Search for pages and actions
Simon
Last Updated: 27 Oct 2026
Anyone who's spent time in British Airways lounges at Heathrow will know that some are overdue for a refresh. BA seems to agree, and it's finally putting some serious money behind the upgrades.
The airline has announced plans to overhaul every lounge at its London hub, starting with a brand-new facility at Terminal 5 C Gates. There's even a 17-metre bar in the works. The plans also include a complete makeover of the Heathrow Arrivals lounge, a new First Class check-in experience at Terminal 3, and more lounge upgrades across BA's global network.
There's plenty to look forward to, but the catch is that the headline lounge won't open until the end of 2028. Clearly, good things take time, although BA is asking passengers to be especially patient with this one.
The biggest news is the introduction of a new lounge at Terminal 5 C Gates, which is already under construction. It's expected to become one of BA's largest lounge projects, with sweeping views of the airfield and terminal concourse.
The design will feature British craftsmanship throughout, with UK-sourced materials, bespoke furniture, and architectural details inspired by aviation. BA is promising a light, spacious interior with dedicated areas for dining, relaxing, working, and showering before flights.
And then there's the bar. At 17 metres long, the airline expects it to be one of the longest airport lounge bars in the world. That's certainly one way to make an impression, although most passengers would probably settle for a decent drink and somewhere comfortable to sit.
The new facility will also have a dedicated Concorde lounge for First Class passengers, complete with private concierge service, upgraded dining and secluded spaces. Darker interiors and richer materials will give it a different feel from the main British Airways Business Class lounge.
There's another reason this project matters, and it has nothing to do with the bar. Terminal 5 C Gates currently has no BA lounge of its own. The new Heathrow airport lounge should make life easier for passengers departing from C Gates, who currently have to spend extra time to reach their departure gate after visiting a lounge elsewhere in Terminal 5.
BA is also giving its Terminal 5 Arrivals lounge a complete redesign, with refurbishment scheduled to begin in early 2027 and the new facility expected to open before the end of that year.
The lounge will use the airline's latest design concept, first introduced at its new Miami lounge. Plans include a coffee bar and deli, larger dining areas, quieter spaces for relaxing and dedicated work booths.
The redesigned lounge will have 59 shower rooms, including premium shower suites and shared dressing areas. That's quite a reduction from the 94 showers in the current lounge, although BA may be banking on fewer business travellers needing to freshen up before heading straight to the office. Hopefully, the trade-off will be larger, better-equipped showers.
First Class passengers will have their own dedicated Concorde Arrivals area within the redesigned lounge, complete with private cabanas, exclusive dining spaces and interiors finished in BA's familiar blue, red and cream colours.
The existing Arrivals lounge is already a great perk on long-haul British Airways reward flights. A better version of it is certainly something to look forward to, especially for those arriving early in the morning.
Heathrow Terminal 3 is also getting some attention. British Airways is working with American Airlines on a new First check-in facility, scheduled to open this winter. The dedicated check-in area will feature a dark red colour scheme inspired by BA's First Wing at Terminal 5, along with design elements carried across the airline's new lounges. The idea is to give premium passengers a calmer start to their journey, away from the usual airport check-in crowds.
And there's some good news for frequent flyers who haven't booked First Class. The new facility won't be restricted to First Class ticket holders. British Airways Club Gold members and above, and equivalent American Airlines members, will also be eligible to use it. That's a great perk for status holders. After all, one of the pleasures of holding Gold status is enjoying a few First Class privileges even when travelling further back in the aircraft.
The travel experience begins well before boarding. A decent lounge, a proper meal and somewhere comfortable to relax can make the journey feel like a treat before the aircraft has even left the ground.
That's why BA's Heathrow investment is welcome news. The new C Gates lounge is especially great for passengers departing from that satellite terminal, since they’ll be able to stay in the lounge longer instead of leaving early to make their way across Terminal 5.
The new C Gates lounge will also be available to travellers who book British Airways reward flights in Business Class, in line with BA’s usual lounge access rules. British Airways Club Silver members and above will also be eligible, while First Class passengers will have access to the dedicated Concorde space.
Of course, there's one important nuance. A new Business Class lounge won't suddenly make reward seats easier to find. BA will still decide how many seats to release for Avios bookings, and those popular long-haul redemptions will still require some planning.
If you’re looking to book flights with Avios, use Reward Flight Finder to check available seats across different dates and cabins. And if your ideal Business Class seats aren't available, set an Availability Alert to track when new seats appear. Gold Reward Flight Finder members can also use Flight-by-Flight Alerts to monitor specific flights and departure times.
The British Airways lounges at Heathrow might be getting the biggest makeover, but BA's overseas lounges aren't being forgotten. British Airways has already opened or refurbished lounges in Miami, Glasgow, Seattle and Washington. Redevelopment work is now underway in Boston and Newark, with Geneva and San Francisco scheduled for refurbishment in 2027.
The airline wants its lounges to have a recognisable look and feel across the network, using the new design concept introduced in Miami. That's a sensible ambition. The quality of British Airways lounges can vary a lot depending on the airport, and regular passengers know that some have aged better than others. A good Business Class lounge can make a long connection or delayed departure much easier to tolerate. A tired lounge with limited seating and uninspiring food doesn't quite deliver the same experience, no matter how impressive the aircraft waiting outside might be.
BA Chairman and CEO Sean Doyle described the programme as an important step in the airline's lounge development, with British design and craftsmanship playing a central role. He said, “This investment is a major milestone in the evolution of our lounges and reflects our ambition to create a more connected and consistent customer journey. These spaces will take our lounge design concept to the next step, building on Miami and creating a distinctive British Airways look and feel across key customer touchpoints, from First Wing and our lounges to the onboard experience. By showcasing the best of British design, craftsmanship and hospitality, we will deliver a more premium, seamless experience for our customers. This is the first of many developments in the pipeline, and we look forward to sharing more as we transform the customer experience in the years ahead.”
The plans certainly sound ambitious. The test will be how much of that ambition passengers notice when the lounges are busy.
The good news is that passengers won't have to wait until 2028 for every improvement. The new First check-in experience at Terminal 3 is expected to open in winter 2026–27. The revamped Heathrow Arrivals lounge is scheduled to follow by the end of 2027, while the new Terminal 5 C Gates lounge is due to open towards the end of 2028.
The lounge investment was announced on the same day as BA's A380 refurbishment announcement, which will introduce new cabins across the airline's superjumbo fleet. The new interiors will include redesigned First Class suites, Club Suite seating taking over the upper deck, a bigger Premium Economy cabin and refreshed Economy seating.
It's an encouraging combination. If you’re planning British Airways reward flights in the years ahead, you could find yourself enjoying a much better aircraft cabin and more comfortable airport facilities on the same trip.
The lounge changes won't alter how many Avios are required to book flights with Avios, nor will they guarantee better reward availability. But getting a better experience for the points already being spent is certainly welcome news.
