Every year, I visit London in May/June/July timeframe and this is the first time in over ten years that I’m not in the city and to be honest, I miss it.  I even miss the political discussions that ensue once the black cab driver hears my American accent. I miss my friends, my walks along the Thames and fun nights in the pub watching local sport. It’s no secret, I would live in London if I could but alas visa/immigration is a hurdle I’ve not been able to clear despite years of trying.  Tomorrow, June 8th, the UK Home Office implements yet another barrier to London, the UK 14 day quarantine for visitors. Essentially, summer in London has been canceled, or at least it seems that way.

Travel Covid Testing and Quarantine

With the world slowly coming out of lockdown, we are seeing “travel bubbles” or “air bridges” being formed between countries for travel (i.e. Australia and New Zealand) and borders closed to American visitors by many countries that are still coming to terms with their covid19 crisis and recovery.  The last thing anyone wants are resurgent waves in a destination that spreads around the world again that stresses the health system and puts us back on stay at home orders.  Can we 100% keep that from happening?  Probably not, but for now, governments around the world are trying to navigate the best steps to restart their economies while many of us sit at home waiting for the green light to travel again, to emerge from our homes and see what the next phase of the world looks like. For now, it seems that it will be a patchwork of requirements by each country or collection of countries working together.

One big unknown which changes daily is whether travelers will be subject to a mandatory quarantine, testing or other upon arrival.  St. Lucia opened to visitors last week (June 4^th) and are one country requiring covid19 testing results done prior to arrival (max 48 hours).  That’s tough for some folks still not able to get testing where they live.

Australia, on the other hand, has had a hard line and will continue to do so until 2021.  They closed borders to all but their citizens returning home.  Citizens are subject to a government paid mandatory 14 day hotel quarantine with strict guidelines.  You can read about a few Australia quarantine experiences which were imposed even for those who live in Australia.  They weren’t allowed home to quarantine for fear of breaking isolation.  Personally, a hotel room closes in quite quickly if you can’t get fresh air (open windows or go outside) so I’m not sure I could mentally handle a 14 day hotel quarantine. My friend has canceled all future plans to go home to Australia to visit family due to quarantine requirements.

London Travel Quarantine for Visitors

So what about London?  Can I just jump on the plane for a London weekend visit as I have in the past?  Find a points award flight (availability is wide open) to go meet friends for dinner and pick up my favorite London chocolates and Blondie’s Kitchen cookies?

Right now, the answer is not really.   During the stay at home period, which started in March, the UK did not quarantine arrivals to the country as they kept their borders open and now, starting tomorrow, June 8^th, they will have a mandatory quarantine (self-isolation) of 14 days upon arrival. So technically I could go to London but the quarantine time and cost is prohibitive. Who can afford 14 days in a London hotel room or long stay apartment?

Logic would have said to implement this when the virus was spreading, when everyone was on home lock down but that didn’t happen.  Travelers could come and go. Mind you the number of travelers were only a handful of a normal day but still, why disrupt it all now?  Why not just close borders like Australia has?  I know, despite my over twenty years of London visits and following UK politics, I still ask silly questions. The travel and tourism industry has been decimated by the world’s pause of the past three months. This quarantine could be the final nail for many businesses that won’t survive without a summer season.

London Quarantine – Business Travelers and Tourists

For business travelers, this 14 day mandatory quarantine is a non-starter and they will likely stay home until a quarantine is no longer required.  Many business trips from the US to London are less than a week (five days) and already expensive to stay in small hotels rooms.  I couldn’t, in good faith, approve a business traveler to go through that process.  I would ask them to zoom that meeting which would save time, money and preserve sanity.

For the U.S. leisure traveler, a quarantine is not an option unless they are wealthy with a boatload of vacation time to use and enjoy staying indoors for a fortnight.  If they are retired and housesitting, well that is the only way I see this working out right now.  With the UK not scheduled to open until late June/early July, why bother with planning a trip this summer.  You would have spent three months at home waiting for the day to travel again only to land in the UK and self-isolate for 14 days relying on takeaway and food deliveries – no thank you!  I’d rather roadtrip in the US as it’s less restrictive.

It pains me to say “don’t go to London or the UK this summer” as London in summer is marvelous. There’s so much to do, see, eat, drink and enjoy in the city and surrounding cities and villages. But right now, they are technically not open to receive you.

If you do need to travel to the UK in the short term, be prepared as this could change at any time.  You will need to complete a form indicating where you will self-isolate for 14 days (at your own expense) and be subject to spot checks and a 1000 GBP fine for violations. If you are an athlete (or other deemed essential person on the list), then you are exempt from UK quarantine which has caused a lot of backlash for the determination of “exempt vs. non-exempt”.

London Travel Quarantine Backlash

Backlash over the mandatory 14 day London travel quarantine has been swift with British Airways and other airlines filing a lawsuit claiming “unfair exemptions” and “disproportionate” restrictions on visitors. Traffic to London airports is down 97-99% and this won’t help them restore flights in my opinion. BA is already having a row with pilots, the unions and staff.  The best scenario is to get everyone back to work in the already decimated travel industry.

From an outsider view, it’s definitely full of contradictory items.  For example, employees and self employed folks who travel weekly between the UK and EU are exempt from quarantine rules but travelers from the EU have to quarantine.  Athletes from cricket and F1 (the British Grand Prix will be in July) are exempt.  You can see why folks are a bit chuffed.

The policy notes it will be evaluated every two weeks so as my British friends like to say “watch this space” as things are fluid and changing each day.  It’s the UK so with politics afoot as well as business interests for the City of London and travel industry there’s a lot of input, anger and confusion with what seems a quickly put together moving target of a policy enforcement.

European Summer Travel Without Quarantine

Countries experimenting with courting tourists without quarantine are Portugal, Spain and Greece for summer travel in Europe.  Other European “air bridges” are being created for residents of x, y, z countries to visit neighboring countries.  But of course, some are claiming discrimination in the selection of countries and quarantines mandated. The U.S. and UK have been hit hard by covid19 cases and deaths so it’s not hard to understand the reluctance of the world to allow those citizens into their countries as they protect their citizens. Don’t even think about a European cruise right now!

For Americans, as of now, only Portugal (great country to visit) will be ready with open arms and no quarantine in July.  Iceland is planning to test tourists arriving into the country starting in July.    The list of entry requirements is changing almost daily with a good amount of commentary from around the world.  I suggest researching the destination visitor website for up to date government requirements.  Don’t rely on the airline, train or ferry information regarding immigration needs.

London Travel Quarantine – My Status

I’m trying to remain positive here and hopeful that my annual November/December visit to London will be able to go forward.  It will be the longest time I’ve been away from London – whatsapp, skype and zoom can’t replace the pub nights, the hugs and the feeling of home that I’m missing.

Thoughts on the 14 day London quarantine going into effect tomorrow?

I was honest when I was checking into the Qantas Lounge Heathrow in Terminal 3, I was curious about the Qantas OneWorld lounge and I was in search of dessert (did they even have authentic Tim Tams?) and Australian wine. The girl laughed and the guy didn’t even crack a smile.  As an OneWorld Sapphire member, I get lounge access in the OneWorld network due to my British Airways Silver status so for my American Airlines flight from Terminal 3, I decided to visit the other lounges to see what they had to offer. [Note: Flying on AA business class also gave me access to OneWorld business class lounges].   I did secretly wish I was flying Qantas from London to Sydney because Australia!  I love Australia and have visits a few times using my points for amazing awards – see posts from the recent trip to Melbourne, Sydney and Tasmania.  Prior visits ticked off Perth, Rottnest Island, Cairns and always Sydney.

