While London Heathrow Terminal 5 remains my favorite Terminal, some of the best Heathrow airport lounges are in Terminal 3.
Interestingly, Heathrow Terminal three is currently used by Oneworld members and a few other non-affiliated airlines. It is also the base for Virgin Atlantic.
Three of the best Priority Pass lounges at London Heathrow can be found in Terminal 3; No1 Lounge Terminal 3, Aspire Lounge Terminal 3, and Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge Heathrow Terminal 3. There is also an American Express Centurion Lounge in Terminal 3, which is the best lounge of all, but you can’t access this with your Priority Pass, so I have put this in position 4 below. To get access to this Centurion lounge, you will need an AMEX Platinum card. To get extra referral Amex Reward points when you apply for the Platinum AMEX, apply here.
Wherever you fly to, book your hotel via our luxury travel concierge for free upgrades, free breakfasts, free hotel credit, and VIP gifts at luxury hotels like Four Seasons, Belmond, Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt, Aman, InterContinental and more… at no extra cost.
1. No 1 Lounge Heathrow Terminal 3
You can access the No 1 Lounge or the Aspire lounge in Heathrow Terminal 3 with a Priority Pass. This is the best Priority Pass lounge in Terminal 3.
If you are flying in Economy or Premium Economy, you may not have lounge access, in which case, you can use a Priority Pass to access an airport lounge and escape the crowds at London Heathrow. The American Express Platinum and Centurion cards come with an unlimited Priority Pass (contact our concierge for a referral for extra free bonus points) or you can apply for a free Amex Gold Card. You will get two free Lounge Club passes, which can be immediately used to get into these Priority Pass lounges to enjoy free drinks (including alcohol) and food.
The No 1 Lounge in Terminal 3 is very good and much larger than Club Aspire outlined below. This Priority Pass Lounge that is worth a visit if you are hungry before your flight. While this lounge is always quite crowded, it is stylish and looks a lot like the No 1 Lounge at London Gatwick North that we reviewed previously.
There is an a la carte menu that provides a mix of complementary items and paid items along with a buffet that serves salads, pasta, beans, and fruits at lunch. Complimentary a la carte dishes include things like a small plate of fish and chips, fish finger sandwiches, bacon sandwiches, noodle broth, spinach, and ricotta pasta shells and similar, and eggs benedict or florentine in the morning. There are also buffet scones, cream, cakes, and chocolate brownie-type offerings for dessert.
The food is better at this lounge than the Club Aspire lounge, which sits in our 5 spot, but the atmosphere is more hectic.
2. Club Aspire Lounge Heathrow Terminal 3
This Club Aspire airport lounge is an intimate lounge located past the Cathay Pacific lounge in Terminal 3. This Aspire Lounge in T3 is a second-best after the No1 Lounge but is small, the food is fairly basic, and there’s no à la carte menu. This lounge can be accessed with your Priority Pass and is worth considering if you find the No 1 Lounge Heathrow Terminal 3 is too busy.
The lounge looks nice with lots of woods (floor, tables, etc.) and sofa seating along with dining table seating. There are ‘Rest Pods’, which are free-to-use day beds, but they are often full.
The breakfast is good with hot dishes like scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausages, etc., and the drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are plentiful. It also has showers and Bliss Spa facilities for an extra charge.
3. Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge Heathrow Terminal 3
Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge T3 is a paid arrivals lounge located landside outside the terminal, by Bus Stop 17 and 18. You can get in for free if you hold a dragon pass or an AMEX Platinum card, or you can pay for access from around £40 GBP. This small arrivals lounge has seats and 11 showers.
In January 2020, the Plaza Premium Arrivals lounge in Heathrow T3 also joined the Priority Pass lounge card program, which means you can gain access with your Priority pass.
This is a great lounge if you want a quick wash and change after a long flight landing in Heathrow Terminal 3. If you are flying Business with Virgin Atlantic and Delta, you can use their Revivals Lounge. American Airlines also has its arrivals lounge in the terminal, but this AA lounge is not open to oneworld Sapphire and British Airways Executive Club Silver members who are traveling in Economy or Qantas First and Business Class passengers.
Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge Heathrow is small with varied seating, magazines, and a continental breakfast buffet. It also has showers, which can be very useful.
4. American Express Centurion Lounge Terminal 3
I have included this lounge in position 3. It is probably the best overall non-airline airport lounge in London Heathrow, but you can’t access it with a Priority Pass, unfortunately.
This new Centurion lounge is past security at Heathrow T3. Access is open to AMEX Centurion and Platinum cardholders and up to 2 guests. This will be American Express’ first Centurion Lounge in Europe, and second outside of the US. The new Centurion Lounge at Heathrow offers an exceptional level of luxury, including the premium facilities and services that Platinum and Centurion Cardmembers have come to expect.
To get access to this lounge, you will need an AMEX Platinum card. To get extra referral Amex Reward points when you apply for the Platinum AMEX, apply here. You and a guest can use this lounge using your American Express Platinum card at the door which you simply need to show at the door. If your partner has a (free) supplementary Amex Platinum card, then you can both show your cards to gain entry, both of you + 1, which means that 4 people can gain access from one Platinum American Express account.
London’s distinctive combination of history and modernity served as inspiration for this space, which spans approximately 7,000 ft². In addition to the existing amenities found across Centurion Lounge locations – such as complimentary food and beverage from top chefs and mixologists, premium showers, access to high-speed Wi-Fi, and private noise-buffering work stations, the lounge will feature specially curated amenities influenced by British hospitality, culture, and style.
Current locations of The Centurion Lounge include New York’s LaGuardia Airport, Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Miami International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Houston’s George Bush International Airport, Centurion lounge at Hong Kong Airport and Philadelphia International Airport.
In addition to The Centurion Lounge at Heathrow, American Express recently announced new locations coming to Denver International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, and Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Access to The Centurion Lounge is complimentary and exclusive for Platinum Cardmembers and Centurion Members. Platinum Cardmembers may enter with up to two travel companions at no additional charge. Centurion Members may enter with their immediate family or up to two travel companions. Platinum and Centurion Cardmembers may purchase access to The Centurion Lounge for further guests for an additional fee per guest. Currently, American Express Platinum cardholders get a Priority Pass membership and can also get direct access to Plaza Premium lounges in Terminal 3, which are outlined below.
Copyright Luxury Travel Diary 2014 - 2024. Duplication outside of luxurytraveldiary.com is forbidden.
Note: Benefits & upgrades subject to availability. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing. Terms & conditions apply. Enquire for more information. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing but may be amended at discretion of the vendor. Posts may be sponsored by the proprietor or brand being appraised. All opinions remain our own & are in no way influenced.
