Lounge and Transfer Questions... Which are the best?

[munitalP]

Hey ya'll

A question to my many learned friends on the AFF forum...

Q1: "Which is the best lounge at the following locations?" (Remembering I am OW Emerald)

1. LAX (4)...
2. Orlando...
3. Chicago (3)
4. Frankfurt
5. Paris - CGD (2B)
6. Manchester (3)
7. Heathrow (5)
8. Hong Kong (1)

Q2: Nothing to do with lounges... "What is the easiest way to transit from Gatwick to Heathrow?" :shock:


I await the replies in eager anticipation...

Mr!

 

[moa999]

Thoughts on the ones i've been to

1. Depends on terminal, but T4- AA Flagship lounge, TBIT - The QF/BA/CX First lounge (though not much different to Business)
3. AA Flagship lounge (not signposted, only the ACs are)
7. New T5 First (Concorde if you can get it) - but choice more depends on the terminal you fly form. T5 arrivals also good.
8. CX Wing - better ambience with high ceilings and the long bar
CX Arrivals is also very good (only avail if flying in on CX)


BA recommends the Bus....
http://www.britishairways.com/travel/airpflcnxlhrlgw/public/en_gb
no direct train connections

 

[Evan]

I assume on the brackets are terminals ?


4. Frankfurt
a.) I will assume T2, depends what airline your flying... when i have been there recently due to all the construction and additional security checks i opt for a lounge close to the gate, i would probably pick the BA lounge over the CX one. I have not visited the IB or JL ones. Neither is anything that special but drinks and some reasonable snacks.

7. Heathrow (5)
a.) T5 BA Flounge, large but nice, in F there is good food and good drinks. Showers etc.

8. Hong Kong (1)
a.) T1 for sure CX Wing, followed by CX Pier. But both are very similar so if you flight is down at gate 60-70 area then take the Pier. QF is not interesting, not been to JL lounge.

The rest i have not sampled enough to give any realy advice.
E

 

[munitalP]

Yep, terminal numbers are in brackets and my flights are one a one world explorer ticket (booked through the new Qantas system)

Mr!

 

[Mal]

Orlando . Don't recall a lounge here.
Chicago's Flagship lounge reminds me of a very large and bland shoebox. I popped in, grabbed some food (drinks weren't available due to liquor licensing rules at that hour), then went back to the ordinary AC. Opening hours are different to the Admiral's Club.
Los Angeles (T4) Flagship Lounge is nice, but no computers. Can wander out to the Admiral's part of the lounge for computers. Remember to get a swipe card before leaving.
Hong Kong Wing is nicer - more open, although Pier also is nice. Pier has day-break rooms where you can watch tv and relax in privacy. Wing has cabanas for a relaxing bath. Avoid Qantas lounge unless you really want to pop in (I normally do quickly before a QF or BA flight, but wouldn't for a CX flight).

 

[serfty]

Hey ya'll

A question to my many learned friends on the AFF forum...

Q1: "Which is the best lounge at the following locations?" (Remembering I am OW Emerald)

1. LAX (4)...
2. Orlando...
3. Chicago (3)
4. Frankfurt
5. Paris - CGD (2B)
6. Manchester (3)
7. Heathrow (5)
8. Hong Kong (1)

Q2: Nothing to do with lounges... "What is the easiest way to transit from Gatwick to Heathrow?" :shock:


I await the replies in eager anticipation...

Mr!

Q2: National Express Bus; £19 o/w (£17 with a BA BP) departs every 10-20 minutes and takes about an hour.

Q1:

1. LAX - departing to where?
   • Dom US on AA - T4 F/L
   • Int QF to SYD, MEL (QF94) TBIT F/L, otherwise T4 F/L
2. MCO - No oneworld lounge
3. ORD - F/L better food/drink than A/C, but no view
4. FRA- can't help
5. CDG - can't help
6. MAN - can't help
7. LHR, where are you head and on what carrier?
   • QF/BA to SIN/BKK T4 - G1 (yuck)
   • QF to HKG T4 G1
   • BA to HKG - T5 BA Galleries First
8. HKG - CX Wing/Pier F/L's (if staying in HKG, use Airport Express ITCI and get to lounges with a couple or three hours to Flounge)

 

[munitalP]

Q2: National Express Bus; £19 o/w (£17 with a BA BP) departs every 10-20 minutes and takes about an hour.


