British Airways’ Galleries Lounge South in Heathrow Terminal 5 has one thing going for it. It’s certainly better than the gate area…
The Galleries lounge is the “base” lounge reserved for business class passengers or oneworld Sapphire members. Oneworld Emerald members can use the Galleries First lounge one floor below. British Airways Executive Club Silver Members also have access.
It’s easiest to follow the signs to the Galleries Lounge South then take the evaluator up. If you take the escalator, you’ll come to a Mezzanine level and will need to walk past the Elemis Spa and Concorde Room before taking another escalator up to the Galleries Lounge.
British Airways Galleries Lounge South Food
Let’s start with chow, since the lounge has plenty of food to keep your stomach full. Just past the entrance is a buffet with hot items like chili, meatballs, pasta, soup, and curry, a salad bar, sandwiches, and sweets.
I have visited this lounge many times over the years, but never had any food here. It’s not because I think the food is bad, I just have always chosen to eat onboard or came from a flight in which I just ate onboard. So your thoughts in the comments section below on the quality of the food would strengthen this review.
British Airways Galleries Lounge South Drinks
Drinks are free-flowing and self-service. Several bars are positioned around the lounge offering a wide assortment of wines and hard liquor. Maybe I missed it, but I did not see any beer.
Of course soft drinks, juices, and water are available as well. There are also several coffee stations with Union coffee around the lounge. I personally do not find the coffee machines all that great….stick to just “regular” coffee or “espresso” rather than a cappuccino or latte. Trust me…
British Airways Galleries Lounge South Flight Help
If you need help rebooking a flight or perhaps processing an upgrade, there is a service desk just to the left of the where you enter the lounge.
British Airways Galleries Lounge South Restrooms + Showers
Restrooms and showers are available, though expect a wait for the showers. The restrooms are private, which I like, but really feel like you are on a cheap cruise ship. They are also not well-maintained: there was paper towels and toilet paper on the floor when I went in. I did appreciate the Elemis soap.
British Airways Galleries Lounge South Business Center + Wi-Fi
In the far corner of the lounge is a little business center with computers and workplaces. On the other side of the lounge, closer to the center, is a copy machine / printer that can be accessed over the wi-fi network. Speaking of Wi-Fi, internet worked, albeit at slow (10Mbpsxc up / 2-3 down) speeds.
British Airways Galleries Lounge South Crowding
I complained about this lounge in a recent post because it was so crowded. The reason it doesn’t appear quite so crowded in my report is because I spent over an hour waiting for “breaks” in the crowd in order to take my pictures.
The fundamental problem of this lounge is the lack of seating with power ports. There is simply no excuse in 2019, when BA’s shorthaul aircraft still lack in-seat power, not to have sufficient power outlets for nearly every guest in the lounge.
So while at many airports I would just prefer to skip the lounge altogether, the gate areas in Heathrow are even worse. This lounge is better than fighting for power and seating outside the lounge.
CONCLUSION
I’m not being facetious when I say this lounge is to be avoided, but still represents a refuge over the rest of Terminal 5 at LHR. Overcrowding and lack of power outlets are a huge issue, but like the rest of London, this lounge finds a way to groan on.
The beer (along with soda) is in the small fridge next to the self-pour booze. You can even see the Heineken cans in one of the pictures you took.
I’ve always been curious as to the thinking that went into the hot food. Everyone will be getting into a smallish tube with bad ventilation and with lots of other people and spending from a few to 12+ hours. What’s the best thing to feed someone who’s going to do this? Why chili and curry.
Really? The meeting where that decision was made must have been fascinating.
Curry is very popular in London. I’ve always been kind of confused about the chili though. Having said that I do remember (from a couple of years ago) that it was quite good.
Add to that the fact that some of them consume prodigious amounts of food, including these known flatulence-inducing dishes, and we all suffer from “the gluttony of strangers” ( a Tennessee Williams reference, IIRC). It’s a known business class phenomenon.
My first experience of an airline lounge was with BA at LHR – I now refuse to fly without visiting one even if it’s only First Lounges. It really enhances the whole airport/flight experience. Love it!
Agreed! The lounge is atrocious! The food is really questionable; so my advice is to stick to coffee and biscuits!
I found an empty chair and I asked myself if my dog would sit there! It was really so shocking that I took a photo instead. BA has lost it; I feel sorry for the workers as they are constantly having to work hard to keep the place clean. Its about time their Club Class passengers are treated with some good old British customer care before we forget what that is!
I’m not convinced that D Miller has actually been in the T5 lounges at LHR. It is the coffee that is questionable – the food is good and plentiful. Yes it can resemble a chimps tea party after a few hours but that’s down to the people using the lounge and not BA! The T5 lounges are large, spacious, well stocked and relaxing.
I see that taking a pot shot at London is what makes for a “unique writing perspective”. Just remember Matthew that while you may have a long list of credits to your name, it doesn’t mean that whatever you write is automatically gospel! The reason why BA lounges at T5 are so busy is because they are so good – people arrive for their flights early so that they can enjoy the good food and drink.
Regrettably you both have fallen into the classic trap of it being fashionable to knock BA. I will be travelling from T5 to Japan this coming Sunday afternoon – we will get to the T5 lounge for a late breakfast 🙂
T5 Lounge is perfectly fine. It was busy when I went but there were plenty of seating choices and I liked the sofa areas. F&B is quite decent. I’d even say it has advantages over the UA Red Carpet Lounge in T2, which has a high standard. Nice perk for AS MVP Gold when flying BA.