Concorde Lounge - Brief Review
Posted: 20 Sep 2008, 11:43Well, been looking forward to trying out the T5 experience for some time now and at last the big day had arrived.
We got dropped off at the airport by the first entrance which meant we had to walk all the way down the entire length of the terminal to get to First check in, which was fine, just so we could see the queues, or not as the case may be. It seemed busy and most queues had 3-5 people in them but all seemed well. I saw a Club check in area just before first which must have been new as I thought there was no spereate club area.
Anyway, we were asked if were Gold or First. I said the latter and we were shown over to a very friendly check in lady who chatted away creating a good rapport, advising us that we were entitled to use the Fast Track security and then just to the right go through the door to the exclusive Concorde Lounge. Excellent.
Security was great, no hold up or line at all, straight through in 2 minutes. The security guard to the lounge door was looking over the railing to the terminal below and didn't hear us approach, so we strolled right on in to the check in lady who scanned our boarding passes with a smile and left us to our own devices.
It was smaller than I thought, in a nice exclusive atmosphere. There were not that many free chairs without people around them, so we sat down on a sofa around others, adjacent to the restaurant area. I went to the bar and asked for Champagne and was offered Bollinger. Very nice thank you, and indeed it was.
We booked a couple of treatments - Chair body massage with facial (awesome experience - loved it. The masseuse told me they were on sale at Harrods for 10k, but you could pick them up for 3k!). We lounged around a bit, went through some doors that lead to a terraced area/balcony type environment, overlooking the runway. This was spacious and large, with different types os seating, from chairs, to sofa's to comfy chairs to lounge in.
The bar area was quite sparse, no help yourself, unlikemost other BA lounges I have been in. There was fruit, biscuits and mini snacks on the bar but that was it. Menus were scattered around the tables and after 12, the lunch menu kicks in. You could eat anywhere, but we chose the restaurant for a bit of privacy. Menu was basic and OK - Organic Sausages, mash and onion gravy. Burger in Ciabatta bread, with relish and pickles. There were a few others, around 7 or 8 choices with either lemon tart or apple pie for dessert and cheese. We shared the apple, had a nice Shiraz, wit coffee and cognac to follow! Pleasant indeed.
Also in the middle of the area were some high stools and tables, with the outer edges having the comfy chairs and sofa's. The lighting was ambient, with mini chandeliers hanging down to create the right feeling. Staff were ranging from cordial to very nice, the drink was free flowing.
The other side of the lounge led through to the other lounges. Tempted, we went into the First lounge. This was huge! It resembled the club in the old terminal, but a bit more plush. There was Tattinger and Bollinger on offer as self service, though not chilled very well, as well as a full self service bar. The food was also help yourself, with salads, pastas, an oter hot food on offer and crisps, nibbles (The carrot cake was gorgeous and was a scone with fresh clotted cream and jam - amazing! Why not avaiable in Concorde, I do not know.) I felt the choice available was better here, although whilst more larger and moving away from the exclusive feel of the smaller Concorde, it seemed better in other ways. Less atmospheric, but better facilities and choice.
The Club lounge was large too, with a smaller self service bar (no champagne that I could see) but a similar self service food area. Still some atmopshere, but after First/Concorde, you could tell the difference, snob that I am. Actually I will be there in February, on was to South Africa, so had to get a bit acclimatised with the Club lounge!! Lacked the special feeling, but I guess it would after my previous 2 experiences in the other lounges.
Back to Concorde, ventured into the Cabana room - a mini hotel in itself, a wet room, bidet, toilet, chaise longue type bed and plasma TV, sink, all set up very nice to get a few house kip, although these had to be prebooked.
Before you knew it, time to board to Beijing. Down the stairs I bid a fond farewell, to get the connecting shuttle to my plane. I will try and to a TR when I have time, or get back home as I have 3 weeks of touring China and Japan. Just sitting in the Club lounge of the Pen in Beijing typing this, but now feeling very weary as jet lag catching up - landed only 4 hours ago!
Anyway, really pleased I managed to do all 3 lounges. Concorde was special and exclusive and I would love to go there again, but sadly, as with the equally as good First Lounge, it will be a few years before I fly First again - still the Club beckons in February and as I wonder past the other 2 on the way to my massage, I can look back with fond memories of a very pampered 4 hours!!
