Lounge Booking For American Express Cardmembers, Kids Eat Free at Heathrow, Riyadh Air Secures Heathrow Slots - News You May Have Missed, 3rd August

Lounge Booking Now Available for American Express Platinum Cardmembers

American Express has introduced pre-booking for lounge access for UK Platinum Cardmembers across both consumer and business versions.

Platinum Cardmembers will have four lounge pre-book credits to use in 2025. After 2025, these Cardmembers will have access to eight pre-book credits to use per calendar year between 1 January 2026 and 31 December 2027. If you use all of your pre-book credits, then you may still pre-book lounges but at an additional cost.

American Express Platinum Card

These credits apply to eligible UK lounges and can be used for both the primary cardmember and accompanying guests. However, pre-booking simply reserves your space, you'll still need either a paid visit or standard visit entitlement for actual lounge access.

Bookings are subject to availability and can be made through the Priority Pass app or online account.

With airport lounges getting ever busier, this change should help American Express cardholders secure some respite when travelling.

You are able to pre-book any of the lounges listed below:

Lounge Name	Airport
Northern Lights Lounge	Aberdeen
Aspire Lounge	Belfast City
Aspire Lounge	Birmingham
Aspire Lounge (South)	Birmingham
No1 Lounge Birmingham	Birmingham
Aspire Lounge (Gate 16)	Edinburgh
Upper Deck	Glasgow
Aspire Lounge	Humberside
Aspire Lounge	Inverness
Aspire Lounge	Liverpool
No1 Lounge Gatwick – South Terminal	London Gatwick
No1 Lounge Gatwick – North Terminal	London Gatwick
My Lounge – North Terminal	London Gatwick
My Lounge – South Terminal	London Gatwick
Club Aspire Lounge – South Terminal	London Gatwick
No1 Lounge Heathrow – Terminal 2	London Heathrow
No1 Lounge Heathrow – Terminal 3	London Heathrow
My Lounge – Terminal 3	London Heathrow
Club Aspire Lounge – Terminal 5	London Heathrow
No1 Lounge Luton	London Luton
My Lounge	London Luton
Aspire Lounge – Terminal 1	Manchester
Aspire Lounge – Terminal 2	Manchester
Aspire Lounge	Newcastle
Spitfire Lounge	Southampton

Kids Eat Free at Heathrow

As part of our Family Flying series, we thought we'd bring you a little titbit put out by Heathrow on where Kids Eat Free this summer!

T2 - Big Smoke, Shan Shui, Jones the Grocer, Leon, London's Pride, The Queen's Arms

T3 - Spuntino, The Curator, Giraffe, The Oceanic

T4 - Wild Olive, Co-Pilots Bar and Kitchen

T5 - Gordon Ramsey's Plane Food, Giraffe, Pilots, The Globe

Leon over Pret any day of the week IMO

Please do look up each restaurant ahead of time to see where they are located in the terminal, and any T's&C's that may apply.

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Riyadh Air Secures Heathrow Slots for October 2025 Launch

Riyadh Air has acquired a coveted daily slot pair at London Heathrow starting October 26, 2025, for flights between Riyadh and London. The airline plans flight RX401 arriving London around 7:30AM and RX402 departing around 9:30AM, using Terminal 4 as their London home.

Riyadh Air's lone Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Since Riyadh Air hasn't received its new Dreamliners yet, the carrier will likely launch with its single existing Boeing 787-9 (HZ-RXX), an eight-year-old ex-Oman Air aircraft acquired in January 2025. Originally intended for marketing, crew training, certification purposes, this 288-seat aircraft features 30 business class seats in Apex Suites configuration and 258 economy seats. Filings confirm the London route will use a 288-seat 787-9, matching this aircraft's exact specifications.

Oman Air Apex Suites Business Class seats - Photo courtesy of One Mile at a Time

While using a pre-owned aircraft isn't the splashy debut Riyadh Air initially envisioned, it allows the airline to capitalise on these valuable Heathrow slots rather than risk forfeiting them. The move demonstrates pragmatism, allowing Riyadh Air the ability to showcase their soft product, whilst prioritising market entry over waiting for brand-new aircraft, especially given Heathrow's slot scarcity and the competitive advantage of securing this London gateway.

Sam

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