LHR BA Galleries First - T5

[Febs]

ORD Flagship (temp)

Temp? What have they done with the old one? Was there about 6 weeks ago and it looked fine. Hope they're building an F lounge that might actually resemble an F lounge!

On a similar note, I made the trek to the MIA Flounge (decent walk from security) a few weeks ago, which I understood had re-opened, only to discover it'd re-closed again...that morning! D'oh!

 

[serfty]

Temp? What have they done with the old one? Was there about 6 weeks ago and it looked fine. Hope they're building an F lounge that might actually resemble an F lounge!

On a similar note, I made the trek to the MIA Flounge (decent walk from security) a few weeks ago, which I understood had re-opened, only to discover it'd re-closed again...that morning! D'oh!

For references and answers in relation to both lounges, see my posts #7 and #12 here:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....oneworld-home-f-lounges-26382.html#post373427

 

[gumpy]

I'm honestly surprised anyone could claim BA T5 FL is better than the SYD FL. Food, wine, service, view, couches, massage service, showers - all significantly better in Sydney. By a wide margin.

That said, T5 FL is better than any lounge I've been to other than the 2 QF FLounges.

Don't get me wrong I love the Syd Flounge and even for personal trips I'll pay for QF because I like visiting there but let me explain:

1. Food yes the Syd Flounge has good food but sometimes all you want is a something simple, I love the buffet at LHR, such little hassle but very decent quality. If you want a good restuarant meal yes Syd is great but after 30 hrs of flying I didn't want it...

2. Service I see little difference between the two, if anything LHR is better cause you can be sitting anywhere and order meals which they bring to you.

3. Couches again see little difference.

4. Massage - you can only get one if you're international Long Haul, so I'll be getting one when I leave for Bangkok. We'll see how good it is... At Syd my hit rate to be able to get one is only 50% so I don't really count on getting one... else i end up sad... If i do get one from LHR will report back as to which is better...

5. Showers I can't comment. The LHR one was fine... a bit cramped but fully functional... I've never used the one in Sydney because it's where I start my journey...

 

[gumpy]

Interesting - I have never really rated the T5 F lounge - I think the a la carte menu seemed a bit rubbish compared some of the offering in SYD. It is a shame I havent been able to sample the lounge for a while being on QF/AA/JL out of LHR I have a trip to LHR planned in March so might route through there if I can (may even have to be BA metal :shock:

I do see your point about looking foolish in SYD though - hadn't thought about that for a while since I have a preferred seat there now...

How does one get a preferred seat?

BA metal isn't so bad is it?

So far I can't tell if I like QF or AA better, both have their good and bad points... For international it's almost always one or the other for me. I'm doing BA metal Bangkok this time, hope it's good... and will be doing CX J for the first time this trip also...

 

[Will]

Don't get me wrong I love the Syd Flounge and even for personal trips I'll pay for QF because I like visiting there but let me explain:

1. Food yes the Syd Flounge has good food but sometimes all you want is a something simple, I love the buffet at LHR, such little hassle but very decent quality. If you want a good restuarant meal yes Syd is great but after 30 hrs of flying I didn't want it...

2. Service I see little difference between the two, if anything LHR is better cause you can be sitting anywhere and order meals which they bring to you.

3. Couches again see little difference.

4. Massage - you can only get one if you're international Long Haul, so I'll be getting one when I leave for Bangkok. We'll see how good it is... At Syd my hit rate to be able to get one is only 50% so I don't really count on getting one... else i end up sad... If i do get one from LHR will report back as to which is better...

5. Showers I can't comment. The LHR one was fine... a bit cramped but fully functional... I've never used the one in Sydney because it's where I start my journey...

Sure - I won't doubt your preferences! But IME, the wandering staff are not so great at taking your order at Galleries First, and all it is is bain-marie food they plate up for you somewhere out the back.

At SYD, they will take your order anywhere too - you can order restaurant meals to the couch up the far end if you want

The massages at the elemis spa are provided by a (very nice) massage chair, and they last for 15 minutes. That said, I have a (slightly) higher strike rate in LHR cf SYD, so I agree with you there.

I'll be at the LHR T5 GF tomorrow for a 5 hour transit; so will try out most of their menu and report back if I'm pleasantly surprised

Happy travels!

 

[gumpy]

Sure - I won't doubt your preferences! But IME, the wandering staff are not so great at taking your order at Galleries First, and all it is is bain-marie food they plate up for you somewhere out the back.

At SYD, they will take your order anywhere too - you can order restaurant meals to the couch up the far end if you want

The massages at the elemis spa are provided by a (very nice) massage chair, and they last for 15 minutes. That said, I have a (slightly) higher strike rate in LHR cf SYD, so I agree with you there.

