Best Heathrow Terminal 3 First Class Lounge QF ?

[travellinmumberry]

My parents are flying first class on awards I arranged for them from LHR to SYD. They will have about 8 hours at LHR (Terminal 3) and I am wondering which is the best first class lounge (I think the choice will be BA, Cathay, or AA?).
Can they move between the different lounges to try them out?
Also will they be able to check in to the flight 8 hours prior to departure?
We are all new to this game- thank you for any help.

 

[TonyHancock]

If they are on QF2 and in F then they should also have access to the EK Lounge. (It is not specifically an F lounge but EK do lounges quite well.)

My personal preference is the BA Lounge where pax in F have the exclusive use of the BA F restaurant...where they can eat the same stuff as everyone else can eat in the main F lounge.

The spirits selection is normally pretty good in the BA lounge.

...oh and they should be able to move between the lounge options.

 

[Ansett]

Sadly the best F lounge in T 3 is the BA lounge however they no longer operate the Day Spa I say sadly for the following 2 reasons.

1) They have no BA long Haul flights operating from this terminal and according to the lounge guard QF wont pay to keep it open!!!!

2) Be careful as they run out of champagne, well they did when I was there on the 26th of this month.

All the other loungers are some what bland so wouldnt really worry about them too much.

As for checking in I presume that they are coming into Heathrow from a conecting flight in which case they should be trhough checked and boarding passes issued. As for getting in earlier through the F check in in T3 I doubt that very very much. the best I have achieved is around 4 1/2 hours before the flight.

Hope they have a great flight and a great time here.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Sadly the best F lounge in T 3 is the BA lounge however they no longer operate the Day Spa for 2 reasons

1) They have no BA long Haul flights operating from this terminal and according to the lounge guard QF wont pay to keep it open!!!!

2) Be careful as they run out of champagne, well they did when I was there on the 26th of this month.

All the other loungers are some what bland so wouldnt really worry about them too much.

As for checking in I presume that they are coming into Heathrow from a conecting flight in which case they should be trhough checked and boarding passes issued. As for getting in earlier through the F check in in T3 I doubt that very very much. the best I have achieved is around 4 1/2 hours before the flight.

Hope they have a great flight and a great time here.

Can't say I'm surprised they have closed the spa. The last time I was there (Sep) it was running on one therapist.
To the OP 8 hours is a long time to spend in T3 lounges. The catering debacles in the BA Lounges continue and there is now no real differentiation between F/J and OW Status holders at T3. Might be better off getting a day room at the Sofitel and heading to T3 closer to departure.
On the upside the shops are quite good so if your parents like shopping they will have a ball

EDIT: Your parents can lounge hop to their hearts desire.

 

[travellinmumberry]

Thanks for all the info. They are flying Glasgow to Gatwick then Heathrow to Sydney- it was all booked on the one award through AAdvantage awards, all the same booking number- but I am not sure that they would get boarding passes issued at Glasgow if they are changing airports in London? I assume they will have to collect luggage at Gatwick and transfer over to Heathrow to check in again. I will look into a day room- though my mother does love shopping!! Thanks again for all the help.

 

[Blackswan]

If they are on QF2 and in F then they should also have access to the EK Lounge. (It is not specifically an F lounge but EK do lounges quite well.)

According to Qantas | Lounge Eligibility and Access, there's the clause * Access to the London Heathrow EK lounge is available when on an Emirates operated flight only

I've been turned away from the EK lounge at LHR on QF2 based upon this rule. They were only allowing Chairman's Lounge members, who were listed on a sheet with reception.

 

[Ansett]

According to Qantas | Lounge Eligibility and Access, there's the clause * Access to the London Heathrow EK lounge is available when on an Emirates operated flight only

I've been turned away from the EK lounge at LHR on QF2 based upon this rule. They were only allowing Chairman's Lounge members, who were listed on a sheet with reception.

That was my impression too and even as a Lowly P1 I couldnt get in for a peak on Sunday

 

[TonyHancock]

According to Qantas | Lounge Eligibility and Access, there's the clause * Access to the London Heathrow EK lounge is available when on an Emirates operated flight only

I've been turned away from the EK lounge at LHR on QF2 based upon this rule. They were only allowing Chairman's Lounge members, who were listed on a sheet with reception.

That was my impression too and even as a Lowly P1 I couldnt get in for a peak on Sunday

I have been in the LHR EK Lounge twice now when flying QF Metal with QF flight number and in F.

Definitely no access if not in F.

Didn't even think to find out whether it needed to be both F and P1, I just assumed F was the sole requirement.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thanks for all the info. They are flying Glasgow to Gatwick then Heathrow to Sydney- it was all booked on the one award through AAdvantage awards, all the same booking number- but I am not sure that they would get boarding passes issued at Glasgow if they are changing airports in London? I assume they will have to collect luggage at Gatwick and transfer over to Heathrow to check in again. I will look into a day room- though my mother does love shopping!! Thanks again for all the help.

The Galleries lounge in GLA is quite nice, especially if your folks like a whisky or two.
I would try pretty hard to get the connecting flight changed to GLA-LHR. There are many more flights to LHR anyway or failing that LCY. The BP's will be issued for both flights but I don't think BA will transfer bags between airports ( I could be wrong there if course). Check AA again or any of the award booking engines (Expert Flyer etc). I would be happy to help look if you need help and don't have access to them.

