Changes to BA Lounges T4

[Travel Guru]

Just received this on email from BA, thought some of you regular LHR flyers might find it useful.

Sorry about the formatting being slightly off, hard to copy and paste from word.

TG






[FONT=&quot]I would like to advise you of a number of changes that are taking place to our lounges at London Heathrow Terminal 4. [FONT=&quot]As we continue with our move into our new home, Heathrow Terminal 5, we will be closing some of the lounges in Terminal 4 as the demand from customers reduces in line with the volume of flights from the terminal. The details are below.[/FONT][/FONT]

Lounge Date of closure Alternative Lounge to use

[FONT=&quot]Terraces at Gate 10 28 May Eligible customers use BA Gate 1 Lounge[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]First at Gate 10 05 June Eligible customers use BA Gate 1 Lounge[/FONT]


Concorde Room at Gate 10 17 September Eligible customers use BA Gate 1 Lounge

The Terraces Lounge at Gate 1 will remain open until we no longer fly from Terminal 4. To ensure we continue to provide the full range of services we promise, this lounge now includes a pre-flight dining restaurant for First customers.

[FONT=&quot]Other facilities in the Gate 1 lounge include a Chefs Theatre - bistro style service offering hot food throughout the day, business suites, news/TV zone, comfortable lounge seating areas and shower suites.*[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I would also like to take this opportunity to update you on some changes to the ground transport options available from Terminal 4. National Express coaches now only stop at Terminal 5 and Heathrow Central Area (Terminals 1, 2 and 3). Customers requiring Terminal 4 can either disembark at Terminal 5 and take advantage of the free British Airways transfer bus (which will operate until the end of the summer period), or alight at Central Area (Terminals 1, 2 and 3) and travel on the Heathrow Express or London Underground.[/FONT]

 

[simongr]

Does that imply no F lounge at T4 or simply that everyone will have to use the Gate 1 F lounge?

 

[serfty]

Does that imply no F lounge at T4 or simply that everyone will have to use the Gate 1 F lounge?

There is NO longer a First class lounge at LHR T4.

The BA forum on FT made me aware the only T4 lounge is now the one neat gate 1.

The F lounge did indeed close after June 5th (this was when the first group of the remaining BA flights were moved to T5).

Jenny and I used the lounge on Saturday evening. I have several observations to make:

• I did not see where the First Pre-flight dining was, but as we probably weren't eligible it did not matter.
• Arrived ~7:00pm; it was half full; by 7:30pm it was an absolute zoo with a dozen BA and QF flights departing on red-eyes to Asia between around 8:30 and 10:30.
• Seating was very scarce, both up and down stairs - many were simply standing at counters or in whatever free space they could find.
• Shower facilities were available to F/J/Emerald/Sapphire PAX only - not for guests.
• Sign at entrance indicating Guest access may be restricted at peak times.
• Champagne not put out for self serve; available on request only.
• Bistro style service offering hot food throughout the day was serving "Arabian Penne", "Sweet & Sour Noodles", Garlic bread and Soup. The Pasta, noodles and soup were not self service, but served from a wok by a chef to order. Also available were various staples. Overall catering may have improved from the J only days, but it is not up to the now closed Lounge Pavilion's First Class Lounge Standard.

 

[simongr]

Hmm and QF flies out of T4 for the foreseeable future? thankful I don't fly QF out of LHR then...

 

[Travel Guru]

It's a bit disappointing, not just for lack of F lounge, but that the only lounge gets overused, I always found BA Lounges at LHR to be peaceful and accommodating, unlike those of LH and other carriers.

I'm the same, I don't fly out of LHR very often, and its rarely on QF anyway.

Hopefully QF sort something out, can't have premium pax being treated like sheep.

TG

 

[NM]

But the really important question is what scotch do they have available? The FLounge used to have JW Blue and Talisker.

 

[simongr]

But the really important question is what scotch do they have available? The FLounge used to have JW Blue and Talisker.

