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Two new Priority Pass lounges opening soon at London Gatwick’s South Terminal

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Good news is here for all Priority Pass and Lounge Club cardholders who are frustrated with the inadequate lounge provision at London Gatwick’s South Terminal (ie the British Airways terminal).

We now have official confirmation that TWO new third-party lounges will be opening over the next few weeks.

Club Aspire confirmed yesterday that they will be opening a new 130-seat lounge in the old Virgin Holidays space, the area temporarily used by British Airways after the terminal switch when the new lounges were not ready.

For those who don’t know there that was, it is on the upper level between Sunglass Hut and London News Books.  There is a small doorway which leads you down a corridor and into the lounge.

Head for Points broke this as an exclusive back in September, but that was based on one conversation with a ‘man who would know’ and it is good to get it confirmed.

Club Aspire lounges – as opposed to ‘normal’ Aspire lounges – are jointly owned by Swissport (owner of the Aspire brand) and Collinson (owner of Priority Pass, Lounge Club etc, via its Airport Lounge Development division).

According to the PR blurb:

Inspired by London’s urban chic, the Club Aspire lounge will offer 130 travellers an oasis to relax, recharge and refresh ahead of their journey.

The lounge will be split into three main zones: a business area with workstations; a quiet lounge and rest area with an amazing view of the runway; and a dining area next to the servery and bar. Travellers will have access to a seasonal self-serve buffet selection of hot and cold food; an extensive range of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks; charging points; complimentary newspapers and magazines; and unlimited WiFi to stay connected.

The press releases confirms that Priority Pass, Lounge Pass and LoungeKey (for Mastercard World Elite cardholders) will be accepted.  There was no mention of DragonPass – this may be deliberate given that it competes with Collinson’s Priority Pass.

The opening date is ‘early 2019’.  The Aspire website is here but the new lounge is not bookable yet.

‘My Lounge’ from No 1 Lounges coming soon

Before that, we will see the opening of ‘My Lounge’ from No 1 Lounges.  This is also ‘urban chic’ (it seems that Gatwick South will be seeing a lot of that soon) bordering on ‘hipster’, if ‘hipster’ is still a ‘thing’.

Annoyingly, I have no idea where ‘My Lounge’ will be located.  We do know that it will have the only outside terrace at the airport.

Given that the ‘My Lounge’ in Gatwick North is cheap – I have seen it offered for as little as £12 via promos – I was surprised to see that Gatwick South will cost £30 on the door or £24 booked in advance.  Children are allowed at half price.

This is our review of My Lounge in Gatwick North to get you in the mood, and a photo is above.  It will be available via Priority Pass and Lounge Club which should reduce the pressure on the main No 1 Lounge.

You can find out more about My Lounge Gatwick South on their website here.

Conclusion

It seems that the days of being turned away from the only independent lounge in Gatwick South – No 1 Lounge – due to overcrowding are over.

If you are a regular Gatwick South passenger who was thinking of ditching Priority Pass or American Express Platinum (which comes with two Priority Pass lounge access cards, each allowing unlimited free access for two people) then hold on ….. things are about to get better.

We will review the new lounges as soon as we can.

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:

American Express Platinum card Amex

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.

Nectar American Express

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

General

Comments (10)

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

  • ChrisC says:
    22 Nov22 November 04:47

    I actually think the new Aspire location is the old VS clubhouse not the V Room from Virgin Holidays which had to close (along with another restaurant) to allow the BA lounges to be built.

    I remember that BA had to to a rapid overnight turnaround of the VS clubhouse in to its lounge and that some BA passengers on certain flights were diverted to the Club Rooms instead. All the furniture was still the VS red themed furniture and there were still VS logos on some of the signs such was the rapid move in by BA after the last VS flight left the south terminal prior to them starting in north the next day.

    As an aside a BA check in staffer told me that BA called it the ‘speedbird’ lounge because it was where the BOAC lounge used to be many years before.

  • Alan says:
    22 Nov22 November 09:14

    Can you use a lounge in South if you are departing from North or are they airside? Never used one before.

  • Louise Allen says:
    22 Nov22 November 09:26

    This statement always confuses me “American Express Platinum (which comes with two Priority Pass lounge access cards, each allowing unlimited free access for two people)”. The statement implies you get the card and TWO PP cards plop through the door but this is only true if you have a supplementary card holder. It’s a bit misleading.

  • Adam says:
    22 Nov22 November 09:48

    Awesome news and about time, I used to commute through Gatwick North before the terminal change and could always get into one of the three lounges (Aspire being my favourite as I have just never liked Nbr1 even though I know they are much higher regarded)

    I find My Lounge a bit strange and service was always hit and miss but that could be that I only used it on busy days (When I couldn’t get into Aspire or Nbr1) was “tehcnically” great for kids with football tables and cinema rooms however every time I went in the cinema area was filled with a family just using the seats, kids areas are not so good when they have a closed of comfy area as they tend to get filled up. But I am not going to knock more options.

  • Mike says:
    22 Nov22 November 20:03

    Any word on whether the My Lounge outdoor terrace will allow smoking?

    • Shoestring says:
      22 Nov22 November 20:12

      Surely you know the answer to that already?

      Is there *any* smoking allowed (for passengers) anywhere at Heathrow or Gatwick, by the way?

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

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