The 'Concorde Room' in T5, LHR
Discussion
touching cloth said:
It's the proper First Class lounge for people actually flying First, course they can't call it the First Class lounge because they convince all the Gold Card holders that they allow them access into the First Class lounge ... which by virtue of the above, they don't 
Is that the same lot that calculate my 17,500 executive club miles are not in fact miles at all on the basis that they would enable me to fly from London to Amsterdam. One way only. ?I'm thinking of paying for my next flight in StevieBee pounds.
As above, it's a lounge that is only for use by people flying First Class, no matter what level of Executive Club card they hold.
It's the only lounge that is accessible directly from security, without having to pass through the shopping plaza.
Once you're inside, it's similar to the "First Class" lounge, but everything is waiter service (in the normal lounges, the drinks are self-service)
There's also a small waiter service restaurant with a half-decent menu, better quality champagnes and the usual business accoutriments.
It's a nice place to be, principally because it's quiet and the staff are very non-intrusive.
It's the only lounge that is accessible directly from security, without having to pass through the shopping plaza.
Once you're inside, it's similar to the "First Class" lounge, but everything is waiter service (in the normal lounges, the drinks are self-service)
There's also a small waiter service restaurant with a half-decent menu, better quality champagnes and the usual business accoutriments.
It's a nice place to be, principally because it's quiet and the staff are very non-intrusive.
Has a nice "outside but inside" area too and some private "cabanas" with beds you can get some shut-eye on. Generally fewer people milling around and a higher level of service. Would be nice if they provided a more personal "your flight is ready for you" service, especially if you have to hoof it to "B".
touching cloth said:
It's the proper First Class lounge for people actually flying First, course they can't call it the First Class lounge because they convince all the Gold Card holders that they allow them access into the First Class lounge ... which by virtue of the above, they don't
They do let some Gold Card holders in.Leithen said:
Would be nice if they provided a more personal "your flight is ready for you" service, especially if you have to hoof it to "B".
The BA lounge in San Francisco is what you want for that. It has a boarding jetty directly from the lounge onto the aircraft so you don't have to mingle with the oiks! 
In Chris Evans book he describes a hilarious event where Richard Branson flew on Concorde to get ginger to sign to Virgin. The "first class" passengers all looked in amazement as RB walked past but not as much as the BA staff in the Concorde lounge!
Obviously ginge recalls the story much better than I. Buy his book if you f
king want.
Obviously ginge recalls the story much better than I. Buy his book if you f
king want. Kermit power said:
Leithen said:
Would be nice if they provided a more personal "your flight is ready for you" service, especially if you have to hoof it to "B".
The BA lounge in San Francisco is what you want for that. It has a boarding jetty directly from the lounge onto the aircraft so you don't have to mingle with the oiks! Your own security channel and passport check, followed by a Porsche Panamera ride to the plane - with the driver taking the hand luggage on to the plane
Puggit said:
Kermit power said:
Leithen said:
Would be nice if they provided a more personal "your flight is ready for you" service, especially if you have to hoof it to "B".
The BA lounge in San Francisco is what you want for that. It has a boarding jetty directly from the lounge onto the aircraft so you don't have to mingle with the oiks! Your own security channel and passport check, followed by a Porsche Panamera ride to the plane - with the driver taking the hand luggage on to the plane
The best thing about it is the secret door which means you don't have to do the T5 shopping tour to get in. Right at the security gates.
Inside it is ok - no better than the Flounge, although there are less people in it and more staff. Cabanas are ok, but only really useful for connections lasting 3 or 4 hours.
Probably the biggest advantage is that you don't have to bother going anywhere to get food/drink - just sit down and they wander over and get whatever you want.
BA wanted (and are still trying) to have separate access directly from the F check-in area, which would make it that much better.
Inside it is ok - no better than the Flounge, although there are less people in it and more staff. Cabanas are ok, but only really useful for connections lasting 3 or 4 hours.
Probably the biggest advantage is that you don't have to bother going anywhere to get food/drink - just sit down and they wander over and get whatever you want.
BA wanted (and are still trying) to have separate access directly from the F check-in area, which would make it that much better.
Having been aGold level member with BA for 20 years, I gave up flying with them after experiencing T5 a few times. What a disastrous dump of a terminal when compared to tjose at Frankfurt or Munich for example. Terrible security setup with massive crowds/queues most of the time and the slowest in Europe due to everyone having to pickup the security trays rather than being handed to you (which is much faster). As for the forced routing of everyone via the pointless shopping mall in order to get to the lounge, that is just rediculous.
I haven't flown with them for the last 8 months and I fly on average evey 2 weeks.
I haven't flown with them for the last 8 months and I fly on average evey 2 weeks.
