T3 Business lounges

[theplayingmantis]

Fist time travelling in Clubworld for years soon.

Is the Cathay Pacific and Qantas business lounges at T3 still far superior to the BA CW world in T3 does anyone know? Flyertalk is a bit out of date on the matter it seems.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

theplayingmantis said:

Fist time travelling in Clubworld for years soon.

Is the Cathay Pacific and Qantas business lounges at T3 still far superior to the BA CW world in T3 does anyone know? Flyertalk is a bit out of date on the matter it seems.

I guess it depends what you are expecting and what you want to do.

We were in the BA lounge in T3 a couple of weeks ago - not too busy, wi-fi, half-decent breakfast an beverage selection. I was happy there for 90mins while waiting for my flight to be called.

Didn’t try the other lounges, so maybe I missed out!

[peter tdci]

There is a fairly active BAEC thread on FT - https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-ex...

There's also a recent overview on a YT channel I follow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO1OnYJQeHU

The answer to your question probably depends on when you are going to be there. There aren't too many QF or CX departures, so the food service in those lounges may not be continuous, and they may also get busy just prior to departure.

The BA lounge is pretty spacious and the food offerings are okay - probably the best FEB.

I haven't been in the CX J lounge recently, but the food was okay (just different to BA). The English brekkie in their F lounge wasn't great.

The QF lounge is good, but food service times are linked to their two daily departures. I had their 'bunch' service a few months ago and the S&P quid was as good as ever but, bizarrely, my smoked salmon benedict had over cooked yolks and undercooked whites, which I didn't think was possible! (not sure you can see from the pic).


Matt (in the YT link above) mentions the AA lounge, but I've never been there. And. if you like looking at aeroplanes, then BA or CX are best.

[gl20]

Flew out of T3 toJFK late Nov on an AA flight as our BA flight was cancelled. Cathay lounge was good, probably better than BA. We were in there around 3 hours because of the flight move and it was pretty quiet. We were in there middle of the day and the noodle bar was in full swing.

[matrignano]

I just default to Cathay these days, don’t even bother with the other lounges.

It’s always quiet after mid morning as there are no more Cathay flights and most people don’t know they can go there.
Stir fry/dim sum has always been available in my experience and decent. Plenty of food and drink choices.

And just a chill experience on the big armchair facing the tarmac!

[S366]

Most Club/Business lounges are much the same to me, a lot comment and review on the finer details, but as long as I have a quiet place to sit and provided with food and drink, I’m happy. I would add that I’m not one to arrive mega early for a flight though, so ideally I’d be spending no more than an hour in a lounge.
That being said, the BA Concorde lounge in T5 is lovely though, I can happily spend a little longer in there, it also provided me a good story for parties after I engaged in a heated argument with a well known singer in there(FYI, he was being a d**k )

[djc206]

The BA lounge there seems to be quite busy because people don’t know they can use the other oneworld lounges on that basis I would choose another. I was in the Cathay lounge on Thursday AM and it was as good as I remembered, very peaceful. I think it helps that’s it’s tucked away a bit. My wife prefers the Qantas lounge so if we’re travelling together we nip in there.

[theplayingmantis]

Thanks

The BA lounge has historically been 'unbusnissey' and busy IMHO, profierlation of those getting in via credit card levelling perhaps?, the other 2 both having better food (all relative) and quieter so will steer clear of BA.

Will check re timings of the flights as won't be schlepping about between them to ensure some stuff will be on offer. Probably will plump for Cathay.

Thanks

[theplayingmantis]

Sport_Turismo_GTS said:

theplayingmantis said:

Fist time travelling in Clubworld for years soon.

Is the Cathay Pacific and Qantas business lounges at T3 still far superior to the BA CW world in T3 does anyone know? Flyertalk is a bit out of date on the matter it seems.

I guess it depends what you are expecting and what you want to do.

We were in the BA lounge in T3 a couple of weeks ago - not too busy, wi-fi, half-decent breakfast an beverage selection. I was happy there for 90mins while waiting for my flight to be called.

Didn’t try the other lounges, so maybe I missed out!

It was a simple question re. which is better. As those with recent experience of them have kindly advised as I expected. Thanks for your contribution.

[22s]

theplayingmantis said:

Sport_Turismo_GTS said:

theplayingmantis said:

Fist time travelling in Clubworld for years soon.

Is the Cathay Pacific and Qantas business lounges at T3 still far superior to the BA CW world in T3 does anyone know? Flyertalk is a bit out of date on the matter it seems.

I guess it depends what you are expecting and what you want to do.

We were in the BA lounge in T3 a couple of weeks ago - not too busy, wi-fi, half-decent breakfast an beverage selection. I was happy there for 90mins while waiting for my flight to be called.

