My review of the new British Airways lounges at Gatwick Airport South Terminal (Part 2)

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This part 2 of my review of the new British Airways lounges at Gatwick Airport. Part 1 can be found here.

Inside the British Airways First Class lounge at Gatwick

The First lounge can be accessed by British Airways Gold members, and oneworld equivalent members, as well as ticketed First Class passengers.

To be honest, I wasn’t hugely impressed. In fact, I wandered in by mistake and I thought I was still in the Business lounge.

(How did I wander in by mistake? There is a doorway connecting the Business and First lounges. During my stay it was permanently propped open so staff could carry trays in and out, so you could just wander in. I am BA Gold so I would have been allowed in anyway, but we ended up in the Business lounge as they – correctly – would not allow my (Silver) wife and daughter in with me and my son.)

The furnishings are identical to the Business lounge. The First area is also relatively small and I suspect, at certain times, it will be more crowded than the Business lounge.

What is different? Well, you get the boardroom:

You get champagne (but this is also available on request in the Business lounge, I believe):

You get premium spirits (BA is still offering Johnnie Walker Blue):

You get a cooked breakfast – scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon etc:

You get a couple of Tracy Emin drawings:

You get an equally good view of the airport:

And that’s it. The seating is identical to the Business lounge:

At some point, ‘cooked to order’ food will be available as it is in Galleries First at Heathrow. This is not yet available due to the on-going electrical issues.

Food and drink in the British Airways Business lounge

The breakfast offering in the Business lounge will be very familiar to anyone who has used Galleries Club at Heathrow.

The selection is pretty much identical, as are the coffee machines and the equipment used to store the food.

You have bacon rolls and omelette rolls:

You have coffee:

You have pastries:

You have a wide selection of spirits:

You have the usual wine selection:

It was all perfectly fine. However …. I have a bit of a problem with British Airways only offering a proper breakfast in the First lounge. It wouldn’t be a major strain to also offer scrambled eggs, sausage and bacon in the Business lounge. The First lounge would still have its ‘cooked to order’ menu as a differentiator and we’re not talking budget-busting costs here.

Now that cooked breakfasts in Eurotraveller are a thing of the past, adding such food back to the Business lounge menu would be welcome.

Conclusion

British Airways has done a good job with the new lounges in London Gatwick’s South Terminal.

Whilst it isn’t the easiest place to find, it is a lovely space and the designers have done a good job in creating different style of seating to serve the varying needs of travellers.

The food and drink is on a par with Heathrow and, given that Gatwick tends to play second fiddle to Heathrow, that is as good as you could have expected.

The South Terminal experience as a whole is now much improved. BA passengers no longer need to take the monorail from the train station, security seems more efficient than the North Terminal – with a proper premium security lane – and the lounges are impressive.

The only downside is the shopping, which is still more easyJet than British Airways. I’d personally like to see ‘King of Trainers’ and the like replaced by something more upmarket, although there is a Harrods concession and a Hugo Boss to pass the time. I imagine that the retail offer will mature as existing leases expire.

If you want to see more of the new lounges, here is a short video (Business side only):

If you cannot see the video, click here to visit our YouTube channel and watch it from there. You can also subscribe to our channel from that page.

Getting airport lounge access for free from a credit card

How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (December 2021)

As a reminder, here are the three options to get FREE airport lounge access via a credit or charge card:

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,300 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.

You also get access to Plaza Premium, Delta and Eurostar lounges. Our American Express Platinum review is here. You can apply here.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with two free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.

Additional lounge visits are charged at £20. You get two more free visits for every year you keep the card.

There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus. Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review here.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

A huge bonus, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free LoungeKey card, allowing you access to the LoungeKey network. Guests are charged at £20 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £195 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer. Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.

Category

British Airways and Avios

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Save East Coast Rewards says:

16 Feb16 February 10:32

Hot breakfasts in Euro Traveller? Not for many years except Anglo-Scottish/NI UK Domestic flights and possibly band 4 (not sure on band 4).

