To complete off my evaluate journey, I flew British Airways’ A380 firstclass from London to Chicago. Previous to my flight, I had the prospect to take a look at the British Airways Concorde Room, which is British Airways’ most unique lounge.
Oh, the Concorde Room… whereas it’s a superbly nice place to cross a while, it’s nowhere near being among the many world’s greatest firstclass lounges.
On the plus aspect, the lounge options snug seating together with on a terrace, glorious espresso, a premium alcohol choice, and a la carte eating. Moreover, throughout this go to I discovered the employees to be fairly pleasant.
Nevertheless, there’s actually nothing that makes this lounge too thrilling. The lounge’s Elemis Spa has closed completely, the Cabanas (personal rooms) have been closed for a very long time now, and the meals high quality simply isn’t good, at the least at breakfast. This pales compared to different firstclass oneworld lounge, just like the Qantas First Lounge Sydney or Cathay Pacific First Lounge Hong Kong. Let’s get into the evaluate…
British Airways Concorde Room location
The British Airways Concorde Room is positioned in London Heathrow Terminal 5, so solely anticipate to make use of this lounge should you’re departing from the terminal. Whereas there are airside buses working between terminals, they take a really very long time, and require you to have a boarding cross departing from that terminal.
There are a selection of how to get to the Concorde Room, relying on whether or not you’re originating at Heathrow or not. In the event you’re originating at Heathrow, simply go to the very proper of the check-in corridor to the First Wing check-in space (notice that that is being closed for a number of months in early 2024).
This not solely provides a extra customized check-in expertise, but additionally provides a devoted safety checkpoint which lets out proper within the Galleries First Lounge (and from there you may go to the Concorde Room).
Alternatively, should you use the usual safety checkpoint, simply make a direct proper flip earlier than you’re taking the escalators down, and also you’ll see some unmarked double doorways. That is the type of secret entrance to the Concorde Room.
There has lengthy been an city legend that British Airways has to pay £1m per yr for this door, to make up for misplaced responsibility free gross sales from passengers not having to undergo all of the responsibility free retailers. Nevertheless, this isn’t true, so far as I do know, although it makes for a enjoyable story.
Final however not least, should you’re making an attempt to entry the Concorde Room from the terminal stage, simply search for the signage for the Galleries North Lounges. While you get to that entrance, you’ll then be directed to the Concorde Room, which will likely be to the appropriate.
British Airways Concorde Room hours
The British Airways Concorde Room is open each day from 5AM till 10PM, masking all British Airways departures from the terminal.
British Airways Concorde Room entry necessities
Relating to accessing the British Airways Concorde Room, this lounge doesn’t comply with commonplace oneworld lounge entry insurance policies. As a substitute, the lounge is open to:
- British Airways firstclass passengers, both arriving or departing, so long as you continue to have an outbound flight; one visitor is allowed
- British Airways Government Membership Gold members who rack up at the least 5,000 Tier Factors (or 3,000 Tier Factors in subsequent years) touring on any oneworld flight; one visitor is allowed
- American Concierge Key members touring on any oneworld flight; one visitor is allowed
The Concorde Room isn’t open to oneworld Emerald members — as an alternative, these passengers are directed to the British Airways Galleries First Lounge.
British Airways Concorde Room seating & structure
The British Airways Concorde Room is massive, however then once more, it must be, given how many individuals have entry to it. The lounge has each an indoor and “outside” area (I put that in quotes as a result of it’s a terrace looking over the terminal, so it’s not really open air). Let’s begin by trying on the indoor area.
The indoor area consists of a wide range of cozy seating areas, plus a eating space and a bar. There are a bunch of seating preparations that nearly really feel like they’re in somebody’s lounge, with couches and low tables.
Within the middle of the indoor space you’ve got the bar, which options some seating. Subsequent to which can be a few communal tables with high-top seating, plus a number of smaller tables. I believe that is meant to be overflow seating for the principle eating space.
Concorde Eating options roughly two dozen tables with white tablecloths, and it’s the principle eating space within the lounge.
There’s a room off the principle indoor area of the lounge that options type of semi-private seats, and it’s meant to be a quiet zone.
