My first international flight as WP is later this year

[mviy]

I now have an international trip later this year, so assuming I'm allowed to fly QF I'll be able to visit the F lounge for the first time!

Should I go direct from MEL or go via SYD to maximise the SC earn (but less lounge time). It's early in my new membership year.

 

[Hvr]

MEL is a good F lounge to go to first especially since you'll get more time there.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

MEL is a good F lounge to go to first especially since you'll get more time there.

Im with HVR!

I've had an 80% success rate with spa appointments at the MEL F lounge, whereas SYD would not be as high.
Particularly in the early afternoon the MEL F lounge is generally a nice quite sanctuary after a large number of flights have taken off.

 

[mviy]

If I'm flying out of MEL it'll be a morning flight (only one QF direct flight a day) so I guess I'd get the breakfast menu. Not sure whether I will use the spa even if there are slots available.

 

[davec]

As per others I've had much more spa success in MEL than SYD. If breakfast it is, then try the corn fritters dish, with a couple of poached eggs - perfect!

 

[RichardMEL]

Brekky menu is fine but really the later options are much more varied and interesting IMHO. if you can swing an hour or so through SYD at say lunchtime it could be an option (but then again service can be a bit slower in the larger SYD lounge so....)

my 2 cents

 

[mviy]

Brekky menu is fine but really the later options are much more varied and interesting IMHO. if you can swing an hour or so through SYD at say lunchtime it could be an option (but then again service can be a bit slower in the larger SYD lounge so....)

SYD has two flights a day but the latest one still leaves around midday so would be breakfast menu too there.

Hoping to get over to the U.K. or U.S. next year and try the later options in the lounge.

 

[travs]

If going via Sydney, I like to get on QF 400 at 6 AM to get to the lounge earlier and have a bit more relaxed time (but I hate that terminal transfer!) I generally prefer to fly out of MEL; concur with the previous posters that you can get spa appts easier and I find the meal service generally better in MEL due to it being more compact (easier to flag down a server as they don't have to walk as much.)

SYD is the prettier lounge though.

 

[JohnK]

Why fly direct? Makes no sense.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I now have an international trip later this year, so assuming I'm allowed to fly QF I'll be able to visit the F lounge for the first time!

Should I go direct from MEL or go via SYD to maximise the SC earn (but less lounge time). It's early in my new membership year.

If you have a chance of re-qualifying but no certainty then take the connecting flight if there is minimal or no price difference.

I personally much prefer the SYD lounge to MEL but if both flights leave earlier than midday then I wouldn't go out of my way to do a domestic connection unless I needed the SC.

If I didn't need the SC at all, then brekky in the MEL lounge would be my pick.

EDIT: IMHO Flounge preference here on AFF is very tribal. Most if not all of the MEL fans are based in or near there, likewise with SYD. Most of the top posters here are from MEL/VIC so bear that in mind when you read about which is the best F lounge

 

[Pushka]

Love the Sydney lounge but thats the only Australian one I've been to. . Thankfully in December then again in April I will be trying the Melbourne one. As an Adelaidian I am unbiassed. But I think Syd might win out.

 

[kermatu]

A Tasberran* so also unbiased. Pretty much a dead-heat for me. MEL is certainly quieter and easier to get to your gate afterward. Plus as I'm usually connecting the transfer is far superior. SYD has a better view, easier to get to and staff look after regulars really well.

The tie-breaker for me is spa access. So morning flights are pretty equal - but I choose MEL for quiet. Afternoon flights SYD no question. Late evening flights MEL gets the nod.

* Sure you can work that out.

 

[Groundhog]

If I'm flying out of MEL it'll be a morning flight (only one QF direct flight a day) so I guess I'd get the breakfast menu. Not sure whether I will use the spa even if there are slots available.

From memory the Mel Spa doesnt open till 8.30 or 9am so this may influence your decision for flight time if this was one of your bucket list features for the Mel Flounge.

 

[JohnK]

If you have a chance of re-qualifying but no certainty then take the connecting flight if there is minimal or no price difference.

My strategy has always been go hard early in membership year and relax at the end of membership year once re-qualified.

 

[mviy]

I have no certainty of requalifying. I suppose I could fly home via Sydney or Brisbane. Yet to hear whether the firm will let me go QF for this trip.

Another international trip or two in the membership year would help. As would another DSC offer (if there is one next year).

 

[PaulST]

Enjoy! Make sure you enjoy the perks with other OW airlines too! I also just reached WP and visited Europe back in July and the status was quite helpful (including allowing me to skip quite large queues at Munich and Moscow which could have otherwise resulted in me missing flights). Access to the JAL Flounge at NRT made the 11hr layover there more tolerable too.

Don't forget about the soft landing with status too (you only drop down one status level irrespective of how little SCs you've earnt). I'm not even going to try and re-qualify so I'll drop back to SG next Qantas-year with the plan to save (by flying Y/Y+ and awards) and maybe try for WP again the following year.

 

[bsb]

They are pretty much the same food, furnishing and service wise. Sydney has a much more interesting view and is larger, but that can be a problem with time when busy. The transfer is a pain and lately gate 15 is getting to be a zoo and status gets you no quicker through the loud and large crowds. Mid morning seems the be a 3 bus wait. Fly out of MEL and then maybe Qantas will realise not everyone wants to transit SYD.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Pushka, make sure you try the auto doors going to the loos in the QFi MEL F lounge.
Interesting concept. These are the 2 big wooden double doors I mean, not the single ones.
You will get it when you "meet it".
QFi SYD F/old QFi BNE J lounge didn't have it.

 

[Pushka]

Agree re the bus in Sydney. Its a real downer but obviously Sydney siders dont have to worry about that.

But what we do is fly in the night before; spend a nice evening at Rydges in anticipation, then wander over the road as early as possible for the full F lounge experience.

 

[RichardMEL]

Pushka, make sure you try the auto doors going to the loos in the QFi MEL F lounge.
Interesting concept. These are the 2 big wooden double doors I mean, not the single ones.
You will get it when you "meet it".
QFi SYD F/old QFi BNE J lounge didn't have it.

Well that's certainly a bit random.

Actually I was annoyed with that setup when I first encountered it as it was not totally obvious from signage that the deal was to go through those doors. I'd also add that it's difficult (for me) to tell when a cubicle is in use as the "occupied" is very discreet... but these are minor things.

the lounge is great

I look forward to my visitin 10 days