British Airways has begun reopening its swanky lounges at Heathrow Terminal 5 and has released images of the coronavirus measures that have been put in place in one of them – Galleries First.
The pictures show staff in masks serving customers as well as plastic protection screens at reception desks.
BA is reopening its lounges in phases. On July 4, the Galleries First, Galleries South Club and Arrivals lounges opened their doors.
British Airways has begun reopening its swanky lounges at Heathrow Terminal 5 and has released images of the coronavirus measures that have been put in place in the Galleries First lounge
BA is reopening its lounges in phases. On July 4, the Galleries First, Galleries South Club and Arrivals lounges opened their doors
Customers scan their boarding passes when entering the lounge ‘thus minimising contact between customers and staff’
Customers will be able to order food and drink through a new online service, which will be accessible once in the lounge
The ultra-exclusive Concorde Room lounge remains shut, but the terrace area in the First lounge has been converted into a temporary Concorde Terrace, which is open only to BA first-class customers.
The Galleries First lounge is open to first-class ticket holders, business-class ticket holders (Club World in BA-speak) and silver and gold members.
Business-class ticket holders and silver members (unless they’re travelling first class) can’t usually access this lounge.
Access is granted to Galleries South Club with a first class, Club World or Club Europe ticket.
Among the safety measures in place is a trial of automatic contactless lounge entry screens.
BA said this would enable eligible customers to ‘scan their own boarding pass when entering the lounge, thus minimising contact between customers and staff’.
Upon entry, passengers will be given a card, which they will be asked to place on their seat when they leave, allowing cleaners to ‘thoroughly sanitise the seating area after each use’.
BA said that lounge customers would also find a number of sanitisation stations and safe distance markers.
The Galleries First lounge is open to first-class ticket holders, business-class ticket holders (Club World in BA-speak) and silver and gold members
It added: ‘Bathrooms and shower facilities will be meticulously cleaned after each use.’
Customers will be able to order food and drink, meanwhile, through a new online service, which will be accessible once in the lounge.
The airline said: ‘Once ordered, customers can sit back and relax, and their order will be brought directly to their seat.’
BA said more of its lounges would become available again across its network throughout July and August.
The reopening of the lounges comes after BA announced it would be resuming flights to more destinations across its network in July, albeit offering fewer frequencies due to reduced demand.
BA said more of its lounges will become available again across its network throughout July and August
On Friday, July 24, BA will start flying between Heathrow and Newquay in Cornwall, initially offering three flights a week, moving to five a week in August and daily from September
On Saturday, the airline launched its inaugural flight to Pristina in Kosovo, with the route operating weekly until September.
On Friday, July 24, BA will start flying between Heathrow and Newquay in Cornwall, initially offering three flights a week, moving to five a week in August and daily from September.
And on Friday, September 1, BA CityFlyer will begin a daily service from London City to Belfast City Airport.
Currently, British Airways Holidays is offering discounts to customers who book summer holidays before July 9 to destinations including Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey.
Customers can save £100 with a minimum spend of £1,500 per booking, £150 on holidays with a minimum spend of £2,500 per booking and £200 on holidays with a minimum spend of £4,000 per booking.
Meanwhile, BA has also revealed that its preferred travel insurance provider, Allianz Assistance, has updated its policy to cover Covid-19.
The airline said the policy would cover customers if they or their family are diagnosed with the virus, or if they have to quarantine after being exposed to it.