 

[travellinmumberry]

Princess Fiona, that would be great if you can look/tell me where to look for those connections. My folks live near Carlisle, so EDI, GLA, NCL or MAN are all accessible. My Dad is so keen to fly A380 which I have got them on from LHR, Q002, but it is the connection that I struggled with. It isn't until Dec 1st (but I see all the A380 first class go quickly hence my early booking). I wouldn't want to lose the LHR-SYD leg in order to get the connection changed, but if there is a way of changing just the initial connection that would be great. Thanks.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Princess Fiona, that would be great if you can look/tell me where to look for those connections. My folks live near Carlisle, so EDI, GLA, NCL or MAN are all accessible. My Dad is so keen to fly A380 which I have got them on from LHR, Q002, but it is the connection that I struggled with. It isn't until Dec 1st (but I see all the A380 first class go quickly hence my early booking). I wouldn't want to lose the LHR-SYD leg in order to get the connection changed, but if there is a way of changing just the initial connection that would be great. Thanks.

No problem, I will have a look for you. I'm pretty sure you will be able to get a much better connecting flight even if availability only opens up closer to departure. It's really easy to change AA awards on the telephone.
It will not affect the QF 2 booking at all

 

[Princess Fiona]

The BAEC website is currently showing availability for two on Dec 1st BA1489 dep GLA 1535 arrives LHR 1655
AA should be able to book your parents on this, as their inventory should be the same. AA agents vary widely in their capabilities so I always assume I have the lowest and feed them the flight details directly.
There may be other better flights nearer the time but I would change the LGW flight to this in the interim.

 

[travellinmumberry]

Thank you so much Princess Fiona! It is all rearranged, no problems. A 10 minute phone call, extra $15.60 taxes each (much cheaper than a day room and inter airport transfers) and very helpful agent. I wouldn't have known I could change parts of an award itinerary and this flight was not coming up when I had to book the LHR-SYD leg, so it has been a great learning experience. I am very happy with this layover time, my parents are in their 80's so it gives them time for a leisurely terminal change and a few hours in the lounge to chill out. I can't thank you enough for your help.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thank you so much Princess Fiona! It is all rearranged, no problems. A 10 minute phone call, extra $15.60 taxes each (much cheaper than a day room and inter airport transfers) and very helpful agent. I wouldn't have known I could change parts of an award itinerary and this flight was not coming up when I had to book the LHR-SYD leg, so it has been a great learning experience. I am very happy with this layover time, my parents are in their 80's so it gives them time for a leisurely terminal change and a few hours in the lounge to chill out. I can't thank you enough for your help.

You're very welcome, a great result
Hope your parents enjoy the experience .
QF F in the A380 is wonderful

 

[Longrass]

The BA/QF lounge is definitely the only choice, quality wise, great alcohol selection and although the lounge room is now open slather, its quite nice... Nothing really compares to the QF Flounges though...

I briefly (sub 5 minutes) visited the EK, CX and AA lounges... Funny experience actually, the lounge dragon at AA told me that I wasn't entitled to enter the lounge (OW Emerald, WP and F ticket on QF2) as its not the "Qantas lounge"... I politely advised her of the rules and said I was only just ducking in for a look at the lounge, to which she advised me I had "2 minutes or else she would send for me"... The AA first lounge (Flagship) was closed at that time anyway...

 

[JessicaTam]

I have been in the LHR EK Lounge twice now when flying QF Metal with QF flight number and in F.

Definitely no access if not in F.

Didn't even think to find out whether it needed to be both F and P1, I just assumed F was the sole requirement.

When collecting my BPs from the transfer desk in LHR the CSA made a point of telling me I could access the EK lounge, although suggested that it would be busier than the BA lounge. I don't think I was offered due to being WP, rather that we were on QF2 sitting in 1A and 2A.

 

[JessicaTam]

Sadly the best F lounge in T 3 is the BA lounge however they no longer operate the Day Spa I say sadly for the following 2 reasons.

1) They have no BA long Haul flights operating from this terminal and according to the lounge guard QF wont pay to keep it open!!!!

2) Be careful as they run out of champagne, well they did when I was there on the 26th of this month.

All the other loungers are some what bland so wouldnt really worry about them too much.

As for checking in I presume that they are coming into Heathrow from a conecting flight in which case they should be trhough checked and boarding passes issued. As for getting in earlier through the F check in in T3 I doubt that very very much. the best I have achieved is around 4 1/2 hours before the flight.

Hope they have a great flight and a great time here.

The spa at the No.1 Traveller Lounge was quite good, however the First host hinted that QF may get back into the Day Spa.

As much as we tried, the lounge managed to keep up the champagne supplies.

 

[Ansett]

The spa at the No.1 Traveller Lounge was quite good, however the First host hinted that QF may get back into the Day Spa.

As much as we tried, the lounge managed to keep up the champagne supplies.

Well Done we are proud of you have a safe and wonderful flight home

 

[JessicaTam]

Well Done we are proud of you have a safe and wonderful flight home

Thanks, we did. Got back Wed am.

 

[rickylee]

The BA/QF lounge is definitely the only choice, quality wise, great alcohol selection and although the lounge room is now open slather, its quite nice... Nothing really compares to the QF Flounges though...

I briefly (sub 5 minutes) visited the EK, CX and AA lounges... Funny experience actually, the lounge dragon at AA told me that I wasn't entitled to enter the lounge (OW Emerald, WP and F ticket on QF2) as its not the "Qantas lounge"... I politely advised her of the rules and said I was only just ducking in for a look at the lounge, to which she advised me I had "2 minutes or else she would send for me"... The AA first lounge (Flagship) was closed at that time anyway...

That was not my experience. I actually felt far more welcome at the AA lounge at Heathrow T3 than I do at the BA or CX lounges, regardless of whether I was flying on QF or BA on that occasion. However, I must say I have never caught a time when the Flagship lounge was actually open when I am there.