First look: British Airways opens new San Francisco Airport lounge

British Airways has cut the ribbon on its new-look lounge at San Francisco, which now combines the seperate first class and business class spaces of the old lounge but adds a private a la carte dining room for BA's own first class flyers.

Visitors to the former BA lounge, which closed at the start of 2019 for renovations, may have trouble recognising these fresh digs.

A wall-to-wall makeover has seen the space reinvigorated with the same contemporary design as recently-opened BA lounges in Rome, New York and Aberdeen.

There's now room for 146 passengers ahead of BA's afternoon and evening flights to London, although the lounge will close around 7pm – too early to welcome travellers on Qantas' flights to Sydney and Melbourne, who'll still need to make tracks to the Cathay Pacific lounge.

Located one level down from the terminal's ground floor in Concourse A, between gates A4 and A6, large windows provide natural light and sometimes an up-close view of your BA flight.

Flights departing from gates A4 and A6, which is typically the afternoon BA284 Boeing 747 service, also allow passengers to board directly from the lounge.

A stylish bar serves as the lounge's focal point while a curated music playlist contributes to a relaxed cocktail vibe.

There's ample variety in the types of seating as well as the spaces carved out within the lounge to suit moods from social to solo, with plenty of AC and USB outlets to go around.

BA claims that 80% of the seats have easy access to power, and that includes this window-side bench.

Another thoughtful touch: side-tables which provide space to park your cabin bag out of the way while keeping it close at hand.

Travellers can sample hot and cold buffets with a seasonal menu, a pasta bar and a selection of locally-sourced cheeses.

BA's first class passengers (but not Emerald-grade frequent flyers, such as BA Executive Club Gold members) will head for the private dining room and settle in one of 26 plush seats.

The a la carte menu which includes wine pairings (showcasing some wonderful Sonoma and Napa Valley wines) along with mezze plates, rigatoni and seafood cioppino, which is a San Fran speciality.

The refurbishment has, however, seen the shower suites removed – so if you want to freshen up before that ten hour flight to London, we suggest grabbing a quick shower before you check out of your hotel.

Up next on BA's lounge to-do list are similar renovations for Geneva and Johannesburg, although the year's star attraction is of course the debut of the new Club Suite business class, which takes wing in August on a factory-fresh Airbus A350.

David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.