| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 07/08/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 37 |
| Copyright: Other |
Facilities update
Latest lounges seek to soothe the jet-lag blues
Carriers cater for a refreshing change
BUSINESS travellers used to check how good the airline service was by how much legroom they got or what year the wine was. Not any more.Now they are more likely to count how many shower cubicles and fresh fruit drinks are on offer at carriers’ arrivals lounges.
Airlines have long prided themselves on how comfortable their departure lounges are at airports. But now they have gone a step further and are developing arrivals facilities to refresh tired passengers.
The two big long-haul UK carriers – British Airways and Virgin Atlantic – have both recently opened arrivals lounges at Heathrow.
BA’s is situated just beyond customs in the arrivals area of Terminal Four.
The complex is based on the airline’s modern and minimalist Terraces concept and boasts 38 showers.
It also has a spa area for massages and treatments and a gym.
In addition, BA provides a business room for e-mailing, fax and Internet access, as well as a suit-pressing service and shoe cleaning.
A spokeswoman for BA said the arrivals lounge, which is open to business, first and top- tier frequent flyers, often caters for up to 350 people a day.
The airline is unlikely to add any more arrivals lounges at Heathrow, as Terminal Four handles its long-haul services but development at Gatwick is possible.
BA’s rival, Virgin, is enhancing its Revivals lounge in Terminal Three this summer.
The complex, similar in style to the airline’s departure lounges, is landside and open to Upper Class customers only.
Internet access is currently being installed in the business suite to complement the free telephone and fax services.
Virgin’s facility is smaller than BA’s with 18 showers but has larger family cubicles and a shower for disabled customers.
The cubicles have heated mirrors to avoid them steaming up and suit pressing is available while passengers are showering.
Eileen Gorbett O’Rourke, an agent for Revivals, said around 70 people are expected to use the lounge each day.
Virgin also provides its Virgin Touch beauty service to refresh passengers with make-up, shaves and foot spas.
United Airlines and American Airlines also have arrivals lounges in Terminal Three with similar facilities to BA andVirgin.
By September, all passengers from first to economy, will be able to use an arrivals lounge on completion of BAA’s The Island at Terminal Three arrivals. For £25, passengers will be able to choose from 29 showers, business facilities, a valet service and refreshments.
Sprucing up: Virgin is enhancing its Heathrow Terminal Three Revivals lounge this summer
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With airlines investing hundreds of thousands of pounds in new lounge facilities for their business travellers, Travel Weekly hot-footed it down to Terminal 1 at Heathrow airport to find out just how useful they are.
With airlines investing hundreds of thousands of pounds in new lounge facilities for their business travellers, Travel Weekly hot-footed it down to Terminal 1 at Heathrow airport to find out just how useful they are.“They’re only really useful if your flight is delayed. I might use the business centre to pick up my messages but I wouldn’t use any of the PCs as I carry my own. If there is a delay it’s nice to be able to relax in a lounge. As far as refreshments go, I eat whatever’s going. I have never used the showers. When you fly business class, you pay for the flexibility of the ticket. The fact they also provide a lounge is not what you are paying for.”
Barry Barton, manager, Smithkline Beecham
“I don’t really see the point of them. When you are flying on business, you tend to get there 45 minutes before your flight and go straight to the gate. If my flight was delayed, I might go to the lounge because there is a nicer atmosphere and it is more relaxed. I would only have tea or coffee. I wouldn’t even need to use the telephones as I have my own mobile.”
Dave Bramall, technical support, Millipore (a pharmaceutical firm)
“Usually I don’t have time to make use of the lounge but it’s nice to use when flights are delayed. I wouldn’t usually have any hot food, just a drink and a snack. It’s good to be able to sit in a comfortable chair and read a magazine. I wouldn’t use the business centre on arrival. I don’t think I would use the showers – I didn’t even know they had them. I think I would prefer to wait until I got to my hotel.”
Leigh Tatersall, logistics manager, Dixons Group