18 February 2010

So the next time you're in London...

The next time you're in London, be in first or business class and be waiting for a British Airways connection.


These images are taken from the lounges in Heathrow's new Terminal Five. These stunning rooms were designed by London-based Davies & Baron and the effect on the whole is that of a luxury hotel. "Airport" doesn't figure into it in the least.


There are a total of six lounges in the new Terminal Five. The Galleries Arrival Lounge -- which is reserved for the airline's First and Club World passengers and Executive Club members with Gold status - features a special hydrotherapy area with 94 shower rooms that include jet showers, steam showers and luxury massage showers. All of the showers include Hansgrohe's Pharo Lift 2 shower panels. In addition, fittings from the Axor Massaud bathroom collection are used in the luxurious spa of the Galleries Arrival Lounge.


As an added benefit, every fixture in this new lounge area has been fitted with Hansgrohe's EcoSmart technology. EcoSmart is an integrated flow restrictor that limits water consumption to 7 liters a minute.


So as you can well imagine, luxury lounges such as these would take away the bitter taste left by transatlantic air travel. Or any air travel for that matter.


About the last thing I'd ever expect during a layover is a close encounter with a spa shower. Based on the looks of this new lounge area at Heathrow, I'd actually plan a long connection. These lounges are practically a destination unto themselves. Anybody been there and have a traveler's tale to tell? Anybody want to volunteer to check them out?



9 comments:

  1. It's those of us who fly across the ocean in Economy that need to be pampered when we get to Heathrow.

    Highly unlikely that I'll ever be checking out these lounges....

    Kelly

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  2. Never say never Kelly. Some PR person at British Air may be looking for a Canadian blogger to write a review. That PR person will call you out of the blue and offer you a first class ticket from Ottawa to London and throw in a long weekend at the Savoy. Stranger things have happened. Believe me.

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  3. Oh wow, that's not the Heathrow I've experienced. If you're looking for bloggers, BA, count me in, please? Pretty please?

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  4. I don't think I'm quite in that league of bloggers, but I guess I can hope!!

    Kelly

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  5. Not at all my experience either Sarah, I hope the PR gods at BA are reading this. Please.

    Kelly: You are in the upper echelons of the bloggoratti, believe it!

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  6. I really really could have used that place on my way through Heathrow last week. I believe it was not far at all from that lounge that I was patted down.

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  7. Exploring a career as a mule? I can imagine lounges like these would be welcome to many weary travelers, especially after a pat down. Were you and Gene in business class or steerage?

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  8. Steerage. But fortunately, I had a whole row to myself on the way over and three seats between the two of us coming back...that's typically unheard-of in these days of jamming people in like cordwood.

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  9. Wow, that is unheard of. On a transatlantic no less.

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