The Cathay Pacific and American Airlines Lounges, Heathrow Terminal 3
TRIP REPORT: Still for the Friends
Time for the first two lounge stops – The Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge and the American Airlines Business Class Lounge. How are they both doing, and are changes afoot? Let’s go and take a look.
- Still for the friends
- But first. A trip to Liverpool, North West England. But why?
- To the… daytime Heathrow run?
- Lounging around with Cathay Pacific and American Airlines
- AA87 London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare (Main Cabin Extra)
- Into the USA, A Scammer Taxi driver and the Crowne Plaza O’Hare
- The Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- Airplane Art Extra from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- Exploring Modern Photography at MCoP
- Gundam Base, Chicago
- Quick Food Adventures
- An Early Return to O’Hare and the American Airlines Flagship Lounge
- AA882 to Chicago O’Hare to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (Exit Row)
- An Atlanta Transit
- BA226 to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport to London Heathrow Terminal 3 in World Traveller
- Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory
- Still for Friends
Editor’s note: Yes. The contents list is continuing to evolve. But you know that reading one of these trip reports…
Lounge stops
Time for two lounge stops for this trip, given that Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 has the best selection of oneworld lounges at the airport.
First stop is my home at Heathrow Terminal 3 – The Cathay Pacific Lounge.
Now, there’s a little wrinkle to those who are visiting the Cathay Pacific Lounge at London Heathrow – and that the lifts between the lounge and the departures level are being refurbished. So, if you’ve got accessibility issues, head to the Qantas Lounge instead (or the American, or British Airways lounges).
Try and ruin my fun…
Diamondplate. Classy.
To the lounge
So it’s a few flights of stairs to make it up to the lounge levels. No matter, I like this lounge, so I’m happy to do that. I did not know they were managing people through the lounge (with Onowrld Emeralds being turned away and sent to other lounges).
For us mere Saphires, not a problem.
Entering the lounge, I was checked in formally, then allowed to proceed to the Business Class Lounge.
Inside the lounge – it hasn’t changed in the times I’ve been through Heathrow airport – and that’s no bad thing at all – it’s comparatively lower light, using natural light to make the airport experience bearable -rather than just LED Panels.
Hallway
Dining Area
The Noodle Bar
Self-Service Area
However, as we all know, the first thing to do is to grab something from the Noodle bar before progressing any further. After all, it’s one big reason to come here – fresh noodles make a big difference.
And a wonton noodle with some dim sum first thing in the morning, with some bubbles, is a good way to start the day.
Those who wish to test my chilli tolerance levels are welcome to do so
Wanton Noodles, Char Siu Bao and assorted Dim Sum. Or a damn good breakfast.
The trip has truely stared.
Alas, I was arriving later than normal, so someone was in my usual spot. Thankfully, I’m not too Sheldon Lee Cooper on spots, and found an armchair facing the runway.
Bar and relaxing starting
Looking out over the south runway.
My home for a while
The bottom one… that’s my spot…
Because I also like to get some photography done first thing in the morning.
Whose backside is this?
Eurowings Airbus A320neo
Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000
Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER
KLM Cityhopper Embraer E195-E2
British Airways Airbus A380
Austrian Airlines Airbus A320neo
Singaroe Airlines Boeing 777-300ER
Ryiadh Air Boeing 787-9
With the buzzer going off, I collected breakfast and got settled in, with the singular aim of not falling asleep. With the limited sleep I have had, this was another unwanted challenge in life.
Thus, I fueled up on some coffee long after the bubbles had gone whilst I tried to fight off sleep. I wish I could have dozed off as easily as this on the flight.
I also had a look and might have grazed a little on the buffet, which was set in the breakfast configuration. Again, it’s a high-quality content buffet – something Cathay Pacific has kept at this lounge.
Cerials
Pastriss
Cold things
Jam and fruit
Cold cuts
Sausages and Bacon
Beens
Hash Browns and mini tomatoes
Omlettes
And yes, the view I had of the runway was pretty reasonable, watching aeroplanes taxi and take off from Heathrow.
With caffeine back in my system and around an hour to go, it was time to head over to the American Airlines lounge, as it’s good to be in the right place if something goes wrong.
Going up.
Back down to lounge alley
Go past the BA Lounge
Lounge H
Well, I think I know which Lounge I am at now.
Entering the lounge, I was greeted by an agent who was having a few issues with their computer. Of course, your author went into IT Support agent mode and helped them fix the issue (It’s amazing how tizzy people get into when fonts are a little too large)
With that solved, I also checked my seating assignment – confirming that my seat had held… and that the middle seat was still empty.
Entering the lounge, the American Airlines Business Class lounge remains… bright. Yes, bright is a good term, with less natural light, so those LED panels are working overtime.
I found a spot, some nibbles to graze on. The lounge had its breakfast offerings out, which are passable but lacking compared to the Cathay lounge.
Tea and coffee
Cold items
Cereal and Fruits
Cold or hot?
Who remembers 1p sweet shops? Sigh
For those of you in the audience who are confused by all those E Nubners..
Conidements
On the hot menu…
Breads
Scrambled Egg
Bacon, Sausages and mushrooms
I think even the lounge knows that, with a survey out tool.
The service has been ok for some years – but it’s starting to feel a little tired. Admittedly,y at breakfast, you are a bit more limited to what you can offer (especially with the turnover in that lounge, but some new options that could appeal to different customers could be a good thing.
I just settled in and completed some admin as well as checking in on the work email… mainly to giggle and pass on my work problems to other people.
For the six business days I am away, stuff like “Can you fix my computer?” becomes “Please contact my colleagues… I am out of town”.
There is a point where any IT Tech doesn’t want to be someone else’s tech support for a few days.
Soon enough, announcements were made for the flight, which would be going from Gate 29. That gate and I seem to have an on/off relationship at the moment, with the last three flights I’ve taken out of Heathrow departing from there.
To the exit
Once more unto the malestrom
I gathered my trash and started a hike down one of the spiralling arms of Terminal 3 towards Gate 29.
Who knows?
With the queues all swallowed up, I had no wait to have my boarding pass and passport checked to be boarded, and thus I was able to enter the gate lounge.
The smaller sea of humanity
The waiting 787-9
Priority boarding had begun at this point, so I managed to grab a picture of the aircraft and head straight down the jetbridge.
It’s time to go west.
Next:
American Airlines 87 in Main Cabin Extra.
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