The best Oneworld business class lounges at London Heathrow T3

Terminal 3 of London’s Heathrow Airport is home to most Oneworld airlines flying into and out of the British capital – a roster which includes American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Japan Airlines and Qantas.

Even British Airways, which has its own busy hub at Terminal 5, maintains a schedule of European and longer-range international flights departing from T3.
(However, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc and forthcoming Oneworld member Oman Air all fly exclusively out of T4.)

As a result, Heathrow T3 is thronged with passengers on Oneworld airlines who are either travelling in business class or holding lounge-worthy Oneworld Sapphire status.

And they’ve got four business class lounges to choose from: American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas each offer a T3 foothold.

With that in mind, here’s the Executive Traveller cheat-sheet for choosing the best Oneworld business class lounges at London Heathrow Terminal 3.

London Heathrow T3 Oneworld lounge access

So here’s something that savvy travellers and frequent flyers know, but many others remain unaware of: depending on your class of travel or frequent flyer status, in most cases you can use the lounge of any Oneworld member airline, not just that airline’s own.

You don't need to be flying with Qantas to visit Qantas' London Heathrow T3 lounge.

For example, business class or Oneworld Sapphire passengers flying on American Airlines or British Airways from T3 don’t have to make a beeline for the AA or BA business class lounges. They’re fully entitled to visit T3’s Cathay Pacific or Qantas lounges (and indeed, they should).

The same goes for airlines which don’t have their own lounge at T3, such as Finnair and JAL. Even if airline check-in staff direct you to the Qantas lounge, you’re not actually obliged to head there: you can visit any of the other Oneworld business class lounges at T3.

Indeed, should you have the time or the inclination, you can sample all of T3’s Oneworld business class lounges, as they’re located within a few minutes’ walk on one another.

So who’s allowed into London Heathrow T3’s Oneworld lounges?

Business class passengers on any Oneworld airlines departing from T3, and at the time of writing those are:

• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Finnair
• Japan Airlines
• Royal Jordanian
• SriLankan Airlines
• Qantas

Premium economy and economy passengers holding Oneworld Sapphire frequent flyer status with any Oneworld member airline, including

• American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum
• British Airways Executive Club Silver
• Cathay Pacific Gold
• Finnair Plus Gold
• Japan Airlines Global Club / Mileage Bank Sapphire, Global Club Crystal and Global Club
• Malaysia Airlines Enrich Gold
• Royal Jordanian Gold Sparrow
• SriLankan Airlines FlySmiLes Gold
• Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club Gold

Those frequent flyers can also bring one guest into the lounge, provided that guest is travelling on a Oneworld member airline flight (however, business class travellers have no guest privileges).

Now that we’ve got your Oneworld lounge access sorted, which Oneworld lounge at London Heathrow T3 should you visit?

1. Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge

Location: Lounge C, near Gate 11 (open 5:30am to 9pm)

The Cathay Pacific Business Lounge is easily the best Oneworld business class lounge at Heathrow T3.

It's officially Lounge C, but rates an A+ in our book...

Superb food and drinks, spacious well-appointed showers, plenty of room and comfortable seating options plus tarmac views make this the go-to for Oneworld business class passengers and frequent flyers.

Cathay's signature Noodle Bar at London Heathrow T3.

Essentially a scaled-back version of Hong Kong’s The Pier Business Lounge, you can tuck into freshly-prepared Asian delights from The Noodle Bar...

Cathay's signature Noodle Bar at London Heathrow T3.

... or an array of hot and cold food from the buffet (our picks on a recent visit: honey sriracha chicken wings and carrot, beetroot and edamame salad), while a ‘pantry’ area tempts with light bites and sweet treats.

Don't overlook the self-serve buffet adjacent to The Noodle Bar restaurant.

Further along is a tended bar with wines, spirits, Champagne and cocktails plus treats such as bubble tea.

The popular bar is centrally-located within Cathay's LHR T3 lounge.

Cathay’s London lounge boasts a wide variety of seating where you can maker yourself at home.

There's plenty of seating options, from solo flyers to families and groups.

The far end of the lounge has a cosy ‘den’ area to one side, with a cluster of work-friendly booths by the window.

Each of these comfortable work-friendly booths include AC/USB power outlets.

So stow your cabin bag in one of the luggage lockers near the shower area, relax, and make yourself at home.

A lounge with a view...

Our recommendation: no matter which Oneworld airline you’re travelling with (and especially if that airline directs you to the American Airlines or British Airways lounges), the Cathay lounge should be your first port of call, and it’s probably the only lounge you need to visit.

2. Qantas London Lounge

Location: Lounge B (open 8am to 9pm)

Conveniently located next door to the Cathay Pacific lounge, Qantas’ London outpost elegantly channels a ‘British private club’ vibe across its two floors.

The Qantas lounge experiences its busiest times ahead of the noon QF10 and evening QF2 flights.

The upper level contains an eye-catching circular bar, while the ground floor is largely given over the à la carte dining room and and a well-stocked gin bar.

This eye-catching upstairs bar is fitting for the Qantas' lounges 'private club' vibe.

And those are the two drawcards at Qantas’ London lounge, even for short-term visitors popping in from another lounge.

Stick to the ground floor of the Qantas lounge for à la carte dining and the globe-trotting gin bar.

Evenings are the best time to visit, as the à la carte service begins around 6pm (ahead of the 9pm departure of QF2 to Sydney via Singapore).

Most of the ground floor is given over to dining.

Most diners will opt for the ‘signature’ salt and pepper squid with green chili dipping sauce and aioli, although it’s not up to the same delectable standard as its siblings at Qantas’ first class lounges in Australia.

Salt and pepper squid.

Also on the dinner menu for mains during our visit:

• Heirloom tomato, watermelon, chilli salt, mint and basil salad
• Salad of green tea noodles with poached chicken, cucumber, mint, red cabbage, tofu and sesame dressing
• Japanese pumpkin chicken curry pot pie with cabbage slaw
• Lasagna with tomato sugo and shaved parmesan

Heirloom tomato, watermelon, chilli salt, mint and basil salad.

You can bookend your dinner by sampling choice tipples at the Gin Bar, which range from British classics and modern hometown heroes like Copper House and Sipsmith to world-class Aussie contenders including Four Pillars and Brookie’s.

There's a whole worlds of gins waiting to be tasted...

3. British Airways Galleries Club Lounge

Location: Lounge F (open 5am to 10pm)

BA's LHR T3 lounge is to designated go-to for many other Oneworld airlines.

While a recent refresh uplifted BA’s T3 business class lounge, it can still be incredibly crowded and noisy, especially in evening peak times.

BA's LHR T3 lounge during a quieter moment.

There’s little reason to steer your way here instead of the Cathay or Qantas lounges, although BA’s T3 lounge does have a decent buffet spread (just part of this is shown below) plus a selection of self-pour spirits, if that’s your thing.

The buffet spread (only part of which is shown here) is surprisingly decent.

(But if you prefer Champagne over Prosecco, Cathay is again your go-to with Laytons, while Qantas pours Petaluma Croser sparkling.)

Help yourself to the drinks.

At least younger flyers can be kept briefly entertained by the PlayStation 5 console in the Kids Zone room plus an ice-cream and popcorn stand.

Some welcome distractions for young (or young at heart) flyers.

4. American Airlines Admirals Club

Location: Lounge H (below the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse; open 5am to 7.30pm)

American Airlines' London business class lounge is just a second-rate Admirals Club.

There’s no reason to visit American Airlines’ LHR T3 Admirals Club unless you’re a member of the paid Admirals Club lounge program or hold an American Airlines credit card with lounge privileges, in which case this is your only lounge option at Heathrow.

Hospital waiting room chic will be back in style one day...

This is not a patch on American Airlines’ Flagship international business class lounges in the US.

Sad and tired, old and cold, it’s more like a hospital waiting room from the 1980s, while the buffet is an cursory exercise in getting away with as little as possible.

In short: no. Just no.

More Executive Traveller Oneworld lounge guides

• The best Oneworld lounges at Singapore Changi Terminal 1
• The best Oneworld lounges at Hong Kong