Lounge access rules change often — confirm in the lounge's app or the card's benefits page before you fly.
Heathrow is British Airways' hub and the busiest US-to-Europe gateway, with Virgin Atlantic, Delta, American and United all flying here. For a US cardholder, Heathrow lounge access is unusually good: there's an Amex Centurion Lounge in Terminal 3, and Priority Pass covers at least one lounge in all four terminals, including a Plaza Premium arrivals lounge in Terminal 3 for showering after an overnight flight.
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Quick answer
- Best overall for LHR lounge access: Amex Platinum — includes the Centurion Lounge LHR (Terminal 3), Plaza Premium in Terminals 2, 4 and 5 (plus T3 arrivals) and Priority Pass
- Best for Priority Pass at LHR with companions: Chase Sapphire Reserve — Priority Pass with two free guests; there's no Sapphire Lounge in London
- Best value for Priority Pass: Capital One Venture X — the same Plaza Premium, No1 and Club Aspire lounges for $395
- Best for frequent American or BA flyers: Citi AAdvantage Executive with the Terminal 3 Admirals Club; oneworld status opens BA's lounges
Airport snapshot
Terminal 5 is British Airways. Terminal 3 holds Virgin Atlantic, Delta, American, Emirates, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and it's where the Centurion Lounge is. Terminal 2 is Star Alliance (United, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Singapore). Terminal 4 has Qatar, Etihad and other non-alliance and SkyTeam carriers. Gatwick (LGW) is London's second airport, with its own lounges.
Where to go by terminal
| Terminal | Airlines | Lounges there |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 2 | United, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Star Alliance | Plaza Premium, No1, United Club, Lufthansa, Maple Leaf, SilverKris |
| Terminal 3 | Virgin, Delta, American, Emirates, Cathay, Qantas | Centurion, No1, Clubrooms, My Lounge, Plaza Premium Arrivals, Admirals Club, Virgin Clubhouse |
| Terminal 4 | Qatar, Etihad, Saudia, others | Plaza Premium, Blush, Qatar, Etihad |
| Terminal 5 | British Airways | Plaza Premium, Club Aspire, BA Galleries and Concorde Room |
If you start your trip in London, you can only use lounges in your departure terminal. Connecting passengers move between terminals on the airside Flight Connections buses and trains, with a security check, so leave enough time.
Lounges at LHR
Centurion Lounge LHR (Terminal 3)
- Location: Terminal 3, after security, Level 2. Follow the Flight Connections route to the main shopping area and take the elevators up. Only passengers departing from Terminal 3 can use it.
- Access: Amex Platinum, Business Platinum and Centurion cards with a same-day boarding pass on any airline, within 3 hours of departure (5 hours before a connecting flight since July 8, 2026).- Guest policy: Since July 8, 2026, guests must be on the cardholder's flight. US-issued cards pay a guest fee, reported as £35 per adult and £24 per child, unless you spend $75,000 a year on the card, which unlocks two free guests.
- Best for: Virgin, Delta and American passengers on a morning or afternoon transatlantic flight.
Plaza Premium lounges (Terminals 2, 4 and 5)
- Location: Terminal 2 (near gate A3), Terminal 4 (opposite gates 10a/10b), Terminal 5 (near gate A7). Terminal 4 also has the smaller Blush Lounge by Plaza Premium.
- Access: Amex Platinum through the Global Lounge Collection, or any Priority Pass card. Paid entry is also sold. Priority Pass entry is walk-in and space-dependent.
- Guest policy: Through Priority Pass, Platinum and Sapphire Reserve include two free guests; Venture X guests cost $35.
- Best for: The default lounge if you're flying United or Star Alliance from T2, or BA in economy from T5.
Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge (Terminal 3)
- Location: Terminal 3 arrivals, before you leave the airport.
- Access: Listed for Amex Platinum and on the Priority Pass LHR list. Paid entry is available too.
- Guest policy: Through Priority Pass rules; check in the app.
- Best for: Showering and breakfast after a red-eye before a meeting. Airline arrivals lounges also exist: BA (T5), Virgin Revivals (T3), American (T3) and United / Air Canada (T2), all for premium-cabin passengers and top elites.
Airline lounges
- Location: BA Galleries Club, Galleries First and Concorde Room (T5, plus BA lounges in T3); Admirals Club and American's International First lounge (T3); Virgin Clubhouse (T3); United Club (T2); Lufthansa (T2).