We got dropped off at the airport by the first entrance which meant we had to walk all the way down the entire length of the terminal to get to First check in, which was fine, just so we could see the queues, or not as the case may be. It seemed busy and most queues had 3-5 people in them but all seemed well. I saw a Club check in area just before first which must have been new as I thought there was no spereate club area.
Anyway, we were asked if were Gold or First. I said the latter and we were shown over to a very friendly check in lady who chatted away creating a good rapport, advising us that we were entitled to use the Fast Track security and then just to the right go through the door to the exclusive Concorde Lounge. Excellent.
Security was great, no hold up or line at all, straight through in 2 minutes. The security guard to the lounge door was looking over the railing to the terminal below and didn't hear us approach, so we strolled right on in to the check in lady who scanned our boarding passes with a smile and left us to our own devices.
It was smaller than I thought, in a nice exclusive atmosphere. There were not that many free chairs without people around them, so we sat down on a sofa around others, adjacent to the restaurant area. I went to the bar and asked for Champagne and was offered Bollinger. Very nice thank you, and indeed it was.
We booked a couple of treatments - Chair body massage with facial (awesome experience - loved it. The masseuse told me they were on sale at Harrods for 10k, but you could pick them up for 3k!). We lounged around a bit, went through some doors that lead to a terraced area/balcony type environment, overlooking the runway. This was spacious and large, with different types os seating, from chairs, to sofa's to comfy chairs to lounge in.
The bar area was quite sparse, no help yourself, unlikemost other BA lounges I have been in. There was fruit, biscuits and mini snacks on the bar but that was it. Menus were scattered around the tables and after 12, the lunch menu kicks in. You could eat anywhere, but we chose the restaurant for a bit of privacy. Menu was basic and OK - Organic Sausages, mash and onion gravy. Burger in Ciabatta bread, with relish and pickles. There were a few others, around 7 or 8 choices with either lemon tart or apple pie for dessert and cheese. We shared the apple, had a nice Shiraz, wit coffee and cognac to follow! Pleasant indeed.
Also in the middle of the area were some high stools and tables, with the outer edges having the comfy chairs and sofa's. The lighting was ambient, with mini chandeliers hanging down to create the right feeling. Staff were ranging from cordial to very nice, the drink was free flowing.
The other side of the lounge led through to the other lounges. Tempted, we went into the First lounge. This was huge! It resembled the club in the old terminal, but a bit more plush. There was Tattinger and Bollinger on offer as self service, though not chilled very well, as well as a full self service bar. The food was also help yourself, with salads, pastas, an oter hot food on offer and crisps, nibbles (The carrot cake was gorgeous and was a scone with fresh clotted cream and jam - amazing! Why not avaiable in Concorde, I do not know.) I felt the choice available was better here, although whilst more larger and moving away from the exclusive feel of the smaller Concorde, it seemed better in other ways. Less atmospheric, but better facilities and choice.
The Club lounge was large too, with a smaller self service bar (no champagne that I could see) but a similar self service food area. Still some atmopshere, but after First/Concorde, you could tell the difference, snob that I am. Actually I will be there in February, on was to South Africa, so had to get a bit acclimatised with the Club lounge!! Lacked the special feeling, but I guess it would after my previous 2 experiences in the other lounges.
Back to Concorde, ventured into the Cabana room - a mini hotel in itself, a wet room, bidet, toilet, chaise longue type bed and plasma TV, sink, all set up very nice to get a few house kip, although these had to be prebooked.
Before you knew it, time to board to Beijing. Down the stairs I bid a fond farewell, to get the connecting shuttle to my plane. I will try and to a TR when I have time, or get back home as I have 3 weeks of touring China and Japan. Just sitting in the Club lounge of the Pen in Beijing typing this, but now feeling very weary as jet lag catching up - landed only 4 hours ago!
Anyway, really pleased I managed to do all 3 lounges. Concorde was special and exclusive and I would love to go there again, but sadly, as with the equally as good First Lounge, it will be a few years before I fly First again - still the Club beckons in February and as I wonder past the other 2 on the way to my massage, I can look back with fond memories of a very pampered 4 hours!!