First Look: Inside the New British Airways Lounge at BOS
On our way to the Middle East to cover the new carry-on electronics ban, my wife Katie and I booked last-minute flights from Texas that had us connecting through Boston (BOS). After a disappointing visit to the Air France lounge in Terminal E, we decided to swing by the British Airways lounge we'd seen signs for. As Oneworld Emerald members traveling internationally on a Oneworld carrier, we knew we could get in — but we didn't expect to enter a brand new lounge that had just opened five hours earlier!
As it turns out, BOS recently renovated this part of Terminal E so it could accommodate up to three A380s at a time. As part of this renovation, it seems British Airways took the chance to close its lounge in the "Basement" and build a new one on the top floor of the new terminal.
To get there, turn left from the security area and walk down to the new portion of Terminal E, then take the elevator (or stairs) up to the top floor. You'll find the British Airways lounge entrance on the far end of the hall.
Once you walk down another hall, a sleek new check-in desk is there to welcome guests.
Right behind the check-in desk is a so-called "Bag Drop" room, which has space for you to leave your bags and coats unattended.
Further down the hall is the dining room. As our visit was immediately before a British Airways 777 boarded, the lounge was quite busy — as you can see in the photo, below.
On one side of the dining room, there's an area demarcated by multiple "Concorde Dining" signs. This area — reserved for British Airways First passengers only — features plated meals ordered individually from a menu.
For the rest of us, there's a variety of food options, including wraps, sandwiches, chips and other finger foods.
The salad bar didn't look too bad either.
Best of all were the options from the hot food bar, some of which were cooked/prepared in the open kitchen area directly behind it, assuring guests that the food is being prepared onsite and not simply reheated.
We regretted having snacked at the Air France lounge, but couldn't resist trying a few of the food options, you know, for research purposes. While it was all quite tasty, the "gemelli pasta, grilled chicken pesto, broccoli and mushroom" was especially tasty.
Next to the sandwich bar in the dining room is the self-serve beverage bar, providing a wide range of self-service wines, beers, sodas, juices, "cucumber, lemon agua fresca" and "tangerine strawberry agua fresca."
For cocktails and liquor, you're going to have to head to the back of the lounge, where you'll find a stunning bar. Large windows offer excellent views of the British Airways gate in the foreground and downtown Boston in the background.
We decided to toast the new lounge and our upcoming flight with some Champagne. Our level of excitement about both of these things led the bartender to ask if we were on our honeymoon, which was pretty amusing for both of us, having been married 7.5 years.
As for the rest of the lounge, there's a variety of seating areas with different designs and feels. Although it's not a large space, the designers really did a great job of providing passengers with plenty of options to choose from — areas with TVs, workstations, side tables or tables and chairs. Next to the dining room, there was a spot with comfy chairs as well as power plugs to charge up all your electronic devices before the flight.
Further back, there are window-side lounging chairs, seats at tables and a small work area with a printer.
In the middle section of the lounge between the dining room and the bar, there's a set of bathrooms and a single shower room.
Once it's time to board, there's no reason to go back out the front entrance, down the stairs/elevator and circle back around to the gate — British Airways actually built a dedicated gate 12 boarding area into the back of the lounge!
Bottom Line
This is an excellent lounge, providing delicious food, a variety of drink options, plenty of seating — except for in the dining room during peak times — and an attractive atmosphere. The lounge staff seemed to be excited about the grand opening, providing a palpable energy throughout the space. Hopefully, they'll continue to be just as friendly and welcoming going forward.
The comparison is night-and-day between this lounge and the Priority Pass-member Air France lounge we also visited during our layover at BOS. If you've got access to this British Airways lounge, we'd recommend trying it out yourself.
Have you checked out the new British Airways lounge at BOS yet? Tell us what you thought of it, below.
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
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Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.