Flying to LHR in May. Scheduled to land just before 8 am (pretty sure) at terminal 2. Flying United.

Have a flight from LHR to INV at 1245 pm from terminal 5. Flying BA on a separate ticket.

We would like to take advantage of a lounge during our layover. Typically we are AmEx Centurion Lounge people, but that's in terminal 3. I think it's gonna be too much of a hassle to go from 2 to 3 to 5, and I'm reading they might not let us pass security at 3 if we don't have a boarding pass for a flight that departs from 3.

So our options are:
Possibly the United Club at terminal 2 (however, we currently only have 2 club passes; there are 3 of us and purchasing an extra pass says it's not valid at LHR; also we aren't departing on a United flight so they might not even let us in)
One of the Am Ex partner lounges at terminal 2 (some conflicting info as to whether we can get in more than 3 hours before our next flight)
The AmEx partner lounge at terminal 5 (have already read the lounges at 5 are trash).

Anyone here have a recommendation?

If it were me I'd go hop on the Heathrow Express and find a good pub near Paddington Station. I have to connect through LHR with a 6 hour layover in a couple of months and that's my plan.

If you have priority pass (which you should since you mentioned Amex Plat) there are lounges available in terminals 2 and 5 (edit: re-read the OP and assume these are what you were referring to in partner lounges that suck).

Yeah, I was curious about either of the AmEx partner lounges - if anyone has any experience and if they would be worth a stop.

I think the one in 2 is ok, but I'm not sure if they will let us in since we will land more than 3 hours before our next flight.

I read the one in 5 is terrible in general, but worse because anyone can pay to get in.

corndog04 said:

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If it were me I'd go hop on the Heathrow Express and find a good pub near Paddington Station. I have to connect through LHR with a 6 hour layover in a couple of months and that's my plan.

If you have priority pass (which you should since you mentioned Amex Plat) there are lounges available in terminals 2 and 5 (edit: re-read the OP and assume these are what you were referring to in partner lounges that suck).

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Ha! I predict your plan changes.

ATM9000 said:

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corndog04 said:

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If it were me I'd go hop on the Heathrow Express and find a good pub near Paddington Station. I have to connect through LHR with a 6 hour layover in a couple of months and that's my plan.

If you have priority pass (which you should since you mentioned Amex Plat) there are lounges available in terminals 2 and 5 (edit: re-read the OP and assume these are what you were referring to in partner lounges that suck).

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Ha! I predict your plan changes.

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Why is that? I'm experienced with the Heathrow Express and LHR security and feel plenty comfortable on time. I'd be tempted even if I only had 4 hours. Would much rather take a brief trip to the city than spend more time in the airport on a 3 leg itinerary.

corndog04 said:

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ATM9000 said:

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corndog04 said:

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If it were me I'd go hop on the Heathrow Express and find a good pub near Paddington Station. I have to connect through LHR with a 6 hour layover in a couple of months and that's my plan.

If you have priority pass (which you should since you mentioned Amex Plat) there are lounges available in terminals 2 and 5 (edit: re-read the OP and assume these are what you were referring to in partner lounges that suck).

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Ha! I predict your plan changes.

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Why is that? I'm experienced with the Heathrow Express and LHR security and feel plenty comfortable on time. I'd be tempted even if I only had 4 hours. Would much rather take a brief trip to the city than spend more time in the airport on a 3 leg itinerary.

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I lived in the UK for 5 years and have been in and out of Heathrow a ton. It's massive. If you've got Fast Track access… maybe.

But Heathrow is a beast and **** gets out of sorts there really often because of its size. Hell, just deplane to getting to the Heathrow Express or Piccadilly Line in Terminal 5 can take 20-30 minutes even if not claiming bags and going through the automated customs lanes.

Don't take Heathrow lightly.

I get it.

I'm flying AA business, so should be able to get off quickly and then coming back in through fastrack. Carry on only and going to stash the bag at Paddington while I go grab a pub lunch and take a hyde park walk if time allows. I'm not too worried.

Take a 15 min uber to Windsor and find a pub or walk around. Closer to the terminal then paddington plus you get dropped of direction at departures.

What class are you flying in on the BA flight to INV? If you're in Club Europe you can access the BA Galleries lounges in T5. There are two in the main building and one in the B satellite building. Alternatively, if you have Oneworld sapphire or emerald status you can access even if flying BA coach.

Edit: you are correct about not being able to get into T3 if you don't have a ticket departing from there. You will get turned back at the boarding pass scanners before security.

We are just economy on BA, and we've never flown them before so no status.

Got it, but do you have status with American or any other Oneworld airline? For example, if you're Platinum, Platinum Pro, or Executive Platinum on AA then you'll have BA lounge access in London.

No. We are in Houston, so we only fly AA when we have to. United is our main airline.

Until this trip, we have always been able to use the Centurion Lounge. I was counting on that.

3rd/4th vote on the T5 priority pass lounge sucks.......

Isn't the Heathrow Express just a dedicated Heathrow to Paddington train on the Elizabeth line? It's a more expensive ticket that just skips a few short stops on the line. Might be worth it if you're time strapped...

It's been almost a year, but as I recall by the time we cleared customs and made the trek to the Underground it took probably close to an hour or so before we were off the train. Check in and security wasn't bad on our return but it was quite early in the morning.