LHR: London Heathrow British Airways Business Class Lounge Terminal 5 South
The British Airways Galleries Club South lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5 is found up the escalators from the intermediate Spa and First level. Turn right and you'll go through the ticket office style desk.
This lounge is the main business class lounge, above the First lounge, and it has a great view of the Southern runway.
It is however not as big as you'd think - in business a lot of passengers are Gold card holders, so they'd be downstairs.
The Galleries Club gets sofa type benches, as opposed to the armchairs in First, but other than that the differences between First and Club aren't as big as they were at Terminal 1 or 4.
Imagine the British Airways Galleries Club South lounge as one big rectangle, into which you come in half way along, opposite the food section. There are good newspaper racks here. On the left is the main seating area, with posters from BA's past. On the right hand side of the arm there are more seats, in long benches, in a lovely shade of brown - definately a bit retro, but looking a bit dated. However here there is a good view of the main terminal shops, and the Gordon Ramsey restaurant in the distance.
There is a cinema on the left hand side of the lounge, with very comfy seats, and usually it is deserted meaning you can flick the telly onto whatever you want. Past this there is a good coffee house.
There is one main newspaper rack, with pretty much every paper you'd expect in the UK, and some international ones. There are however few magazines.
Food
Food is in the Chef's Theatre, where you can see the food as it's being prepared in the kitchen, but alas you can't order it. You are stuck with what is on the buffet, but in the mornings it's quite good with bacon rolls and croissants, while by 11am there is a full salad bar.
At the British Airways Galleries Club South (Silver) lounge, hot food is no longer available all day. There are just bacon rolls 0500 until 0930, biscuits porridge, toast, croissants and Danish until 12. Until 1500 there are basic 'tray of slops', (Pasta with basil and tomato sauce, Mustard chicken, Beef Bourguinon, Red Thai vegetable curry, and Chilli con carne). These reappear after 1800, sometimes later.
Of late, the British Airways Galleries Club South lounge has taken to serving hot food in the evenings up until 8pm.
Bar
There is one main Silver bar in the middle of the British Airways Galleries Club South lounge on the left. It has BA's new signature of a long thin bar with curved round ends - the wine is in the central trough, overlooking the Southern Runway.
You should know the deal with the British Airways bar by now: it's is free pour and free flowing in the British Airways Galleries Club South lounge.
There is Gordon's Gin, Smirnoff vodka, Bacardi, Jack Daniels, VSOP, Johnnie Walker (Red), Jamesons, Southern comfort, Grouse, Glenlivett, Campari, Martini (2 types), Tia Maria, Drambuie, and Contreau. Port & Baileys is in the trough on the worktop, along with 5 types of juice and packets of nuts.
Against the far wall are six fridges, containing Carlsberg, Heiniken, and Cornish Tribute Ale, and 13 types of spririts are on the wall.
The chairs at the bar are notorious uncomfortable. There is also a wine bar next to the food section, with identical wines to that in the Silver bar, in six silver buckets.
Bathrooms
In lounge. For a shower, go to the Elemis Travel Spa.
Business Facilities
The Work and Entertainment Zone (called W+EZ)is tucked away up beside the cinema. There are 38 computers in the lounge, racked around the walls, and a photocopier in the middle of it. There are also a couple of plasma TVs (showing CNN and the BBC News Channel) up behind the computers.
There is free-wifi in the lounge, and several racks of newspapers with a full selection of the UK's daily papers.
Magazines however are poor.
There are sockets for European and US plugs, and a TV on the wall (normally on Bloomburg).
Elemis Travel Spa
South Gallery, Mid level
There are full spa facilities in Terminal 5. Sadly no longer Moulton Brown, it's now Elemis which takes over the mantle of providing soothing and pampering.
And in some style too, with everything from simple showers, to "intensely" (sic) relaxing massage chairs, massages and a range of treatments.
Just ask for the menu of what's on offer. There is even the Spa bar, offering products to keep you feeling great throughout your flight, including tailored prescriptions.
Video: British Airways Lounge T5 South
| British Airways Lounge T5 South | ||
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Loungeindex
rating:
5 out of
10
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| Location: | T5, Airside, South, Top level | |
| Open hours: | 0500-2230 | |
| Lounge for: | British Airways | |
| Access: | First & Business Class, oneworld Emerald & Sapphire, Gold and Platinum Qantas Frequent Flyers, British Airways Silver and Gold members. | |