Any experience of Servisair at LHR T3 ?

Hi,
Newbie question alert!!![:I]
Travelling to Delhi at short notice from T3 Heathrow. Unable to get UC, booked PE. Only an Ag card holder,so no clubhouse this time. Have booked Serviceair lounge. Anyone with experience, good or bad? I know it cannot compare to clubhouse, bur is it worth the few extra pounds?
Best wishes
Raj

[Darren Wheeler]

I used it way back in 2002 and I was not impressed. The place was packed, noisy (overseas travellers yelling into mobiles) and not a place of tranquillity. I think the main terminal was quieter.

It may have been refurbished now but when smoking was allowed inside, the divider was a trellis! Hardly smoke proof and as suck the non-smoking bit stank and was yellowing.

Food was nibbles or fruit and tea/coffee/water etc. free.

I won't be returning.

[Nottingham Nick]

It is a few years since I used it and, like Darren, I wasn't overly impressed, but I did think it was better than the main terminal.

It is probably too late now, but have you checked the V-Flyer Itinerary calender? If a gold card holder or UC passenger is flying around the same time, there may be a chance they would take you into the Clubhouse as their guest.

Nick

Thanks Darren & Nick.
Maybe things have improved, or maybe the congestion is worse.I shall have to take my chances, and shall update this forum with my experience!
I did check the itinerary, and its only me there for now!
Best wishes
Raj

Sorry Raj.. are you flying from LHR on Friday 28th, or Saturday 29th?? Your itinerary mentions both dates!
Me and Missus McCoy are on the VS200 on Friday 28th, and will probably be in the Clubhouse from 1730 onwards.. would be happy to take guests in, if there's just the two of you flying.

I used it when I took my Aunty to NYC in September and thought it was very good.

Sure it's only nibbles but there's good selection of fruit, biscuits, flapjack etc ... and the leather sofas, and plasma TV's where very nice.

It was also very quiet, and people on mobiles where asked to 'Turn it down' [y]

At £15.95 via http://www.baa.com it was a 'Haven of tranquility' in an otherwise manic T3 !

Money well spend in my view [:D]

Thanks for your very kind offer Jim, we are flying out on the 28th.
Having read Andrew's comments above, I think we'll give servisair a try this time.
Merry Christmas everyone!(Shall be hard at work myself)[:(]
Raj

Raj we used serviceair lounge in late july and compared to the main T3 it was an oasis of calm, and I would use it with out doubt.

Just bringing this up to the top because we are thinking of booking the Servisair T3 lounge before our flight on VS200 as we are flying Y, haven't booked through Virgin Hols and are only FC Red so no Clubhouse.
It seems to be £37 for 2 adults regardless of the time we choose on baa.co.uk but in the 'why book a lounge' bit it says: 'Indulge in a little luxury for up to three hours before take-off.' With a 22.30 departure time does this mean that we can only get in after 19.30? I'm not sure it's worth it for just 3 hours...

Yes, there's a limit on how long you can be there for. Frankly it's not the sort of place you want to spend a lot of time on; it's not a subsitute for the VS Lounge. I've used it a few times. It's not large and there's not much to do except drinks, nibbles, a TV and newspapers. It's useful for escaping the departure lounge in T3 but it's an interesting use of the word 'Luxury'.

If you're ever in T4 (not that there would ever be a reason for that) the Holideck place is cool if you like aircraft watching. There's a really good view from the top over the airport and 27L/09R.

Thanks Paradise. To be honest I am erring towards keeping the £37 for something more worthy as T3 is normally just about bearable! Does the lounge not have any windows over the airport at all?

Yes the windows at the back do overlook one of the alleys and you can see a bit of the runway but often you find people sleeping back there as it's probably the quietest part of the lounge so getting by the windows isn't assured.

In terms of the cost I guess you have to balance it against what you'd spend in the terminal on drinks and food. It's not bad, it's just not likely to win any prizes!