I'll be at the LHR T5 GF tomorrow for a 5 hour transit; so will try out most of their menu and report back if I'm pleasantly surprised

Happy travels!

I did not know that you could order food from anywhere in the Syd Flounge.. >< this changes things... If you can just order the salt and pepper squid from anywhere in the lounge... hmm...

Massage chairs don't cut it compared to the real thing... maybe I'll just go for treatment then...

 

[samh004]

I did not know that you could order food from anywhere in the Syd Flounge.. >< this changes things... If you can just order the salt and pepper squid from anywhere in the lounge... hmm...

I’ll be in the library if you need me, feasting!

 

[Mal]

I did not know that you could order food from anywhere in the Syd Flounge.. >< this changes things... If you can just order the salt and pepper squid from anywhere in the lounge... hmm...

I didn't think the full menu was available all around the lounge, but that they had a subset of items available. S&P Squid should be on that menu.

If you have one of the rooms booked, they will let you order food (from the whole menu I think) and have it delivered there.

 

[Will]

Massage chairs don't cut it compared to the real thing... maybe I'll just go for treatment then...

Tip: get the treatments at the Elemis spa, because they put you in the massage chairs anyway - so you get massage + facial. If you ask for just the massage, you get the chair plus the therapist ineffectually poking at your trapezius muscles.

 

[gumpy]

I feel like such a goose not knowing you can order food from outside of the restuarant area... which i don't find to be a relaxing area...

hopefully this type of info can be captured at in the new Flounge thread.

 

[serfty]

I didn't think the full menu was available all around the lounge, but that they had a subset of items available. S&P Squid should be on that menu.

If you have one of the rooms booked, they will let you order food (from the whole menu I think) and have it delivered there.

You can certainly have anything off the full menu around the lounge.

When the lounges first opened there was a snack menu which varied from the main table menu, but you could still order from either menu.

The special snack menu was replaced with the subset menu (RIP Antipasto/tasting plate ) after about 9 months after the lounges first opened 3½ years ago.

 

[simongr]

How does one get a preferred seat?

I just have a seat that I always use - it isnt reserved for me - just one I like.

BA metal isn't so bad is it?

My preference is CX if I can't get an A380. I used to prefer BA but have had increasingly poor experiences in J - especially when travelling with babygr - the staff were literally unpleasant. Conversely I have seen significant improvement in QF.

 

[Keith009]

I'm honestly surprised anyone could claim BA T5 FL is better than the SYD FL. Food, wine, service, view, couches, massage service, showers - all significantly better in Sydney. By a wide margin.

That said, T5 FL is better than any lounge I've been to other than the 2 QF FLounges.

Totally agree. The decor is also much cooler in the QF FLs.

Only feature BA T5 Galleries F beats QF FLs on is the champagne bar. Come on QF... can we have some vintage Bolly pretty please....?

 

[simongr]

I did not know that you could order food from anywhere in the Syd Flounge.. >< this changes things... If you can just order the salt and pepper squid from anywhere in the lounge... hmm...

Massage chairs don't cut it compared to the real thing... maybe I'll just go for treatment then...

When travelling with mrs+babygr we grabbed a meeting room and they came, took our orders and brought in there for us.

 

[gumpy]

When travelling with mrs+babygr we grabbed a meeting room and they came, took our orders and brought in there for us.

That is seriously cool... i'm more relaxed in rooms or in the general lounge area... so yeah... the syd flounge is ticking more boxes now...

 

[serfty]

When travelling with mrs+babygr we grabbed a meeting room and they came, took our orders and brought in there for us.

SWMBO and I have done this in MEL more than once (sans bub).

 

[Danger]

Putting aside the debate on whether or not wearing shoes while flying is a must, would it be inappropriate to wear thongs in the First Lounge? To be clear, they're not the traditional white rubber with blue strap but something a little classier (although not fancy leather, like something from Julius Marlow or the like). The reason being, I've been on a DONE4 for the past six weeks in predominantly cold climates and my suede boots I've been wearing almost non-stop have got a bit of a nasty smell about them. And I'd be wearing respectable long pants and a t-shirt along with it.

 

[munitalP]

Speaking of fav lounge seats, heres mine...

T5 comes 3rd on my list, MEL/SYD shared 1st/2nd

munitalP

 

[JohnK]

This is quite a nice lounge. We were there for breakfast a couple of years ago and the buffet available was quite nice. Good views outside as well.

I did not know that you could order food from anywhere in the Syd Flounge.. >< this changes things... If you can just order the salt and pepper squid from anywhere in the lounge... hmm...

Both SYD and MEL F Lounges.

I don't like wasting time sitting at the dining tables so will either watch some TV or use the internet desktops available and do some printing. Usually order some food and eat it there.