June EuroTrip Part 4A: London to New York (British Airways Club Lounge B gates)

For the second to last part of my trip to summer trip to Europe, I needed to get to New York to go to a wedding. The wedding was in Upstate New York, so it made sense to me to fly to New York City and coordinate with other people coming from San Francisco.  That part of the plan worked out fine overall.  However, I had not taken into account that the Northeast of the United States is extremely small and that I actually should have flown into Boston because getting from Boston airport to Upstate New York would have, in fact, been way easier.  I’m adding this note in case it helps someone else out one day. 

Just like a few days prior, I started my journey to New York in Heathrow’s Terminal 5.  British Airways’ long-haul flights to the United States always (I believe) depart from concourse B or C, rather than the primary terminal area, which is concourse A.  Upon clearing the Gold Wing security, I was deposited into the Galleries First Lounge.  I went and checked out the buffet as per usual:

I was unimpressed. 

I had read that the buffet selection in the First vs Club lounges is basically the same, so I wanted to check that for myself.  I went to check the lounge occupancy screen to see if I might want to visit a different lounge to vary it up a little.

The ‘Club Lounge South’ is located above the Galleries First Lounge, where I was, and was apparently packed, as was the ‘Club Lounge North’, which is located on the opposite side of concourse A. 

Instead, I decided to checkout the ‘Club Lounge B gates’, since I had never been there before and it was closer to my departure gate (in the C gates). 

I arrived to the lounge with barely a welcome. That’s probably because the people at these desks have to scan so many people in each day, but is way worse of a welcome than you get at the Galleries First Lounge.

To the right side of the lounge was the first seating area, which was clearly set up mostly for dining.

The next areas were more lounge focused.

I also noted that there were showers, which is always helpful near long-haul flights. 

To the left of reception was a prosecco area, which was clearly sponsored.

These pictures really don’t do justice to how pink the entire setup was.  But this area had the best couches and lounging, which makes sense when coupled with prosecco.

After checking out these areas, I decided to check out the buffet and see if it was, in fact, largely the same as in the Galleries First Lounge.  Spoiler: it was.

The center piece of this Club Lounge was this sandwich serving station:

Along the edges were the standard buffet items, including pastries and the build-your-own full English breakfast.

The full English breakfast offering here is, in fact, basically the same as the first one I’d seen in the Galleries First lounge.

The drinks selection also looked largely the same, but I’m not too familiar with different types of alcohol, so I can’t speak too much to it.

So I just grabbed some soup and a glass of prosecco.

Shortly after finishing my soup, it was time for my flight, where I would get served another lunch anyway.

I left the lounge and go to the gate just in time for boarding to begin.

I’ll catch you in part B with the flight to NYC.