After an enjoyable visit to the Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge, I headed over to T5 for my flight to Glasgow. Though I had access to the British Airways Galleries lounges, I decided to check out the contract offerings. This time, I selected the Plaza Premium Lounge London Heathrow Terminal 5. Plaza Premium Lounges typically get hyped up a bit, though I’ve generally found them average at best. So how would this one stack up?
This post is a part of my trip report series covering my trip to Scotland in February, 2023. Click here for the trip report index and introductory post.
Plaza Premium Lounge London Heathrow Terminal 5
Location
At the north end of Terminal 5, near gate A7. To reach the lounge, follow the signs for the “Pay-to-Use lounge” and the BA Galleries Lounge North.
Access
The following passengers may access the Plaza Premium Lounge:
- Priority Pass and Dragon Pass cardholders
- American Express Platinum and Diners Club credit card holders
- Anyone can purchase access for £47.50 for 2 hours or £75 for 6 hours (10% discount when booking online)
At the time of my visit, Plaza Premium did not accept Priority Pass, but I used my Capital One Venture X to get in. The opposite now holds, with Priority Pass accepted but not the Venture X.
Operating hours are 4:45 am to 9:30 pm daily.
Plaza Premium Lounge London Heathrow Terminal 5 – Review
Date of visit: Thursday, February 2, 2025
When I arrived, I found only a couple of people in line, and so entered right away. The lounge basically consists of two seating areas, with the main area near the front. I found this area quite packed, with most seats taken. That made it impossible to get decent photos. However, you can see there’s a decent variety of seating, and some nice runway views. Assuming you manage to find a seat, that is. Regardless of that, the large windows do let in plenty of natural light, giving the lounge an airy feeling.
Continuing down the corridor, you reach the dining and bar area. The dining area occupies the space where the lounge bends to the right. As with most contract lounges, don’t expect anything earth shattering. The selection consisted of a salad bar, four hot dishes, and a soup. Thursday’s choices included mac and cheese and some curries. Considering I just ate a big English breakfast in the Revivals lounge, I passed on taking anything. It all looked pretty industrial and uninspired, though.
There’s also some breads and a push-button coffee machine.
I do want to level set for a second. While I frequently rag on contract lounges for average or mediocre food and drink, some context is needed. If you have complimentary access via Priority Pass, etc., isn’t free food still worth something? Yes, even a mediocre free meal beats paying airport prices at a restaurant or convenience store. And it’s a better selection that most contract lounges in the US. Is it worth paying north of $50 for paid access, though? Hardly.
Meanwhile, while the long bar looks nice, it also demonstrates the main issue with this lounge. The design makes for an exceedingly narrow footprint. At times, it feels downright claustrophobic. Granted, it’s a flaw shared with the other Priority Pass lounge in T5, the Club Aspire Lounge. (See the separate review for that lounge here.)
The bar provides a selection of complimentary house wine, beer, and bottom-shelf liquors. Alternatively, you can pay for more premium selections. Note that based on other reviews, the bar gets used as overflow seating during peak periods. So expect a bit of a scrum to get in line for a drink when that’s the case.
Unlike the Club Aspire Lounge, Plaza Premium does have restrooms, directly across from the bar. There is also a communal work table that extends past the bar towards the back seating area. This lounge does offer a shower, but prices are steep (I believe £25).
Continuing past the bar, you reach another tea/coffee station, with one final seating area beyond that. This consists of several semi-private, high-backed and high-walled chairs. I found this section mostly empty when I arrived, though it filled up before I left. With several empty seats here, I grabbed one for my stay. Note the several seats along the window; you can enjoy nice views of the ramp if a seat opens up.
One thing I noticed – these seats show definite signs of wear.
The lounge provides free WiFi, which I found reasonably fast and stable.
You might remember I mentioned the seating area in the back became more crowded as time went on? This was the queue to get in as I left. It actually extended back a bit further than this.
Final Thoughts
I find myself increasingly disappointed by Plaza Premium Lounges, and this one continues the trend. It’s certainly better than the chaotic gate areas in T5, but the crowds and wear and tear make this an average lounge at best. It’s not bad if you have complimentary access, but it’s not worth the cash cost. Stick to the Galleries Lounges (see my review of the Galleries South Lounge) if you have access. Or if transiting through T2, check out the Plaza Premium Lounge there, which I found much better. Though still overcrowded.