Which LHR lounge for QF Platinum?

[Jobu]

Thanks Fiona. I'll get in touch with QF to see if they can change my flight so I can depart out of LHR on a QF A380 instead of the Emirates 777. That way I can use the BA first lounge.

Most EK flights out of LHR are A380.

 

[ajw373]

Most EK flights out of LHR are A380.

If you read back (post 37 in fact), rather than reply in isolation you will see ms1 was talking about a 777 out of LGW and changing that to an A380 out of LHR.

 

[Magpie10]

Hi guys so if I am reading this right the real losers here are QC club members flying out of LHR as they are only able to access AA Admirals, and from experience AA Admiral not great, but probably better than nothing, but nothing like the BA lounge in T3, am I right here?

 

[ajw373]

The LHR AA club isn't that bad, certainly as good as any domestic Qantas club.

 

[zachary.august]

I've used both EK and BA lounges in T3 Heathrow many times.

They are both good and I wouldn't get hung up between the 2.

EK lounge has a much better buffet and you can board EK flight directly from the lounge which is convenient.

BA lounge has some a la carte.

If you are flying QF metal and flight number, you cannot use EK lounge unless you are in First or CL member. P1, WP and Business class are not allowed in otherwise (EK do not seem to recognize P1). They do have a list of F and CL pax on QF flights which they check you off against when you enter the lounge and will call the flight boarding if they have QF pax in the lounge.

I don't know your source for this information but as far as I am concerned as both an F flyer and CL member, I have never being offered access to the EK lounge nor told of this arrangement. Also EK's recognition of P1 isn't here nor there. It's about who QF will pay EK for access. It just wouldn't work for QF at all considering that the EK lounge isn't an F lounge and really isn't that great.

 

[Anna]

(EK do not seem to recognize P1).

I don't find that very surprising given that P1 requires a lot of QF flying rather than just a lot of flying. There's not much in it for EK to reward someone's demonstrated loyalty to QF.

 

[Jobu]

I don't know your source for this information but as far as I am concerned as both an F flyer and CL member, I have never being offered access to the EK lounge nor told of this arrangement. Also EK's recognition of P1 isn't here nor there. It's about who QF will pay EK for access. It just wouldn't work for QF at all considering that the EK lounge isn't an F lounge and really isn't that great.

My source is direct personal experience as of Friday. Don't fear I'm sure the memo to brief you is in the fax queue.

Re P1, you will recall QF and EK announcing that one of the principles of the alliance is to treat each others customers as their own. Hence I see the relevance.

 

[Jobu]

I don't find that very surprising given that P1 requires a lot of QF flying rather than just a lot of flying. There's not much in it for EK to reward someone's demonstrated loyalty to QF.

You may be right to a degree but then the same logic could be applied to silver, gold, Plat and CL.

 

[Canny man]

The BA F lounge is just fine. I was a little dissapointed with the food last month, but they had just changed caterer, so things may have improved. The wine and champagne selection is always very good, and there always seems to be space. I've also had about an 80% hit rate on getting a spa treatment - but wise to get there early if the spa is important to you.

 

[legroom]

Just breathe some life into an old thread, if I may

WP travelling QF J (and crossing my fingers / toes for an upgrade).

How many hours would one aim to spend in the T3 BA F lounge to be "reasonable" ?

30 min is enough or should it be at least 3 hours before QF2 departure @ 9pm or thereabout ???

Care to comment, please ?

EDIT: ABT seems to think that CX is more pleasant but with less of a gourmet food / shower experience than BA. Your thoughts there ?

 

[EmilyHoward]

For me at least, 30 minutes is enough in the BA London T3 First Lounge. It's not like the Qantas First Class Lounge in Sydney after all which is my favourite lounge!

EH

 

[Rugby]

In my experience an hour is enough time in BA T3 First lounge when waiting for QF2. It was fine for a snack and champers.

 

[Princess Fiona]

In terms of catching an int flight, 30 minutes is IMHO too close for comfort with or without lounge access
To answer your question, the BA Lounge is more than adequate. The drinks selection good, food on a par with a domestic QP these days. Plenty of seating and a Champagne bar. The CX lounge is a stark, cold place with good noodles, awful Champagne. Wouldn't bother with the AA Flagship according to reports.
Anytime I have a choice I stick with the bubbles

 

[JessicaTam]

And you could quite easily spend an hour or so in the dining room (if travelling in F). The spa will take up a bit of time, too.

 

[Kangol]

And you could quite easily spend an hour or so in the dining room (if travelling in F). The spa will take up a bit of time, too.

Is the T3 spa only for those travelling in QF F?

 

[legroom]

In terms of catching an int flight, 30 minutes is IMHO too close for comfort with or without lounge access
To answer your question, the BA Lounge is more than adequate. The drinks selection good, food on a par with a domestic QP these days. Plenty of seating and a Champagne bar. The CX lounge is a stark, cold place with good noodles, awful Champagne. Wouldn't bother with the AA Flagship according to reports.
Anytime I have a choice I stick with the bubbles

I meant 30 mins in the lounge, after all the necessities of course.

'On a par with domestic QP': that's nothing to look forward to.

 

[JessicaTam]

Is the T3 spa only for those travelling in QF F?

Yes.

I meant 30 mins in the lounge, after all the necessities of course.

'On a par with domestic QP': that's nothing to look forward to.

I would say better than the QF dom J lounge, but not at QF F lounge level.

 

[phily]

To answer your question, the BA Lounge is more than adequate. The drinks selection good, food on a par with a domestic QP these days. Plenty of seating and a Champagne bar.

I agree with this view. The BA First Lounge is certainly very good, with SYD J class food, and an excellent range of drinks, and good seats with plenty of power outlets. The champagne selection is good. I particularly enjoy the Johnny Walker Blue Label that is freely available, with it's unique smokey flavour. Dan Murphy's has it for $160 a bottle, so enjoy it while you can at T3.

 

[kempvet]

I meant 30 mins in the lounge, after all the necessities of course.

'On a par with domestic QP': that's nothing to look forward to.

BA T3 F lounge has a wider range of food selection than say the Sydney J lounge, you can also order a few things which they can cook for you, therefore, you will need at least at least one hour if you want them to cook something (from a small selection). I would rate the T3 BA F lounge as a J+ lounge. Certainly do not turn up expecting the SYD F experience.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Yes.

I would say better than the QF dom J lounge, but not at QF F lounge level.

That's sounding promising then. The last time I was there was in the midst of the Baxter Story catering debacle and the food wouldn't have looked out of place in a production of Oliver!