There are a number of oneworld alliance lounges at London Heathrow Terminal 3. Frequent flyers in the know will go lounge hopping, trying the various options and now that I’ve tried it, I’m not really a fan.
Cathay Pacific offer a first class and business class lounge. Australian airline Qantas also has a lounge there, not to mention American Airlines with both first and business class offerings. You also have the hometown airline British Airways with two lounges as well.
What Is Lounge Hopping?
As a oneworld alliance frequent flyer, you can use any of the lounges available before your flight. Those with oneworld Sapphire or Emerald cards can switch lounges as much as they like.
On frequent flyer forums, this is almost a rite of passage when passing through LHR T3. It’s not something you would usually do, but if you have enough time you can visit them all if you want to.
Cathay Pacific
Easily the best lounge in my eyes is the Cathay Pacific first class lounge. It is designed so that it feels like home and everything is geared towards comfort and style. It’s pleasing to the eyes and you feel very relaxed when visiting. Food in the dining room reflects the airline’s Hong Kong origins and is delicious.
Qantas
When I did my lounge hopping, the next facility I visited was the two story Qantas lounge. This is a combined first and business class lounge, with a dining room and bar on the lower floor, with seating, a bar and another food serving area upstairs.
American Airlines
Those with oneworld Emerald status can use the American Airlines international first class lounge. It has a really lovely dining room, which looks inviting. The lunch menu comprised of Beef Bourguignon Pie, Moules Mariniere and a Caramelised Onion Tartlet, with Mille-Feuille for dessert. I don’t know what most of that is, but it’s definitely something!
Overall Thoughts
Lounge hopping is not for me, and that is mainly because I am far too in love with the Cathay Pacific lounge vibe. Everything else pales in comparison. I didn’t even visit the British Airways lounge – I went back to the CX lounge as I missed it… and I’d only just been there for about three hours.
Perhaps it’s just my taste, or perhaps I needed to have three stomachs to truly enjoy the experience. Even so, next time I pass through LHR T3, I will be camping out in the Cathay Pacific lounge once again.
What do you think of these lounges? Do you have a favourite and which one is it and why? What are the pros and cons for each airline? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Perhaps you can help me with a related question. I’m flying ORD-LHR-ZRH. I have four hours in Heathrow. I arrive Terminal 3 (American Airlines), but depart Terminal 5 (British Airways). As I transit 3 to 5, I know I have to redo security anyways, so my question is: Can I stop in Terminal 3 to visit a couple lounges, or am I force fed by security to continue my journey and move to Terminal 5? I don’t want to visit customs exiting Terminal 3; I guess my main question is can I move freely in Terminal 3 before I follow… Read more »
Cathay First best for food. Qantas for comfort. BA for bubbles.
Thank you for that! Can’t fault the logic!
Personally I think that the Qantas and Cathay lounges are a tie. The Cathay lounge feels rather old fashioned and the western breakfast isn’t up to the standard of Qantas’. But for Asian food, and a shower, Cathay wins hands down.
As for the AA lounge, if it’s American the food will be disgusting and the menu gives a clue: Boeuf Bourgignon is not a pie. I wouldn’t even consider Moules before a flight. So that’s a major fail.
A very fair assessment, if you ask me. I can see why you would think Qantas has nicer decor, it’s certainly more modern. Agree re the Asian food and so on for Cathay Pacific.
Appreciate the comment, thanks for that!