Which lounge should I choose when I travel with Star Alliance from London Heathrow’s new Terminal 2?

Terminal 2 consists of two terminal buildings. Terminal T2A is the main terminal building where check-in and the large transit hall is located. Terminal T2B is the satellite building which houses mostly gates. One can go back and forth between the two terminals via a long tunnel, in both directions, without having to pass through security control. It is, however, quite a long walk, from one side of the airport passengers must commit 15 minutes to travel to the other building. If you have to travel from T2B to T2A, it is a good idea to set aside at least 15 minutes as there are no escalators or travelators in that direction. The idea is for T2A to be used primarily for European flights and T2B for intercontinental flights. However, there will be deviations.

United's lounges are located in T2B and consist of a business lounge (United Club) to the left of the reception desk, and a first class lounge (Global First Lounge) located opposite the reception.

United Club Lounge, London Heathrow Terminal 2 United Club is pretty big and has space for 280 guests. The design is really quite luxurious, with lots of natural light, stained glass and ornamental trees. The interior is light years away from the old worn out United lounge, which was located at Heathrow in terminal 3 and was closed more than five years ago.

United Club Lounge, London Heathrow Terminal 2 But the best thing about the lounge is probably the food and drink. Along side the panoramic windows is a staffed bar, incidentally Heathrow’s longest, where you can order free drinks and cocktails, including complimentary champagne. All offerings are described in a cocktail list at the bar. In a separate room, there is a large self-service buffet with hot food, sandwiches, wraps, fresh fruit and desserts.

United Club Lounge, London Heathrow Terminal 2 If you have a ticket with United or Star Alliance in first class, then you have access to Global First Lounge. We got the opportunity to take a look with a guided tour from the staff. It has an a la carte menu to order from, with a variety of hot options. There is also a self-service buffet with cold food, and a bar area with a very wide range of drinks. Something worth thinking about, however, is that many United flights depart in the morning so the lounge can get quite full.

Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge is also in T2B. The lounge is decorated in a Canadian design, with large panoramic windows, wooden furniture and bright colours, as well as a great view towards the apron. The lounge area is 700 square meters and is divided into several different sections with, for example, a quiet room and a room that resembles a conference room with a large conference table where you can sit and work. There are also toilets and showers.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, London Heathrow Terminal 2 The highlight, however, is the restaurant area, which is truly delightful. It has a staffed bar with four different beers on tap, a variety of wines and spirits and a good coffee machine. Right in the midst of the restaurant section is a long bar and along the long wall, a self-service buffet with mostly cold dishes and simple hot food. The atmosphere is quite special and the during the whole visit, there was at least two people on site, in the restaurant section, serving drinks, helping with the coffee machine and clearing plates and glasses.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, London Heathrow Terminal 2

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, London Heathrow Terminal 2

Plaza Premium Lounge is the terminal's third-party lounge, located in T2A, with a somewhat hidden entrance to the right of the transfer desks in the transit hall. You can pay for admission, but it is quite expensive, £38. The interior is very stylish and used the words, "interactivity and creativity”, as the key ideas during the design of the lounge, as well as many British influences and British suppliers. Other parts of the lounge feel like they are continuing with concepts from Plaza Premium’s lounges in Asia.

Plaza Premium Lounge, London Heathrow Terminal 2 Immediately after the reception, a long gangway leads to the lounge's heart, where there is a bar and a big square sofa in the middle. There are all sorts of drinks available from the staffed bar, but most you have to pay for. If you visit the lounge as a premium traveller from an airline, you are entitled to two free drinks, which are stamped on your receipt.

Plaza Premium Lounge, London Heathrow Terminal 2 Around the bar area are several different seating areas varying in stye and design. In one corner you find the tapas bar with a very nice self service buffet. Hot food is available, such as chicken drumsticks and rice, as well as sandwiches, cheeses, small desserts and snacks.

Plaza Premium Lounge, London Heathrow Terminal 2 The lounge also has a Wellness Spa, where one can book treatments, but this was not but tested during our visit. A 15 minute massage costs £25.

In the arrivals hall, directly to the left after passing customs, is an arrivals lounge. Although it counts as a Star Alliance arrivals lounge, only three airlines currently use it - United, Air Canada and South African Airways.

Star Alliance Arrivals Lounge, London Heathrow Terminal 2 We dropped by for a quick visit. In the lounge were toilets and showers, a self-service buffet with breakfast food, plus the facilities to work.

On October 1st, the new Lufthansa lounge will open. It will also serve as a general Star Alliance lounge. The lounge is located on the balcony of T2A, right after the security checkpoint, next door to the Aer Lingus Gold Circle Lounge.

Singapore Airlines moves to terminal 2 on September 17th, and the plan is that their new SilverKris Lounge will open the same date. During our visit to Heathrow, however, it seemed as though the lounge was some way from completion. With a week to go before the inauguration, there may be a possibility that the opening is delayed. The lounge will be in T2B, opposite the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge.

Plaza Premium will also open an arrivals lounge in the arrival hall of Terminal 2, where you can pay for access if you want to take a shower and get something to eat after a long flight. The lounge will be next door to Star Aliance’s arrivals lounge.