Aer Lingus Opens Refurbished Lounge at London Heathrow
After a three month closure, the Aer Lingus Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 2 has reopened. The lounge has been fully refurbished and offers a bigger and brighter lounge. It is located in the main departures terminal and has panoramic views of the Southern runway.
For business travelers, there are quiet meeting rooms and a working zone equipped with full ICT services. The open-plan seating is carefully selected for both comfort and style, while a separate quiet rest area, featuring chaise lounge seating, can accommodate up to 30 people. The lounge also offers a buffet-style selection of dry foods and beverages, catering to a variety of tastes.
The design and color palette of the lounge is inspired by the Irish landscape, continuing the theme from Aer Lingus’s flagship lounge in Dublin.
Since April this year (2024) British Airways Executive Club Members can earn Tier Points when flying Aer Lingus so if you are bored of the usual lounges or just fancy a change then you should think about flying Aer Lingus without the worry of not earning Tier Points.
You can read a review on Aer Lingus business class here.
Terminal 2 at Heathrow has now been open 10 years and we are starting to see a flurry of lounge refurbishments including Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge, now Aer Lingus and Lufthansa have also closed for refurbishment.
Emirates Unveils New Luxury Lounge at London Stansted
Emirates has opened its newest lounge at London Stansted Airport, investing over £4 million to create a spacious 900-square-metre retreat for First and Business Class passengers, as well as Emirates Skywards members. This state-of-the-art lounge, accommodating up to 125 guests, offers a premium experience with direct boarding access, gourmet dining, and luxurious amenities, enhancing pre-flight comfort.
The Stansted lounge is the airline’s sixth in the UK, joining others at Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, and Glasgow. With complimentary Wi-Fi, fresh “farm to table” dishes from Sussex-based Full Circles Farms, premium wines, and Moet & Chandon champagne, the lounge exemplifies Emirates’ commitment to luxury travel.
Gareth Powell, Managing Director at Stansted Airport, praised the new lounge, highlighting its direct access to Emirates flights and the airline’s dedication to the UK market. Emirates operates 133 weekly flights from the UK to over 140 global destinations, making Stansted a key hub for international travelers.
Emirates opening a lounge at Stansted, often seen as a less popular choice compared to Heathrow or Gatwick, feels like a smart move to shake things up. Stansted hasn’t always been the first pick for many travelers, especially those looking for a more premium experience, but this investment shows Emirates is serious about changing that. By bringing luxury amenities and direct boarding access to this quieter airport, they’re aiming to make it more appealing to those who usually prefer bigger, busier hubs. It’s a clear effort to elevate Stansted’s reputation and make it a more attractive stop for international travelers.
2 comments
Nice to see EI adding an all day barista. I’m already sceptical about how long a barista trained member of staff will be assigned to the coffee station 2 weeks from now when the accountants look at the resource Vs benefit Vs efficient use of human assets but I’m a jaded bugger tbh. Until then I’m happy to see them aiming for ‘added value’ elements in the new space.
Whilst no shade on the new lounges coffee supremo I’m sure that QF’s own caffeine maestros won’t be fearful of losing their ( imho) Best Consistent Coffee badge.
I spotted no barista last Weds morning in the EI lounge. The hot breakfast food just before a DUB flight got called for boarding was pretty bare. Biggest improvement is working air conditioning.