Class lounge in you were BA Gold & flying BA on any ticket or the Business Class Lounge if you were BA Gold & flying with any airline.

[LotusOmega375D]

I have to agree. It's a joke. The poxy Fast Track security zone at T5 can take ages and then when you come out the other side and look to your left, you see the security officials in the large Premium/Economy zone just standing around twiddling their thumbs. No-one thinks to divert the queuing Business/First customers through to that area.