We had an early morning departure to LHR connecting to a BA A380 to IAD. We got the hotel transfer bus to the terminal and were very quickly checked in and through security. We made our way to the BA lounge which is down some stairs and the entrance next to the public toilets. The lounge had not yet opened (I can't quite recall how long before departure this was, but certainly less than 90 minutes). Down there waiting as another lady in a wheelchair who had just been left there by the airport/BA staff. A few minutes later the lounge opened. The staff member had no intention of wheeling the lady in so I helped her out. I thought that was particularly poor form.
Inside the lounge was a bit dark, but again, acceptable. No toilets in the lounge, you need to use the public ones outside. Worst thing was they were running the cleaning cycle on the coffee machine. This meant not coffee for about 30 minutes. If there is one think I want in a lounge in the morning, it is a cup of coffee. An uneventful flight to LHR T5. Some time in the Galleries lounge (very crowded). Food average, toilets sub-par. A long schlep from the lounge to the satellite area of T5 for boarding.
Our seats were upstairs, rear row (aisle and window) of the front cabin. The window seat is pretty good. You have the storage bins by the window and its pretty private. No aisle passenger's feet to climb over. The aisle seat is pretty average. Really open and very little privacy. Every time the crew serve the window seat they reach over you and through the privacy screen area. Food was ok, nothing special. However, afternoon tea was served including scones with clotted cream. That made the entire flight worthwhile for me.
There are two toilets at the front of this cabin. I presume its in a similar spot to where EK have their showers. So nice and spacious bathrooms. What was really annoying (and would have been even more so if one was trying to sleep) is the crew constantly left the curtain half open and stood just behind it talking loudly. The contrast to QR in this one department is amazing.
Goodbye rubbish weather