Need to go airside, but not fly

[tuffer]

djc206 said:

The Moose said:

I have been pretty impressed when I’ve had use of the Concorde Lounge. Most of my BA flying from London has gone out of T3 however.

Certainly beats anything in T3 or other lounges I have used around the world.

The new Qantas lounge at T3 is pretty close to the Concorde lounge at T5. The gin bar downstairs is a particular highlight.

I think the Concorde lounge is pretty poor, they don't even provide a selection of decent magazines and I thought the service was slack at best (but then that goes for the whole of BA).

[Puggit]

tuffer said:

I think the Concorde lounge is pretty poor, they don't even provide a selection of decent magazines and I thought the service was slack at best (but then that goes for the whole of BA).

BA is a 'premium airline' done on the cheap.

Anyone flying BA out of T3 should use the Cathay Lounge - very nice, and empty in the morning.

[GCH]

Bill said:

GCH said:

Yep - done it many times.

Why? (If you don't mind me asking...) Presumably it's not in an official capacity if you're sneaking back the unofficial way?

Nothing nefarious - changed plans, cancelled / rebooked flights, having to change to a different terminal, cancelled trips. Definitely no 'sneaking' back in - you still have to go through immigration and customs.
Quicker than waiting around for a BA person who may or may not show up for an hour or two to escort you to the same immigration line you end up in anyway using the transit.

[V8LM]

Can you stay on the tram at T5? I thought they inspect it at C before the arrival-side doors open.

[tuffer]

V8LM said:

Can you stay on the tram at T5? I thought they inspect it at C before the arrival-side doors open.

Well you can just get of and walk around to the other side and get back on again. They do not always do the inspection, I have not seen it recently.

[Bill]

GCH said:

Nothing nefarious - changed plans, cancelled / rebooked flights, having to change to a different terminal, cancelled trips. Definitely no 'sneaking' back in - you still have to go through immigration and customs.
Quicker than waiting around for a BA person who may or may not show up for an hour or two to escort you to the same immigration line you end up in anyway using the transit.

That's a lot more boring than I was expecting.

[smack]

Puggit said:

Anyone flying BA out of T3 should use the Cathay Lounge - very nice, and empty in the morning.

Yes, the CX First Lounge (I'm sure the Business section is good too!) is my pick of all the T3 OW lounges.

[Vaud]

tuffer said:

Well you can just get of and walk around to the other side and get back on again. They do not always do the inspection, I have not seen it recently.

I think it is a security/lost luggage sweep rather than "you can't re-board"

[Puggit]

smack said:

Yes, the CX First Lounge (I'm sure the Business section is good too!) is my pick of all the T3 OW lounges.

I'm a lowly BA silver, so only get access to the business section. I'd put it above the BA 'first' lounge. Obviously it's streets ahead of the horribly crowded BA T3 galleries.

[RC1807]

Puggit said:

Fas1975 said:

Sure. Nothing sinister. The guy holds an Iranian passport

^^^ THIS!

[Fas1975]

Resurrecting this thread for a final update. Just wanted to say thank you to GCH for suggesting using the train to head to C gates and staying on and coming back through immigration in the normal way.

I've just arrived home after a 5 hour meeting with the company owner. Mission successfully completed and confirm that the train method works like a charm. Can't envisage needing to use it again, but great to know the possibility is there

[Blaster72]

Good bit of news there, what did you do with the boarding card and getting a ticket refund in the end?

[GCH]

Fas1975 said:

Resurrecting this thread for a final update. Just wanted to say thank you to GCH for suggesting using the train to head to C gates and staying on and coming back through immigration in the normal way.

I've just arrived home after a 5 hour meeting with the company owner. Mission successfully completed and confirm that the train method works like a charm. Can't envisage needing to use it again, but great to know the possibility is there

No worries. Happy to help.

[Fas1975]

Blaster72 said:

Good bit of news there, what did you do with the boarding card and getting a ticket refund in the end?

Nothing. I have half a million airmiles, I just used 15,000, paid £50 in taxes for a flight to glasgow and wrote it off.

[Blaster72]

Even better! Good to know how you did it in the end. Thanks

[eein]

Easier way could have been to just get a job in WH Smiths... pocket a couple of bob at the same time.