I think in your heart you already know the answer to that...

 

[NM]

I think in your heart you already know the answer to that...

Knowing BA, at least their J lounge scotch is probably better than the JW Black available at the CX LHR T3 F Lounge.

 

[serfty]

I did see JW Black available and no other colours of JW.

There may have been other brands, I was not looking hard.

 

[Homer]

I'm curious to know why so many in this thread don't fly QF out of LHR? I have an upcoming DONE4 and, as I have done previously, I am booked to fly QF LHR-HKG. At first I was concerned that, should my upgrade clear as it has before, then I wouldn't get First lounge access...now I think I should be changing airlines...

 

[littl_flier]

This seems a bit sad for anyone flying, particularly those flying in F. Will QF still be out of T4 when the A380 starts flying on 17th Jan 09?

I have an upcoming DONE4 and, as I have done previously, I am booked to fly QF LHR-HKG. At first I was concerned that, should my upgrade clear as it has before, then I wouldn't get First lounge access...now I think I should be changing airlines...

Hmm, I am the same. I specifically booked QF on LHR-HKG to try out the QF First Service presuming my upgrade comes through. I'm thinking I'll change back to BA, take Club World, save 35k points and make use of the T5 FLounges instead.

Hopefully it's not too long until the T3 move.

 

[simongr]

I don't fly them as I am generally flying lca-lhr-hkg and QF don't have permissible connections. I also try to avoid QF in J unless I am trying for an upgrade - that is until the A380 comes on stream

 

[jpk]

Hmm, I am the same. I specifically booked QF on LHR-HKG to try out the QF First Service presuming my upgrade comes through. I'm thinking I'll change back to BA, take Club World, save 35k points and make use of the T5 FLounges instead.

T5 lounges are supposed to be quite good. I am avoiding T4 atm. You could also take CX from T3, their LHR lounges are nothing special, but the on board service has been consistently better for me than QF/BA.

 

[NM]

I'm curious to know why so many in this thread don't fly QF out of LHR? I have an upcoming DONE4 and, as I have done previously, I am booked to fly QF LHR-HKG. At first I was concerned that, should my upgrade clear as it has before, then I wouldn't get First lounge access...now I think I should be changing airlines...

I used to use QF out of LHR for two reasons - the chance to upgrade to F using QF FF points and the very good BA FLounges with a decent scotch selection.

On my last exit from LHR, I chose to use CX for a few reasons - to try out their new business class cabin with horizontal beds, and because T3 is less of a zoo and saves about 10 mins each way on the Heathrow Express.

I think I would do the same again.

 

[Homer]

On my last exit from LHR, I chose to use CX

NM, I've never flown CX in J. I prefer New Club World over Skybed. Where does the new CX J product sit compared with BA J (NCW) and QF J (Skybed I/II)?

 

[Dave Noble]

For those actually travelling in 1st out of T4 on BA or QF , the Concorde Room is still fully operational

Dave

 

[Homer]

For those actually travelling in 1st out of T4 on BA or QF , the Concorde Room is still fully operational
Dave

This is probably a dumb question - but what is the difference between the BA First Lounge at T4 and the Concorde Room? When I received an upgrade to QF F last year out of T4, the lounge gatekeeper directed me towards the BA First Lounge which, I think, is located below the Concorde Room?

 

[Evan]

I believe you need to be actually paid F to get access to concord room.
Hmmmm i depart T4 soon on paid BA F thats if they don't move my flights by then.
E

 

[Homer]

I believe you need to be actually paid F to get access to concord room.
Hmmmm i depart T4 soon on paid BA F thats if they don't move my flights by then.
E

Are you sure about that? I have been doing some searching since my post and, at least according to this thread, I should have had access with my QF F boarding pass: http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...r-program/concorde-room-10731.html#post137307

 

[ozscot]

If you had an F boarding pass you should have been granted access. I've only flown F on points and have been directed to the cc with no questions asked.

Cheers,
Steve.