by Krish Patel

Airport lounges can make for a great place to relax before a long flight. However, lounges within airport terminals aren’t always enjoyed just before departure. In fact, using a lounge upon arrival can be a nice way to refresh before heading into town. One of the most relaxing arrivals lounges is the BA Galleries Arrivals Lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport. On a recent transatlantic flight from JFK to LHR, I visited the arrivals lounge in London and was very pleased.

BA Arrivals Lounge Location, Hours, and Access

The British Airways Arrivals Lounge is located in Heathrow’s Terminal 5 after customs and immigration and one level above baggage claim. It’s open from 5:00 AM to 2:00 PM every day and is accessible to arriving British Airways First and Club World Business Class passengers and Executive Club Gold Members, as well as top tier Concierge Key status holders with American Airlines AAdvantage. In addition, Flagship First and Business Class passengers arriving on American Airlines can use the facility.

BA Arrivals Lounge Seating, Layout, Ambiance, and Amenities

Upon entering the lounge, you’ll notice the front desk space, past which is the buffet. To the left and right sides of the lounge are areas for seating and relaxation. At the left side of the lounge is some seating for getting some work done with desk space, such as high-top stools and chairs that swivel. In addition, there are spacious bathrooms stocked with Elemis skincare products.

If you’re looking to relax, there are a few seats found at this end of the lounge, including plush sofas, armchairs, and soft chairs for lounging.

Found at the opposite end of the lounge are several comfortable seating options which are good for relaxing before heading into the hustle and bustle of London. You’ll notice lamps, which give off a cozy vibe, as well as table space and charging.

In the BA Arrivals Lounge are several shower suites, which make for a great place to refresh. The shower suites are stocked with Elemis skincare products, however, I wish that they were more modern, as the walls of the room felt out of date. Finding a shower suite isn’t a difficult task in this lounge, and there was always one available. 

BA Arrivals Lounge Food and Drink

The British Airways Galleries Arrivals Lounge features a well-sized buffet that offers an English breakfast up until 12 o’clock in the afternoon. At the buffet were items such as fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, hash browns, yogurt, baked beans, and pastries. As far as beverages, there’s a selection of Union Coffee, Twinings Tea, and cold beverages. Overall, the food and beverage spread is somewhat impressive, but not as extensive as the selection in other lounges.

Overall Thoughts

Having an arrivals lounge is always a real treat when it comes to the Business Class experience, which the BA Arrivals Lounge is a great example of. There’s plenty of comfortable seating in the lounge, as well as spaces to refresh after a long journey. While the food selection wasn’t the most extensive and the showers weren’t the most modern, I still enjoyed my time here. At the end of the day, any arrivals lounge is a great space to refresh, even if it’s not the most swanky.