A Modelling Day Out – Back to Barcelona El Prat and the Salon Miro Lounge

Back to El Prat and the Salon VIP Miro
A Modelling Day Out

In this madcap day out

• Like I need an excuse to fly for a day out. (I blame my birthday)
• Off to Heathrow
• British Airways Galleries Club, Terminal 3
• BA478 London Heathrow to Barcelona El Prat (Club Europe)
• Into Barcelona on the Aerobús
  
• Working with a Model on location in Barcelona
• Back to El Prat and the Salon VIP Miro
• BA481 Barcelona to London Heathrow (Club Europe)
• Experiencing Mobility Arrival Services at Heathrow and back up the M40
• Sometimes, The Best Adventures are Shared

Back to Barcelona El Prat

With us both off the bus, my friend wasn’t feeling great. Rather than make her walk to and from the safe luggage store – I headed down myself and picked it up.

Passing by a branch of. Well. Read it your self and try not to giggle like a child. I can’t.

It would give her time to evaluate our next steps.

With €10 paid for the privilege of storing a bag, I headed back the departures level and my friend – who was struggling to walk.

This was not good at all.

Terminal 1 departures.

We made the decision there and then to get wheelchair support for the flight and arrivals process – and hoped we could get some support for my friend.

We both headed to the check-in desks and made the request. There were a few questions, but eventually, the wheelchair request was granted.

There was a 20-minute wait – but eventually, a wheelchair assist came along. Considering this was put together at the last minute – neither of us was too concerned, providing we made the gate in time for the flight.

With that – my friend made her way off with the wheelchair assist to the gate. I would join her later  – as I had a lounge to check out for all of 15 minutes for the purposes of review (and yes – I checked she was fine with me going off to do #avgeek work).

I headed to the priority security and was cleared straight away with no queues (a welcome thing).

That done, it was time to head to the Non-Schengen section of the terminal. These are in the upper sections of Barcelona El Prat – the D and E gates.

Past security and immigration.

The D Gates also consider the well-hidden lounge at Barcelona El Pratt for Non-Schengen Passengers.

Welcome to hell.

(Hint: Exit Duty-Free and then go downstairs)

SALA VIP MIRO

I remember this lounge from my trip where I went to Hong Kong and got a lot of Avios for the weekend some years ago. Even then, my memories of the lounge weren’t exactly what I would call “great”.

It seems that my memories are accurate.

Lounge entrance

Seating 

Children’s area

Pod.

Dull seating

The lounge itself is a large area, split into different zones to work or relax

Whilst I remember packaged pasta and other foodstuffs, the catering offering in it has been… simplified.

Soft drinks

Cakes

Meats 

Snacks

Pastries and bread

Flavoured water

Biscuits and cakes.

We’re down to the basics here – so we have bread, cheeses, meats and not enough lemon Fanta to save a planet.

And in a lounge, Lemon Fanta is a thing. Ask Pam Ann.

There are also some cake options too – but not great for a lounge that is not only used by British Airways, but by other long haul carriers as their premium lounge.

At least there’s plenty of seating, with power outlets and cables you can trip over. It seems that trip hazards are a thing in the lounge.

Whilst the lounge has changed a fair bit from when I was here last and it tries to feel modern and funky, it comes out a bit soulless.

With limited time to grab a Fanta and a couple of self-made chorizo sandwiches, it was time to head to the gate.

D10 is a bit of a hike from the lounge – but can be done in under five minutes if you put your mind into it.

The LEVEL Boston flight looked busy

A whole another LEVEL.

Hike!

Automated Hiking

Arriving at the gate, Groups 4 and 5 were loading up on the aircraft – either I had left boarding late, or we were going back to London rather lightly loaded.

Is your bag masquerading as a box?

Either way, I presented my boarding pass and was zapped through to board the waiting Airbus A320 back to London Heathrow.

Down we go.

Next: British Airways BA481 Barcelona El Prat to London Heathrow

Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond – Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, with in-depth coverage, unique research as well as the humour and madness as I only know how to deliver.

Follow me on Twitter at @EconomyBeyond for the latest updates! You can also follow me on Instagram too!

Also remember that as well as being part of BoardingArea, we’re also part of BoardingArea.eu, delivering frequent flyer news, miles and points to the European reader.