A big, but confusing set of BA lounges
This hybrid First/Business lounge strives to provide an elevated experience for First Class ticket holders. It does manage that, but in a confusing way. This isn’t one lounge, but two, maybe even two and a half. As a first-class passenger, the question is: which bits are for you?
Why aren’t we flying from T5?
Most BA flights depart from T5. Due to capacity issues at that terminal, around 20 destinations are served from Terminal 3. That’s enough to warrant a lounge, and as some of those flights have first-class cabins, a space for those passengers.
Having spent most of my travel live checking in to T5, it was interesting going through T3. It felt smaller, easier and faster. It is, in fact, less than a third of the size of Terminal 5.
Checking in and finding the lounges
Check-in for our first class flight from T3 was easy. There’s a dedicated zone for first-class passengers travelling on British Airways. It’s not quite the First Wing in T5, but it’s better than just a single dedicated check-in line. There was no one ahead of us, so it took us only three minutes to drop off our cases.
We then went up a floor to security and used the fast track. It took approximately eight minutes to get through. That includes my bag being pulled aside and one of my camera accessories being swabbed.
Once you’ve cleared security, follow the signs for the lounges, which will direct you through the central seating area.
For this trip, we were flying to Bahrain, departing from Manchester and overnighting at Heathrow. This trip was over the Christmas period, and you can read more about what it’s like to travel through MAN on Christmas Day. We flew to Bahrain on the 26th December, returning to the UK on the 1st Jan.
Our flight was booked using Avios and a Companion Voucher. We flew out in First and back in Business, with a total cost of £1,419.62 in taxes and surcharges, and 158,000 Avios.
Entry requirements for the BA First and Club Lounge in T3
First Lounge
- Flying First Class with British Airways OR
- You have BA Gold status OR
- oneworld Emerald status
Club Lounge
- Flying Business Class (or higher) with British Airways OR
- BA Silver or Gold status OR
- oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status OR
- Aer Lingus AerClub Platinum or Concierge (If you’re flying long-haul)
The BA Galleries First & Club Lounge
We visited for lunch at 12 noon
This has to be one of the most confusing lounges I’ve been to. There are two entry points, virtually side by side. One is for the First Lounge, the other is for the standard Business Class Lounge.
The strange thing is that they lead to the same lounge. One part of this lounge is signposted as “First”, but it’s essentially the same as the other side of the lounge, and there’s nothing to prevent you from walking between the two sections. In fact, there’s no real demarcation where one ends and another begins other than subtle signage on a wall.
Which bit is First again?
The area marked as ‘First’ is a large room with drink options and no self-service food. A QR code on the table directed me to a webpage with an error. I assume that there are food options available for access and delivery to your table.
What really confused us was we were handed a piece of paper on entry that gave us access to something special. We figured it was a first-class dining area, but we were not pointed towards it and couldn’t see any signs. I headed back to the entrance and asked a staff member, who said he thought it was over that way and pointed towards the far end of the business-class part of the lounge.
It turns out he was correct. At the back of the business lounge is a bar, and adjacent to it is a small dining room reserved for first-class passengers. It had a T5 Concorde Room dining room vibe; in fact, I think the furniture was identical.
The BA First Dining at Heathrow Terminal 3
The dining room was small, with eight tables that could seat two guests. There were a couple of tables more suitable for solo travellers, and some that could facilitate groups of three or four.
There were also eight orange loungers in front of the windows, with great dual aspect views across the airfield.
The dining room was at its busiest point, half full. It’s a small space, so it got a little noisy, but I also found it to be a nice setting.
There’s a small self-service bar area to the left of the dining room, with spirits, champagne and wine.
I ordered the orange sorbet (basic, but nice). We were lounge-hopping in T3 that day, and this was our third round of food and drink so I needed to take a break.
My wife had the smoked salmon on sourdough and an espresso martini (both excellent). She has skimped on food in the previous two lounges so she could have this dish.
Partway through our meal, around 12:30 p.m., two guests came in and asked if they could order from the breakfast menu. I’m guessing that had landed after at overnight flight from the US. After the server checked with the chef, the breakfast menu was approved, which I thought was a nice touch.
I’d read mixed reviews of this space, but it turned out to be decent, but nothing outrageus. It’s a nice enough place to get some food, and the menu was a good size with some nice options on it. The food was the second-best way we had in Terminal 3 (Take a bow, Cathay Pacific First Lounge).
The Club (Business Class) lounge
This is a large lounge, and it has been designed to accommodate more than the 20 or so flights that BA operates from T3. Unlike some of the BA lounges in Terminal 5 (particularly the ones in the main terminal), this is not going to be packed and uncomfortable.
It lacks the wow factor of Qatar’s lounges in Doha, but it’s a perfectly pleasant and functional lounge. It was last refreshed in 2023 and it still looks good. Compared to some of the older lounges in the BA network this feels much more modern.
It’s also the largest lounge in the terminal when compared to its oneworld competitors (AA, Qantas, Cathay Pacific).
There’s a bar right at the back of the lounge. I managed to grab a picture when a staff member stepped away, but it is usually manned and has a good selection of spirits and wines. To the right of the image is the entranceway to the First Dining Room.
In the refresh, BA has made an effort to make this the nicest space possible, given that it has fairly low ceilings. There’s good use of colour, and the giant space has been divided up nicely. There are various seating options, including dining-style tables, bar stools, and benches.
They should be applauded for what they’ve achieved. Whether you’re dining, chatting, or working, this lounge has a space that suits you.
The food is self-service, offering a range of hot and cold options. I’ve always found that BA Business Class lounges provide a good, if non-premium, selection, and recent visits have shown that the quality and variety are improving.
There are also coffee stations situated throughout the lounge, with the beans provided by Union. The machines provide a decent cup of coffee, not quite barista, but certainly better than most lounges. The stations also feature biscuits and treats.
Verdict on the BA Club and First Lounge at T3.
If you’re flying from Terminal 3 and you’re either departing with BA or another oneworld carrier, then this lounge might not be top of your list. The Qantas lounge is better, as is the much-lauded Cathay Pacific lounges. This lounge is comparable to the AA lounges, although the food in the AA First lounge is not as good as the BA First dining area.
Why would you end up in here? It’s quieter and roomier than the other lounges (although the Qantas lounge is comparable). The First dining area is decent, and you might just want to stick to the BA lounge if you’re flying with that airline.
It’s also not a bad-looking lounge, and it’s probably better suited to groups than the Cathay Pacific lounge. If you’re flying out on business and you need to find somewhere quieter and calmer to work for an hour or two then this really isn’t a bad option.
Facilities in the Lounge
This is a huge lounge, so it features bathrooms within the lounge. You can access showers outside of the lounge. Elemis provide the toiletries.
There’s also free wifi throughout the lounge, plenty of screens showing the status of flights, and a businss centre.
Ratings for the BA Galleries First & Club Lounge
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