A couple of days ago, British Airways formally unveiled its brand new global lounge design concept, coinciding with the oneworld carrier’s new lounge opening in Miami (MIA). The airline has done a surprisingly good job with this, and we can expect more lounges to be rolled out with this design over the coming years.
Continue reading: British Airways Plans Massive London Heathrow Lounge Changes In 2026
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Welcomed news, for sure. Will require a ton of patience/understanding on our part in the mean time, but worth it. Thanks Lucky.
Wouldn’t it be nice for BA and AA to deeply integrate their one world partners in JFk and LHR - they should be all over a 5 D/E terminals
Love the new lounges but more seamless connections are more important
Thank goodness, no more NHS / prison-cell toilets. Utterly embarrassing for 'premium' lounges.
BA's lounges at Heathrow are institutional and unpleasant. This is welcome news.
For Oneworld Emeralds, one of the potential risks associated with these changes is that BA reorganises the lounges in such a way that the First Wing at LHR T5 leads passengers into the Concorde Room and not the Galleries First Lounge and so becomes restricted to First Class/BA Gold Guest List passengers only (+ guests(s)).
First Wing would be underutilized if that were to happen. I doubt they'd do it l. (Don't forget AA CKs have Concorde Room access.)
That requires Heathrow to build it. Unlikely to happen in the short term given the 3rd runway is their priority infrastructure build. As part of that or after that then maybe.
Totally agree Lee. Heathrow has just invested millions in strengthening the floor for the new Xray machines. They want payback for that so BA putting very few passengers through it is very little payback. BA pay Heathrow a premium for the First Wing.
It is possible they could rearrange so there is a CCR where the First lounge is currently. But don’t think they will restrict First Wing.
Yeah the bathroom situation at T5 need a rethink. A couple times I've left the lounge to use the loo, the line was quite long.
The galleries first toilets are disgusting. Stank and smut - like poor public restrooms.
Concord's bogs aren't much better but at least are cleaner
BA's First Class footprint has been reduced when most of their planes wen from 14 to 8 First seats. They should offer car service for A380 First Class passengers to Pier C where A380 flights depart. This is one amenity Air France, SWISS & Lufthansa offer BA lacks.
I presume they will somehow use the old pampering area next to the showers as a buffer whilst things get sorted. I do wonder about two exits from First Wing, one to CCR and one to First.
I had the chance to enjoy day 1 at MIA totally by accident as we expected to have use of the Admirals club but were directed to this very plush lounge consisting of several split areas including quiet area / separate dining / and stand up bar area - massive spread of cocktails and spirits / champagne’s. Massively overstaffed with attendants for every area inc toilets and showers but it was the opening day
We spoke with the design team on the ground and they are excited with the commencement of the LHR project after 31/3/26
A lovey experience
The North and South BA Galleries Lounges at LHR T5 are a disgrace. Demand has been outstripping supply for years. On the few occasions I have flown out of LHR T3 on a BA C ticket, the Qantas and Cathay Pacific lounges show how bad the BA's Galleries lounges are.
Rest assured that BA will constantly lag behind innovative airlines. They have sunk into a bland and unimaginative product ever since Walsh took the helm and squeezed every penny of luxury out in favour of profits for dividends. It has not improved as successive non British agents have succeeded the role.
Just look at their A380 interpretation compared with Qatar and Emirates and EVEN the blandest of bland Qantas!! CP outshines all in T3 @LHR and that's where we head if flying out of there .... where F or J with BA.
Having all lounges worldwide looking the same is wrong - that's what Marriott do with their hotels and BMW used to do with their cars - all look the same. WRONG ideology. Make each lounge superb and in keeping with its location. That way you speak luxury. However BA do not employ design consultants or listen to advice. They will carry on making wrong decision after wrong decision regrettably.....
Anyone who passes through T5 or T3 with BA will be happy to read about the upgrades. We all know that a 2026 start means one lounge upgraded in that year. My guess is 2028 for all the work to be done. Either way, it's positive news, and based on the designs for the Miami and Dubai lounges there's hope that the spaces will look great.
The issues with BA lounges are tied to outsourcing and cost cutting. The food in the First Class lounge is just appalling. Buckets of carb-dense dated British slop designed to fill you up and move you on...rice, potatoes, pasta, pies, etc. Try finding a plain piece of grilled protein...good luck. Lounge staff load their personal plates from the same buffet...imagine this ever happening with Qatar Airways...in fact...never seen staff do this at any other airline in the world.