Edited by Silver993tt on Tuesday 27th April 09:48
Silver993tt said:
Having been aGold level member with BA for 20 years, I gave up flying with them after experiencing T5 a few times. What a disastrous dump of a terminal when compared to tjose at Frankfurt or Munich for example. Terrible security setup with massive crowds/queues most of the time and the slowest in Europe due to everyone having to pickup the security trays rather than being handed to you (which is much faster). As for the forced routing of everyone via the pointless shopping mall in order to get to the lounge, that is just rediculous.
I haven't flown with them for the last 8 months and I fly on average evey 2 weeks.
I go out of my way to fly from T5 if I can. Yes, security is a mess and 'fast-track' is nothing but, plus the lack of an F channel is insane as is the stupidly long walk to the lounges. However these issues are ultimately down to BAA rather than BA.I haven't flown with them for the last 8 months and I fly on average evey 2 weeks.
It's a fantastic building, the security lines are never (in my experience) more than about 10 mins long and the lounges are world class (second only to the F terminal at Franfurt). More importantly the firm policy of closing flights on time ensures that departures are generally on time and the baggage system is seriously impressive. I've had bags get to the claim area from a B gate ahead of me (flying in J or F) and I walk quickly.
Edited by theaxe on Tuesday 27th April 15:35
whoami said:
touching cloth said:
It's the proper First Class lounge for people actually flying First, course they can't call it the First Class lounge because they convince all the Gold Card holders that they allow them access into the First Class lounge ... which by virtue of the above, they don't
They do let some Gold Card holders in.theaxe said:
whoami said:
touching cloth said:
It's the proper First Class lounge for people actually flying First, course they can't call it the First Class lounge because they convince all the Gold Card holders that they allow them access into the First Class lounge ... which by virtue of the above, they don't
They do let some Gold Card holders in.Can't remember how many premiers there are now, but I think it's only in the low hundreds
theaxe said:
security is a mess, 'fast-track' is nothing but, the lack of an F channel is insane as is the stupidly long walk to the lounges.
Yes some of the reasons why it's probably the worst terminal building I've use in Europe over the yearstheaxe said:
the security lines are never (in my experience) more than about 10 mins long
10 mins? Should be no more than 2-3 mins at most. Fast track is normally slower than normal track but the staff don't give a monkey's about that at all.theaxe said:
the lounges are world class (second only to the F terminal at Franfurt).
Sorry but I totally disagree. I used the 1st class lounge and it was over crowded and far too big to provide a relaxing atmosphere with constatnt streams of people arriving and leaving.theaxe said:
More importantly the firm policy of closing flights on time ensures that departures are generally on time
I had the majority of my flights bussed out to the aircraft because it wasn't at a gate, same when arriving - no gates available. Unacceptable for a brand new terminal which should have had more gates available thatn required for the first 12 months at least - it's called contingency.theaxe said:
the baggage system is seriously impressive. I've had bags get to the claim area from a B gate ahead of me
That is because it takes so long to get from a gate (if you're lucky enought not to be bussed) the bags have lots of time to be unloaded before you get to the baggage belts.The fact that BAA run it makes no difference because if you fly BA you need to use Terminal 5. It's was way out of date before it was opened since it was designed in 1989 and took 20 years of wrangling to get built.
Frankfurt is much better and has been around much longer and another example is Munich (both of which have 4 runways and don't force you around an unwanted overpriced shopping mall.
Edited by Silver993tt on Wednesday 28th April 09:22
Silver993tt said:
Sorry but I totally disagree. I used the 1st class lounge and it was over crowded and far too big to provide a relaxing atmosphere with constatnt streams of people arriving and leaving.
I've never seen the F lounge more than about 20% full, certainly it's far less busy than the F lounges in the other terminals used to be as it's much, much larger. I guess you were just unlucky. The CCR is very relaxing and you have the option of a cabina.Silver993tt said:
I had the majority of my flights bussed out to the aircraft because it wasn't at a gate, same when arriving - no gates available. Unacceptable for a brand new terminal which should have had more gates available thatn required for the first 12 months at least - it's called contingency.
Bussing is really crap, expecially if you're paying for premium on long haul. However it's mainly down to the C terminal not being finished yet (should open in May). Once that's up and running there should be much less bussing. I don't think it's a matter of contingency but rather the terminal not being 100% finished.Silver993tt said:
That is because it takes so long to get from a gate (if you're lucky enought not to be bussed) the bags have lots of time to be unloaded before you get to the baggage belts.
Not sure I agree here, you can get from a far out B gate and up to baggage claim in about 10 minutes. In fact I'd say that terminal 5 does this better than many large airports (Barcelona springs to mind) because at least there's a transit system. A good hint is to avoid the escalators, the lifts are almost always quicker even if you have to wait for one to arrive.
Silver993tt said:
The fact that BAA run it makes no difference because if you fly BA you need to use Terminal 5. It's was way out of date before it was opened since it was designed in 1989 and took 20 years of wrangling to get built.
I think we'll have to just agree to disagree. 
If you haven't flown through T5 in a while then perhaps it'd be worth giving it another chance.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff