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The British Airways 'lounge concept ' represents a major departure from the traditional airline lounge and is a pivotal part of the carrier's travel experience revolution.
Guided by customer feedback, the airline has taken a leap forward in both design and purpose. Its concept recognises that customers want to use an airline lounge in different ways at different times, and to use time proactively rather than simply waiting around.
Terraces
The cornerstone of the lounge evolution is the 'Terraces' concept available to Club World passengers. The lounges bring together an open, airy and refreshing atmosphere with the flexibility to adapt to customer needs at different times of the day and for different reasons for travel.
The Lounges reflect a variety of concepts.
(1) The Terrace Gallery forms the main concept area. It uses garden furniture, planting, pergolas and table umbrellas to create a relaxed indoor garden. Oak flooring, rugs, garden sounds and smells, a water feature and dappled leaf lighting enhance the tranquil setting and maximise the natural lighting from large glazed windows and sky-lights. There is a large television for screening major world sporting events.
(2) The Combiz is designed with the modern business person in mind. There is an area for business meetings and telephone calls, a fax and photocopying service, plus email and internet access. Static desks and folding conference tables help create a 'virtual office'. Carpet flooring absorb any excess noise from this busy area.
(3) The Library is a peaceful place to read, work and relax. The oak bookshelves are packed with titles to inform, educate or entertain. Comfortable wing chairs, footstools, tables, carpet and lighting create a traditional library atmosphere. This is a 'phone free zone'.
(4) The Sanctuary is an area for rest and recuperation, with comfortable recliners, day-beds with
footstools, and low tables designed to aid relaxation. Dimmed lighting helps travellers unwind and soft 'tranquillity' sound effects create a mellow ambience. Another phone free zone, the area's acoustic screens provide discreet barriers and curvilinear screens give individual privacy.
(5) In the Toy Box, children can select from an tempting array of toys suitable for all ages or choose to watch television, play a video or use the games machine in the Terraces gallery.
(6) The World Wine Bar is a lively area designed for socialising. It is designed to make customers feel comfortable whether standing or seated at bar stools and provides customers with a wide variety of wines from around the world.
(7) The Cappuccino Bar is a Mediterranean-style café with a variety of offers day and night, offering fresh fruit, juices, croissants, biscuits, cheese and a range of teas and coffees.
(8) The Larder gives customers the chance to help themselves to a variety of snacks.
(9) The Washroom is a place for customers to change clothes and freshen up between or before flights. Facilities for nursing parents and travellers with special needs are provided.
First lounge
In February 2001, the new British Airways First class lounge was opened at London Heathrow's Terminal 4. Reflective of the new enhancements recently introduced on-board, designed by British interior designer Kelly Hoppen, the First Lounge, created by FutureBrand, offers an environment that is elegant, calm and welcoming, a home-from-home space that features deep, luxurious furniture in rich velvets and classic tailored herringbone. Tan leather recliners and vast sofas in burnt plum are offset by light reflective linen textured wallpaper, dark bronze curtains contrast with pale honey carpeting bordered in slate grey and blue. The 'Heartland' of the new lounge is an area of calm and space. Low square coffee tables front onto a wall of limestone, illuminating tall arrangements of bamboo and exotic leaves.
Mocha stained oak and stainless steel mesh screens offer privacy and a secluded space to work or relax. This theme continues into rich rosewood veneers and bronze, framing the wine bar and cappuccino bar. The new menu offers customers the freedom to either help themselves or be served anywhere in the lounge with warm breads and danish pastries in the morning to fresh soup and roasted vegetable salsa and freshly prepared sandwiches throughout the day.
Interrelated forms and colour from Yoko Shiraishi, graphic line and edge from Nigel Hall and detailed pigmented prints by Mark Quinn bring themes together in the form of artworks, David Craven, Alan Green and Lolly Batty's use of simplicity and abstraction perfectly compliment the space. All are part of the British Airways Collection curated by Artwise.
The dedicated business suite offers fast free email and internet access, together printers copiers, free fax, free local telephone calls and credit card payphones, enabling the busy traveller to complete any last minute business.