Qantas Lounge Heathrow T3

When I checked in, I was told the lounge was quiet as the Qantas flights had just departed.  As I walked in, I felt like I was walking into a design magazine shoot.  The space was stunning and the design nothing like any other lounge I’ve experienced before. Organized over two floors (there’s stairs and also an elevator), your eyes will be wandering to all the options to eat, drink and relax on both floors.

The highlight of the ground floor was the Gin Bar (they do love their Gin in London! The bar had 14 types of gin available) which was the centerpiece surrounded by bar seating as well as dining seating for the ala carte menu (not on offer during my visit in between flights and meal service change from breakfast to lunch) and a counter with the candy jar (filled with caramels).  The first floor is primarily for food and drink, whereas upstairs on the second level there are multiple seating options to relax, work or hide (behind tall wall of seats).

Upstairs has more functional spaces – shower rooms, bathrooms, a plethora of seating options and a small kids play area along with the circular marble bar where the barista will make your coffee.  Australians love their coffee so no self-serve coffee here. You can prepare your tea on your own with massive choices of flavors and pretty china for tea time.

I made my way to the back of the second floor where the buffet food station was flipping meal service.  Sadly, no Tim Tams to be found (I would find at my local Target in the US!) but the dessert options were much more indulgent with a salted caramel cheesecake (oh my!) along with gooey chocolate brownies.  Brownies and Australia wine for morning snack before lunch seemed like a fabulous idea.

Qantas Lounge Heathrow Lunch

The lovely food set up was in the process of change over from breakfast to lunch.  There would be a beef stew type option, rice, soup and a salad bar.  Freshly baked breads were placed out on the bar next to the gorgeous vegetables and salads – all so colorful.

The drinks included infused flavored water at the Quench bar, a nice selection of teas and tea pots and a water dispenser for flat and fizzy water.  I found the options plentiful, fresh and just varied enough for folks to find something of interest.

I hid behind the tall chairs and a server still found me to remove my plate after devouring my brownie and banana.

Overall Thoughts – Qantas Lounge Heathrow T3

Since this was just a drive by of the lounge, it was quite lovely and of all four OneWorld lounges in London Heathrow’s Terminal 3  (Cathay, Qantas, American Airlines Lounge Heathrow and British Airlines) this to me was the nicest of them all.  It was newly opened in 2017 so it’s fresh design and thoughtful touches in the comfortable seating options that resembled a boutique hotel lobby. Now to be fair, the Qantas Lounge was empty with about 10 guests so I’m not sure what it’s like when full but with enough G&T and brownies do you care? As long as you can eat, drink and relax before your long journey to Australia begins.  On my way out, I had to stop at the candy jar and take a few caramels with me to end on a sweet note while I dreamed of being back in Australia.

First Impressions – AA First Class Lounge Terminal 3 LHR

The first thing I noticed was the candy bar to fill a bag (or two) of sugary treats (they have candy in the business class lounge too).  The second thing I noticed and probably more important was the Moet & Chandon Champagne on ice in both Brut and Rose. Many passengers would stop on their way in to fill a glass before going to find a seat. I like Moet champagne (I toured the Epernay France Moet cellars) but I don’t usually equate it with First Class travel to be honest. (#firstworldproblems)

The lounge isn’t fancy or massive but a nice size that it never felt crowded. Standing at the champagne, there are seats arranged two by two in groups of four on your left, straight ahead up a few stairs is an open platform of seating options, on the right behind the wall is all day breakfast in the dining area and in between all the areas is the kitchen with drinks and food.   The brown leather was definitely dated and didn’t quite have the feel or the allure of a first class lounge.

I decided to sit in the first group of seats to plug my phone into the outlet (there are outlets aplenty throughout the lounge).  A staff member stood behind me for most of the visit surveying the room to see what was needed. It was noon-ish on a Tuesday so not much was needed as there were about 15 people in the lounge at the time spread out. The wi-fi was fast and easy to use in the pin drop quiet room.

Food & Drink Options – American Airlines First Class Lounge at Heathrow

The kitchen area similar to your work lunchroom setup probably –  had two food setups – hot bar and cold bar – as well as a drinks and snack area. For lunch this day, there was chicken tiki masala, rice and a vegetarian pasta.  On the cold bar – salad and prepared sandwiches. The dessert included chocolate tart and cake cubes.

The drinks area was self-serve and I liked both the bottle water choices – one was UK local and the other was Evian. Soft drinks, beer and liquor were also available. Again similar to the champagne, I can’t say it was the best wine or premium liquor but hey it’s free!  There needs to be some barometer I guess, I think I expected more as this is the “International First Class” lounge.

The all-day dining area had a separate server to oversee guests.  The menu was American breakfast all day (eggs, avocado toast and pancakes, etc.) as well as a full English breakfast option and I will say I was tempted by the pancakes since I was away over two weeks eating eggs every day.  I did think it was a bit weird though to be in a First Class lounge and the menu was breakfast.  By comparison the British Airways Concorde Lounge has a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu available with various selections.

Given that I needed to go to gate early for additional security (ugh SSSS), I left the lounge before they told me to leave but not before filling a bag full of candy.  I was surprised that the trek to Gate 28 was really, really long even with moving sidewalks so wear good shoes and leave early to get to the gate.

Final Thoughts – American Airlines First Class Lounge Heathrow T3

The American Airlines First Class Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3 was fine.  Nothing really stood out to me as being a premium experience or food/drink offering. Ok, maybe the champagne and candy was fun option.  The design is a bit dated to be honest and I would have liked the AA sundae, chocolate chip cookies or other American Airlines flair.  The fact that the sit down menu didn’t have a burger and fries was a surprise and quite disappointing as I would have liked that lunch option.

The lounge experience foreshadowed my flight experience – adequate but not premium.  That’s what the lounge was like for me – adequate as I could relax and eat before the flight but compared with the three other partner OneWorld lounges you can visit next door (Cathay, Qantas and British Airways) this would rank last. I had to laugh because when I checked in with AA and asked about lounge access, the staff member wrote on my boarding pass “Cathay Lounge” because even he knew a better lounge experience was available with One World partners rather than American.

Your flight has been canceled – what do you do? In the U.S., probably cry, get stressed out trying to salvage things and hope for an open seat the same day.  Well, if you are originating in Europe, you can actually get canceled flight compensation if you meet all the requirements of the EU law and file your claim within three years with the airline.  Now, while I was vaguely familiar with the EU law (EU Regulation 261/2004) and have the  EU Passenger Rights app on my phone to reference it was three days before the three year deadline that found me filling out my canceled flight claim with British Airways online.

Why did I wait so long?  I hadn’t waited because I didn’t think, at the time, that my EU flight cancellation had met the rules. My flight was canceled and I was able to rebook on the same day. It wasn’t until my TripIt app sent me an email from a third party vendor, AirHelp which said they thought I was entitled to compensation (I didn’t know that my travel data was being shared by TripIt so I’ll need to look into that). Of course for a fee, they were happy to help me process my claim with the airline (fee varies but is generally 25% of the compensation amount).  I guess if you thought you were getting $0 and they can help get a refund up to 600 Euros, a share arrangement might be ok.  Unfortunately, my situation wasn’t straightforward, AirHelp response time was dreadful and I was running out of time. So I decided to pursue on my own. So many eligible travelers never file claims either not knowing they are entitled to compensation or thinking it is cumbersome process abandon the monies.

