had a 5 hour stop-over at Heathrow. If Charles De Gaulle was the worst airport I ever navigated, London Heathrow was hands down the best. In addition to clear signage, there were airport staff in every corner, telling people which way to go. I easily made my way to the terminal, which was lively and resembled a shopping mall more than an airport terminal.
I found an electronics store that sold batteries and chargers, at pretty reasonable prices. The same charger I found at the San Francisco Radio Shack for $80 was just $60, plus this one came with a car charger and various converters. With my charger in hand, I followed signs to the British Airways Galleries Lounge in Terminal 5.
It was located on the third level of a very quiet area, right above the Concorde Room. The lounge had a buffet station with a decent selection of soup, salad, various entree items, and a separate area with coffee and espresso machines. The food was pretty bland, but I wasn’t that hungry to begin with.
After a quick bite, I decided to check out the offerings at the Elemis Spa. I believe you can choose from a facial, a shoulder massage, and a foot massage. I scheduled an appointment for a facial but decided to hit the shower first. The showers are located right behind the Elemis Spa and the attendant simply gives you a key. Towels are found inside, along with shampoo/bodywash, lotion, and a hairdryer.
I ended up using one of the towels to clean the shower, which was pretty filthy. I will spare you from photos. Despite the state of the shower room, it was still nice to have a shower after a day of traveling. The facial was a very relaxing experience and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the lounge. The attendant gave me a handful of samples and I made sure to tip her well.
I went back to the lounge, had some coffee, wasted time on the internet, and headed to the gate 45 minutes before departure. The gate was further than I had anticipated. About 10 minutes after arrival, Business Class passengers were invited to board.
Overall, I loved Heathrow and especially the British Airways lounge. It was a relaxed atmosphere and though the food wasn’t the best, it was still tolerable and certainly on par with anything I would have picked up at an airport cafe.
Other stories from my 2012 trip to Afghanistan and Dubai
- Introduction
- Admiral’s Club Charles De Gaulle Airport, Paris
- British Airways Business Class Lounge Heathrow Airport
- British Airways Business Class London – Dubai
- Safi Airways Dubai – Kabul
- Kabul, Afghanistan
- Northern Afghanistan
- Kabul Airport
- Hyatt Regency Dubai
- Al Dawwar Restaurant
- Warlords at Dubai Airport
- Qatar Airways Dubai – Istanbul
