Fairies in the First Lounge?!

Back to Forum
Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 19 total)

  • Anonymous
    Guest

    VintageKrug
    Participant

    One of the delights of flying with British Airways from Terminal 5 at Heathrow is the excellent lounge facilities prior to boarding your flight.

    These spaces are not branded as “Galleries” without good reason.

    Daniel’s recent thread on design reminded me that few people are probably aware of some of the hidden gems inside the Lounge complex, so it’s a good idea to highlight them here so they might be more widely appreciated.

    There are some excellent installations visible to everyone in the lobby area, such as The Cloud, All The Time in the World, as well as the more exclusive excellent animated BA Coat of Arms “Pegasus and the Winged Horse” (above one of the fireplaces in the Concorde Room – look out for the motorcycle!).

    You can see some of these works in the youtube clips in on the link below:

    http://luxurysociety.com/articles/2010/03/experience-branding-through-art-and-design—british-airways-terminal-5

    But have any of you ever faced a lengthy layover in the First Lounge and been short of something to do? Well, that’s no longer going to be a problem.

    You can simply seek out the various hidden motifs in Christopher Pearson’s “Oak Seasons” etched glass screens.

    These screens are rather clever, as although they are etched, the glass is smooth to the touch, creating a 3D effect which elevates what could be a relatively trite divider to something far more impressive.

    “Pearson echoes the British taste for eccentricity and Class with wit and intelligence, turning what could have been just another generic luxury lounge into something inimitably British.”

    Have a look, and see if you can locate the fairie, quite an erotic pose, here’s a pic so you know what to look for:

    http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2160/2244450008_8f2e3086a5.jpg

    I haven’t yet located these, but apparently there’s also:

    – a lightbulb
    – a motorway map
    – map of the UK
    – a spider’s web

    …anything else….? A good challenge to keep the children occupied!


    FormerlyDoS
    Participant

    When I go to a lounge, it is to catch up on my emails, get a bite to eat and possibly to shower.

    Then I get on an aircraft.


    Irons80
    Participant

    Wow FDoS what a wonderful guy you are… I really wish you’d go and be miserable somewhere else.

    I actually quite enjoy visiting lounges and always to try arrive at the airport early to see what’s going on. I`especially like to arrive early in LHR and JFK to ensure I get a treatment at the spa – it’s a real pleasure and something I wouldn’t do in ‘everyday’ life. Can’t say I pay too much notice to the artwork – however, I do like to sample the whisky on offer and 18 yr old Glenlivet in the first lounge is one of my favourites.

    Recently spend some time in the EDI lounge – has it been refurbished? It was a very pleasant and relaxing way to while away a couple of hours.


    AllOverTheGaff
    Participant

    Irons80 wrote
    “Recently spend some time in the EDI lounge – has it been refurbished? It was a very pleasant and relaxing way to while away a couple of hours.”

    Hi Irons

    I fly from Edinburgh frequently, and yes, the BA lounge there has undergone a fairly significant overhaul, as has the entire terminal building to be fair.

    Not a million years ago EDI was considered as secondary to Glasgow, particularly for international travel and we ‘had’ to fly from Glasgow (nae offence to any reading Weedgies) but EDI really upped their game and captured the majority of Scottish travellers, and in fairness to them, it is a cracking airport and normally the staff are really friendly too.

    I fly from GLA when using EK as they have a direct service to DXB, it has been refurbed to a point but is still way behind Edinburgh, the lounge in GLA (the shared one) is the worst I’ve been to and there’s just something about the airport I don’t like, and I can’t qualify that at all other than to say it is a wee bit dark and inhospitable. (All my own subjective opinions)

    Rgds.
    AOTG.


    Tim2soza
    Participant

    On weekdays, the BA lounges are an extension of my office when travelling. At weekends, for me it is time to look at the architecture, art and design. Oh, and possibly a glass of something.

    Thanks VK – I will look out for such that you mentioned on my next visit.


    Binman62
    Participant

    The T5 Concorde room is very nice and the First lounge perfectly acceptable. My last visit to Galleries upstairs or the Club Lounge revealed worn, stained and thread bare chairs over by the windows.

    The North Lounge last week was fine and the food and wine very good indeed.

    However excellent the lounges and howver detailed the glass etchings if the same attention to detail has not been expended on the operation then you do end up with many hundreds of people sleeping on the floor of T5 as happened a few weeks back.

    No matter how clever these screens may be ……”as although they are etched, the glass is smooth to the touch, creating a 3D effect which elevates what could be a relatively trite divider to something far more impressive.”…….they are not much use when the lounge is closed and you face the night on the floor of T5.

    I would also add that whilst i appreciate the splendor with which the lounge were initially endowed I spend longer in the air and would prefer that the cabins and seats on board displayed a greater degree of splendor than they do.


    BeckyBoop
    Participant

    Binman, you are right the CCR is lush but is also starting to look warn around the edges espcially the padding of the seats which have become very saggy in recent times. When your are in the air you get New FIRST!!! (if you are lucky) ;).


    VintageKrug
    Participant

    The new caterers should help improve some of the operational issues which have beset lounge staff in recent months.

    Here is the Spider’s Web; be careful to ensure you’re not caught in it next time you visit:

    http://www.artwisecurators.com/images/projects/p26e.jpg


    BigDog.
    Participant

    So BT has been reduced to sharing “Where’s Wally” updates.

    Maybe studying Geography or Finance would be a more constructive use for your time.

    I have just tuned in at the right time…

    I am very familiar with T1 but have never used the BA lounge there. Where is it? I should really pay a visit tomorrow early afternoon.

    Any advice VK would be much appreciated.

    Thanks, will probably just have time for a quick drink.

    Don’t you just love ausbt’s style of writing!!

    Bmi’s No.1 Heathrow lounge at Heathrow T1 (later renamed the Great British Lounge) was opened back in 2009 – here is our review of the offering just after it opened:

    http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/the-lowdown-bmis-no.1-heathrow-lounge

    Thanks BT

    Hopefully my flight will depart from Gate 5!

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 19 total)
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Business Traveller March 2024 edition
Be up-to-date
Magazine Subscription
To see our latest subscription offers for Business Traveller editions worldwide, click on the Subscribe & Save link below
Polls