Background Story – the European Sabbatical

Three years ago I ran away to Europe for a few months – not quite eat, love, pray, but more eat, drink, eat my feelings away from a job loss.  I had sailed from Miami to Barcelona on NCL Epic cruise ship and booked a one way flight on British Airways with my points from LHR – EWR (Newark).  The day before I was scheduled to fly home, before I could check in online, I received an email that my flight was canceled (the EU law is 14 days’ notice).  Of course, I was in a panic because I didn’t have travel insurance on this flight as it was an award ticket so any out of pocket costs would be mine to bear. But luckily I was staying with a friend outside of London so no additional hotel costs to worry about.  It was a weird one though because usually, with so many direct flights to New York airports (JFK and EWR) each day, I thought I would have been automatically rebooked but I wasn’t. So I had to call customer service.  Little did I know three years later, each step of that call would need to be recalled and the story retold.

Rebooking the EU Canceled Flight from LHR – EWR

I called British Airways and was told that the flight was canceled without a real reason quite frankly (which generally means it wasn’t a full flight and easier to cancel and move everyone to other flights – I’m just guessing here though).  The agent said that British Airways would waive the rebooking fee (gee thanks for not charging me for something you initiated). There were no seats available on any of the flights to Newark which is why they couldn’t rebook me automatically.  Could I fly into JFK she asked?  I wasn’t keen on that option as the added cost and time to get home would be an inconvenience and BA wouldn’t pay the out of pocket I incurred (cab to Penn Station, train to Philly). So I decided why not ask for what I really wanted – direct to Philly?

I asked if I could fly home direct to Philly (PHL) instead and she found me a seat on the same day leaving many hours later than I was originally scheduled. Flying into Philly was definitely my preferred option as there would be no train or cab costs or the additional 2-3+ hours of commuting. My friend was listening the whole time and didn’t interject his thoughts (I’d get those on the ride to Heathrow as he wanted me to stay longer especially if I could have changed the flight for free.).  We had a bit of a tiff over it on the drive so I remember all of the details of the flight cancellation, customer service conversation and ensuring itinerary. Funny how fights and every word said can be so memorable but I walk into the kitchen for something and I forget why.

EU Canceled Flight Compensation Claim Process

So I started my claim with AirHelp (third party vendor) online in February and then was notified by email for a few months that it was “in process”.  I then received an email asking for additional information such as a copy of my passport and identification information (personal information I was reluctant to share without a valid reason).  I replied to AirHelp asking why they needed the personal information beyond the basic details of the flight. A few months passed before a reply arrived that didn’t answer my question. I was not able to contact AirHelp by phone (email only) and having read that they are quite busy, the lack of timely response was expected, however, with less than a week left in my claim window of three years (I had until July), I decided to try to file my claim myself.

Prior to February, I didn’t research my options and a quick search on British Airways took me to the BA canceled flight claim form page full of information.

I completed the information requested with ticket locator numbers (this is where the TripIt app and iPhone Wallet on my phone came in handy).  I easily located the information and boarding pass information from three years ago to add.  I had no out of pocket expenses but did need to add context to my claim (i.e. – original flight Newark, new flight Philly).  With that, I hit submit and was annoyed with myself that I hadn’t tried this five months earlier when contacted by AirHelp.

British Airways Canceled Flight Compensation Assistance

A week later, I received a phone call from British Airways.  I was surprised by the British voice attempting to leave a voicemail when I ran to the phone to pick up.  The agent was very friendly and told me she needed additional information about my claim.  First of all, they saw it incomplete in the system by AirHelp and I can’t have two claims for the same canceled flight.  I explained the impasse and lack of response so she closed the AirHelp claim and processed my new one instead.

A few days after we spoke, I had an email from another British Airways rep who needed more information on the details.  So I mapped out why I thought I qualified for the claim

• Notification less than 14 days in advance
• No Club World (business class) seats on the flights to Newark from London on my scheduled departure day
• JFK being too far away and costly out of pocket expenses that BA wouldn’t cover
• Philly being the best option on the same day. The only Philly flight available was more than three hours after the original flight schedule.
• I threw in the tiff with my friend just to add a bit of sympathy because what person hasn’t had a fight over travel with their friend, family or significant other?

She replied “thank you, we will process”

A few days later, I received notification from my bank of a deposit by British Airways for the full 600 Euro converted to US$.  Start to finish claim time with British Airways – less than one month!  It was almost too easy – I kept thinking it should have been more complicated but it wasn’t.  You really can do it yourself.

Final Thoughts – EU Compensation for British Airways Canceled Flight

So thanks to AirHelp for letting me know I had a potential claim but after five months they ended up being no help to me.  Given that my claim was quite unique in the situation, I doubt that they would have been able to be the go between I needed with BA.  It was much easier to talk to someone on the phone and in email with prompt responses.  If you have a straightforward claim, I would suggest you go to the airline website directly to submit your claim.  There are many websites offering to help you get your EU compensation (for a fee) but you really can do it yourself in my experience.  Make sure to prepare your documents in advance (ticket numbers, flight schedules – original and new with times, applicable out of pocket expenses, bank account information for wire payment, etc.) to make it easier to complete the form.  So while no one likes a canceled (or delayed) flight, at least the European Union (EU) has rules to make the airlines accountable and take the sting of the disruption a bit easier.

Have you ever had to file for compensation for a delayed or canceled EU flight or other transportation method? Did you submit directly with the airline or use a third party service? What was your experience like?

There’s a first time for everything and I was doing something I’ve never done before at Heathrow – shower in the British Airways Arrivals lounge in Terminal 5. Usually when I arrive at LHR, I leave as quickly as possible to get to the hotel to shower and sleep in my attempt to deal with (avoid) jet lag. That’s when I land at 6:30 a.m.  For my last trip to London Heathrow, I had a later arrival, near 10 a.m. so I opted to visit the British Airways Arrivals Lounge in Terminal 5 (T5). as I was in need of its services, specifically for a BA Shower at Heathrow, which is separate from the Elemis Spa. If I was on a long layover/connection, I might consider enjoying the Spa (and Shower facilities) at the Sofitel T5, a luxury hotel at the airport connected to Terminal 5 (you need to exit the secure area) but London was my destination and I needed to refresh from the overnight flight before going about my day of travel shows and vendor visits.

British Airways Arrivals Lounge T5

Like the rest of the BA lounges, the setup includes an Elemis Spa (first come, first served treatments), a self-serve café and various areas to dine, relax and work.  The arrivals lounge also has a private Concorde Room for First passengers to enjoy a hot breakfast with private booths and waiter service. The arrivals lounge also had a plethora of showers (I’ve read 94!) plus cabanas for those First passengers wanting a tub only option.

British Airways Shower Suites

Arriving at the shower desk, I checked in and was assigned a numbered shower suite (don’t get too excited it’s small).  I was not shown to the suite, I guess she assumed I had been here before. I quickly surveyed the open  common areas which had lounge chairs, a table set with bottled water and staff wandering with towels.

