For many of us, shopping at the airport involves a trip to Duty Free to try and bag a bargain, and a visit to WHSmith for that all-important beach read.
But if you regularly travel to and from Heathrow Airport, it’s likely you’ve been missing out on the chance to experience what life is like for the super rich — without spending a penny.
That’s because the airport is home to several locations where you’ll be given the first class treatment, and Heathrow says these are its ‘best kept secret’.
Terminals 2, 3, 4, and 5 all have Personal Shopper Lounges, little-known locations tucked away behind glass doors where staff are waiting to source and sell you luxurious items. The clientele here can often purchase £21,000 handbags and Rolex watches at the drop of a hat.
However, the swanky service isn’t just reserved for the uber wealthy — anyone can book it, and according to those who have, it comes with a free glass of champagne, or cup of tea/coffee and some chocolates.
Luxury lifestyle blogger Silver Spoon London previously shared her experience at the lounge in Terminal 5, saying the space was ‘a dream’, with plush pink velvet couches and rose gold accents, plus rows of designer clothing and accessories.
Staff had already selected items they thought would be perfect for her, in the right sizes and she claims she was able to relax as her stylist talked her through all the ‘beautiful’ products.
In order to get into the lounge you have to pre-book an appointment at least 48 hours in advance of your visit. It’s free to do so and there’s a form you can fill in online.
Heathrow’s website says: ‘You receive a completely bespoke and tailor-made shopping experience without the hefty price. In fact, the service is totally free; the only thing you need to pay for is any items you wish to purchase.
‘There is no obligation to buy anything, so if you don’t purchase any goods, you can still have a great bespoke experience without splashing any cash!’
The personal shopper experience is available seven days a week from 6am to 9pm. It’s even up and running on Christmas Day, so those in search of something special can treat themselves to a gift.
Shoppers are able to request any specific items they’d like to look at when they book their appointment, including the colour of the item they’d like and the prices they’d like to pay.
The team recommends allowing two to three hours for an appointment, and upping this time if you are transferring from a different terminal, so you can enjoy it without rushing to catch your flight.
Those with an appointment can bring as many people as they’d like into the lounge with them, and if you do decide to buy something, you can have it delivered to your home, although there is a minimum spend requirement of £300 for Heathrow Reward members for this, and £500 if you’re a non-reward member.
Alternatively you can have it stored at the airport while you’re off on your travels, and it’ll be kept safe for you until you return.
On social media people hailed the experience as ‘The BEST way to start a trip’, with @angiesilverspoon saying on Instagram: ‘The perfect start to a special holiday. I was given the VIP treatment in the gorgeous @heathrow_airport personal shopping suite with champagne, coffee and chocolate. It was such a luxurious experience to have the personal shopper hand-select a choice of clothing and accessories for me to try on in comfort and privacy — I can hardly believe it’s all complimentary!’
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@lauramarie84 thought it was ‘a wonderful experience’, while @bymarthajillyan added: ‘Definitely have to do this next time I’m passing through Heathrow. Shopping and champagne, can’t beat that!’
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