LHR British Airways Concorde Room

October 2012

Today is BA New First day!

That plus The Concorde Room and I'm excited to give BA another chance. As we drove up to the First departure area, a BA representative greeted us and asked if we'd like to use the new Complimentary valet service today. Apparently, this is a very recent addition to BA First service.

Using a hotel type luggage cart, our valet escorted us the First check in area and to an open check in counter.
Pleasant chit-chat as the agent linked our AA PNR, issued our ORD-DEN boarding passes and checked our bag thru to Denver.

Security was very light and we were thru in no time, although both my bags were flagged and routed for the baggage equivalent of an anal cavity inspection. But pleasant and friendly security staff. When I joked about all the electronics in my bag, he assured me that mine was nothing compared to others, especially those going to NBO. "You wouldn't believe what people try to carry on to those Nairobi flights... car parts, plumbing supplies."

British Airways Concorde Room

Mrs. SFO no longer asks "why are we leaving the hotel 4 hours before departure?" She knows that we are going to spend time in at least one lounge. And after today's first visit to the Concorde Room, I think she's hooked and may want to leave 5 hours before departure next time. I believe here exact words were "this is better than Lufthansa" although that did come after her 4th glass of Bollinger.

Seriously though, IMO the Concorde Room is indeed on a par with LH FCT/FCL in FRA/MUC, SQ's Private Room in SIN and the QF FCL in SYD.

Nicely appointed with multiple attractive seating areas both inside and "outside" on the terrace overlooking parts of T-5.

Lunch and Bollinger in the Concorde Room Dining

Now 1:15p or so, we decided to have a light lunch before our 3:35p departure.
Attractive dining area with booth like seating, offering much more privacy than other airlines Flounge dining rooms.

Our first glass of the Bollinger RosÃ©.

Today's menu.

Hah... BA pork belly?? I'd don't think so. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. We both decided to eat sensibly for the first time in a week with a Nicoise chicken salad. It was very good, and a 2nd glass of the Bollinger.

With the 3rd glass of Bollinger, we decided maybe food with champagne would be a good thing. So we ordered our server's favorite dish on the menu... Szechuan Beef with Udon Noodles. OMG. Sensational.

When the pax across the aisle raved about the Glazed Lemon Tart, what the hell. Ordered that with another glass of Bollinger.

Concorde Room Menu
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Concorde Room Wine List
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T-50 and after a most enjoyable 90 minutes in the Concorde Room, it's time to head downstairs for our S class limo ride to our gate. Ha, must be all that Bollinger. OK, how about it's time to rejoin the unwashed masses for the train ride to our concourse and gate.

Seriously, if BA did introduce limo service to the gate, now that would indeed be a game changer.

Up Next: BA297 New First to ORD

December 2013

Traffic was light on both the A4 and M4 and we arrived at First Class end of T5 in less than 30 minutes. The meet-and-greet porter service that we experienced last year was apparently only a test, with BA perhaps deciding that their premium pax are too pampered and, in the words of the CFO of the worst airline in NA, over-entitled. And unless it was very understated, there was no outside indication of the First Class check-in area. I guess you are just supposed to know.

With no bags to check, we received our BPs and were off to Fast Track security. Despite few people in line, Fast Track security was slow and manned by staff that made TSA look like a model of efficiency.

British Airways Concorde Room

Dunno about this one. I used to think this was a great lounge, but each time I visit... meh. It's OK, but doesn't do anything for me. Nicely appointed with reasonably attractive seating areas both inside and "outside" on the terrace overlooking parts of T-5. But after lots of time this year in the Lufthansa, Etihad and Emirates lounges, it's just not that exciting anymore. Some pics from last year...

Dining room? Meh. A lot of the booths are really claustrophobic and some feel like you are eating in a closet. Fortunately, the place was not crowded and we were able to find a nicer table with a "view".

Today's menu. Another meh.

And the wine list. Not bad, at least with respectable champagnes.

I decided to try the soup. Way too hot to enjoy. And when it did cool down, meh.

Nothing on the menu really interested us. OK, how about a burger.

Naturally, it only comes one way... well done. Our burger today was so bad that we gave up after one bite. And how can one screw up fries?? Ugh.

To quote Mrs. SFO: "This is the worst burger ever. This menu is terrible. I never want to eat here again."

Inside anywhere near the restaurant was now depressing so we headed outside. A little more pleasant...

... but there are no power outlets to recharge, forcing one to improvise and unplug a lamp and use its outlet.

With no lunch, how about some nibbles? OK, why are the nibbles hidden behind the bar and not out in the open where one can serve themselves instead of waiting for the waitstaff to fetch and deliver? To quote Mrs. SFO: "This is stupid. Why don't they have a place where you can just walk up and fill up your trough like the Admirals Club." Ouch, she'd rather be in an Admirals Club.

At around T-55, we headed down to limo dispatch for our S class ride to the C concourse. LOL, yeah right. Of course, no S class limo service like in FRA or MUC, no direct boarding to the plane like EK in DXB or JFK and no buggy like TG in BKK. No, we're just another number as we walk and walk and take a train to the C concourse, two train stops away.
Fifteen minutes and a train ride later we are at C56.

February 2013

Less than 12 hours later, after a comfortable evening at the Sheraton Skyline, we were back, this time at T5 where our bizarre day with BA began.

British Airways
T5 First Class Check-in and the Concorde Room

Can I be honest? An absolutely rubbish day for BA today. One that erased positive memories of last October and will make me wait a long time before coming back. First Class check-in dragon cops a snooty "are you sure you belong here" attitude, asking "are you traveling in First today?" Uh no, I'm just here to take in the scenery.

Pics from last October...

Based on experience with other airlines, I expected some of BA's more competent staff manning the F desks. Bad assumption today. Our First Class check-in agent can't figure out how to enter my AAdvantage EXP number into the system. Seriously? He turns his screen to show me as if he'd like me to help. Yes, that's it there... Executive Platinum. Next, he can't figure out how to print our LAX-DEN connecting boarding passes. Seriously? At this point, he excuses himself and walks off to get assistance, returning with someone who takes less than 10 seconds to get the BPs to print. I'm guessing trainee or clueless? Maybe both.

British Airways Concorde Room

Like a pretty girl you meet for the first time, I previously compared the Concorde Room to the LH FCT/FCL in FRA/MUC, SQ's Private Room in SIN and the QF FCL in SYD. On the second date, I'm have second thoughts and am seeing this thing more critically, warts and all. A combination of old and new pics...