Inside the BA Shower Suite

When I opened the door to the shower suite and brought my massive suitcase with me (rookie error – I should have stored my luggage in the lounge and bring only my carry on with change of clothes) I still had some space left to move about but it was tight.

The design is similar to the lounge bathrooms which is to say a blah but functional.  It’s not luxury design but then again this isn’t about spending all day, just refresh and move along, although they could try to make it a bit nicer. There is a hairdryer attached to the wall (those odd vacuum looking ones), a wall of mirrors above the small sink and toilet.  On the wall behind were towels, hooks and a bench.  Further in the cabana was a large shower with Elemis shower gel and shampoo/conditioner (can’t be picky that it’s all in one).  Missing were flip-flops for those of us who are a bit OCD about public showers.

If you opened the door up you could hang a suit jacket, pants or blouse for ironing/pressing.  You put the items inside and then pressed a button to notify staff. So while you are showering and getting ready, your clothes can look neatly pressed and allow you to be ready to go to the office or meeting.

The Shower at Heathrow Experience

The water pressure was good the entire time which was surprising given the number of showers in the area.  I luckily missed the rush and it was a Saturday so that also helped. With a good amount of hot water, I steamed up the entire cabana.  If there was a vent, I couldn’t find it so short of opening the door half-naked, I just dealt with the heat. You are supplied with two towels which was enough for me.

The vacuum hair dryers attached to the wall are always a bit tricky to use when you have long hair like I do – it takes longer because they are generally lower speed and heat. But I looked presentable which was fine.

Once I was done, I put the towel on the floor and exited into the cool expanse of the hallway leaving my shower suite (and now sauna) behind.  I found a chair to relax and sort my luggage prior to exiting into the lounge for a quick snack before I went to drop my suitcase with AirPortr, a london luggage delivery service that was also a convenience this trip.

Overall – My Shower at Heathrow

It was interesting to use the British Airways Arrival lounge shower at Heathrow.  The amenity is definitely great for those who usually fly in early and go right to the office bypassing their hotel and those flying in from the really long haul destinations like Sydney and Singapore.  Since I was on my way into the city for the two convention shows while AirPortr transported my luggage, the luxury of a shower was quite welcome since I would not get to the hotel until after 8 p.m. The BA Arrivals lounge shower at Heathrow T5 is only open to British Airways passengers flying First and Club World and those BA Gold elite card holders that have lounge access. Now that I know I can shower at Heathrow upon arrival, I may just use the shower suite again.

So would you shower at Heathrow if you had the chance?

It felt weird leaving London Heathrow without my luggage.  I was on the Heathrow Express surrounded by many people with bags all trying to fit (trains were on a modified schedule that day) while I sat in my seat with a handbag and small backpack.  Thankfully my luggage wasn’t lost or delayed, in fact, it was texting me with updates as I was traveling into London.  My luggage was on its own journey to Aloft at Excel Conference Center, across town, with AirPortr, a Heathrow luggage delivery service, well actually a London luggage delivery service (they also service Gatwick and London City airports). If there is one totally worth it travel expenditure, AirPortr was proving itself to be that luxury splurge as I enjoyed my luggage free ride.

AirPortr – Heathrow Luggage Delivery Service

During my Millionaire Mews House stay with OneFineStay, I read about the AirPortr luggage delivery in London service and was intrigued.  I decided on my next visit to London a few months later to try AirPortr at T5.  This was prior to the partnership AirPortr and British Airways formed for a more seamless experience (they collect your bags and check them in with BA so you go straight to security!). The reason I was excited to try the london heathrow luggage delivery service? My conference hotel was quite far from the airport and my plan was to visit the Conde Nast Luxury Travel fair and The Spirit of Christmas show at Kensington Olympia Center.  So basically I would need to travel more than an hour to drop bags at the hotel, then turn around and get back on the trains to Kensington for the shows.  It was wasted time all to get my bags to the hotel.  Enter AirPortr.  AirPortr is a new service that will deliver your luggage for you for a reasonable fee.  They also will pick up luggage on the way back to the airport but for this trip I was using the service one way only.

AirPortr at T5

I didn’t reserve a space for my luggage in advance opting to decide last minute upon arrival at T5 to check in my bags (they are also in the other Heathrow terminals).  For now, AirPortr has a small blue kiosk (easy to miss) next to the Heathrow Express ticket counter and ticket machines.  I walked past twice before seeing the staff member. Upon approach, she smiled and welcomed me quickly explaining the AirPortr service. The fees start at £20 for the first bag into Central London, £10 for additional bags (during my visit when the service was brand new it started at £15 as seen in the photos). Discounts are available for guests of OneFineStay and British Airways Executive Club members.

AirPortr Track My Bags

While I was filling in my details on the small touchscreen (note, create your account in advance to save time on the small screens), the AirPortr staff member was tying up all zippers on the bag with the secure tamper aware technology.  She then took a photo of the bag and attached a blue plastic tag on the bag.  After printing the bar code, she inserted the bar code into the blue tag and moved my luggage to the trolley with the other bags waiting for pickup.  I was told I would receive both email and text messages at each stage of the bags journey (You can choose one or both notification methods, since I have an international plan, the data messaging was free but check your provider just in case).

The plan was the bags would get pickup up hourly from Heathrow and then be delivered to the hotel within 5 hours.  I received notification when the bags were picked up and put on the truck, bags in transit and then when the bags arrived at the hotel and were given to hotel staff for storage.

Luggage Free London

Odd – I felt odd to be making a trip I’ve done so many times over the years without my luggage.  I wasn’t jockeying for rack space or trying to keep my bag upright during the Heathrow Express ride to Paddington.  I thought back to my Underground journey of one hour to the Great Northern Hotel and how fantastic this service would have been to avoid the crowded train and luggage issue (and the many stairs to climb with luggage).  I was free of the stress, worry and hassle of the luggage.  I wanted to tell everyone on the train – “Hey there’s this amazing service called AirPortr”

Wandering about the city without my luggage was a dream.  I enjoyed lunch at a small café and then had a wonderful time meeting new travel vendors and discovering all the Made in Britain items.   When the shows were over, I boarded one train, switched to the other and arrived at the hotel after 8 pm. My bags were stored by the hotel as they arrived many hours ago.

The ties are made to break off but of course, I messed that up so luckily I was able to get all the ties removed without losing a fingernail (a definite hazard for the ladies if, like me, you have freshly manicured long nails).  I’d recommend removing the ties in the lobby in case you need help rather than late night when you just want your contact solution and Pjs.

Heathrow Luggage Delivery – Back to the Airport

I didn’t use AirPortr back to the airport as I had a reserved a private car transport from the hotel for my early flight.  With the new partnership with British Airways, I could have had AirPortr pick up my bags and check them in directly, avoiding all lines at Heathrow (what a dream!) and going directly to security.  I will try that on the next trip to London as BA Executive Club members get a discount.  They need at least 7 hours on the return from pick up to flying so be prepared to hand over your luggage early and keep only items for your carry on bags.

Think about all the stresses of travel especially if traveling with a group, family or for business that AirPortr can alleviate for a small fee. They accept sports equipment, wheelchairs, strollers and other items.  They provide storage as well.

