A six-hour layover (which eventually turned into an eight-hour layover) might sound horrible, but not with oneworld emerald status in Terminal 3 at London Heathrow. On the contrary, the layover flew by.
For this trip, I had deliberately scheduled a long layover between my United Airlines and Finnair flight, knowing that I would have plenty of time to visit multiple lounges before my flight.
Finnair uses T3 in London Heathrow, which contains, not one, not two, not three, but four oneworld lounges. If you hold oneworld status, especially top-tier emerald status, you are in for a treat.
My first stop was to the Qantas lounge, which offers barista-made coffee. The coffee is always a treat, but the the entire lounge is beautiful and there’s a nice buffet spread plus a la carte dining each evening with a decent menu of choices.
Next, I headed over to the Cathay Pacific lounge. The first class section is beautiful and a mini-version of The Pier in Hong Kong. It’s comfortable and includes a restaurant with a la carte dining. On the business class side of the lounge is more barista-made coffee and a noodle bar.
Then I headed over the American Airlines lounge. Rather than call it “Flagship” the “International First Class Lounge” is not a beautiful area, but also features a dining area with a very respectable a la carte menu (the sea bream and the risotto were excellent).
The AA lounge sits just below the wonderful Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, which I reviewed here.
Finally, I headed over to the British Airways Galleries First lounge, which was huge. It also offers a restaurant with an a la carte menu.
British Airways is updating all its lounges in LHR next year, so this lounge will soon receive a facelift.
It I Had To Pick An Airline Terminal To Live In At LHR…
With five nice lounges and five restaurants with different menu choices, if I had to pick a terminal to live in it in LHR, it would be this one, if for nothing else than variety of choice…there are even a couple Priority Pass lounges.
Now if I was forced to sleep in the terminal area at night, perhaps T4 would be quieter or T2 might have more space, but I just loved the lounge choices all in one place.
Have you visited T3 in London Heathrow? What is your favorite oneworld lounge there?
Interesting. I would personally take SIN over LHR. The Jewel is worth it. I also give a shout-out to DXB, given that the Emirates First Class lounge has such nice sleeping chaises.
Which would you pick with Star Alliance Gold status instead on Oneworld Emerald?
It says so much that the other airlines present a nice menu while AA plants their menu on a floor pedestal in their “International First Class” Lounge. Their dining area also looks like the breakfast nook of a Best Western.
They had table menus as well.
Off topic, but you should look at the marvellous vignette on the Gander terminal on the BBC website.
I visited Cathay Pacific, American and British Airways my last time through T3. I don’t think Qantas was open yet for the early morning LHR-ORD American flight. I’d say Cathay Pacific is by far the winner for me. BA was super busy and American was just ok. The Cathay Pacific lounge was quite and very nice.
quiet*
My favorite too.
Given how CX is losing so much money right now, I wonder if they’re better off shutting down this lounge and have their customers use the other oneworld lounges instead.
The Cathayy lounge is the lounge of choice for many using T3, it’s the recommended lounge for Finnair among others and they have not reduced their flights at all. The lounge may be making more money than the airline at the moment.
Is there any possible way for you to please make it so that your entire articles open in feedly, instead of having to click multiple times to get to the website to read? Other blogs I follow all are able to do this, I was wondering if you can please try to do this as well as it makes it a lot more readable.
I’m sorry. Please tweet Boarding Area on Twitter. I can do nothing.
Woah, what is that? Like, an aggregator of all the various travel blogs? Or is it your parent company?
I don’t have lounge status (other than that Priority Pass card that I have never actually been able to use at any airport), but I recently did reserve a European flight whose return through LHR involves a rather long layover. Rather than roll the dice on another attempt to get into a lounge, I booked a room at the Aerotel which is also right inside T3. What lounge that I could conceivably access would include sleep, shower and breakfast?
Depending upon how well you sleep on a chair or couch, all of them.
The Cathay lounge is my favorite business class lounge In the world. Made to order dumplings. Great seats over the apron. Moet. Always quiet for the American flights. I always choose American for this lounge alone, rather than the BA codeshares (although I do like the upper deck on the 747 (despite the seemingly universal dislike for BA). I think it’s a somewhat hidden gem.
Side point but why isn’t there one nice lounge in ohare terminal 5?
Good question. ORD T5 is truly deplorable!
It follows from the fact that the airport’s two largest carriers (UA and AA) and their largest partners (LH, NH, BA, AE, and JL) all operate out of hub terminals 1 and 3. But don’t neglect DL’s big new Sky Club, LO’s new lounge, and AF’s soon-to-open lounge, all in terminal 5!
Friends of mine who use T3 a lot tell me “drink at Qantas, eat at Cathay.”
Agreed!
Difficult to choose between SIN or HKG in Asia, both are fantastic. LHR in Europe.
How does American not offer someone normal on their menu while BA can put a burger right at the top? Granted it has a weird sauce on it but I’m sure it can be ordered without it.
Wake up AA, not every is a vegetarian freak or eats seafood and duck. The world lives off chicken and beef people.
Enjoyed visiting all three last year; but, would only ever return to Cathay (excellent dim sum) or Qantas (they really do an excellent flat white), because the AA Flagship is incredibly lame by comparison.
Matthew, T3 in LHR offers some very nice choices. The Cathy Pacific 1st class lounge is a treat. Very discreet, quiet and the food is excellent. The Qantas lounge is very well done and an excellent option. This is what a lounge should be, a respite from the stress and madness that exists in the terminal.
Exclusivity comes at a price, but it sure is nice when you can find it.
On my last visit through I used the American arrivals lounge for a shower, breakfast and they served Moet before heading into town.
I had a 1pm CLT flight. I only visited Qantas for coffee – didn’t bother with their food and then onto Cathay First Class which is great for food and service.
Only a travel blogger would do ridiculously troublesome things to visit an airline lounge.
Like schelpping to Changi T4 CX Lounge from T 1 to T3.
At LHR, visiting just 2 (CX & QF) is more than enough for a reasonable person.
Schlepping? Don’t you mean, Schlappig? I think Ben spells it differently… (it’s a joke.)
Also Emerald but continually get rebuffed by BA for their lounges. Had to protest last time and show them their own published terms to access the regular Galleries lounge after twice being told no. Certainly wouldn’t expect I should have been afforded Galleries First admittance the way they behaved.
Did the same 4-lounge tour last New Years and agree…spoiled for choice. Cathay felt the classiest…it’s the wood interior, furniture and naturally the food—always so demure and relaxing. Qantas was packed but the 2nd floor bar, with some Salt and Pepper squid and some seasonal dishes was amazing—hustle and bustle but a great vibe. American was sterile and I left after 10 min. BA was huge and nice (same guy at reception as in your pic, lol) and I hit it off with the bartender. Overall, I was dreading LHR but could have spent many more hours there. Strong agree
Question. If I fly out of T5 on BA, can I use aT3 one world lounge? I have ow sapphire status.
Or is that not feasible?
Yes you can, however the transfer between the two terminals takes quite a while. There are BA lounges in terminal 5, both north and south.