So even pre-enhancements most shorthaul passengers did not have a decent breakfast to choose from.
- Lumma says:
  
  16 Feb16 February 11:49
  
  I got a full English flying from LCY to Malaga a couple of years ago. Was actually my first short haul BA flight as I’d not long moved to London. Other than that it was always just some awful sandwich or the terrible bacon croissant.
  - Save East Coast Rewards says:
    
    16 Feb16 February 12:38
    
    OK, I was thinking LHR and LGW. Catering on BA Cityflyer (LCY) has always been better than BA mainline in Y. Hopefully they’ll reconsider introducing BoB on these services (it’s due to be launched sometime over the summer).
    - John says:
      
      16 Feb16 February 15:17
      
      26 March (start of summer schedule) according to ba.com, if you search for avios flights.
      
      Paid flights just say “charges may apply”
      - Save East Coast Rewards says:
        
        16 Feb16 February 15:30
        
        Hopefully they delay the start of this beyond the 26 March. It’ll ruin a good service as they don’t have enough crew to run BoB plus an attentive Club Europe.
Aeronaut says:

16 Feb16 February 10:55

I’m genuinely curious as to what HfP-ers attitude is towards airport shopping?

I’m one of those people for whom it doesn’t hold much interest. I kind of regard buying something in an airport shop as an admission of failure in packing properly, apart from say sunscreen. Sure, I’ll buy a bottle of water, a Private Eye, an Economist or a paper, and just possibly some pulp fiction (though haven’t done that for ages), but the rest of the retail emporium that is your average terminal (whether up or downmarket) doesn’t hold much interest.

Obviously – blindingly obviously – others have a different stance. So, what am I missing?
- Rob says:
  
  16 Feb16 February 11:07
  
  Very positive about Heathrow shopping. It has the same high-end shops I usually frequent, but often with a) different stock or b) the same stock but differently displayed so I notice it this time as well as c) no ‘attitude’ from the staff or doormen, d) lower prices and e) all the shops next door to each other in one place. That said, I rarely buy at the airport because I don’t like dragging new purchases along on a trip or messing about with the ‘collect on return’ service.
- mark2 says:
  
  16 Feb16 February 11:44
  
  I agree entirely, although I did once buy a pair of Bally shoes at Heathrow since they were not available in deepest Wiltshire. I particularly avoid the most expensive chocolate in the world in the ‘duty free’ shop.
- Lumma says:
  
  16 Feb16 February 11:54
  
  I don’t tend to do any airport shopping, unless you class a few pints of beer when travelling without lounge access shopping.
  
  I sometimes browse the spirits selection, but it comes across as being more expensive than what you would pay in a supermarket for anything half decent (you might get a litre of some nasty flavoured vodka for a good price)
  
  What I’ve never got is the super expensive £10000+ bottles of whisky and brandy, even if you had that sort of cash, why would you buy it at the airport and not just send your Butler out to get it for you?
  - mark2 says:
    
    16 Feb16 February 12:56
    
    I have read that those v. expensive bottles are aimed at Japanese businessmen who take them back as presents for customers/colleagues.
  - Simmo says:
    
    16 Feb16 February 13:29
    
    Lots of the Whisk(e)y is only available at airports, I collect as one of my hobbies, and I often find ‘Traveller Exclusives’ which you wouldn’t find in the standard supermarkets or even specialists.
- aliks says:
  
  16 Feb16 February 12:55
  
  I always assume that airports will be milking the traveler to pay for the higher cost of the retail space.
  
  When there are special offers advertised online, I may take a look, but then buying online is generally a better deal all round.
  - RussellH says:
    
    16 Feb16 February 15:41
    
    Many years ago at Edinburgh Airport I picked up a small business gift in a landside shop.
    
    Saw the same shop airside and was annoyed with myself for not thinking about the VAT saving I should have got airside; then looked at the price – it was significantly more expensive airside.
- Sarah says:
  
  16 Feb16 February 13:09
  
  I tend to only shop at the airport for things that I’ve decided on beforehand and I know will be cheaper in the duty free; purses, handbags, sunglasses etc. I choose online, check the prices and then buy at Heathrow. Plus I do stock up on gin occaisionally!
  - Lady London says:
    
    17 Feb17 February 00:26
    
    Shops at Heathrow might take pre-orders two weeks before your travel date that you collect when you fly out. I know Dixon’s used to and some of the shops in T3 used to but with varying conditions as to how far ahead you could order etc. If you know exactly what you want you might save a bit of money and especially time if you phone the shop in the terminal you’re flying out of.
- John says:
  
  16 Feb16 February 15:20
  
  I remember or record the prices for things I (or my wife) want, and buy them wherever they are cheapest.
  
  Sometimes this happens to be LHR.
  
  It’s a bit tricky since predicting future exchange rates and (in)convenience / liquid restrictions when travelling HBO must also be factored into the decisions.
- Graeme says:
  
  16 Feb16 February 15:44
  
  I have no interest in airport shopping whatsoever. I can only remember buying one thing in one in my adult life, and that’s a pair of swimming shorts as I couldn’t find mine when packing the night before (I know, I know) – so I ended up, I believe, in King of Trainers. Wouldn’t dream of going in one in a shopping centre!
  
