British Airways Exec lounge one guest entry policy - cr*p for families?

[anamenotanumber]

My dh travels a lot with work and as a consequence has a BA card so he can go into the lounge but only with one guest. Fine most of the time but we are flying BA for our summer holiday and there are three of us.

I appreciate that business travellers don't want bawling babies about perhaps but the policy of one guest means that dh can take me OR dc in and given we can't leave our 8 year old outside alone, that will mean he and dc can go in and I am left outside!!! It will be a weekend afternoon so I doubt the lounge will be packed.

Are they very strict about this?

T5 lounge has a children's section, but a 9 year old may prefer the main bit.

Sure, it's a waiting room, but that's a bit like saying that a living room with squishy sofas and one with hard chairs are both "just rooms" - if you had to hang out in one for an hour, I bet you'd have a preference!

T5 Galleries lounge North is closer to the gates if you are taking a short haul flight. Honestly it may well be worth your DH speaking to the Executive Club a few days before departure to see if they will allow a "family" visit into the lounge. They may well accede to his request if he comes across as undemanding and explains the situation to them very politely. Also they do like to try to keep their Gold members happy.

Also if you travel on a Club Europe ticket or get upgraded to CE you are entitled to access to their Galleries lounges in any event. Even if you are not travelling CE I would still take advantage of checking in at First because of your DHs gold card.

There are no other lounges apart from BA ones at T5 because the place is all BA related.

Avoid Plane Food at T5 - the service is overall shambolic and the food is not as good as in previous times. Giraffe is far better.

I have also seen children quite happily sit in the lounges; if they are entitled to be there then good luck to them. Sure it is a waiting room but its somewhat quieter, has good views of the planes and runways, free drinks and food (of varying quality mind you) and more roomy than sitting on those hard black seats in T5.

Thanks Atilla, DH raved about Plane Food but went soon after it opened.

Dc sees it as a treat. Ds has not been to the first lounge and I suppose it shows him where his dad goes on his trips at the start of them at least. He is aware this is not the norm and not being spoilt by it before i get accused of that too!!

Of course in theory it is just a room but a very nice one with elemis spa treatments and a nice glass of wine. Of course an hour or so in a lounge doesn't make up for all the time away.

And god yes I know BA do not owe me anything ffs. I said that somewhere below in other words.

Why does a simple question have to turn into a bunfight?!

Thanks for the pointer re Plane food as I might have gone there.

I always assumed you could buy access to the BA lounge like you can most lounges

I quite like the club lounge at T5, bacon roll and a glass of bubbles before hols always welcome, but tbh the shopping and food outlets at T5 are good so easy enough to keep yourself occupied, unlike elsewhere in the world where a lounge is a *necessity^ only half joking

That was supposed to be a face not a

Am I missing something here?
If you are entitled to go somewhere you can, if you aren't you can't.
Isn't it the same for everyone?

You can gain access to the two BA Galleries lounges (not their first class lounge which is primarily for Gold card holders) if you are a Gold or Silver member of their executive club or are travelling on a First, Club World or Club Europe ticket. People have never been able to buy access to any BA lounge and Gold members can only take in one extra guest.

(Some travellers have commented that the food now served in the lounges is not as good as previously and these can be very crowded particularly during peak times).

OP- I hope that BA allow you all access, they do try and keep their Gold card members happy. Do let me know.