New QF lounge for LHR [Why no F?]

[katiebell]

I recently read the news about the planned new QF lounge at LHR T3. Apparently this is to be a 1 class lounge, despite the fact that the areas to be used was the old SQ lounge on 2 floors. I was told that this is to align it with other international lounges. Why do this on a flagship route with F cabins? Why not align it with the excellent Flounges in Aus? Why degrade the premium experience??? AJ, QF is not LCC and premium pax should get the level of service they pay for: i.e. Flounge for F pax.

In other ports (e.g. HKG) where another OW carrier has a Flounge I always use that rather than the QF combined lounge even if flying QF.

This trend is yet another degradation of the product QF offer at top price: hardly competitive when other carriers offer better facilities for a competitive price

 

[opusman]

Re: New QF lounge for LHR

Couldn't agree more. LHR should have a dedicated F lounge just like LAX.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Re: New QF lounge for LHR

Does Qantas really care that much about F anymore? It doesn't seem to be attempting to keep up with offerings from Asian/Middle East carriers. Food not that much different from Business etc. All seems rather token to me. However to be fair to Qantas having a one class lounge in non home stations is quite normal these days.

 

[boomy]

Re: New QF lounge for LHR

Does Qantas really care that much about F anymore? It doesn't seem to be attempting to keep up with offerings from Asian/Middle East carriers. Food not that much different from Business etc. All seems rather token to me. However to be fair to Qantas having a one class lounge in non home stations is quite normal these days.

You have good point there. The product is very tired and needs to be refreshed and refurbished to keep up with competition.

Don't know why would anyone pay for QF F considering more attractive options available.
I wonder what's the % of classic awards/op-ups/upgrades in F compared to revenue fares.

 

[moa999]

Re: New QF lounge for LHR

LAX is a much busier port for QF and they get extra revenue/guests from other oneworld F/ Emerald pax.

LHR is 2 380s a day (so max 28F passengers) and unlikely to get traffic from other carriers given AA/BA/CX have their own lounges.


The F food being only a minor variation from J has been the case since at least 2006, nothing has changed on that regard.
As for an F revamp - I am sure we will see something when they announce an A380 refresh along with the B789 product (my personal view)

 

[serfty]

I guess F PAX can use the BA, AA "First/Flagship" lounges or the EK lounge. Does CX have an F section?

 

[defurax]

I guess F PAX can use the BA, AA "First/Flagship" lounges or the EK lounge. Does CX have an F section?

Yes, CX have a F lounge. It is very small, it gets insanely dirty/messy around 8PM and has nothing F class about it. I actually prefer CX J lounge at LHR...

The BA T3 F lounge is not too bad, I guess that's why QF don't think a QF F lounge is required.

 

[bsb]

Re: New QF lounge for LHR

LHR is 2 380s a day (so max 28F passengers) and unlikely to get traffic from other carriers given AA/BA/CX have their own lounges.

I think this is the key point. When I was in LAX F, late last year it was full of CX and JL pax, (plus a plane load or two full of QF J WP pax). It was busy and I reckon the other airlines would have payed for us J pax and the space with a few dollars to spare. I do it now in BKK (albeit to the CX J lounge) and whenever I'm in HKG I've always made VERY good use of thenCX F lounges. In LHR, the other airlines have options and those 28F (and I reckon less than half actually paid and F fare) wouldn't make it viable.

 

[Pleb Status]

Re: New QF lounge for LHR

Removing the LHR F lounge just closes the gap between SG and WP a little more.

Will the only QF F lounges left be SYD, MEL and LAX? I say LAX only has F due to the OW partners using the lounge.

 

[defurax]

Re: New QF lounge for LHR

Removing the LHR F lounge just closes the gap between SG and WP a little more.

Will the only QF F lounges left be SYD, MEL and LAX? I say LAX only has F due to the OW partners using the lounge.

There is no QF F lounge at LHR. Or am I missing something? Three OW airlines have F lounges at LHR T3 (CX, AA and BA), though I think AA closes their flagship lounge in the afternoon, so it's not available before QF2.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Re: New QF lounge for LHR

The BA F lounge at T3 is a good facility: great Champagne bar and decent enough food. There was nothing special at all about the CX F lounge (it reminded me of the old, old QF F lounge at SYD where Amex Centurion is now) but I'm eager to see it after the refurb. Won't be departing from LHR again until August but I'm sure I can drag myself around the lounges in the sake of 'research'.

More on topic though, as noted above the economics don't exist for QF to build a separate F lounge at T3. It wouldn't have the foot traffic like LAX and certainly nowhere near Wing F at HKG that is full to the brim with OWE pax generating big revenue for CX (there's a long running thread on Flyertalk with CX Diamonds lamenting about how busy it is). BA is moving more flights to T3 but probably not enough to make an F lounge viable for QF.