Overall – London Luggage Delivery Service with AirPortr

I can’t say enough about how awesome AirPortr service was from start to finish as my Heathrow luggage delivery porter.  It lessened my travel stress and allowed me time to have fun in the city of London without worry. Even with a direct airport to hotel journey, I’d still use AirPortr because now I can easily take the Heathrow Express (advanced discount price) and/or the London underground for much less than a cab or private car and not haul my bag up/down stairs and look like that tourist!  Priceless folks!  AirPortr operates at London Heathrow, Gatwick and City airports.  They have a partnership with British Airways – all good things! You need to try it once to be hooked, I know I am.

It’s been a while since I’ve flown British Airways First Class so when the opportunity arose to redeem my Avios points on Mom’s trip directly home from London to Philadelphia, I figured why not give Mom a First Class finish to our luxury Paris & London trip. I already knew what to expect but seeing Mom’s reaction all day was so much fun.  Sadly, many travelers (including me) forget the simple pleasures that airlines do offer as they become hardened road warriors who want, need, expect more from the flying experience.  At the end of the day, airlines have a contract with the traveler to transport them from point A to B – how the airline chooses to make that experience special (or not) is what keeps passengers loyal and happy (or not). Below is our experience with British Airways First Class from London to Philadelphia.

British Airways First Check in at Heathrow Terminal 5

If flying BA first from Heathrow and arriving by car/taxi, make sure to tell the driver to go to the end of the terminal road so you don’t need to walk a long way inside (you’d think BA would have a special arrivals lane outside but they don’t).  The First Class check in is a private dedicated space at the end of T5 terminal.  Staff greeted us at the desk to check our boarding passes before we entered the area to find a check in desk. There’s not much special here other than a wall around the desk area with a welcome desk and a seating area to wait.  As we had checked in online already, it was a quick bag drop.

Fast Pass Security at T5

The Fast Pass Security area consists of automated lanes as well as a live person if you can’t figure out the boarding pass scan.  Surprisingly, the “fast security” is often slow with only two lanes so be prepared for a queue (sometimes I’ve seen regular security be quicker as they have more lanes to choose from).  The two lanes are directed by staff so they do move but the line when you are traveling First Class is a bit annoying if I’m honest.  Luckily, we didn’t pay the $5k-10k for our tickets so we could be patient.

The Concorde Room (aka Millionaire’s Door)

Since the fast pass security is at the end of the terminal, you can only turn left to get into the main terminal.  If you turn right, you will be met by British Airways staff and you better have a first class boarding pass.  If you do, pass GO and collect your welcome glass of champagne in The Concorde Room, like we did (my review of the British Airways Concorde Room at Heathrow).

British Airways First Class Priority Boarding

British Airways likes to greet passengers at the door and if flying First a staff member will personally escort you to your seat.  They do this when you are boarding priority, if you choose to wait and board with general boarding, then you are on your own. But you are a big boy/girl and I think you can easily find 2A as I have in the past (although staff did apologize for not escorting me to my seat that time).  It’s always a (rare) treat for me to turn left as they say so I led Mom to our seats with the FA following behind us.  We were instantly greeted by the cabin crew and offered champagne, juice or water (custom in both First and Club World Business).  I should have been surprised but, after two glasses of champagne in the Concorde Room, wasn’t when Mom said “I’ll have champagne”.  I chose water as I normally do for boarding.  The head of the cabin crew for the flight came by to introduce himself and welcome each passenger to First.

The British Airways First Class Seat

I already knew what to expect but Mom didn’t so that was fun to see her reaction at having the whole window seat to herself – not sitting backwards as she did in Club World we me on the other side of her.  She started playing with the knobs and trying to figure out what’s what.  The FA came by to happily explain it all to her as Mom was pretty excited with her seat.  I told the FA that this was Mom’s first BA First flight as an end to our luxury vacation.  The FA was doting on Mom (probably happy to have a newbie onboard) throughout the flight and kept me updated.  I expected nothing less of the BA crew as they were fabulous to my niece on our flight years ago.

The BA First Seat is arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration with all aisle access.  If you choose a window seat, you get two windows and a small (actual) window seat to have someone sit facing you if they visit or want to chat (I’ve never seen this but it’s an option – I’ve thought about it but the tv doesn’t flip to allow me to enjoy the window seat space.  During the flight, the window screen covers the windows and changes colors from blue to orange during the flight.

The storage locker has a space for your bags below and includes a hanger to hand a coat or light jacket (in Club World the FA still offer to take your coat).  The seats convert to flat beds with the turn of the dial which I like (unlike pressing and holding the various buttons in Club World).

First passengers receive a warm blanket and Bose headsets to use during the light but they are not to keep just to use in flight.  I mention this because on Mom’s first flight to Germany two years ago she kept the blanket in coach because everyone else did too.  I told her that these are not takeaway items but that the toiletry kit and the pajamas were hers to keep.  The FA kept Mom’s pjs in the plastic.

The British Airways First Class On Board Experience

When you fly BA First, you not only get the option to pre-book your Elemis Spa treatment (28 days in advance) but also the option to pre-order your meal (different from the standing special meal request in my profile).  The BA site was easy to use to see the entrée options and I picked the steak for Mom. I was back and forth whether to keep my special meal or try my luck onboard – I chose the onboard steak too.

After the champagne welcome onboard, warm towels are distributed after take off followed by a round of drinks and a bowl of mixed nuts (in Club World you get same but the nuts are in small package not served in dish).

If you have the BA app, you can see in advance the movies and entertainment schedule for the flight to plan accordingly.  With a flight time of seven hours and a bit to Philadelphia, you need to keep a good schedule so the flight goes by quickly.  For me it is eat/drink, walk around, movie, repeat.

The meal service is in three parts – starter, main, dessert with the bread basket making two appearances.  I skipped the starter so was brought my entrée when the service started – no need to wait until everyone finishes their starter.  On my past First flight, I brought my own food and the FA kept filling my wine glass and bringing chocolate.  For airline food, BA serves good dishes in my opinion.  The steak was tender and quite good (red meat in the sky can be tricky).  The wine, as always, was outstanding for me.

The FA kept me up to date on Mom who was seated behind me.  I forgot she was with me at one point when Mom tapped me on the shoulder to tell me “I had the Pinot Noir with dinner because I heard you order it in Paris” oh boy!  I was glad I pre-ordered a wheelchair assist in Philly because Mom was definitely enjoying the free drinks for a woman who generally hits the Diet Coke pretty hard.

The crew was attentive throughout but not overly so or intrusive in any way.  They moved about in an orchestrated dance setting up tray tables with white linen, serving drinks and saying “yes”.  When I asked about the pre-boarding champagne I missed, the FA brought me a tasting flight of champagne which I paired with the fancy chocolates I bought in London.  I was happy we had a car picking us up in Philly because I rarely drink this much on a flight preferring gallons of water.

Sadly, the BA First Experience was over too quickly, funny how the thought of an 8 hour flight is gruesome until you have the freedom to move, eat, sleep at will (Mom did all three in between playing games on her IPad).  When we landed in Philly a bit late due to a traffic hold at Heathrow, we were met by a wheelchair assistant (BA had called ahead from the Concorde Room by adding it to Mom’s reservation).