Concorde Room
The Concorde Room also opened in February 2001 and was created by CD Partnership, Sir Terence Conran's architecture and design practice. It features design classics, reflecting Concorde's iconic status. The refurbishment is part of the airline's £600m biggest ever investment in products and services for every brand.
Only the highest quality materials have been used in the Concorde Room - etched glass, jura limestone, satin stainless steel, granite and verdi green marble.
The furniture is a collection of 20th century classic design and contemporary design from the Mathew Hilton Orwell and Balzac chairs to the Charles & Ray Eames lounge chair and office chair. Luxurious materials are used throughout including Scandinavian plum-coloured Elmo leather, textured fabrics from the Isle of Bute, celadon and red linen cushions and American black walnut panelling. Bespoke wool carpeting woven in Yorkshire has been created with a distinctive geometric print in storm and slate blue.
The 'smoking room' features Hoffman Villa Gallia sofas in red velvet with black and white piping. Eileen Grey Bibendum chairs in black leather add contrast to the rich taupe curtained walls. Patrick Caulfield artworks 'Grey Pipe' and 'Cigar' complete the theme. Other works in the lounge require Gary Hume, Julian Opie, Gerald Quinn, Patrick Caulfield and Bridget Riley, all from the British Airways Collection curated by Artwise.
A display of contemporary decorative art overlooks the bar and smoking room housing some of the best names in 20th Century sculpture, glassware, and ceramics. The pieces range from wonderful textured fabric boxes from Petra Carlsten to delicate honeycomb porcelain sculpture by Paula Bastianson.
A fully equipped business centre offers fast free email and internet access, together with free fax, free local telephone calls and credit card payphones.
A new menu has been introduced offering customers the freedom to either help themselves or be served anywhere in the lounge with a wide selection from breakfast to high tea and supper.
Molton Brown Spa
The Molton Brown Travel SpaT, exclusive to British Airways Concorde, First and Club World customers and Silver or Gold Executive Club members opened in February 2001.
The Molton Brown Travel SpaT is a dedicated therapy centre filled with mood-sensitive colours, aromas, sounds and sensations harmonized with soothing textures, lighting and state-of-the-art design. Created exclusively for the traveller, the Travel SpaT offers a ground-breaking range of performance services from sleep enhancers and nerve stabilizers, to mind-sharpeners: each designed to send you on your journey ready for work or relaxation.
Treatments are a unique fusion of ancient traditions and cutting-edge techniques, using scientifically proven pure natural essences. The eucalyptus Immune Booster Steam CabinsT and Body Jet Hydrotherapy ShowersT, invigorate and refresh while the unique Shiatswe MassagesT enhance stamina, reduce fatigue and improve the overall sense of travel wellbeing.
Therapies at the Molton Brown Travel SpaT are complimentary and have been tailor made to suit British Airways male and female passengers.
Arrivals lounges at London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Johannesburg
The airline lounge experience is no longer exclusive to departing flights. Arrivals lounges at Gatwick and Heathrow Terminal 4 offer an exclusive welcome for business travellers.
At Heathrow, the Arrivals lounge includes a Combiz business centre offers customers the chance to deal with any urgent business matters as soon as they land. Showers, a clothes valet service and terrace-dining mean travellers can freshen up after their flight or people can choose to relax in the tranquil setting of the Sanctuary which houses a Molton Brown travel spa.
The Arrivals lounge is open at Terminal 4 between 0400-1600 and at Gatwick between 0600 - 1400 on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays and from 0600-1200 during the rest of the week. First, Club World or Executive Club Gold and Premier cardholders are welcome.
The arrivals lounge at Johannesburg is located within the Intercontinental Hotel and facilities require , shower suite, clothes valet service, combiz, conference room and complimentary breakfast.
Smoking policy
All lounges have a clearly defined smoking area. A dedicated room with glazed screening is accessible from the main lounge with its own television and air conditioning.
*Not all Terraces lounges will contain all nine concepts. Concepts will be selected based on space available, times of flights and customer needs.
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