London Heathrow’s new Terminal 2 is now open and will be the hub for all Star Alliance members flying out of the airport – so what about the lounges where travellers will rest their weary feet?
The cavernous T2 – which also goes by the name of The Queen’s Terminal, in honour of Queen Elizabeth II – will host six lounges.
Lufthansa will operate the main lounge in the T2A terminal, while Air Canada, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines will all operate lounges in the T2B satellite terminal.
United will in fact have two separate lounges: a United Club and United Global First Lounge.
Both have been developed around the United Club concept already seen in the airline's Chicago, Seattle and San Diego lounges, and will be United’s first international lounges sporting the new look.
Totalling around 2,000 square metres (22,000 square feet) in area, the lounges will feature floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the airfield plus the usual creature comforts such as shower suites.
But United won’t be alone in the swish lounge stakes.
The neighbouring Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge will adopt the 'home away from home' model of SQ’s new-look lounge concept which made its debut in Sydney late last year.
Created by Singapore-based architectural and interior design firm ONG&ONG, this divides each lounge into a number of distinct personal spaces “designed and modelled after elements of a home.”
In addition to living room spaces, special 'productivity pods' will offer added privacy for working before your flight.
The dining area is reminiscent of a kitchen, albeit a well-stocked one, with a menu built around a ‘taste of Singapore’ concept featuring iconic dishes from Singapore such as laksa and mee siam, alongside meals from around the world.
Only one airline not belonging to the Star Alliance family – that being Ireland’s Aer Lingus – will have a lounge at T2.
There’ll also be an independent ‘pay-in’ Plaza Premium lounge (below).
This will feature a live cooking station serving made-to-order dishes plus a daily tapas selection and a la carte menu with ‘guest recipes’ by British celebrity chefs.
Other high society touches include a champagne bar and organic spa with a range of travel fatigue-busting treatments.
Also read: Photo gallery – London Heathrow Airport's new T2 terminal
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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.
Cathay Pacific - Asia Miles
25 Apr 2013
Total posts 542
Any non-Star Alliance airlines flying out of T2 without opening a lounge (unlike Aer Lingus?)
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2561
T2's other independent airlines are Virgin Atlantic's Little Red and Germanwings, both sans lounge.
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
29 Jan 2011
Total posts 157
I'm scheduled to fly out of Heathrow on a Lufthansa flight to Munich on June 9 which is presently scheduled to depart from T1. Will all Lufthansa flights now be operating out of T2 as of JUne 4.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
14 Jan 2014
Total posts 340
I believe the first two weeks will only see United utilising T2.
Air Canada - Aeroplan
25 Mar 2014
Total posts 1
Ill travel Yul to SGN via Heathrow in november 2014. As travelling Thai First, is someone knows wich lounge Thai will use? Will we have the choice between SIA or Lufthansa? Tkx!
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