The good news: London Heathrow Airport just opened a new $8.6 billion state-of-the-art terminal with some of the most luxurious accommodations in the world.
The bad news: Unless you are a higher-fare premium customer you won’t get the opportunity to indulge in the terminal’s ultra-luxe amenities.
Still, airport officials say the addition of the new Terminal 5 will greatly improve the travel experience for millions of travelers who fly British Airways. (The new facility was designed specifically for the 30 million or so passengers who fly with the carrier.) For example, frequent flyers will now be pampered in the terminal’s new ritzy first- and business-class Galleries lounges. The swanky waiting area was built at a cost of $120 million and can accommodate up to 2,500 people. What’s more, it now holds the title of most luxurious airport lounge complex in the world.
Fitting, given that each of the lounges is adorned with Swarowski crystal chandeliers, paintings from famous artists, faux fireplaces, and life-size wooden horses with heads crowned by lamps. Each of the upscale spots, which is reserved for premium cabin passengers and silver and gold members of British Airways’ Executive Club frequent-flyer program, include a 20-seat theater and offer complimentary food and drink, Wi-Fi access and computer services.
Meanwhile, British Airways’ first class and gold frequent flyers can pass the time in between flights in a bar covered in gold leaf, a wine gallery offering regular tasting sessions, and a spa with aromatherapy treatments and shiatsu massage. There’s also a kid’s zone complete with plasma screens and a play station. First-class passengers also have access to the swanky Concorde Room, which includes a boardroom that can be reserved, a restaurant, a bar and three private hotel-style bedrooms, each with its own bathroom.
British Airways’ passengers who fly economy will still get to benefit from the new terminal’s “flow-through” layout, which was designed to get flyers from the terminal entrance through security to the departure lounge in less than 10 minutes. To do so the terminal is equipped with almost 100 self-service kiosks and bag-drop points and 20 security-screening points. British Airways’ claims the new improvements will make check-in faster than at any other Heathrow terminal.
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