Review: United/Air Canada Arrivals Lounge London (Heathrow) Terminal 2
- Konrad Tillman
- Jun 28
- 4 min read
Intro
As someone who is an avid United flyer, I figured it was finally time to post a review of the Arrivals Lounge in London 😅.
Throughout the many times I have flown United Polaris and Air Canada Signature Class to London, I have always looked forward to the arrivals lounge when landing. Arrivals lounges are some of the best perks for business travelers, with redeyes sometimes landing early, and meetings starting right after landing.
While nowhere near luxurious, the arrivals lounge in London is perfect for a quick shower and steaming of the clothes before heading into Central London.
Location+Access
Finding the arrivals lounge at London Heathrow is a relatively straightforward task. Simply bang a left after exiting with all your bags, and there will be a sign saying “arrivals lounge”.
In terms of access, only those meeting the following requirements will be allowed in (fare class does not matter):
United Polaris passengers
Air Canada Signature Class passengers
Air Canada Super Elite (+1 guest) (when flying Air Canada)
While Super Elite members might be allowed in when flying Air Canada, the same does not apply to 1K members of United. It must be a business class (Polaris) ticket.
Interestingly, a time limit has never been given to me, and I have ended up here for about an hour doing some work.
Main Room/Food/Drinks
Once you have all of your credentials sorted out (they also store luggage free of charge), you can head over to the right-hand side to grab something to eat or drink.
With a capacity for about 50 people (estimated) and the main room just being a solo place, it’s not the biggest or the most luxurious, but there are tables present all around to sit down, have a cup of coffee, and write some emails.
In terms of food and drink options, here are your options:
A buffet is laid out throughout the day featuring pastries, bagels, smoothie bowls, poke bowls, fruit, and bread
From 6 am-12 pm, there is a la carte menu featuring the likes of a full English Breakfast, porridge, and waffles, to name a few options
When it comes to drinks, there are juices, soft drinks (Coca-Cola for the hangover he 😅), a coffee machine, sparkling water, and still water
No alcohol for those interested in morning mimosas…
Showers
Now, for the reason most people like to visit: the showers.
When entering the lounge, you are usually asked if you would like a shower straight off the bat. One of the kind staff members will escort you to one of the 15 shower suites (might be 14), and there is usually no wait whatsoever.
Before leaving you, they will offer to steam your clothes while you shower, and inform you to place them in the cabinet, similar to the Delta One Lounge at JFK. 10 minutes later, they will be returned…
The showers are pleasant and feature all of the bells and whistles you could ask for, including:
United slippers
Toothrbrush
Hair net
Comb
Shaving kit
Shampoo, conditioner, body wash
I have found the water pressure to be good, and the temperatures of the showers easy to control.
Service
However, where this lounge really shines to me is with the service that is offered. Every time I come here, I run into this lovely woman who works here who is from Maputo, Mozambique. We ended up talking originally because I was wearing a hat with the Mozambique flag, and it’s always nice to see here again when coming back.
The other staff are just as friendly, while also being efficient. Exactly what business travelers need when landing…
Final Thoughts
If you happen to be flying United Polaris or Air Canada Signature Class into London Heathrow (landing before 1:30 pm), make sure to check out the Arrivals Lounge if you are in need of a shower or a place to wait until your hotel is ready for check-in. Now, would I recommend spending 3 hours here? Nope, this lounge is functional, efficient, and the perfect place to grab a cup of coffee.
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