British Airways’ has reopened its lounge Galleries Club Lounge at New York JFK’s Terminal 7 today after a 16-month closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The opening of the Galleries Club lounge is the first in what the airline calls a ‘phased lounge reopening plan’.
At present the First Lounge and the Concorde Room remain closed at the airport and no date has been given for their reopening. In their place, The Galleries Club will be used for passengers travelling in First, Club World and eligible card holders, ahead of the flight to London Heathrow.
Those flying from New York JFK in First and Club World (business class) will be able to use the airline’s Premium Zone at check-in, with The First Wing and First check-in also open.
In the Galleries Lounge, customers will use their mobile to order food directly to their seat after scanning a QR code.
The news comes in time for the UK Government’s announcement that double vaccinated travellers from the US will be exempt from quarantine on arrival into the UK from August 2, 2021.
At Heathrow both the Club and First lounges are available at Terminal 5 departures, along with the new sleep zone ‘Forty Winks’.
Tom Stevens, British Airways’ Director of Brand and Customer Experience, said: “After the news about the change in entry requirements for US customers in to the UK, we expect to host more customers who need to travel and so we have decided that it is the right time to open our flagship lounge in New York.”
“We are looking forward to welcoming some of our American customers back to London from next week and bringing Britons who reside in the US home for much-needed family time.”
British Airways recently reopened three domestic lounges in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