And a little bit off topic: if it were up to me to improve the F experience then the first thing I'd do would be to reintroduce the degustation with food exclusive to that menu. I enjoyed several of those long lunches on SYDLAX flights before it was removed (avoiding the 'e' word there). BA has a separate deg on its A380. I haven't experienced it yet but it does get (mostly) good reviews.

 

[defurax]

I guess F PAX can use the BA, AA "First/Flagship" lounges or the EK lounge. Does CX have an F section?

Just realised that CX have closed their LHR lounge until June for refurbishment, I last visited the CX F lounge in November (https://www.oneworld.com/ffp/lounge-access/-/loungeaccess/LHR).
I think I read they will keep separate J and F lounges...but not sure.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Re: New QF lounge for LHR

The F food being only a minor variation from J has been the case since at least 2006, nothing has changed on that regard.

Have flown F with Qantas since 1989 - I notice the changes.

 

[samh004]

Re: New QF lounge for LHR

So long as F pax and premium (Platinum One/Chairmans Lounge) have access to expanded services whilst in a combined lounge, I don't see the need to further lose space by splitting a space into two zones. Additionally, doesn't EK only use a one size fits all lounge in every port outside of their home (as a very premium carrier), airlines are downsizing the amount of F seats they have and this may be indicative of what Qantas' 787-900's will have onboard.

While I do agree that "F" spaces are generally nicer than combined or "J" spaces, I think that so long as they look after you according to the level of status you have (top) or class of service you fly (also top) then you'll have a great experience in the lounge provided. I guess the only devaluation here is if you're not a top-tier (above Platinum) member, or not flying in First, then you might not be given the best service and amenities, but then, you're also not really entitled are you? If you were, you'd be at the "top"!

 

[TomVexille]

Re: New QF lounge for LHR

Interesting question, but I'm guessing that the economics for two flights a day just don't stack up. Especially when there's already BA, AA, CX (should be reopened before QF opens up) and EK lounges in play. It's a different scenario to LAX.

 

[katiebell]

Re: New QF lounge for LHR

There is inside talk of more QF flights to LHR so that would make a lounge more viable.

In addition, when WP & F pax use another OW lounge, isn't QF charged for that? There is a cost that could be mitigated by having a proper F lounge. And then there are EK & OW pax who would choose the best t3 lounge.

I do not use the combined lounge in HKG as it is nowhere near as good as a dedicated Flounge and will continue to use the BA FLounge in T3 if QF do not offer a Flounge as I appreciate the higher level of service, food and drink in a dedicated Flounge.

If QF actually want a profitable F cabin then they need to provide a decent F service: from check in to lounge to on board (including a dedicated F menu and not he current J food with a few extras).

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: New QF lounge for LHR

Interesting question, but I'm guessing that the economics for two flights a day just don't stack up. Especially when there's already BA, AA, CX (should be reopened before QF opens up) and EK lounges in play. It's a different scenario to LAX.

I think you are absolutely right. Maximum 28 F pax per day with those quite spread apart time wise between QF10 and QF2. F lounges available elsewhere in the terminal. I'm not in the least bit surprised that there isn't going to be an F Lounge. Service differentiation within the main lounge is a very acceptable alternative. I do think however that QF should renegotiate access to the Elemis Spa at T3 for F/CL/P1 as part of that service differentiation.

 

[TomVexille]

Re: New QF lounge for LHR

There is inside talk of more QF flights to LHR so that would make a lounge more viable.

In addition, when WP & F pax use another OW lounge, isn't QF charged for that? There is a cost that could be mitigated by having a proper F lounge. And then there are EK & OW pax who would choose the best t3 lounge.

I do not use the combined lounge in HKG as it is nowhere near as good as a dedicated Flounge and will continue to use the BA FLounge in T3 if QF do not offer a Flounge as I appreciate the higher level of service, food and drink in a dedicated Flounge.

If QF actually want a profitable F cabin then they need to provide a decent F service: from check in to lounge to on board (including a dedicated F menu and not he current J food with a few extras).

Probably not nearly enough to offset the cost of running a separate lounge. I have heard that the QF F lounges charge other airlines ~$50 per entry. I still don't think it adds up.

As for HKG, there are plenty of reports of dedicated services for eligible pax. But QF don't fly F to HKG (at the moment).

 

[Isochronous]

Where would the additional QF LHR services be from?

 

[serfty]

Re: New QF lounge for LHR

... I have heard that the QF F lounges charge other airlines ~$50 per entry. I still don't think it adds up....

From anecdotes I have com across (some recent), I suggest you triple that figure (First lounges)...