British Airways Washington Lounge
The British Airways Washington Dulles Galleries Lounge is one of the better BA lounges on the network. It has lots of comfortable seating, great runway views, a fantastic bar area, and a large dining room with buffet dining. There is even a separate First dining room, with a la carte waitress service. Recently redecorated, it is in the latest Galleries style. However, large parts of the lounge are closed when it is operating in a pay-in Priority Pass mode.
Washington British Airways Galleries lounge review
The Washington British Airways Galleries lounge is lovely. It is how you would expect a full outstation lounge to be, if only it wasn't such an odd shape.
The lounge is very long, and thin, with in effect a long corridor overlooking the main concourse of the terminal, where much of the comfortable seating is. Off this long spine, there are separate rooms with firstly, the First ante room and dining, then a private room, next the buffet leading to the large dining room, and at the far end a business centre with work tables, coffee machines, a snack bar and at the far end if you turn right, the bar.
To get to the lounge, head to the centre of the concourse, just where the escalators head up from the train station. The lounge entrance, like a bright blue square, is right ahead of you. It is between the B concourse and the A, just where B turns into the A gates airside.
At the entrance to the lounge, there is just a lift door, to the upper floor where there is a reception desk. The Washington British Airways Lounge has both a First and a Business Class side at IAD: First is on the right and is often roped off, while Business is more like a corridor and overlooks the terminal.
The Washington British Airways Galleries lounge is 930 square meters, with room for 200 passengers, but it feels much smaller, thanks to its odd shape. There is lots of natural light thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows on one side, and views down to the airport retail level below on the other. It has a kind of elegant feeling, with a thoughtful design and lots of artistic touches. Just take a look at say the coffee tables, which are gold hexagons, or the art on the wall.
For example, as you enter, there is the BA speedmarque on a glistening Giles Miller on the wall behind reception.
The Washington British Airways Galleries lounge has been redecorated in the latest BA style, and the furnishings are from Tom Dixon and there are hand-crafted furniture pieces from New York-based Bright, using Osborne & Little fabrics.
The British Airways Washington Business Class Lounge is like a very small version of the Galleries at Heathrow - along what seems like a long thin corridor, with 2+2 seats on each side, looking down on the airport shops. There aren't that many seats - and it can get packed at peak times.
The Washington British Airways First Lounge has much better wine - and a First Dining Room where there is pre-flight dining for the late night flights. However, there is no longer a specific First Class section as such, just a small ante room next to the dining area. There is some excellent whisky here, and some great red wine on the shelf.
Food
There is a separate dining room for Club World dining, on the right, which has large windows, a good collection of food and several different seating areas. And the notorious wine vending machines.There are also snack and drinks area for those not wanting a full meal, or who arrive before the pre-flight dining is open, with a small selection in the silver corridor leading to the main dining area.
As most BA flights from IAD are sleeper flights, without full catering on board, the Club World pre-flight dining area has full three-course menu with appetising starters, hot entrée and some top notch deserts complemented by attentive service from the dedicated lounge team. It is much speedier to eat here than in the dedicated First lounge.
There's a deli area for light options including a selection of freshly made artisan breads, locally sourced cheeses, heart-warming soups and tasty treats such as lemon and dark chocolate cookies and a range of Twinings tea, freshly ground Fairtrade coffee.
Be warned, the dining room is closed as soon as the boarding call is made in the lounge. So you have to get in there first thing, on arrival in the lounge.
First Dining
Only accessible to those with a real First Class ticket on BA an exiting the lift, to your right is a sitting area and then the reception for the First Dining Room with a wine gallery behind and its own bar, just for First Class, which has rosewood and leather encased dining areas. There is no real separated First Class lounge. What you have is these two armchairs and sofa as a kind of waiting area before the First dining, and then ten separate booths in the First dining.Alas these obscure the view from the lounge, and it almost seems like a wasted opportunity: with such a great view, why not make the most of it?
At the end of this area is a great wall of wine display.
As you sit down, you are presented with the a la carte menu, and you can select some truly great dishes, with some excellent wine. What you won't be warned about is that it takes time - a lot of time - to be served. Generally allow about two hours to go through starter, salad and main courses, with a lot of waiting. You might, on the whole, be better dining at the buffet if time is tight.
Bar
There is of course the typical semi circular BA Bar with a fine selection of beer, but only so so wine, all served by a capable barman who will mix up cocktails on demand too.Above the bar, the lights are suspended globes of light which interact with the bubbles and imperfections of the glass to produce a glow reminiscent of small candles floating on spheres of water, designed and fabricated in Vancouver by Bocci, apparently.
Don't miss the Speedbird ale, and in the main dining area there is also the famous draft wine dispenser. Indeed, there are two, with a white wine draft machine in the buffet area, and a red machine in the dining area proper.
Business Facilities
At the far end of the corridor, there are two large work tables. Alas, the PCs have been removed, but there still remains a wifi linked printer. There are also power points close to most of the seats in the lounge. Naturally, there is plenty of free wifi.
Bathrooms
There are toilets and showers in the lounge - although they are very basic, with just one single stall, and a single toilet.
However, BA describes the the shower suites as "equipped with the very latest in Raindance technology from Hansgrohe with a jet that feels like a lush shower of rain - switch between RainAir, Whirl and Rainflow to suit your mood complemented by Elemis - the acclaimed British Spa Brand 'Quiet Mind' products to soothe and calm your senses". Hmmm, not convinced about that.
Note there is often a queue for the showers in the evening: you need to ask first thing as you arrive in the lounge for a shower, and be persistent, if you'd like to use it.
Access
The British Airways Lounge at Washington Dulles functions as a pay-in lounge until 2pm, then is exclusively reserved for British Airways customers starting at 2:30 p.m. Priority Pass is accepted before 2pm, but after that it is strictly oneworld only.
Finding the lounge is easy - Take the train to Concourse B and go up to the Concourse Level, and the lounge is straight ahead on the left.
After 3.30pm, First and Business Class British Airways, Gold and Silver members of Executive Club oneworld Emerald and Sapphire frequent flyers, except for American Airlines frequent flyers with status.
The IAD Galleries is not a large lounge, so a real curiosity of the Washington IAD British Airways Lounge is that Priority Pass is now accepted for entry between 7am and 2pm, before the main BA flights leave (however oneworld status does not count - no access with AA). At 2pm everyone is herded out, and the lounge reopens at 3.30pm for BA's three flights to Heathrow in the early evening.
Now that the American Airlines lounge at Washington Dulles has permanently closed, the BA lounge has become the only oneworld lounge at IAD.
Video: British Airways Galleries Lounge
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Washington Airport Guide
| British Airways Washington Lounge | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rating |
Video walkthrough and Image gallery by Loungeindex.com
| |
| Pros | Lots of space Great views Dedicated bar |
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| Cons | Can get very busy Before 2pm, limited food and drinks |
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| Location | Terminal B, Airside, near gate B50 | |
| Terminal | B | |
| Opening hours | 1530-2155 (& PP 0700-1400) | |
| Cost | Priority Pass, before 2pm | |
| Lounge for: | ||
| Other Airlines: | EI Washington Lounge American Airlines Washington Lounge | |
| Access | First and Business Class British Airways, Gold and Silver members of Executive Club oneworld Emerald and Sapphire frequent flyers | |