  Depending on the trip I’ll just want to buy a sandwich and sit down, go for a pint in a pub or head for a lounge.
- Steve says:
  
  18 Feb18 February 21:07
  
  I’m not familiar with Gatwick’s South terminal as I tend to fly out of MAN or LHR, but I’m flying with BA later this year out to POS in F (using Avios).
  
  In terms of shopping for a new TAG watch at tax free prices, are there any options? If I was going out from LHR T5 I’d know exactly where to go, but just not sure if LGW S has anywhere selling TAG watches. The last time I passed through LHR in October the watch I wanted was £400 cheaper tax free, versus U.K. high street. No such shopping opportunities at MAN, so hopping LGW has a solution. Your replies are welcomed 🙂
- Alan says:
  
  19 Feb19 February 18:14
  
  Almost never use it unless there’s a good deal on at Dixons Travel (helped by them price-matching online stores – last time in EDI I just did a quick Google, found a cheaper price and they matched it). Also sometimes use duty-free if buying a present for a friend I’m going to stay with.
  
  Not in the slightest interested in any of the Harrods, Gucci, Michael Kors, etc. so normally I’m straight to the lounge after security!
Matt says:

16 Feb16 February 12:15

OT I’m afraid, but does anyone have any suggestions for a replacement for Worldmate? I’ve used it for a few years to keep track of flights, hotels, car hire etc (and to check I’ve not booked the wrong dates for anything!) but now I see it’s closing down. What alternatives would anyone recommend?
- Simmo says:
  
  16 Feb16 February 13:31
  
  Awardwallet tracks all of your points as well as trips (flights/hotels, car hire etc) associated with your accounts.
  
  Free upgrade coupon for first time users : free-dphoei
- chris says:
  
  16 Feb16 February 13:32
  
  My vote to start with would be switch to Tripit for organization. Given i think travel is a bit more than that just the planning (there is also the doing) to make life easier on the go I use 3 apps travel day to day; Tripit, AppInTheAir and MyFLightsApp.
  
  Appintheair and TripIT both do a similar job in slightly different ways; you can email both itineraries or key them in. I personally prefer how tripit shows plans (and that it is on the web not just on my phone) Both very good. Both have premium options which may also be of use to you (appintheair is considerably cheaper for a years gate notification than tripit which is why i use it.) Neither of them do bookings if you used that in world mate; something like Kayak would fill that void.
  
  The nice thing is Appinthe air and MyFlights app both sync data out of tripit so I only need to maintain the plan in one place and my alerts be they gate (appintheair) or general flight changes (myflightsapp) handle the rest.
- Sussex Bantam says:
  
  16 Feb16 February 13:34
  
  I use Kayak – just forward your emails and it builds your trip into one journey. Very neat.
Kevin says:

16 Feb16 February 12:29

I love Tracey Emin’s drawings.
- Brian says:
  
  16 Feb16 February 14:39
  
  Oh dear. But don’t worry, there are worse things in the world to admit to.
Mike says:

16 Feb16 February 13:15

I use tripcase – run by SABRE.
Once you have set up an account, you just forward airline bookings, car hire and hotel confirmations to trips@tripcase.com from your registered email, and it all appears in the app.
You can then merge them together to form an end-to-end ‘trip’
Mike says:

16 Feb16 February 13:17

And there is an iPhone app for it – I assume an android one too
- Matt says:
  
  16 Feb16 February 17:14
  
  Thanks for the suggestions evetyone
- Matt says:
  
  16 Feb16 February 17:14
  
  Thanks for the suggestions everyone.
Rich. says:

16 Feb16 February 20:32

Bacon rolls are a newish thing at Gatwick.. only warm option used to be porridge or toast
- Rich. says:
  
  16 Feb16 February 20:40
  
  In the business class lounge anyway
Callum says:

16 Feb16 February 23:46

It’s the occasional comment like “the only downside is the shopping, which is still more easyJet than British Airways” that remind me I really don’t belong on this site!
- Lady London says:
  
  17 Feb17 February 00:44
  
  Plenty of people who were (and still are) Easyjet have become millionaires Callum. In fact I find a significant contingent of my fellow travellers on Easyjet and even – heaven forbid – Ryanair are clearly rather well off and keeping a low profile if you pay attention.
  - Callum says:
    
    17 Feb17 February 02:48
    
    I think I’m missing your point? It’s the attitude I don’t like, not the bank balance.