This was the first time using the PHL wheelchair service and we were totally impressed.  Our guy pushed Mom from plane to curb, which in Philly is a long walk.  There is a wheelchair lane for immigration so that was quick (I didn’t use Global Entry as I was traveling with Mom). This was Mom’s last luxury for the day and the trip – we tipped him $20 because it was such a stress free way to end the journey. We were going back to our real lives but the one day of First Class from beginning to end with British Airways was definitely memorable for Mom. She’s still telling the stories to her friends who are in disbelief – a flat-bed on a plane?  Champagne? Steak?

British Airways First Class from Heathrow

So there’s three ways to look at the BA First Class From London to Philadelphia

1. Mom’s Perspective – It was Awesome!  Free champagne, steak and a bed on a plane!
2. My Perspective – It’s a really a nice way to fly home from London with privacy, champagne and service
3. Road Warriors/Flight Bloggers – It’s just US Domestic First Class and not as special as x, y, z (usually Emirates, Singapore, etc.)

For this day and this flight Mom’s perspective wins – it was awesome way to end our amazing luxury 10 day trip to Paris & London using my BA Avios points with the Chase BA Travel Together certificate.  Now Mom will never go back to coach!

I’ve read it’s been called “The Millionaire’s Door” and Mom and I got to walk through that door after we passed through fast track security at London Heathrow Terminal 5.  We were greeted at that door by a British Airways staff member who looked at our boarding passes and said “Welcome”.  I opened the nondescript door and entered the British Airways Concorde Room at London Heathrow’s Terminal 5.  The Concorde Room is a separate first class lounge in the British Airways Galleries Lounges.  Mom and I were flying BA First (class) home to Philadelphia from London on the Avios award ticket and with that came access to the Concorde Room.  Mom already liked the separate check in area for First with the big chairs and the quick fast pass security.  She had no idea what to expect with the British Airways Concorde Room and that was the fun part.

Champagne Welcome to the BA Concorde Room

We were warmly greeted as we entered the Concorde Room to check in.  I noticed the chandeliers, the smaller footprint and the many servers walking around with drinks and champagne. It’s a smaller lounge just for First Class passengers so it didn’t feel crowded.  I inquired about the gate for Philadelphia because it is usually C gates (a bit of a hike involving the train and many escalators) or the remote gates from the main terminal which is a bus ride to the stairs.  Both options would be a bit much for Mom, who was recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery (a fun fact she omitted when I booked the trip) and pretty much was done in by the walking in Paris and London already.  Mom’s name was added to the wheelchair assist list and we were told that a staff member would find us when it was time to go to the gate.

I mentioned it was not only Mom’s first trip to London and flying First class but her visit to the Galleries lounge and specifically the Concorde Room.  Standing behind the reception desk was the Concorde Room Manager, Danny, who welcomed us and asked if we would like to start with a glass of champagne (Mom quickly said yes as I may have created a slight champagne addiction after our Moet & Chandon tour in Epernay).  He walked us around the lounge to show us the features and we settled on a couch inside the lounge (there is an open terrace area outside the lounge with terminal and plane views).

Once seated, our champagne arrived with snacks and Danny told us about the Concorde Room and the various food/drink options.  He was fawning over Mom who was enjoying every minute.  I wonder how many folks in the Concorde Room take it for granted vs. Mom who was in awe and appreciative at each turn.

British Airways Concorde Room – Seating Options

Of course, I pick the couch without outlet access, which is why it was empty.  The other seats and couches were full and folks were charging devices aplenty so I was definitely outed as the newbie in the lounge.  There are many seating options inside and outside the Concorde Room – chairs, couches, high top dining, seats at the bar, intimate booths and if you felt like it the entire First Galleries lounge across the hall. Since the lounge is exclusively for British Airways First Class travelers, it wasn’t crowded during our visit.  The furniture isn’t special and could do with a bit of a refresh, that said, it was comfortable.

Concierge & Concorde Room Cabanas

There is a concierge desk to help with any arrangement you may need in your destination city (restaurant, tickets, tours, car service, etc.).  They will also sort out cabana usage if you want to catch a bit of sleep before your flight.  The cabanas were in used during my visit so I wasn’t able to see inside.  The bathrooms do not have Elemis toiletries but are the same blah bathrooms in all of the lounges (my least favorite bathrooms, the public restrooms are nicer) – they definitely could do with some upgrades and updates.

British Airways Concorde Room – Food/Drink

Champagne – check!  At our seats, a lounge menu was available to place our order with a server.  If we wanted sit down service with a more extensive menu we could move to the high top tables or request a booth in the Concorde Room.  If none of this appealed to us (no worries it all appealed to Mom), we could walk out of the Concorde Room and across the hall to the First Galleries on the same floor (I would run over there to get bananas which I could have asked for in the Concorde Room but I’m picky so wanted to see my options).  The First Galleries has a buffet, self-service food and drink options similar to the Business Class Galleries lounge on the floor above.

Mom ordered a club sandwich and I took a chance on the burger (it was fine, nothing special in my opinion but I’m a burger snob who likes Pat LaFrieda meats).  Mom also ordered another glass of champagne while I moved to my normal beverage of choice, still water.  We ordered dessert before Mom’s Elemis spa appointment.

Elemis Spa at T5 BA Galleries – First Class Reservation

When you are flying First with British Airways you can reserve a spa appointment in advance (up to 28 days ahead).  Normally, spa appointments (15 minutes each) are first come, first served as we experienced the Elemis Spa at JFK Terminal 7 BA Lounge.  Requesting an appointment is a bit clunky in my opinion (when will it be in the BA app?) as a U.S. passenger, I had to send a message from the online website tool and wait for a reply regarding my time request.  I wasn’t able to request two appointments (Mom and Me) they said so I sent back a time window for a facial for Mom.  Mom loved her facial but I was quite surprised when she returned without eyebrows!  Apparently, I was unaware that Mom draws her eyebrows on now but at 74 she didn’t care that her eyebrows were gone for the flight home – I found it hilarious.

The Concorde Room Terrace

The outside terrace (patio) of the Concorde Room was quiet and was slightly crowded.  I think those who like to plane spot enjoy the view of the planes on the tarmac.  You can also look down on the main floor of the terminal to people watch.

The Concorde Room Bar

The bar seats were full during our visit.  A few were engaged in conversation and cocktails while others just sat there.  The televisions are off to the side so not a distraction at the bar.  Servers are roaming throughout the Concorde Room and Terrace to serve you from the bar so no need to worry about not finding a seat.

Wheelchair Assist to Heathrow’s T5 C Gates

The driver came to get mom for her lift to the C gates for the flight but told me I would need to walk separate as she didn’t have space in her cart (seats 6).  I was glad to take the walk before the long flight home but had to laugh when Mom drove by me on the ground floor and I waved and she didn’t see me (she was still in her champagne and Concorde Room high).  Of course, I was at the gate first.  Mom said the ride to the C gate was interesting behind the scenes at the airport with scenes of elevators and ramps.  They drove her right to the gate sign for priority boarding.  Mom was able to walk onto the plane although it was a long walk from gate to plane – she also welcomed the short walk before the flight.  I was very impressed with how the wheelchair assist was handled at Heathrow – I’m not sure if this was because we were flying First or is the same for all requests.

