Lounge access in LHR (arrival lounge & departure lounge)

[bigjobs]

hi, I've not been through LHR previously. I have some questions about lounges and access to them.

I am WP QFF OW Emerald etc.

I land LHR QF1 on Sat morning 0625. I then leave from LHR T5 on BA3593 to Oslo at 1255 that day. I see on the QF website there is an arrivals lounge in T3 and see discussions here about BA lounge in T5.

1. will QF1 arrive at T3 LHR, if so, is the arrivals lounge better to use.
2. with my status can I get into the BA lounge in T5 and is that any good (shower, quiet place to rest/work etc).

On the way out I am on QF032 (looking forward to seeing if the wings stay on or fall off) leaving LHR T3 (this is what makes me think arrival is into T3 on QF1). I'll be able to use the lounge on the way out ... I hope.

any advice appreciated.

cheers
BJ

 

[moa999]

No lounge issues for oneworld status holders, just QC members.

The Aussie flights arrive and depart from T3

1. Arrivals lounge would mean clearing UK immigration, you are far better just transferring internally to T5 and going to the T5 First Lounge which is very good and has showers etc.

2. Departing will be T3 where you have a choice of the AA, BA or CX lounges (or indeed all three (or more if you include the Business sections)

 

[Danger]

If you did want to use the Arrivals lounge, you could only use the AA lounge in T3 if you were travelling in J or F. For the BA Arrivals lounge in T5, it's not clear (in any class, but especially murky for Y). Once upon a time, yes, you could access the T5 Arrivals lounge, but those days may well be passed. If you do attempt, please post your outcome.

 

[pagingjoan]

There has been some discussion over the past couple of days on another thread about the LHR Arrivals Lounges. (Thanks again for your input, moa999.)

It seemed clear that F and J passengers on QF flights, for example,
Qantas Club Information

Located in Terminal 3, Lounge zone F, towards Gates 13 - 22

• Qantas First customers and Platinum Frequent Flyers are eligible to use the British Airways Galleries First Lounge.
• Qantas Business customers, Gold Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members are eligible to use the British Airways Galleries Club Lounge.
• Qantas First and Business customers travelling on Qantas are eligible to use the American Airlines arrivals lounge when arriving into Terminal 3.
  
  However, the AA website makes no mention - that I can find! - of that provision and it would be good to see it on their website, in addition to the QF site.
  The AA site also specifies that for OWE, for example:
  [SUP]<1[/SUP]Emerald customers must arrive into LHR on a flight operated by American Airlines, and provide their boarding pass.>

I am obviously overlooking some website entry. Any tips as to where to find the black letter law that allows access to the T3 AA Arrivals Lounge?

The reason for my preoccupation with this is that I have distant memories of having been refused entry in the past but cannot be definitive on the particular conditions at the time. I know that I was travelling with my partner and that we would both have been Plat at the time, and presumably flying QF. Maybe he was in J and I was slumming it in Y. [Of course, I don't intend to make that error of judgement again! If there is any slumming to be done, then it's his turn!]

 

[JetLagged]

If you are travelling in J or F - then you have AA arrivals liounge access. If you are travelling below J on the plane, even being a WP you don't have Arrivals Lounge Access. The AA staff check your boarding pass, not your OW status.

 

[pagingjoan]

If you are travelling in J or F - then you have AA arrivals liounge access....

Yes, but is there a link to an AA website that specifies that access for incoming passengers on QF flights? I can find the QF statement of eligibility but not the AA equivalent.
The reference I have located on the AA site shows "No access" for OneWorld customers, F and J.
I'm sure it must be there but my search has been in vain.

 

[JetLagged]

Each time I fly into LHR (about 2-3 times year) I am a) on a QF flight, and b) use the AA Arivals Lounge ion T3. No problem, as long as flying J or F, as mentioned.

Haven't seen anyting on th AA site - but haven't looked. Plenty of corroborating evidence online here, which is where I came to know about he AA lounge.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Yes, but is there a link to an AA website that specifies that access for incoming passengers on QF flights? I can find the QF statement of eligibility but not the AA equivalent.
The reference I have located on the AA site shows "No access" for OneWorld customers, F and J.
I'm sure it must be there but my search has been in vain.

No, it's not there, because it doesn't need to be. The AA website is for AA pax; it's not intended tro be read by QF pax!

QF has a contractual arrangement with AA (totally apart from oneworld) for QF F and J class pax arriving from SIN and BKK to use the AA Arrivals Lounge. You will have no problem with access; the AA lounge staff are very well aware of the arrangement, as they have a reasonable number of QF F and J pax coming into that lounge every day.

 

[pagingjoan]

No, it's not there, because it doesn't need to be. The AA website is for AA pax; it's not intended tro be read by QF pax!

QF has a contractual arrangement with AA (totally apart from oneworld) for QF F and J class pax arriving from SIN and BKK to use the AA Arrivals Lounge. You will have no problem with access; the AA lounge staff are very well aware of the arrangement, as they have a reasonable number of QF F and J pax coming into that lounge every day.

Thank you.
It is a case of once burnt, twice shy. I have been asked for confirmation by someone who will be travelling before I am next through LHR, and I did not want to give an assurance that turned out to be baseless.

 

[Ansett]

Have done Both J and F to Heathrow on QF but never used the arrivals lounge I will be doing J to LHR in April will confirm the actual requirements to get in.

 

[serfty]

Back in the T4 days, the only passengers who could use the BA Arrivals lounge were those arriving in BA/QF longhaul First/Business and BAEC GOld/WP (CL could take a guest). This was due to the JSA, nothing specifically to do with oneworld.

It's only been 18 months or so that Emerald premium travellers have been able to access the T5 BA Arrivals lounge after Transatlantic flights.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....merald-access-arrivals-lounges-lhr-25815.html

 

[Zippy7]

hi, I've not been through LHR previously. I have some questions about lounges and access to them.

I am WP QFF OW Emerald etc.

I land LHR QF1 on Sat morning 0625. I then leave from LHR T5 on BA3593 to Oslo at 1255 that day. I see on the QF website there is an arrivals lounge in T3 and see discussions here about BA lounge in T5.

1. will QF1 arrive at T3 LHR, if so, is the arrivals lounge better to use.
2. with my status can I get into the BA lounge in T5 and is that any good (shower, quiet place to rest/work etc).

On the way out I am on QF032 (looking forward to seeing if the wings stay on or fall off) leaving LHR T3 (this is what makes me think arrival is into T3 on QF1). I'll be able to use the lounge on the way out ... I hope.

any advice appreciated.

cheers
BJ

I travelled to the UK in August 2011 on QF arriving in T3. I can confirm that AA allow J pax to use their arrivals lounge - it was ok (old but clean).
When leaving the UK, I flew out on a BA flight and left from T5.
T5 is new, T3 is old - the BA First lounge is nicer than the AA arrivals lounge - there is no comparison. Don't waste precious time in the AA arrivals lounge if you can go straight to T5 for the BA first lounge.
BA first was relatively empty when I visited, and you can book a massage or facial