Categories
British Airways Gatwick First & Club lounge entrance

What’s travelling with BA from Gatwick like now – check-in and lounges?

With Heathrow struggling to cope especially at terminal 5, how is it flying with British Airways from Gatwick’s South Terminal now it has reopened?

British Airways has restarted flights including short-haul from Gatwick. I will shortly be reviewing the main BA Heathrow lounges but in the meantime, my friend Steven sent in some pictures and information about his experience at Gatwick.

This is just meant as a quick update. If you want to read my reviews about the facilities and see more pictures of the Gatwick lounges you can read more here:

 

Check-in

This has changed slightly but is still in Zones A and C. The difference is that there is no more First check-in since no flights have first from Gatwick and judging by the fact they have removed the check-in desk, it doesn’t sound like they are planning to have any in the future. Instead, there is Club World/Club Europe and a separate World Traveller Plus queue as well as the regular check-in. As you can see it was quiet. 

 

The lounges

Not a huge amount has changed with the lounges. I always preferred the Gatwick lounges to Heathrow as they were fairly recently refurbished and the staff in the first lounge have always been excellent. The work areas are still available which is good to hear after they disappeared but then had slightly smaller work areas brought back in. 

Here are the opening hours:

 

First Lounge

The first lounge is available for Gold cardholders. Like Heathrow, it has a food menu that you order through your phone. 

Here is Steven’s full English which looks pretty good:

You may also notice the First-class china from onboard that is it served on. I need to book some flights to get the missing items from my order when they were selling it off 😉 !

Drinks were self-service with the usual coffee machines and champagne bar. On offer was Canard Duchene and Hattingley Valley English Sparkling wine. There have been rumours of Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle but I’d guess these were just for the initial opening. 

 

There were also 3 white wines and 3 red wines to choose from.

For Whisky lovers, you’ll be pleased to know that Johnnie Walker Blue label has reappeared as well. 

If you are a gin fan they now have Aviation Gin, Tanqueray, and Gordons to choose from.

And, of course, there are hot and cold soft drinks you can help yourself to.

If you are in a hurry there are pastries that are on display to grab as well as fruit and crisps. Sadly due to UK law, the calories are on everything! But of course calories in an airport don’t count….

 

Galleries Club

In Galleries Club you can also help yourself to drinks and they do have help yourself Champagne – Canard Duchene again.

There is food to order which is pretty much the same as used to be out on display – rolls of various descriptions:

 

Have you travelled from Gatwick South with BA recently? How was your experience? Let us know in the comments below.

 

 

Tweet
Share
Pin1
Share
Reddit
WhatsApp
Pocket
Email
Flip
1 Shares
Related Topics

15 comments

  1. It’s a shame about the first check in – that would have been an excellent “gold only” benefit. It does make you wonder how long they will keep the First lounge open. I just wish they would put First on the long haul flights – I can’t believe that there isn’t a market for it, particularly with all the financial services work in the Caribbean.

    1. I think the plan is to offer F services from Heathrow only which makes sense as there is the Concorde Room. But yes I have wondered the same about the Gold Lounge.

  2. The First lounge had a bottle of LGPS out on Monday lunchtime. It replaced a bottle of Jeeper rose champagne, which was not pleasant.

    1. I agree. Someone I know used to call it JeepersCreepers for good reason ????

  3. Michele, I am wondering why I have to sign my details in again, especially as Ihave been contributing recently?

  4. I’m there on Monday morning so will give you an update on the LGPS situation.

    I do understand the “First from LHR” approach but if they are going to do that they really ought to do some Antigua flights from there – I do at least 4 a year for work, to get to the smaller islands, sometimes only for 2-3 days, and I know a lot of people that do, and who would fly First if it was offered. It’s an interesting debate!

  5. I am flying to Antigua in a couple of weeks.

    Does anyone know if the previous night’s bag drop is available again?

    Thank you

  6. I’m wondering how many regular passengers, whether travelling for business or leisure, will be using Club World from LGW next winter, given the absurd prices that BA is asking at the moment. In a normal (pre-Covid) February I used to reckon on paying about £5,000 for two seats return to most islands, especially as we could be flexible on dates; looking at Jan/Feb 23 similar flights are showing for at least £14,000. So we’ll use a 2-for-1 voucher to get to JFK (where my wife has family), then go on with AA, so coming out at about 60% of the ‘normal’ price.

    1. Yes the price of long haul flights to most places are crazy at the moment. Be interesting to see if people actually pay it.

  8. I was in LGW south terminal yesterday morning, at 0810 there were no queues at either the premium desks or the self service bag drop area. A small queue at the non-premium manned check-in desks but nothing untoward about that. FYI there are about half a dozen Gatwick Airport installed common user self service check-in machines between zones EF, these appear to be able to issue a BA boarding card.

Comments are closed.