Q1:

1. LAX - departing to where?
   • Dom US on AA - T4 F/L
   • Int QF to SYD, MEL (QF94) TBIT F/L, otherwise T4 F/L
2. MCO - No oneworld lounge
3. ORD - F/L better food/drink than A/C, but no view
4. FRA- can't help
5. CDG - can't help
6. MAN - can't help
7. LHR, where are you head and on what carrier?
   • QF/BA to SIN/BKK T4 - G1 (yuck)
   • QF to HKG T4 G1
   • BA to HKG - T5 BA Galleries First
8. HKG - CX Wing/Pier F/L's (if staying in HKG, use Airport Express ITCI and get to lounges with a couple or three hours to Flounge)

1. LAX / MCO (AA)
7. LHR / HKG (CX)

8. Will take your Flounging advice!



Mr!

 

[NM]

Do note that even if there is more than one lounge available at some locations (e.g. FRA), not all lounges will be open or available for access by a OneWorld Emerald at all times of the day. For example, the CX lounge will only operate as such for about 3 hours before each CX departure (currently 1:50pm and 6:50pm). It is then contracted by QF for their passenger use before their 11:30pm departure). So the lounge is likely to be closed if you arrive for a 9am departure.

Another thing to note is that at some locations, an airline uses a "contract" lounge for their own passengers. These lounges are not OneWorld lounges and you cannot get access based on OneWorld privileges. One example here is CDG where BA premium and status passengers are invited to use the AF lounge, but passengers on the QF codeshare flight number of a BA operated flight, Qantas Club members and OneWorld Sapphire and Emerald status members do not get access.

In many of your examples you have only one choice due to the terminal to which you will be able to gain access. For example, as LAX you only have access to the AA lounges at T4 (Admirals Club and Flagship Lounge) or the joint OneWorld lounge if departing from TBIT.

 

[simongr]

Who are you flying with from MCO? AA I assume as going to ORD.

I believe if flying in J on BA there is an associated lounge.

I went to the bar lobby of the hotel and had a cold beer, free wifi (I think) and a decent pizza.

 

[serfty]

1. LAX / MCO (AA)...

T4 F/L (note: They don't call most AA flights in the lounge)

...
7. LHR / HKG (CX)...

Departs T3; anecdotal posts indicate the CX lounge is the better of the various options there ... (AA AC, AA F/L, JL ...)

...
8. Will take your Flounging advice! ...

Flounging (flounj

ng) intr.v. To be relaxing in a First Class lounge [© Dave Noble]

 

[Leumas]

I haven't been there for a while now, so don't know if they still have this arrangement. At LAX T4 Flagship, you can get wifi if you ask Flagship's Reception for a free pre-paid card. Connection is good for 24 hours (I think) and you can even use it elsewhere in the US.

 

[serfty]

Ask at the LAX F/L counter and they'll give you a user name and password to log into the T-Mobile service. (Generally on a small slip of paper, the username and/or password changes regularly.)

 

[2muchplastic]

...Q1: "Which is the best lounge at the following locations?" (Remembering I am OW Emerald)

6. Manchester (3)
8. Hong Kong (1)

Q2: Nothing to do with lounges... "What is the easiest way to transit from Gatwick to Heathrow?" :shock:
.....

These are the only ones I can answer for:

5. Paris CDG. Terminal 2b is horrible, and I don't remember there being any oneworld lounges there
6. Mancester T3 - BA terraces
8. Hong Kong - CX Wing F.

Q2, Asking for the best way to transit from LHR to LGW is like asking which leg you would like to have amputated. The best way as has already been mentioned is the National Express bus. Except at peak times, when there really is no good way of getting there.

 

[munitalP]

Here's another Q... Is there a hotel at CGD which is not airside, but part of the airport?

Mr!

:idea:

 

[2muchplastic]

Here's another Q... Is there a hotel at CGD which is not airside, but part of the airport?

Mr!

:idea:

Yes, there's a Sheraton near T2, actually built into the airport, and there's also a Radisson on the airport fringes, a few mins away in a taxi. I'm not sure if you could walk to the Radisson, or there may be a shuttle of some description. I've never stayed at either though, so I can't comment on whether they are any good.

 

[JohnK]

4. FRA - Avoid the IB lounge if at all possible. Ordinary and very small and I do not think it had any food. Just enough alcoholic choice of beverages to keep you pre-occupied....

 

[munitalP]

Booked the Comfort Hotel - seems OK, listed as "at CDG" and has a shuttle - suits me

Mr!