Lounges
British Airways plans a big new Heathrow lounge in T5's C Gates and a rebuilt Arrivals lounge
BA is building a big new lounge at Heathrow T5's C Gates for late 2028, rebuilding the T5 Arrivals lounge in 2027 and adding a T3 First check-in this winter.
By Patrick Karsh, Founder, Lounge Frog ·
Page updated October 2026.
British Airways has started work on a new lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5's C Gates. The airline calls it one of its largest and most ambitious lounge projects. It is due to open at the end of 2028. The images above are BA's renderings, not photos of finished spaces.
The lounge is the first phase of a larger plan. BA says it will redesign every one of its Heathrow lounges over the coming years. The airline announced the project on October 5, 2026, alongside new cabins for its A380 fleet.
What the T5 C Gates lounge will offer
BA says the new lounge will have sweeping views over the airfield and the terminal concourse. It will be bright and open, with design touches inspired by flight and the sky.
The main features BA has named are:
- A 17-meter (about 56-foot) bar, which BA expects to be one of the longest in any airport lounge.
- Separate areas for dining, relaxing and working.
- Shower suites for a wash before a long flight.
- Timber, glass, metalwork, fabrics and furniture sourced from across the UK.
The design follows the new lounge style BA first used in Miami. That lounge set the look the airline now plans to roll out more widely.
A Concorde lounge inside the lounge
First passengers get their own space inside the new lounge. BA calls it the Concorde lounge. It will have a private concierge, upgraded dining and darker, richer finishes. BA says the layout will give guests more privacy than the main room.
Who gets in
BA's notes set out the access rules for the new space:
- Business class passengers can use the main T5 C Gates lounge.
- Silver members of The British Airways Club and above can also use it.
- First passengers can use the Concorde lounge inside it.
These rules may change before 2028, so check BA's lounge page close to your trip.
The Arrivals lounge gets rebuilt in 2027
BA will also rebuild its Heathrow Arrivals lounge at Terminal 5. Work starts in early 2027, and the lounge is due to reopen by the end of 2027. It will be the first arrivals lounge built in BA's new style.
Plans for the rebuilt lounge include:
- A coffee bar and a deli.
- Larger dining areas.
- Quiet zones and work booths.
- 59 shower rooms, including premium shower suites, plus shared areas to get dressed and ready.
First passengers get a separate Concorde Arrivals area. It will have private cabanas, sit-down dining and interiors in BA's blue, red and cream colors. Club World passengers can use the main Arrivals lounge.
BA has not said where arriving passengers will go while the lounge is closed. If you land at Heathrow in 2027 and plan to shower before a meeting, check ahead.
New First check-in at Terminal 3
BA and American Airlines are also opening a new First check-in area at Heathrow Terminal 3 this winter. It uses a dark red color scheme borrowed from the First Wing at Terminal 5.
It is open to First passengers, Club Gold members and above, and American Airlines members with matching status.
Other BA lounges
BA says its lounges in Miami, Glasgow, Seattle and Washington have recently opened or been refurbished. Work is under way in Boston and Newark. Geneva and San Francisco are next, in 2027.
What BA said
"This investment is a major milestone in the evolution of our lounges," said Sean Doyle, British Airways' Chairman and CEO. "These spaces will take our lounge design concept to the next step, building on Miami." He added: "This is the first of many developments in the pipeline."
What it means for travelers
None of this changes your trip today. The current T5 lounges stay open while the new one is built. The biggest near-term change is the Arrivals lounge rebuild in 2027.
Until then, you can use BA's current spaces at Terminal 5, listed on our Heathrow airport page:
Written and checked to our editorial standards. Scores follow our methodology. Join the discussion below.
