International Lounges

HON's have anytime access, even Y!

I stand corrected--My meaning was that Star Alliance elites do not have access, although clearly you're correct in that top-tier Miles & More can access the terminal for all flights. Qualification requirements for HON Circle seem pretty crazy though compared to AA EXP!

I was denied a massage yesterday (Sunday) by 2 different spa employees at T-3 BA F. They admitted that I was holding a J ticket on AA to ORD and was an EXP. "Status does not matter, you must be flying BA or Quantas, AA does not count." I left it alone. Showers were very nice though.

Must have been an off day all around. Around 2 on a Sunday and I was virtually ignored in the sit down dining area, as were the dirty dishes of previous customers. But otherwise it was the best in T-3, and not what I usually expect from BA.

Stopped in CX F for a bit of the good bubbly. Much brighter.

Toured the AA AC and FL. Never was impressed with either before and not any more since the refurbishment. Nasty looking sandwitches and a cheap brand of gin. Gordons? Around here you get a free paper bag with that stuff.

Oh, and the T-3 to T-3 connection in the flight centre took all of 2 minutes. It's about timing.

I've yet to sample the new CX F--are you saying it's much brighter than the BA Galleries First, or brighter than before the renovation (when it didn't exactly have "windows)?

Agreed.

It's Both - great windows and views. Oddly I still prefer the BA lounge in T3 to the new CX lounge - the CX lounge is small enough that your experience will be impacted by the tone of the other lounge visitors...

As good as CX F is, I find their lounge product has stagnated. While still very good, I think QF lounges in SYD/MEL have raised the bar for OW.

Disappointing.

My successful experiences have been:
- flying QF in Y as a QF OWE from T3
- flying BA in J (long haul) from T5
- flying BA in Y (short haul) from T5
- arriving on BA in J into T5
- flying AA in Y from T3 as a QF OWE

Maybe they respect QF OWE due to the JSA (joint service agreement) but not other oneworld elites?

Sorry to give wrong information before - I have evidently incorrectly generalised from my experience.

Not wrong, I think everyone knew it was a YMMV situation, and in this case I just ran into someone who followed the usual rules. I wish I had your track record though. I did get into the MIA BA lounge once, on a truly domestic AA F ticket, so I guess that my winning streak has run cold....

Very true. But other than that, not much to get excited about given all of the choices these days.

And I might add the AC/FL are quite a bit brighter now, although it's hard to imagine anything darker than the old FL. Seems they have gone from very dark and stuffy to very sterile though.

I still have to say the T-5 BA lounges are by far the biggest "feeling" of all.

That's what I always thought. I'm guessing that those who have had a different experience were the benificiaries of exceptions.

QF's J loung in HKG is perhaps the best IMO when at the same in the morning. Pretty much a ghost town. Never had the pleasure of being in such a quiet lounge....added photo after arrival from BLR...i was the ONLY one for at least 2 hours...

Are you sure that's HKG? Looks a lot like SIN to me.

Edited to add: Never mind. I just noticed (better late than never) that they opened a new QF lounge in HKG at the end of 2009. Last time I was there was in the middle of 2009 in the ratty old lounge.

nope...this is HKG QF/BA J lounge. never been to SIN BTW added this was reno'd a short while ago.

Looks really nice. I prefer this atmosphere than the CX ones

but when it is busy, you would probably turn around and walk right out. this lounge is amazing around 11am when all the BA QF flights that have come in have left.

Last time I got a massage in a BA lounge it was F in T4, when it was Moulton Brown, and before the BA lounge opened in T-3. I did try once or twice more recently in T3 or T5 but was told I needed to be in BA F.

BA switched from Molton Brown to Elemis before T5 opened. The switch wasn't long before T5 opened, but it did occur before T5 received any flights, so the spas in T5 would have been Elemis spas from the beginning. The T4 travel spa on the other hand was Molton Brown for quite some time before changing over and eventually closing.

AArrivals LHR T3 - I haven't used this facility in quite some time, having done my TATL on BA via the "Toronto Shuffle" (fuel surcharges might limit that strategy in the future ).

The lounge is on the second level, easily accessed after clearing Immigration and Customs. After checking in with the dragon (pleasant, warm welcome given), an un-manned storage area is available; hangers for coats are also located here.

The shower suites are spotlessly clean and are equipped with "power-shower" (overhead and tower-mounted horizontal water heads). No "burping" water drains here! The soap, shampoo and conditioner are dispensed from wall-mounted containers - quality was good and the scent unoffensive (no branding provided). The towel pack provided offers a large and medium towel, a floor mat and a washcloth. A 110-volt outlet is provided for an electric shaver, etc. A clothes-pressing service is offered, but I didn't use it.

The seating area is compact but reasonably comfortable. The food and beverage area is at the rear, with a limited hot buffet offered with decent eggs and tasty, well-cooked bacon (and brown sauce!!) on offer. The cappuchino machine made a decent cup, and Splenda is available for the sugar-averse.

Three HP personal computers with coded printing are available - there is also one work surface area without a PC. The network is fast, however, the seating is compact and you'll be close to the person using the machine nect to you. No-charge wi-fi is provided if you'd rather use your laptop and don't need to print.

One of my favorites as well.

Does the AC in LHR have free wifi?

My favourite lounges are :
QF F Lounge SYD/MEL
BA F T5 (never been in the CCR though ) LHR also T3
CX F Wing HKG ( cabanas are a must here)
Unlike some others here I also scored a spa visit in the BA lounge flying QF J JFK-SYD in April last year
Must have been a quiet spell for them

It does but so does the BA lounges which is what I would suggest and skip the AC altogether - as OW mid level elite you will have access to the BA business lounge which is just the hall/doorway before the AC. I used to checkin with the FL for a second but the whole AC/FL in T3 has become quite an unpleasant experience (hurried AC staff- security double check-not welcoming at all)

Can you elaborate? I am making the transit this Friday.

Do AA J pax get fast track? Does fast track even make a difference T3-T3?

And to keep on topic - I do plan to visit both BA and CX lounges due to the henious layover I have. Will report back my thoughts next week.

Yes.

There is no Fast Track through Flight Connections. There is Fast Track through immigration and customs, and again through departures security, so I think the suggestion was to do that rather than brave it through T3-T3 Flight Connections, which can be a bear at times (although I've had very good luck myself).

Thanks Microwave.

Galleries First in T5 is really a very fine lounge. Other the three cabanas, full meal service and possibly additional champagne choices, GF really comesr very close to the tone and comfort of the CCR (I do like that the GF computers are placed just to the side of the Champagne Bar - quite convenient)!