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Review: the British Airways lounge, Glasgow Airport

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This is our review of the British Airways business class lounge at Glasgow Airport.

This is part of our series of reviews of airport lounges across the UK.  You see all of the reviews here.

A couple of weeks ago I had to travel to Glasgow and took the opportunity to check out both lounges in the airport.  My review of the Upperdeck Lounge will follow later.  Today I want to review the British Airways lounge.

Let me start by saying that I was impressed by this facility.  It is not huge – the Upperdeck lounge reviewed here is larger and brighter – but the designers have done a great job in creating a lounge with a number of distinct zones to suit whatever mood you are in.

The new lounge opened in 2013 and has a capacity of 150, double that of the previous lounge.  It is situated down by the British Airways gates, whereas the Upperdeck lounge is situated above the shopping and dining area.

This shot gives an impression of the size of the lounge:

Review British Airways Galleries Lounge Glasgow Airport

The two food islands are the focal point.  I was there over lunch and it was the typical BA sandwich fare.

Review British Airways Galleries Lounge Glasgow Airport

At the back is the work area where I spent most of my time.  Behind that are a number of sofas and large comfy chairs.

Review British Airways Galleries Lounge Glasgow Airport

If you want to sit with your partner, there are a number of tables for two along one wall:

Review British Airways Galleries Lounge Glasgow Airport

Here is the drink selection which was impressively comprehensive.  I was told that the lounge used to have a selection of rare whiskies in the evenings but that it has now been pared back.

Review British Airways Galleries Lounge Glasgow Airport

If you want a hot drink:

Review British Airways Galleries Lounge Glasgow Airport

And some more of the seating:

Review British Airways Galleries Lounge Glasgow Airport

Because of the time I was there, I can’t comment on what you might find over breakfast or dinner and whether it is better than the restaurants in the central area.  I thought it was an attractive, well laid out space and the perfect place to while away an hour before a flight.


Getting airport lounge access for free from a credit card

How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (January 2024)

Here are the four options to get FREE airport lounge access via a UK credit card.

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,300 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.

You also get access to Plaza Premium, Delta Air Lines and Eurostar lounges.  Our American Express Platinum review is here. You can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a fee Read our full review

If you have a small business, consider American Express Business Platinum instead.

American Express Business Platinum

40,000 points bonus and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with four free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.

Additional lounge visits are charged at £24.  You get four more free visits for every year you keep the card.  

There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus.  Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review here.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free Priority Pass card, allowing you access to the Priority Pass network.  Guests are charged at £24 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £195 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer.  Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

A huge bonus, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.

Comments (38)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • The Original Nick. says:

    Forgot to change my name. Sorry, OT: I think James67 could help me out here with this one. Flying BKK-DOH-AMS in J with QR in 2 weeks time. What’s the best lounge to use at BKK? Will only be Bronze BAEC..

  • James A says:

    Agreed lounge good and top feature is the staff … however as a GOLD BAEC I’ve been complaining for years about the noise of chairs screeching on the tiled flooring (they don’t put rubber leg tips to dampen the nails on blackboard effect) its painful!!!!
    Anyways due to their crap domestic service (i.e. Not a drink or snack even when paying up to £4K) when I connect to long haul FIRST or Club flights I’ll be boycotting them now.
    Oh and a word to the ever arrogant Willie Walsh who stated on BBC Today programme when challenged about withdrawing of food on domestic services.. wherever did you get the idea that we the customers asked for this? And to arrogantly state, ” if they don’t like it it they’ve got plenty of choice and can fly with another airline”. Willie son, last good few years in case you hadn’t noticed BA has a had a total effing MONOPOLY on GLA to LHR flights!!!!
    To Fly To Fleece!

  • Paul lancaster says:

    Hi can any one help I’m of to Glasgow on 11 of next month to watch the speedway ,iv booked with Ba for the flights , can I visit the lounges at gatwick and Glasgow
    Many thanks
    Paul

  • Ian says:

    I’ve always found the Scottish lounges to be some of the best in the country and I too have a particular affection for Glasgow. At lunchtime the cheese and biscuits are super. A year or two ago they also had a very nice St Emilion Grand Cru on offer – a great combination. Last time I was up there, they had no French wine at all. The staff did apologise for this and, to be fair, the Spanish red wines on offer were quite good too.

    In reply to James A’s question, this may very well all change when BA introduce Club Europe on domestic flights. We made an early booking for a flight up to GLA in a month or two. Normally I would expect to be able to book a seat near the front but I noticed the front 9 rows were not available. I don’t know whether this was BA preparing for the introduction of CE and the last time I looked it was still not possible to book CE on this route. However, Rob has advised us of BA’s intention to introduce CE on domestic routes from 1 April.

    • CV3V says:

      On some flights the front 9 rows get blocked out, had this before not sure the reason (aircraft type?). I have a few domestic flights booked this year where it’s just the front 6 rows.

    • David says:

      Yes, the wine offerings at GLA have been very good in the past – often better than GF at T5, IMHO.. Will be back there later in the week so will check.

      Not sure if champagne is available on request, as it is at BHD IIRC?

  • Kinkell says:

    Can’t comment on the BA. GLA lounge, and not much help to anyone unless on Emirates ( or Quantas ) but was in the Emirates lounge last year and was really quite impressed. Very helpful staff, nice atmosphere, really nice F&B offerings. Maybe it’s a Glasgow ‘thing’.

  • Anon says:

    Slightly O/T but one of the gems of my unfortunate downgrade experience was the wonderful lady (Gail) at EDI lounge reception, true to the spirit of “Fly to Serve” couldn’t of been more helpful, yes I recognise her hands were tied in what she personally could assist with, but I’ll definitely be grateful for how she showed empathy and genuine concern for our ill treatment by

    • Anon says:

      the other parts of the BA organisation..

    • Alan says:

      Will need to look out next week and see if Gail is who I’m thinking of or not – there’s certainly a lady who is often on reception in the EDI lounge and is always really welcoming and helpful!

      • Anon says:

        She’s worked for and represented BA for years, good advert for the brand, IMHO she could be considered a guru and give training coueses on how to give excellent customer service in trying situations with disappointed pax.

  • Stu N says:

    OT – been sitting on BA1464 for over 2 hours while they change a braking unit at LHR. Now we have a “slight passenger issue”. Captain done a lap and crew apologised for only being able to sell us stuff from the trolley. Not possible to disembark and return to the Lounge despite sitting at the gate for all this time.

    I’m now waiting for crew to go out of hours or the delay to miraculously drop below 2 hours before we arrive back in Edinburgh. I’d rather be in bed but 2 x €250 would soften the blow a little. Going to be tight.

  • harry w says:

    whilst I enjoy the improvement in the new lounge, I am always complaining about the poor breakfast early in the morning, particularly the croissants, they always seem to be day old and stale. I notice the difference when I get the Heathrow and see the difference in quality there. During the afternoon and evening the quality of food is better. If the other cafes in the airport can get fresh breakfast items I can’t see why BA can’t. In this era of having to pay on board there is certainly room for improvement in the morning.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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