Adelaide lounge.

[rwatts]

As much as I like the ADL lounge (perhaps being my "local") I am always impressed with the staff at MEL. About a month ago I was awaiting my flight home in the MEL lounge when I spotted a lounge angel carrying some newspapers over to the table. She saw me looking and came over to my seat to offer me one but I explained I was after a Fin Review as there didn't seem to be one. She didn't have one with her but promised to look. After disappearing out the back she returned to my seat with an unread copy. I later spotted what appeared to be the lounge manager himself sorting out and straightening all the newspapers.

Fast forward to last night (Friday) and I'm waiting in the queue for entry to the lounge (I'm not a member but travelling on a fare with access included) when the same angel from last month who was patrolling the queue spotted and recognised me. She immediately ushered me in and went to look (albeit unsuccessfully) for a Fin Review for me.

The lounge was quite busy but not packed. I appreciated after a tough week being able to unwind with some decent food and drink for an hour before getting onto a full 737 for home. The extra touches of recognition and attention really added to the feeling of being appreciated as a customer.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Agree that ADL angels are the best, especially the English girl.

My fave lounge is Canberra. Never crowded like the others, no large transit to the gate (or through security ala MEL), good food and drinks.

 

[straitman]

I later spotted what appeared to be the lounge manager himself sorting out and straightening all the newspapers.

The lounge manager in MEL is a lady.

 

[juliusg]

Just hit Plat, all off the back of domestic flights. A year ago I was Red, and not committed - tried QF, One-Star and settled on the old VB. Earned lounge rights a few months back, and have enjoyed every lounge since. Perth last week was the low point, but clearly once renovated, up it will come. Also last week, Adelaide was very nice - the Angel sits in a kind of dark spot, but inside it is small yet perfectly formed. (The Lounge that is!)

A funny thing, my colleague The Maiz is a welded QF Gold forced onto VA because I was paying. He was looking around the Adelaide lounge to fault something, and his Maizellian gaze fell upon the TV aspect ratio. Being a broadcast guru, he leaped out of the chair and charged off to tell someone to fix it. After some time, he reappeared with the door Angel (looking confused) and a remote control. He then adjusted all the TV's, instructing poor Angel along the way.

He was then happy. Nice lounge, nice Airline!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I later spotted what appeared to be the lounge manager himself sorting out and straightening all the newspapers.

If the gentleman you describe was of an Indian/Pakastani appearance (I'm trying to be politically correct), then I too was very impressed by him. The day I met him, he was wearing a black suit and clearing tables. I had a nice conversation with him about DJs way forward and he was certainly committed and very enthusiastic about the MEL lounge and DJ changes. I too thought he may have been the lounge manager and wrote that here on AFF at the time. If he isn't, then he certainly should be commended for his attitude. Perhaps he's the manager of the catering co?

his Maizellian gaze fell upon the TV aspect ratio. Being a broadcast guru, he leaped out of the chair and charged off to tell someone to fix it.

I haven't noticed that in a lounge, but I'm always bemused by the in-flight aspect ratio. I play a game trying to work out the missing text from across the bottom of the screens . Who says I get bored flying! Mind you, if they fixed the aspect ratio in-flight, they'd have to supply magnifying lens to see the picture but we won't have to worry about that shortly, we'll all soon be bringing our own aspect-ratio-sorted devices to amuse ourselves!!

 

[themaiz]

Swanning_it: you're sooooo right about chopped screens. But whatever the new technology is, will it be showing live satellite pictures?

Originally Posted by juliusg
my colleague The Maiz is a welded QF Gold forced onto VA because I was paying

Oh, fair suck of the sav! j-man knows that I'm just short of half way into a VA tier match, so the flights are useful and I've already booked some DJ flights on trips that I'm paying for and he isn't. But at 10 or 20 SC per flight, I'm unlikely to get renewed. Pity, because lounge access has made a HEAP of difference to the complex itinerary we've just done. But, and I have to say this, I do prefer airlines that feed you in space.

He was looking around the Adelaide lounge to fault something, and his Maizellian gaze fell upon the TV aspect ratio

Hmm... I've become an adjective. New experience. Anyway, the j-man is using editorial licence to skewer me for the wrong reason: this was not about VA. Incorrect aspect ratio on TV sets is a disease that spreads like green slime through lounges, pubs and hotel rooms. As a broadcast engineer, it annoys the %$#@&* out of me, and it's easily fixed. All three ADL VA monitors were set to a really disgusting stretch mode, and one was also chopping edges.

It's pretty hard to convince the average authority figure that there's a problem, and harder to convince them that I'm qualified to fix it and can fix it (given that broadcast technology is what I do for a living). The Angel was pretty good once she worked out what I wanted to do, and it took less than 60 seconds to make things right for ever more. Wish I could do that in the QF lounges, but they're just too big. :evil:

Postscript: the Angel told me she'd blocked out the seat next to me as a thank-you. I think she must have confused my location: as occasionally happens my middle seat was very occupied by a wide person, and the middle seat in the row behind was empty.

**sigh**

PPS: VA, if you're listening, the barista coffee in ADL was WONDERFUL.

PPPS: :idea: VA, if you're listening, it would take very little to get me to fix TV aspect ratio in those of your lounges where it's wrong.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

PPPS: :idea: VA, if you're listening, it would take very little to get me to fix TV aspect ratio in those of your lounges where it's wrong.

What about fixing ife on the AC??

 

[themaiz]

What about fixing ife on the AC??

If I knew where they were headed, I'd offer.

Until the fourth or fifth leg I'd been in VA planes which all had the FOXTEL service, and delighted in watching Sky News live during the Rudd thing. :!: Then suffered the shock of three planes in a row with great seats but no food OR entertainment. Bah. I'm heading back east on QF today, secure in the knowledge that I'll squeeze in at least two movies.

 

[Jrvsl]

Great lounge + staff. Getting a touch crowded (not like QC) may need an expansion