- Access: Admirals Club membership, including through the Citi AAdvantage Executive, on a same-day American or oneworld flight; oneworld Sapphire and Emerald status for BA and AA lounges; Upper Class, Delta One and top Virgin/Delta elites for the Clubhouse; United Club membership for the T2 United Club.
- Guest policy: Set by each airline.
- Best for: Elites and premium-cabin flyers. Amex Platinum lost its Lufthansa lounge benefit on October 1, 2026, so the Terminal 2 Lufthansa lounges are no longer a Platinum perk.
Priority Pass at LHR
- Terminal 2: Plaza Premium; No1 Lounge.
- Terminal 3: No1 Lounge; Clubrooms (additional fee); My Lounge; Plaza Premium Arrivals; Evergreen Bar & Restaurant (dining).
- Terminal 4: Plaza Premium; Blush Lounge by Plaza Premium.
- Terminal 5: Plaza Premium; Club Aspire (pre-booking available); The Globe Pub & Kitchen (dining).
- Access: Enroll through the card. The two dining venues are listed on Priority Pass, but the US premium cards' Priority Pass memberships are lounges-only, so plan on the real lounges. No1 and Club Aspire let you pre-book a guaranteed slot for a small fee; Plaza Premium is walk-in.
Best credit cards for LHR
| Card | Annual fee | Lounges you get at LHR | Guests | Best if you… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Platinum | $895 | Centurion (T3), Plaza Premium, Priority Pass | Centurion fee; 2 free at Priority Pass | Fly from T3 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | $795 | Priority Pass lounges | 2 free | Travel with companions |
| Capital One Venture X | $395 | Priority Pass lounges | $35 each | Want the lowest fee |
| Citi Strata Elite | $595 | Priority Pass, 4 Admirals Club passes/yr | 2 free at Priority Pass | Fly American a few times a year |
| Citi AAdvantage Executive | $695 (new accounts) | Admirals Club (T3) | 2 guests or immediate family | Fly American |
Recommended strategy
- If you fly Virgin, Delta or American (Terminal 3): Amex Platinum is the clear pick for the Centurion Lounge. Budget for guest fees unless you hit $75,000 in spend.
- If you fly British Airways from Terminal 5: In economy without status, it's Plaza Premium or Club Aspire through any Priority Pass card. Status earned with American's AAdvantage (oneworld Sapphire or Emerald) is what opens the BA lounges.
- If you fly United from Terminal 2: Any Priority Pass card covers Plaza Premium and No1; a United Club membership adds the United Club.
- If you want strong lounges at a lower cost: Venture X gets you into a lounge in every terminal for $395.
- If you land on an overnight flight: Use the Terminal 3 Plaza Premium Arrivals lounge with Platinum or Priority Pass.
FAQ
Is there a Centurion Lounge at Heathrow? Yes, in Terminal 3, after security on Level 2. It's open only to passengers departing from Terminal 3, so it won't help if you fly BA from Terminal 5 or United from Terminal 2.
Can I use a Heathrow lounge when I arrive? Yes. The Plaza Premium Arrivals lounge in Terminal 3 is on both the Amex Platinum and Priority Pass lists, and BA, Virgin, American and United run arrivals lounges for premium-cabin passengers.
Amex Platinum vs Sapphire Reserve vs Venture X at LHR? The Platinum wins if you fly from Terminal 3: it adds the Centurion Lounge on top of every Plaza Premium and Priority Pass lounge. In Terminals 2, 4 and 5 all three cards open the same Priority Pass lounges, so the Sapphire Reserve's two free guests or the Venture X's lower fee matter more. Chase has no Sapphire Lounge in London.
Does my Delta Reserve card get me a lounge at Heathrow? Don't count on it. There's no Delta Sky Club at Heathrow, and Amex's 2026 Centurion rules mention "select" Delta Reserve cards without spelling out London access, so check your card's benefits page. Delta One passengers and top Medallions use the Virgin Clubhouse in Terminal 3.
Do Priority Pass restaurant credits work at Heathrow? Evergreen (T3) and The Globe (T5) are Priority Pass dining venues, but the Priority Pass memberships on the Platinum, Sapphire Reserve, Venture X and Strata Elite are lounges-only.
Related guides
- Centurion Lounge locations
- Paris CDG lounges
- Amsterdam (AMS) lounges
- New York JFK lounges
- New York to Europe with points
- Best credit cards for airport lounge access
Lounge access rules, guest policies and locations change. Always confirm current details with the airline, lounge operator or card issuer before you travel.