Didn’t try the other lounges, so maybe I missed out!

It was a simple question re. which is better. As those with recent experience of them have kindly advised as I expected. Thanks for your contribution.

What a weird response!

You gave next to zero info on what was important to you, but in any case they gave you some info on their experience in one of the lounges you might be able to go to?!

[Jambo85]

theplayingmantis said:

The BA lounge has historically been 'unbusnissey' and busy IMHO, profierlation of those getting in via credit card levelling perhaps?

Bloody new money getting lounge access too now eh. The cheek of them. On a point of accuracy though, I wasn't aware you could gain BA status through Avios?

[omniflow]

Jambo85 said:

theplayingmantis said:

The BA lounge has historically been 'unbusnissey' and busy IMHO, profierlation of those getting in via credit card levelling perhaps?

Bloody new money getting lounge access too now eh. The cheek of them. On a point of accuracy though, I wasn't aware you could gain BA status through Avios?

I think it's more to do with the fact that, short haul, BA Business compares quite favourably with Easyjet - once you factor in extra legroom seats and checked baggage.

[theplayingmantis]

22s said:

theplayingmantis said:

Sport_Turismo_GTS said:

theplayingmantis said:

Fist time travelling in Clubworld for years soon.

Is the Cathay Pacific and Qantas business lounges at T3 still far superior to the BA CW world in T3 does anyone know? Flyertalk is a bit out of date on the matter it seems.

I guess it depends what you are expecting and what you want to do.

We were in the BA lounge in T3 a couple of weeks ago - not too busy, wi-fi, half-decent breakfast an beverage selection. I was happy there for 90mins while waiting for my flight to be called.

Didn’t try the other lounges, so maybe I missed out!

It was a simple question re. which is better. As those with recent experience of them have kindly advised as I expected. Thanks for your contribution.

What a weird response!

You gave next to zero info on what was important to you, but in any case they gave you some info on their experience in one of the lounges you might be able to go to?!

i thought the 'is still better' given historically the BA offering isn't up to much, and the others were 'better' historically was fairly clear. going into minutiae about my wants, rather than just generally better on every metric i didn't think was necessary for such a general topic as i dont have any particular requirements, just which is nicer currently which has been admirably answered here.

As is the bane of many PH advice threads amongst the brilliant and helpful answers, they are often proliferated with those that comment without experience. perhaps i was unnecessarily negative, and that wasn't the case, apols i have costochondritis which is making me grumpy...

any way thanks all.

[theplayingmantis]

Jambo85 said:

theplayingmantis said:

The BA lounge has historically been 'unbusnissey' and busy IMHO, profierlation of those getting in via credit card levelling perhaps?

Bloody new money getting lounge access too now eh. The cheek of them. On a point of accuracy though, I wasn't aware you could gain BA status through Avios?

Exactly! All these powerfully built director types and their kith and kin bringing the tone down.

No idea, was just my guess given that every other person and card offers BA rewards these days. Maybe is just the volume of BA flights vs the other 2 and the lack of knowledge about access rights.

[matrignano]

T5 lounges, North in particular, do feel a bit chavvier these days IMHO

[djc206]

theplayingmantis said:

Exactly! All these powerfully built director types and their kith and kin bringing the tone down.

No idea, was just my guess given that every other person and card offers BA rewards these days. Maybe is just the volume of BA flights vs the other 2 and the lack of knowledge about access rights.

The BA credit cards can earn you some extra tier points but it’s buttons in the grand scheme. The 25% covid reduction and status extensions caused the lounges to be busy but that’s mostly gone away now. Some yank credit cards do offer status so if you find yourself surrounded by people wearing hats indoors you might have found the culprit.

this handy little site tells you how busy each lounge at T5 is for future reference

[The Leaper]

djc206 said:

theplayingmantis said:

this handy little site tells you how busy each lounge at T5 is for future reference

That's a handy link, djc, thanks. Is there something similar for Gatwick?

R.

[Tagteam]

matrignano said:

T5 lounges, North in particular, do feel a bit chavvier these days IMHO

And over crowded - I hardly bother using them anymore. Qatar in Doha for an experience

[carlo996]

matrignano said:

T5 lounges, North in particular, do feel a bit chavvier these days IMHO

It’s an airport lounge, not a Michelin restaurant.

[matrignano]

carlo996 said:

It’s an airport lounge, not a Michelin restaurant.

Call me a snob (I am), but I’m not keen on the Stansted Weatherspoon lads on tour to Magaluf vibe while sipping on my mimosa, darling.
As a side note, sometimes the lounges hide the Champagne and you have to ask for it, the gall!