Again within the day, this area had workstations, which I discovered to be a a lot better setup. Then in 2021, we noticed the airline introduce “40 Winks” sleep pods on this area, however I suppose that partnership already ended, as these had been not there.
The Concorde Room then has a big terrace, with a wide range of seating choices. There are some chairs for lounging, in addition to a number of seating areas with drapes.
New in comparison with my record go to, there’s now additionally a eating space out on the terrace, I suppose reflecting the quantity of demand for eating, plus the beforehand restricted capability.
The Concorde Room is woefully missing on the subject of availability of shops. Now, the lounge has improved in comparison with earlier visits, and now some seating areas do have little charging “cubes.” Nevertheless, you’ll nonetheless need to put some effort into discovering seating close to shops.
What can we actually say in regards to the lounge’s structure? I positively respect that among the furnishings has been changed, and there are a number of extra charging ports than earlier than. Nevertheless, the lounge isn’t about to win any design awards.
British Airways Concorde Room meals & drinks
The British Airways Concorde Room has a wholly a la carte eating idea, as there’s no buffet. The servers are continually roaming the lounge to supply drinks, so early in my go to I ordered a cappuccino, which was excellent.
Afterward throughout my go to, I had breakfast within the Concorde Eating facility.
You’ll find the breakfast menu beneath, which is served till 11:30AM.
Then you’ll find the beverage record beneath. To British Airways’ credit score, the airline has a superb drink choice, and serves Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle champagne within the Concorde Room, which is similar champagne served onboard. So many airways serve cheaper champagne in lounges, so it’s good that British Airways invests on this.
Sadly the meals left rather a lot to be desired. You’d assume that should you’re going to supply a seated eating expertise with white tablecloths, you might serve folks restaurant high quality meals. I ordered the “California toast,” described as having gradual roasted tomatoes with crushed avocado and chili on toasted sourdough.
Truthfully, it simply wasn’t nice. It didn’t look nice, and it was sort of tasteless, and appeared to make use of extra of a guacamole unfold than precise crushed avocados.
I additionally ordered the greek yogurt with granola. You’d assume that they may make a nice-looking yogurt parfait, or one thing, however as an alternative it was simply the beneath, unhappy dish.
Perhaps lunch and dinner are higher, however truthfully, is anybody going to inform me “oh that appears like unbelievable eating for a firstclass lounge?” British Airways’ largest lengthy haul market is the USA, and a overwhelming majority of these flights board by 11:30AM, so breakfast is what most individuals on these flights are consuming within the lounge. The airline may put a bit extra effort into what’s being served.
British Airways Concorde Room loos & showers
The British Airways Concorde Room loos are positioned down the corridor from the remainder of the lounge.
All of the loos are particular person rooms, which is a pleasant function.
These loos really feel like one thing you’d discover in a hospital, although. On the plus aspect, I consider British Airways has up to date the flooring within the loos in comparison with my earlier visits. That’s a step in the appropriate course, however this nonetheless doesn’t precisely scream luxurious.
The Concorde Room shares its bathe suites with the Galleries First Lounge, although I consider Concorde Room friends are given precedence entry to the showers.
The bathe suites are completely okay, however nothing particular. They’ve a rest room, a sink, and a walk-in bathe, with toiletries in reusable Elemis containers.
Let me additionally point out that again within the day, British Airways had an Elemis Spa in its lounge, however this has been completely closed. Moreover, when you may previously reserve Cabanas (personal residing rooms of kinds), these aren’t accessible anymore, and it’s not clear to me if that’s momentary or everlasting.
Backside line
I wrestle with the British Airways Concorde Room. It’s a snug place to cross a while, with a la carte eating, an ideal alcohol choice, and pleasant service.
However now we have to be goal, and the lounge merely can’t compete with among the greatest firstclass lounges and floor companies on the market. The lounge has no extra particular facilities (they eradicated the spa and even workstations), charging ports are arduous to come back by, and the meals high quality wasn’t good, for some dishes that aren’t arduous to execute properly.
In the event you take the alcohol choice out of the equation, I’d argue that among the greatest enterprise class lounges on the planet beat this lounge (just like the Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Enterprise Lounge Doha or the Cathay Pacific Enterprise Lounge Hong Kong).
What’s your tackle the British Airways Concorde Room?
