TRIP REPORT: Indirect Travel Fun – Lounging Around Heathrow Terminal 3 (Cathay Pacific and American Airlines Lounges)

Lounging Around Heathrow Terminal 3 (Cathay Pacific and American Airlines Lounges)
Indirect fun – To Chicago with America Airlines and Finnair

• How much is it this time???
• Early Morning National Express, Mid Moring Terminal 3
• Elegantly Lounging around Terminal 3 (Cathay Pacific and American Airlines Lounges)
• American Airlines AA99 London Heathrow to Chicago (Main Cabin Extra)
• Into the USA, Crowne Plaza O’Hare
• Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• Airplane Art Extra: From the Hyatt Regency O’Hare
• Chicago Classics: Mannys Deli and Cafeteria
• Bench Test and First Impressions: Canon EOS R50
• Rebuilding a Legacy: Central Camera, Chicago
• Chicago Classics: Peaquod’s Pizza
• Back to O’Hare, Swissport Lounge Chicago T5
• Finnair AY10 Chicago O’Hare to Helsinki Vantaa
• A quick ground-side visit, and an even quicker stop at the Finnair Lounge
• Finnair AY1337 to Helsinki Vantaa to London Heathrow
• The Unexpected Coach Home
• Expect the Unexpected

Lounging Around – Cathay Pacific and American Airlines Lounge

I’ve got two lounge visits in this part of the trip – the first being the Cathy Pacific Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3 and the second being the American Airlines lounge.

One is being visited because it’s a preferred lounge. The other is because it is slightly closer to the gate and a better place to be if something goes wrong. Given my luck in the past, I’d prefer to hedge my bets.

Cathay Pacific Lounge T3

Let us start with the Cathay Pacific Lounge. It’s been some time since I’ve been in the lounge – mainly due to crap routings.

I’ve missed these wood panels. 

Thankfully, the lounge is pretty timeless in its design. And like anything, there’s a procedure if you’re going to – get your made-to-order items done when you arrive. Trust me, it cuts down on wasted time.

Whilst the made-to-order items are being prepped, it’s the perfect time to get a drink (be it alcoholic or otherwise… a 6 am glass of bubbles can be a good thing if you’re not working straight away).

It’s also a chance to explore the self-service items in the lounge as well. Cathay Pacific’s lounge is back to full strength, with a mixture of cold and hot items for self-service.

Thankfully, my traditional seat looking out on the apron was available too. This would help make the upcoming flight… bearable.

The pager went off – signalling it was time to collect my food. If you’re honestly surprised by the next picture… well. Go through some previous trip reports and come back…

Yes – Dan Dan noodles with a Char Sui bao. Not original in my menu choices, but after the day before and where I am now… it would do nicely.

And sometimes, comfort food is the best food to have. I spent time nibbling through this, as well as grabbing coffee and watching the world go by as the sun began to rise and daylight flooded the lounge.

That’s the problem coming here as autumn comes – it’s as dark as anything during the mornings (at least before the clocks go back).

It’s also time to lock down the work email account and ensure things will tick over for the hours I’m over the phone.

What goes well with helpdesk work? Correct. Wonton noodles.

I have odd definitions in life. I prefer them that way.

With noodles slurped (sorry) and emails to placate people (or divert them) done, I headed out.

Whilst I could have hung around a little longer, being nearer the gate sounded like a good idea – and if my seat was still required on this flight.

American Airlines Lounge, Heathrow Terminal 3

This is just down the corridor from the Cathay Pacific lounge, with the Virgin Atlantic lounge above it – not hard to find in the Terminal 3 complex.

This lounge had been closed for the past few times I’ve passed through Heathrow, so in a way, it was nice to come back here.

After I checked in, I was directed to the main lounge (the days of using the Flagship lounge are behind me).

It seems someone had installed brighter lightbulbs in the main food area, with it it is seemingly a lot brighter in the facility. The lounge retains its size, even if it felt as if it had been opened up a bit.

The seating is still the same, although it has been redressed into ivory and red, as opposed to blue in the past. It’s still comfortable, with wifi accessible without any issues.

I like this photo. Shame I didn’t clear the food away… 

It’s to the point where you can be comfortable in the lounge without thinking about much – that when travelling is one less stress to worry about.

Speaking about one less thing to worry about, catering at the American Airlines lounge was the buffet-style breakfast. That isn’t a surprise, considering the volume of passengers that pass through this facility (compared to the Cathay Lounge for example).

At this time, it was a breakfast buffet, with sausages, scrambled eggs, bacon and beans for hot items, whilst cold cuts and cereals were there for those who wanted cold items. There was a reasonably stocked bar too that was self-service.

There’s also a traditional sweets bar too.

Admittedly, I had a little bit of time to load the iPad with content from BBC iPlayer and Prime Video – and before I knew it, they were calling the flight.

With the downloads complete, I packed up my trash and headed to the gate.

Gate 30 is what I would call “a far enough walk” away from the central hub of Terminal 3 – enough that you can do it in 10 minutes, but it is a good idea to plan if you’re walking from the Central area.

Off we go

I do love this image – the wonder of travel.

You have the choice of a travellator or just pounding one foot in front of the other. I chose to walk – mainly as after this, I would be stuck in a seat for 8 hours or so.

You can take the travellator… or… walk. 

Approaching the gate

That’s new… a Boots vending machine…

Approaching Gate 30, boarding was in full swing. With general boarding starting, I made my way through the priority line.

With my passport and boarding pass checked, I was free to board the Boeing 787, bound for Chicago.

Next: AA99 London Heathrow to Chicago. What’s that grabbing me? Ooohhhhhh.