British Airways Concorde Room – Overall Impression

Since the British Airways Concorde Room is only for those flying in First, it wasn’t as crowded as other lounges during my visit.  It has nice features which could do with a bit of posh upgrading when compared to other airline offerings but it was the staff and attentive servers (thanks Danny and team!) that are the defining factor of the Concorde Room.  I may not be a millionaire but Mom felt like a rock star that day from start to finish with the British Airways Concorde Room treatment.   I often take for granted that lounge access is a nice perk included with my ticket/status. To see the lounge experience through Mom’s eyes was pretty special….what will she think of the First Class flight home? Stay tuned for that review!

I’ve been very spoiled over the years flying Club World (business class) on British Airways from Philadelphia to London return for work in my prior job.  Now that has ended, I’ve had to pay my own way to London (yes, I know cue the sad tiny violins) and have done it in a variety of ways to stay in Business Class, keep my status and earn Avios.  Examples include my $856 Business Class ticket hack on American Airlines via Manchester (BA codeshare), enrolling in AARP (I’m not that old – there’s is no age requirement) and jumping on the recent BA business/first class three day flash sale.  For my two days in London trip over Memorial Day weekend just to get my Silver elite status back, I couldn’t afford the $5k business class fare so was able to fly in World Traveller Plus and still qualify for status based on the tier points earned for the flights.

British Airways is one of a few international carriers to offer a four class cabin – First Class, Club World (Business Class), World Traveller Plus (Coach Plus) and World Traveller (Coach).  World Traveller always sounds so posh but in reality, coach is still coach (BA flies in a 3-3-3 configuration in coach). In the past when I’ve flown World Traveller Plus, my status allowed me to score the bulkhead row which is the key to survival with extra legroom.  I also had British Airways Philadelphia Lounge access as well as BA LHR T5 Lounge access due to status, however, flying World Traveller Plus does not afford lounge access without status. The downside in the cabin is that you are a curtain away from business class and at times, you want to sneak in as it’s just there.

BA PHL to LHR World Traveller Plus Cabin on the 777

The cabin is organized 2-4-2 with five rows accommodating 40 passengers with curtains closed to Club World in front and World Traveller in back.  When you first arrive at your seat in the cabin it seems private with such a small group.  The seat has a pillow, blanket and headsets.  There is an in seat charger as well as two USB ports in the seatback in front of you, below the entertainment screen.  Once you are seated, you can feel the different with the extra legroom and the open side of the seat (the middle armrest is hard seat with the remote, shared table and other functions set in).

World Traveller Plus does not have its own bathroom like Club World or First Class.  You need to go to the back of the cabin, pull back the curtain and it’s right there in front of the World Traveller (Coach) section along with a cabin stuffed with people all trying to survive the overnight flight.  If you want to stretch your legs then walk to the back of the lane where I was surprised to see the new configuration bathrooms on either side of the plane in a long rectangle space with the crew kitchen galley in between.  The bathroom was long and could fit three people in it which is good if you have kids or need extra room.

For the overnight flight from Philadelphia, I chose the last row in the cabin, window seat hoping to rest (not a change since I rarely sleep on planes) and while the legroom is lovely when seated, it disappears when the couple in front of me pushed their seats back as far as they could which practically pinned me in.  Thankfully no one sat next to me so I was able to angle my body to slide out of the row to go to the bathroom (I call it ninja yoga).  Once the seats were back it was hard to watch a movie as the screen was a bit close for me.

On the way home from London, BA changed my last row seat aisle to a middle section aisle bulkhead and I was pretty happy for that change.  To make it even better, the only empty seats in the World Traveller Plus section were both beside me as I was in the 2-4-2 configuration.  The woman on the aisle on the other side was also pleased by our seat lottery as we both used the tables of our empty seats to store our trays, drinks, food. The seat was only inches from business class where I saw children enjoying flat beds (yes, jealous) but I also had my individual in-flight entertainment (IFE) system at my armrest unlike others in the cabin with seatback screens.

The Service

The flight attendant played a cruel joke on me after I asked “is the seat next to me still empty?” He said there were less than ten seats open on the flight.  Before takeoff, he came by after I got sorted and said “Ma’am, we need to move a woman and her crying baby into this seat” and then laughed at my facial expression (obviously my poker face was cracking as it neared 11 pm).  I replied “if that was the case, you’d hear me cry until you moved me forward to business or first class”

The service is cordial and runs on the same serving clock as coach unlike the individual attentive multi-coursed service in Business or First.

The Food in World Traveller Plus

While normally, I’d order my special meal on British Airways (low calorie which practically ensures chicken and veg) and bring my own food as backup, this time hoping that full flights would bump me up a class, I decided to forgo my special meal as I’d read that they won’t upgrade you if they loaded a special meal (not sure if this is true or not).  Unfortunately, World Traveller Plus doesn’t get the variety of choice like you do upfront (Business and First Class usually have a menu with at least three entrée choices). I did get a printed menu with the food being served.  For the overnight flight to London, I skipped the food  (beef or pasta) and drinks as it was near 11:30 pm when they started service and I had indulged in Chickie’s & Pete’s (a Philly local favorite) at the airport.

On the flight home, the meal (starter, entrée, dessert) was served in one shot on one tray. I chose the chicken over the pasta in cream sauce.  Surprisingly the chicken was pretty good, not Chicken Shop amazing, but for airplane food good. The wine was also served as either red or white and in a little bottle.  No worries, I paired the red with the chocolate pot and did ok (I did miss the anytime Club Kitchen with the extra chocolates, desserts, wine refills, etc.).

British Airways In Flight Entertainment (IFE)

For the World Traveller Plus and Coach section, the IFE screen is in the seat back in front of you.  For those in the bulkhead rows, the unit is in the armrest and needs to be brought out and serves as a personal IFE you can adjust. The choices of movies, television, radio, British Favorites, etc. was quiet extensive and BA lets you watch until they land.

A new feature of the British Airways app lists all the IFE choices available on your flight before you fly.  So you can decide to sleep, read, listen or watch a program ahead of time. That’s good planning and a helpful feature in my opinion plus saves me renting a Netflix film if I can watch on the plane.

Overall – World Traveller Plus PHL-LHR-PHL

World Traveller Plus is a good choice on British Airways to give you just a bit more privacy and legroom on the flights.  It’s a definite improvement over U.S. Airlines coach options and just a tad better than BA’s World Traveller.  There is extra leg room and if you are a couple you can choose the two seats on either side of the plane with no one between.  No more worries about the middle seat issue and hoping you get the whole row (the older couple in front of me held hands the entire flight it was really cute).  The cabin is smaller and more private at only five rows.

With my AARP card, I was able to discount the World Traveller Plus fare by $150 and then I used my BA Chase credit card for 10% off the base fare essentially stacking the discounts. Is it worth the extra to pay more than coach?  Yes, I think it gives you just a bit more sanity.  Is it worth the savings over Club World (Business Class)?  On the way home from London in the bulkhead row, I survived fine and could see the value of saving the business class fare (or points redemption).  The overnight flight is where I missed having a flat bed and the club kitchen for snacks. But the cost of business is generally $4k+ (unless you get a sale at $2,500+). So for a points award, you may want to do one way redemptions to mix up the cabin classes.

How to Save Money on your British Airways Flight

1. Book at least 45 days ahead
2. Join AARP for online discounts with British Airways (must log into AARP to click through to BA)
3. Open a Chase British Airways Visa card (50,000 bonus + 3x BA Spend) to get 10% off online bookings
4. Follow British Airways Facebook page (learn about the discounts asap)
5. Follow British Airways Twitter account (a bit harder to see the sales unless you go to their page)
6. Read the Blogs for fare alerts – One Mile at a Time, The Points Guy, Travel is Free

Examples of Fares from Philadelphia to London (August 24-31)*

$1,025 Coach (World Traveller)

$1,281 Coach Plus (World Traveller Plus)

$4,015 Business Class (Club World)

$5,015 First Class

*before applying AARP and BA Chase Visa discounts

Calling the luxury Sofitel Heathrow Hotel at Terminal 5 (T5) an “airport hotel” is just cruel and unjust.  For me the term “airport hotel” often conjures up a beige hotel which lacks character, is depressing as an in-transit passenger and makes me want to escape as soon as possible. I’ve not had many great “airport hotel” experiences but at the Sofitel T5, I’m not in a hurry to leave as it’s a comfortable escape from the madness that is Heathrow Airport (LHR).

Convenience and luxury, however, come at a price (a location, location, location kind of price).  I’ve stayed at the hotel three times now, once when stranded due to snow and now twice due to early morning flights from T5.  My most recent visit was last month as part of my cheap business class ticket, which included an 8 a.m. flight home.

Finding the Sofitel Heathrow Hotel

After you get your bags and exit into the T5 terminal, you need to make a right to walk down to the end of the hallway (stop first to stock up on snacks as the room has an empty refrigerator), walk through the doors as if going to the parking lot to get the lift (there is a small Sofitel sign at the elevator).  From the lift, you go up one floor and make a right as you exit.

You can pick up a trolley here (good idea!) as you will walk down the hallway, which seems never to end! The brown paneled hallway with gleaming floors is eye catching as are the rails to prevent dings from trolleys. As the marble floor yields to the carpeted bridge you are closer to arriving on the second floor of the hotel.  If you have a luggage trolley, take the lift down otherwise use the escalator to the lobby.

The Front Desk Arrival

On my first visit, I was checking in before dinner last minute due to the flight cancellation and being stranded at Heathrow.  I had called from the BA lounge to reserve the room and check-in was quick and easy.  As an Accor gold member, at the time, I was given my free drink coupon to use at the bar later.

On my second visit, the front desk experience was horrible.  I arrived on the 6:30 a.m. flight and arrived at the hotel about 7:30 a.m. exhausted and craving the SoBed for sleep.  This time, I was denied the pleasant early check-in that was afforded the gold member in front of me. Despite my gold status, I was told I would need to wait until 3 p.m. for check-in (this is where I think the hotel has an opportunity to use a rolling 24/7 check-in as the Novotel Bangkok does, also an Accor hotel).  I became that guest who sits in the lobby and waits while not falling asleep before deciding to store my bags, jump on the Heathrow Express and explore London for the day.

My recent visit was quick and easy – I arrived after the normal check in time and was greeted and quickly checked-in.

The Lobby and Common Spaces

You are greeted by glass, marble, art and contemporary design in the hotel. Despite having over 600 rooms, three restaurants and over 40 meeting rooms, the hotel has never felt crowded during my visits. The hotel is a few buildings under one which helps with the noise, or lack thereof.  With restaurants and bar on the main level, you need to go to either end of the lobby to access the glass elevators to the guest rooms.  Your key card is required to operate the lift (and the room electric so get two keys at check-in).

The hotel has open atriums and one main walkway between wings (buildings) on each floor.  The tricky part is the H shaped wings on either side. You room might be the first or second turn.

The colors and quiet of the common spaces is a nice change from the often chaos at airport hotels.  While it’s usually only an overnight (or dayroom) stay, it’s really quiet in most spaces on all three visits.

The Standard Room

The rooms are a good size.  I’ve stayed in a standard room as well as an upgraded room (welcomed with a plate of chocolate during my stranded visit as a Gold member at the time).  Each room overlooked the interior of the hotel atrium.  The rooms have a flat screen television, free Wi-Fi, ample desk/workstation and the SoBed (a favorite fluffy, hard to leave bed).  Despite the many comings and goings of the guests, the room was quiet all day and night thanks to soundproofed windows and excellent room darkening curtains.

When you enter, there are two shelves with coffee making supplies, a wardrobe/closet with safe, iron and extra duvet and my favorite – slippers!  The refrigerator is empty save two bottles of complimentary still and sparkling water. A marble landing is great as a luggage rack and there are drawers beneath. On the right, after you put the keycard in the electric slot, you have buttons to operate the room.  You will also have the nicely sized bathroom.

The Bathroom

The Sofitel brand of Accor is a luxury brand that shows in the bathroom.  The walk in shower had strong water pressure and London ESPA toiletries.  Plush towels, good lighting and design made the bathroom a definite oasis.  Unusual for a standard room at any hotel is the shower and separate tub.  Usually a tub is a suite perk but here it is standard. One fault that I have though is the toilet and the fact that I can never quite get the right push button flush (it’s comical and sad at the same time).

Help Me Find the Hairdryer

Knowing that I would need the hairdryer at 4:30 a.m. and most likely not in the mood for hide and seek, I went in search of the hairdryer after dinner. It was a search even for me.  I started in the bathroom (wishful thinking), moved to the wardrobe (seemed a good idea), then opened all the drawers before opening the last drawer next to the window in the desk.  Found it (sort of).  It was in the desk and connected to the desk so it can’t be moved elsewhere (you can call housekeeping for one that is disconnected).  While I understand the need, this is annoying.

The Restaurants

The morning buffet breakfast at Vivre has a plethora of options and while a bit expensive, it’s worth it to have fresh foods before your flight.  You could choose to eat in the airport terminal but you’d miss out on the classic French croissants and pain au chocolate. The restaurant opens at 6 a.m. so I’ve only visited once due to early flights. A past dinner I chose a filet and fresh vegetables with a nice Bordeaux and it was quite tasty.  As I equate airport hotels with chicken fingers and frozen burgers it was nice to have healthy choices.

There is a fancy French restaurant, La Belle Époque and Tea 5 which serves afternoon tea, finger sandwiches and French pastries. I’ve not tried either.

Sphere Bar & Lounge

My last visit, I wasn’t in the mood for a full out restaurant meal, I wanted room service food not in my room but in the lobby and luckily found it at the bar.  The Sphere bar was quiet during my visit and has a long bar, high top tables, many televisions showing sports and a separate lounge with seating.  Service was friendly and quick.

There’s More

The hotel has meeting rooms, a 24/7 gym, a spa with pool, a concierge and all the other amenities you’d expect from a five star hotel.  There is also a Perrier-Jouet Champagne bar which was tempting.

Day Trip London

If you want to go into London, it’s really easy on the Heathrow Express which gets you to Paddington in fifteen minutes or you can take the tube (underground) for much less  but a longer journey (about an hour).

Overall – The Sofitel Heathrow Hotel at T5

Location, location, location!  It’s all about proximity to Terminal 5 and for that absolute convenience you will pay more.  How much more depends on when you book and if you are an Accor loyalty member (members get 5% discount online).  For my past stay, I mulled the Sofitel vs. a Sheraton off airport, the difference was $50 and a shuttle bus schedule.  So what’s your time worth?  For me, the Sofitel Heathrow Hotel T5 is worth the extra cost for convenience and luxury…..just don’t get there too early unless you’ve booked a day room!  My rate was £135 (slightly over $200) for a Friday night November stay.