AA T3 LHR Arrivals lounge access and ironing?

[simongr]

Hi all

Yet more questions on my last minute trip.

I am travelling in WT+ on BA10 arriving into (I assume) T3 on Tuesday morning. As a OWE I think I have access to the AArivals lounge:

We also invite our oneworld™, First Class or Emerald international customers to use the Flagship Lounge when traveling on eligible oneworld flights.

My only concerns are "eligible" and:

NOTE: Customers traveling on airline industry non-revenue tickets are not eligible for access.

Does my award flight disallow me from this?

Also - do they have complimentary (or even paid) ironing services? My suit and shirt will have been folded for the trip and I am going straight to the office...

Cheers

S

 

[Dave Noble]

The access information you referred to is for Flagship lounge access ( which is AA's 1st class departure lounge ) and the lounge admission policy for the Arrivals lounge in that section indicates that you must be arriving on AA

The lounge admission policy is listed at http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/airportAmenities/AdmiralsLoungeAccess.jsp and does clearly state that no access based on arrivals other than AA ones

If you did have admission, then you could have got the suit pressed since they do offer that service

 

[simongr]

Strange that BA lists the AArivals lounge as an available lounge facility at T3...

Arrivals lounge facilities, operated by American Airlines, are also available in Heathrow Terminal 3.

 

[Dave Noble]

Strange that BA lists the AArivals lounge as an available lounge facility at T3...

Arrivals lounge facilities, operated by American Airlines, are also available in Heathrow Terminal 3.

I don't know ; The AA site suggests no access. Current access rights to arrivals lounges on BA is , I thought, based on class of service or having BA Gold status which would not provide for access to lounge on arrival

The Qantas site lists access to the AA Arrivals lounge for 1st and business class passengers of Qantas

If the BA site is stating in MMB that you can use the lounge, perhaps you can, but from what I have seen on the site, I would be planning around no access and perhaps booking a hotel for an extra night so that can go there for a shower before going to the office

Dave

 

[simongr]

Darn - I will have to go straight to the office to use the Gym there. I am not staying a hotel in London - I am travelling up to Yorkshire that evening...

 

[Heleigh]

This is a copy from BA web arrivals lounge

Make sure you’re refreshed and ready for the day ahead with an invigorating power shower, help yourself to food and drink or catch up on some work.


Arrivals Lounges are available at London Heathrow Terminal 5 and London Gatwick (situated in the Sofitel Arora Hotel) for:

• First and Club World customers
• Gold Executive Club members who have arrived on a British Airways longhaul flight

Arrivals lounge facilities, operated by American Airlines, are also available in Heathrow Terminal 3.
At London Heathrow Terminal 5 you can even enjoy a complimentary well-being treatment at the Elemis Travel Spa while the valet service presses your suit, ensuring you leave looking as good as you feel.
Please note Galleries Arrivals lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5 is open daily from 5.00am – 2.00pm.

My view is if you have doubts contact BA to confirn whether you flight or card status allows you entry - good luck

 

[JetLagged]

Actually, you DO have access to AA's Arrival Lounge as a OWE flyer - I made use of the faciltiies in that actual lounge in January - not to have anything ironed etc - but yes, that facilities is definitely available as well - cute set-up for it, actually.

 

[simongr]

Hi JetLagged - what carrier were you flying on and what class of service?

I have used the AArivals lounge when arriving from a J award on AA only.

 

[JetLagged]

Hi JetLagged - what carrier were you flying on and what class of service? I have used the AArivals lounge when arriving from a J award on AA only.

I was flying QAN on J service - but all I did was flash my WP card at the nice lady - so she didn't know what or how I had arrived on.

 

[Dave Noble]

I was flying QAN on J service - but all I did was flash my WP card at the nice lady - so she didn't know what or how I had arrived on.

J on QF would give lounge access anyway

 

[JetLagged]

J on QF would give lounge access anyway

True - but as simon is also a WP, experience has shown that it doesn't matter as they don't even swipe a card etc - in fact, I'll be making use of the Arrivals Lounge this coming Sunday morning (UK time, that is).

 

[simongr]

Well I will at least give it a go. The fallback position will be the Gym at the office. Just means I need to pack a towel.

 

[serfty]

... My only concerns are "eligible" and:

NOTE: Customers traveling on airline industry non-revenue tickets are not eligible for access.

Does my award flight disallow me from this? ...

In regard to that exclusion I would be very surprised if it did not relate to industry discounted fares/Staff travel (e.g. ID90).

SO being on an award should not exlcude you.

 

[simongr]

I was granted access. They looked up ba10 and saw it was f/j or BA gold and took it that qf plat was the same...

 

[JetLagged]

I was granted access. They looked up ba10 and saw it was f/j or BA gold and took it that qf plat was the same...

There - didn't I tell you that it woul dbe all OK?

 

[ReLoad]

Nice one Simongr, great info.

For the record how did you find WT+ ?

 

[simongr]

The company on board was very nice...

 

[serfty]

The company on board was very nice...

The company often is ... how about the hard product?

 

[simongr]

BA WT+ was better than JL PE.

Wines better on JL but the seat was like sitting on a bench it was so hard.

Food on both was awful (and JL J food wasnt much cop).

I think the difference between PE and J is dramatic - so much so that I would rather pay a higher J fare on a non-OW carrier than pay personally to fly in PE on OW and get the OW benefits.

 

[NM]

I think the difference between PE and J is dramatic - so much so that I would rather pay a higher J fare on a non-OW carrier than pay personally to fly in PE on OW and get the OW benefits.

Have you tried QF Premium Economy? I have found it significantly better than BA WT+. I describe BA WT+ just as its name implies (Economy Plus), while I consider QF Premium Economy to be closer to a J- product, with similar food to J (but presented differently on a single tray), the same beverage list, NC headphones etc. Just missing the Skybed, PJs, lounge access, extra baggage allowance, priority check-in etc. So for a high status FF who gets the lounge access, extra baggage allowance and priority check-in etc, the main difference is the seat. Not bad for 1/4 the price.