Review: United Lounge London Heathrow Airport

Seriously, you need to stop complaining about liquids in european/uk airports. It's the security procedure, and it's probably worrying if someone doesn't enforce it at Heathrow Terminal 2. You gave Manchester airport a lot of criticism for enforcing the rules they are supposed to enforce. You don't find the rest of the world complaining about the shoes thing in US airports. It's getting just plain weird....

BTW, if you want to complain about weird airport procedures, Germany used to force you to turn on all electronic devices at security to make sure that they were as advertised, thus a device out of batteries risked getting you refused on the plane, or it binned. This was around 2000, didn't seem to do it recently...

Looking forward to reading about why you're no longer banned from United.

Agree, interesting why you are not banned from United.

Why do people think Lucky was banned from United?

Wish United Club could serve a hot breakfast in their home country!

You certainly use the word 'underwhelming' a lot.

>There was also a cappuccino machine, though personally I think it’s a bit disappointing when a first class lounge doesn’t have barista-made espresso drinks (the Air Canada business class lounge next door has a barista).

Lucky, I love your reports, but sometimes they make me just shake my head. First, the cappuccino machine is fine for what it is, a quick and easy way to get an espresso drink. More importantly, though, down the report you say that you were able to get a handmade cappuccino from the waiter that was fine.

This sort of comment just comes across as effete, like you feel like there has to be something to complain about, but you actually couldn't come up with something. Is there something magical about the presence of a "barista"?

@Matt - from the Rolling Stone article:

"He was banned from flying [United], he recalls the letter saying, unless he paid the company $4,755 — the amount it claimed as losses through Schlappig's techniques."

@ Matt – He is banned from MileagePlus (not from flying United metal), though I'll leave that to Lucky as he hasn't shared his side of the story yet. Interesting stuff.

United seems to be upping their game - their renovated United Club at HKG is also beautiful.

@ greg99 -- My goal is to share both the positives and negatives. My reports are super detailed, so I share all the things I pick up on. I do think there's a taste difference between a cappuccino made automatically from a machine, vs. one where the milk is steamed fresh, the espresso beans are freshly grinded, etc. Sorry if that's too much detail.

@Alvin - banned from flying United as per the above.

I know your post said you were departing, but do you have any insight to the Arrivals Lounge? I assume the GF Lounge is inside security and the Arrivals Lounge is outside, like at SFO, correct?

God...I'm sitting here hungover and a full English would solve all my problems. Dammit.

I don´t understand why the lounges on an outstation are way better than the ones on United main hubs (ORD, IAD...).

Thrilled to hear that you breezed through security. Isn't it wonderful? I routinely receive the same treatment when simply flash my Press Pass at most US airports. London does need to catch on however. They don't seem to fully appreciate the power and importance of members of the US Entertainment Media.

So these lounges are underground? No windows?

That's if you can even use the United Lounge when you depart LHR T2. In August I was brusquely turned away from the United first class lounge at LHR on an Air China First ticket as they claimed they were closing early due to a lack of staff. This was at 6pm. At least you never have this problem with BA at LHR T5!

That second cappuccino isn't hand made - you can tell from the two-pronged entry mark in the milk (i.e. where the dual spouts of a typical auto machine have poured coffee into the milk). A handmade cappuccino would be made the other way around (coffee first, milk second) - even if it weren't, I think it would be physically impossible for a barista to achieve that pattern!

Sorry to be such a pedant...

Great report though. Thank you!

@Chris is definitely right. Your "barista-made" cappuccino was made by a machine.

How can you not comment on the main feature of the United lounge, which is the beautiful bar and extensive list of cocktails they offer?

What's ironic is that in a couple years, there won't actually be any UA Global First pax using the UA Global First lounge...will just be OAL F pax and GS.

@James @Chris which just goes to show @greg99's comment is even more on-point. Lucky is the type of person that could be served Kritter and told it's 2002 Dom and not notice something was off.

A picture of a plane is aviation themed art. LOL

I wasn't all that impressed with the decor, particular the small round tables in the dining areas. Made me think of a corporate cafeteria. Anyway my two cents.
But I do agree with Lucky's comments about the outdated Concorde room. Not only do the furnishings look past their pull date, there is no food buffet just the restaurant;-(

You forgot to mention the bar in the united club lounge. It's great! Bartenders will make up a premium spirits cocktail etc to order. Didn't spot one in the first lounge; assume there's waiter service in addition to self serve?

Bathrooms look way better than those BA provide over in T5, which are well past needing a refurb!

I've used the UA Global First lounge regularly since it opened (I'm GS flying on upgraded tickets). They were super proud when it first opened, and it showed in the service quality. I never once had to go get my own beverage in those early days and they were super-attentive. Lately the service is lax, which is completely dependent on who is working that day. The training standards and pride come into play. It's still a great lounge - the best in UA's system by a wide margin. But they're letting their standards slip.

Someone mentioned the UA Arrivals Lounge in the comments above, which is a vastly underappreciated facility. Coming from California, I can land in the early morning and head straight to the Arrivals Lounge (just to the left after exiting customs), take a shower, and head straight into meetings all day. The shower rooms are equipped with a double upper door, allowing you to place your clothes for the day on the hanger provided, then close the inner door. The attendant then opens the outer door and by the time you're out of the shower your clothes are professionally pressed, hanging in the gap between the inner and outer doors. You walk out and nobody would ever know you just slept in those clothes 😉
Ron

This lounge is certainly the best of the Star Alliance lounges at the new Queen's terminal. The Air Canada Lounge is tiny, the Singapore lounge (if I remember correctly) has no view, whereas the United Lounge has: Great food, a proper bar (like the Cathay lounges in Hong Kong); plenty of seating; and good showert facilities with nice effects like LED lighting.

The Queen's terminal also has excellent facilities for Star Gold members, including automatic fast-track and priority check-in and priority tagging of all bags.

The lounge is also easier to get through than LHR terminal 5, which unless you get to turn right immediately after security and go to the Concorde room (BA first only) you have to walk through a vast shopping mall to get anyway. You also have the inconvenience of often having to take the train to their satellite terminal. I like the United lounge because Air China almost always board from a gate immediately outside the lounge.

Just tried to get in and been told the first class lounge has closed. Singapore has the only first class lounge in T2 now.