Checking into British Airways’ new Gatwick and Heathrow lounges
British Airways has been busy creating new premium areas at Gatwick and Heathrow. Andrew Doherty visits both London airports to discover what passengers can expect.
In April British Airways held a launch party for its new investment plan, with a sneak peek at the airline’s First and Club Lounges in Gatwick and a chance to experience the First Wing check-in service in Heathrow’s Terminal 5. Alex Cruz, chairman and chief executive at BA, was also on hand to share more information on the upcoming developments within the company and how it plans to up its game to consolidate its position in the aviation marketplace.
Gatwick’s Club and First Lounges
The lounges, located in the South Terminal, are spacious, modern and chic. Large windows offer fantastic views of the runway in both Club and First and both areas contain 40% more floor space than BA’s former North Terminal lounge. The new location also has better transport access, meaning it’s beneficial to punctuality.
Furthermore, 85% of the lounge’s seating offers English, European and USB charging points. In the Club lounge there is an abundance of places to sit, 496 to be precise, made up of bright pink couches, comfortable wingback chairs and leather stools. Fixtures include quirky paintings from British artists including Turner Prize-winner Chris Ofili and lamps designed by Philippe Starck.
Where the First Lounge is more open-plan with high ceilings, the Club Lounge has been broken up into different zones, such as a business room, a children’s area with three Xbox One consoles and a foosball table, and a spacious kitchen area where guests can help themselves to snacks and premium alcohol brands at no extra cost. A separate mezzanine level complete with its own breakfast bar area and seating offers a quieter alternative to the main floor.
Both lounges offer plenty of dining options including self-service hot and cold nibbles in Club, which change throughout the day, and in First a buffet and table service menu too.
Four washrooms are available in Club complete with hairdryers, Elemis toiletries and shaving sockets.
Heathrow’s First Wing
BA’s Terminal 5 lounges are now facilitated by the new First Wing check-in service which ensures First and Gold Executive Club passengers can pass through security and into the lounge in four minutes. The impressively spacious and modern area includes a dedicated two-lane security channel with direct access to BA’s Galleries lounge and Concorde Room. Feedback for the new check-in system has so far been positive.
Top-tier members of oneworld have access to the Galleries lounge with its champagne bar and open-plan layout as well as the spa. However, the Concorde Room remains exclusive to BA First passengers. And although the lounges in Terminal 5 are not new they are set to be updated over the next couple of years.
BA updates
BA is set to roll out 4G Wi-Fi across 90% of its fleet by 2019, where customers can access social media, stream videos and browse the internet.
Part of the airline’s £400 million upgrade of its Club World product includes an overhaul of the onboard dining. From September a restaurant-style service is launching on the Heathrow-JFK route before extending across the long-haul network in 2018.
Additional news included plans for a new Club seat with direct aisle access for 2019, but details have not yet been confirmed.
Cruz reinforced BA’s position in the marketplace: “Club World and Club Europe are vital elements of what we offer and play a big part in customer satisfaction levels.”
Recommended For You
Most read features
Your guide to tour operator news for 2025
Competitions
Upcoming events
Place of registration: England and Wales.
Company number 08723341.
Registered address: 6th Floor, 2 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU
