The Windsor By Heathrow: Private Terminal, Starting At £3,812

"The facility offers a private shopping service, including the option of being taken to one of the shops at Terminal 5"

Nothing screams exclusive luxury like going duty free shopping with a stranger.

You note the increase in volume over the years. The lower volume in earlier years necessitated a 10,000 GBP price to cover operating costs.

£2k each to get picked up at home and totally avoid the zoo that is T5? I’d think hard about it.

Imagine paying £3,800 to avoid T3 then boarding an American Airlines flight to LAX.

The Gulf destinations don't really surprise me, but is the T3 experience really that bad? I couldn't imagine ever not enjoying a little time in the CX F lounge.

Would love a list of all the private terminals in the world

"The Windsor by Heathrow offers fine dining from Chef Jason Atherton, including signature dishes like English butter shortbread with praline cream, Earl Grey tea ice cream, custard sauce, and charred mandarin"

Lmao jason you gotta do better than that

You can tell that last promo photo used a green screen because when was the last time Qatar flew an A330 to Heathrow? Lol

I like that Heathrow & LAX have this. But Changi Airport is honestly so efficient that I don’t feel the need for a VIP terminal. Worth noting their CIP experience is unremarkable, though.

2k is nothing for most using this service. It is the equivalent of us mortals paying credit card fees for priority pass access.

I’m sure there’s a red headed Brit who frequented this on his trips back to LAX on American

There are lots of rich people living in London, and lots more who visit for business or leisure. The price differential between flying first class with paid private terminal access and chartering (let alone owning) a Gulfstream or Global is huge. This is a nice compromise that provides a comfortable, seamless, discreet experience away from public terminals and busy lounges, without having to spend $10-15K an hour to charter an aircraft.

Him and that "terrible" wife of his, at least when it was "safe" for her to go back to the UK where she is widely despised.

Am I insane or does this feel affordable?? Ben, you could totally afford this!

One seemingly weird thing to me about this facility is that it doesn't seem to include showers; for the price of admission and its level of amenities, that seems like a must-have amenity to me (at least for connecting passengers).

Even for a dessert menu ot would be uninspiring.

The previous incumbent's suggestion to serve jamon de pata negra and foie gras marinated in Armagnac ended with a P45* being posted out to him.

*UK tax form confirming the end of one's employment

I am not qualified to diagnose mental illnesses, but it's worth noting that the equivalent amounts in Germany are in the three figures and the private terminal experience at MAN is barely £250 per person.

On the other hand, I'm sure it has been assessed as affordable to taxpayers in all manner of countries, particularly in the Global South, covering the costs of their political leadership on visits to London.

It's not a lot of money to their target demographic.

I'm actually surprised by the volume. But I guess it's less than 0.1% of Heathrow passengers per day so it is possible. Maybe I just can't relate to it! Hopefully one day. Any numbers on PS at LAX?

The one who doesn't couch this in terms of affordability is the one who can actually afford it.

I have recently flown through T3 and can confirm it's a zoo- admittedly I only had access to the Aspire lounge and they didn't even let me in for the full 5 hours of my connection, but VS are super protective of their lounge (I didn't get access to it as an Elite Plus flying them in premium economy) so I guess that's all you will get when flying KQ or MEA.

Affordable is in the eyes of the beholder. There is always someone wealthier than you and someone poorer than you. Just live happily and not worry about it.

How do you despise someone you never met and don't know and whose only actions bad or good is via tabloids and entertainment rags? Now if they did something that directly caused thousands great grief then we can form judgement. But entertainers??

I imagine most people who would use these types of service do so more for the added personal safety concerns than the luxe experience. I recently heard some female athletes were getting stalked by guys who would be at the airport in groups, gets in the faces of the women demanding autographs and they don't take no. How they know the athletes travel plans is beyond me. But persistent people can stalk well.

Is this a paid up article on behalf of The Windsor? Executive Traveller ran a very similar article yesterday with near identical talking points: https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/heathrow-windsor-private-vip-lounge

OMAAT review of this facility planned when?

It's true that a good proportion of those travelling on taxpayer money aren't too worried about affordability!

@ KCW -- It's not. I would disclose that. The airport just announced these changes, which is why you might see it covered in many places.

Same

'The facility is only available to those in first and business class'

This doesn't make sense to me. I would guess that practically anybody interested in this would be flying first and/or business class already.
I wonder if they will actually reject someone flying economy or if they just put this in the talking points to seem more exclusive.

Hamad airport has a VIP terminal but there is zero information about it online