First Look: United Unveils New Heathrow Lounges

United Airlines has opened the United Global First Lounge and the United Club at London Heathrow's new Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal.

This is a major development since United will be the first airline to operate from Terminal 2 when it opens on June 4, bringing its 17 daily Heathrow flights – currently split between Terminals 1 and 4 – under one roof. Later this year, the operations of United’s 22 Star Alliance partners serving Heathrow will also move to Terminal 2, making connections between codeshare flights easier.

Overview
The two lounges are located near the airline’s gates in Terminal 2’s satellite concourse and cover 22,000 square feet of space. 

Both facilities have floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the airfield and offer complimentary food, beverages (including alcoholic beverages) and Wi-Fi. (Bonus: We hear both lounges will have plenty of power outlets for recharging laptops, tablets and phones.)

United Global First Lounge
The United Global First Lounge is reserved for customers traveling in United Global First (also known as first class). The centerpiece of the lounge’s dramatic design is an oversized Big Ben-style clock in the tea lounge section. It also has a buffet area, a wine room, private phone booths (hey, just because payphones are gone doesn't mean people don't need privacy when they talk!) and a quiet zone with couches and privacy drapes. 

Bonus: Customers using the lounge will have the option of pre-flight dining from an à-la-carte menu.

Customers holding boarding passes for same-day travel in first class on flights operated by other Star Alliance carriers departing from Heathrow will be able to visit the United Global First Lounge.

United Club
The United Club, for United Club members and customers traveling in United BusinessFirst (business class), will be the first facility outside the U.S. to have the new United Club design concept, and will be able to accommodate more than 280 guests. 

Perks will include a 25-seat full service bar, two buffet areas, a TV lounge and seven private phone booths.

Good to know, especially for layovers or before evening flights: Eight shower suites will be right next door to the Club for passengers using either the Global First Lounge or the United Club. Complimentary toiletries will be available, as will valet service with garment pressing and steaming. (You don't want to board your flight with wrinkled clothes, do you?)

Star Alliance Gold members and business-class customers holding boarding passes for same-day travel on flights operated by other Star Alliance carriers departing from Heathrow will be able to visit the United Club.

Arrivals Lounge

United Global First and United BusinessFirst customers arriving at Terminal 2 from the U.S. will be able to shower and freshen up at the Arrivals Lounge, located in the terminal’s Arrivals Hall.

United operates up to 17 flights per day from Heathrow to six of its U.S. hubs: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C./Dulles.