THE INSIDE TRACK • December 2023

What’s going on in our lounges this Christmas

If you’re lucky enough to have already used our lounges this month, you’ll know there’s magic in the air – if you haven’t, here’s a sneak peek of the festive surprises you can expect to see at our home at Heathrow Terminal 5 this Christmas…

Share the love

Tissues at the ready. Welcoming loved ones home for Christmas should be a special moment. That’s why we’re spreading the joy by transforming our digital billboards at Heathrow, Gatwick, and London City airports into a canvas for your personal welcome messages. Whether it’s a handwritten note or a typed message, submit your warm wishes now, including details of your loved one’s travel plans, and we’ll do our best to showcase your message as they step through Arrivals from 15-24 December. If someone special to you is flying with us, start here to surprise them.

Let it snow

We guarantee that you’ve never seen graffiti quite like this. The corridor between our First Lounge and Concorde Room is now the canvas for a bespoke, British Airways-inspired artwork created by ‘snow graffiti artist’ Scott Wilcock. Wilcock, a talented snow artist and former mechanic from Wigan, Lancashire, began to make these winter wonderland scenes six years ago and is now bringing his snowy masterpieces to T5 for your pleasure. This Instagrammable festive scene will showcase British landmarks and city landscapes, with, of course, a British Airways plane.

It's all coming up velvet

It was the chocolate craze that took over the UK when it first launched in 2018 – now the iconic Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser is helping you celebrate Christmas at T5 throughout December until New Year’s Eve. Satisfy all your chocolate desires at our new Hotel Chocolat cocktail bar in the First Lounge, where silky-smooth drinks from the Velvetised Cream collection are served from 2pm to 8pm (though you are welcome to help yourself to the cocktails if you are travelling outside of these hours) before 24 December. What’s more, if you’re visiting the Concorde Room before 31 December, you can enjoy an exclusive Christmas Velvetiser Hot Chocolate, made with creamy digestif, and topped with our festive ribbon and Speedmarque design. And there’s more – Hotel Chocolat will also be gifting Velvetiser Cream products for an impromptu Christmas giveaway in the lounges.

Ready to rum-ble

Set your pre-flight vibes to Caribbean mode. Swing by our First Lounge on 20-21 December for a taste of paradise with 50 bottles of Tidal Rum ready for sampling. This beautiful blend of four aged gold rums from Caribbean islands – Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Dominican Republic – is infused with pepper dulse seaweed foraged sustainably during seasonal low tides on the Jersey coastline. We’ll say cheers to that.

Travel trinkets

First customers will find we’ve been busy playing Santa, gifting our exclusive Christmas baubles, each adorned with a festive ribbon, to those passing through the lounge. Give it a spin, and you’ll notice the jet blue bauble is hand-painted with some of our home city’s most iconic landmarks, such as Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge. After all, who doesn’t want a bit of British Airways on their tree?

Sip and sparkle

Fortnum and Mason recently treated guests in the Concorde Room to a dazzling English sparkling wine, perfectly paired with its delicious assortment of 40 Christmas biscuits tins. This sparkling number, infused with crisp fruity notes, is produced in the heart of the Cornish countryside, Camel Valley, by husband-and-wife duo, Bob Lindo (Ex-RAF pilot) and Annie. A perfect pre-flight tipple or a festive drink once you’re back at home. To purchase your own, head here. Fortnum & Mason is on shopping.ba.com, where you can collect 50% extra Avios.