British Airways Heathrow lounge refurbishment set for 2027 and 2028

British Airways will open a brand new lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5C by the end of 2028. The airline is also scheduled to begin refurbishing its Heathrow Terminal 5 Arrivals lounge in early 2027, with reopening planned by the end of that year.

The Heathrow Arrivals lounge at Terminal 5 will be the first to reopen under British Airways' new lounge concept. It will feature 59 showers, work booths, and a coffee bar. The complete redevelopment will include premium shower suites and shared dressing areas. Customers travelling in Club World will have access. First customers will benefit from the Concorde Arrivals experience, which includes private cabanas.

New T5C lounge to debut with record-breaking bar and Concorde space

British Airways is constructing a new lounge at T5C featuring a 17-metre bar and a dedicated Concorde lounge. Work has already started on this two-year project. The T5C lounge will be the first departure lounge to bring the airline’s new Global Lounge Concept to Heathrow and the UK. The 17-metre bar is expected to be among the world’s longest airport lounge bars.

The dedicated Concorde space within the lounge will offer private concierge service and elevated dining. It will use richer textures and darker materials. Customers travelling in First will be eligible to use this exclusive area.

Enhanced check-in experience launches at Terminal 3 this winter

A new First check-in zone at Heathrow Terminal 3 will open this winter. British Airways and American Airlines are introducing the experience jointly. It will be available to customers travelling in First, British Airways Club Gold members and above, and equivalent American Airlines members. Unlike the First Wing at Terminal 5, this Terminal 3 check-in zone lacks direct lounge access or a dedicated security channel.

Broader Heathrow lounge transformation underway across the portfolio

British Airways confirmed over two years ago that it would refurbish its flagship Heathrow lounges. This marks the first major lounge overhaul since they opened in 2008. The airline states that both new lounges are part of its ongoing investment to transform every lounge in its Heathrow portfolio over the coming years. Two lounges in the portfolio are down, with six more to go.

Lounges in Dubai, Miami, and Newark already feature the new lounge concept. Recent lounge openings and refurbishments have also occurred in Glasgow, Seattle, and Washington. These Heathrow upgrades aim to maintain service during phased construction. Passengers will face temporary lounge crowding until the T5C lounge opens in 2028. First Class travelers must adjust to new layouts and locations during the renovations.

The initial plan was to start with the Arrivals lounge refurbishment at the end of 2024. The lounge investment programme is part of British Airways’ wider customer experience transformation. Six more lounges in the Heathrow portfolio are still pending upgrade as part of this ongoing transformation.