Auckland Emirates Lounge [Now open approx. 11am-2pm,5pm-9pm]

[kermatu]

Same again, no champers to be seen in the “First” lounge at AKL. Out of apple cider too and food is the same as two weeks ago. Lahame.

I flew out of AKL yesterday on VA so used the Strata lounge. Lots of simple food and plenty of alcohol, including a favourite of mine an overproof bourbon (although I didn’t partake). Comfortable seating and a view outside. I am rapidly coming to the conclusion VA is a much better choice trans-Tasman unless you are able to fly the QF A330s.

 

[Berlin]

I flew out of AKL yesterday on VA so used the Strata lounge. Lots of simple food and plenty of alcohol, including a favourite of mine an overproof bourbon (although I didn’t partake). Comfortable seating and a view outside. I am rapidly coming to the conclusion VA is a much better choice trans-Tasman unless you are able to fly the QF A330s.

I sometimes sneak into the Strata lounge with my Priority pass to grab a plate of pasta before heading over to QF. But while I agree with the layout and choice of food, at least at the times I usually fly it is always totally overfilled and full of riff raff which suits the fact that no champagne is ever to be seen there. Co-travelers is the other reason I don't touch Virgin ever besides their branding -I can't stand the crowds and their pseudo- fancy blurb with the silly purple pinkish lighting-cheap and nasty. This has always annoyed me with Virgin Atlantic and Virgin America as much as with Virgin Blue now Australia. But that's personal taste I guess.

 

[kermatu]

I sometimes sneak into the Strata lounge with my Priority pass to grab a plate of pasta before heading over to QF. But while I agree with the layout and choice of food, at least at the times I usually fly it is always totally overfilled and full of riff raff which suits the fact that no champagne is ever to be seen there. Co-travelers is the other reason I don't touch Virgin ever besides their branding -I can't stand the crowds and their pseudo- fancy blurb with the silly purple pinkish lighting-cheap and nasty. This has always annoyed me with Virgin Atlantic and Virgin America as much as with Virgin Blue now Australia. But that's personal taste I guess.

Thankfully branding and lighting don’t get in the way of good service!

 

[Berlin]

Thankfully branding and lighting don’t get in the way of good service!

But I hardly ever complain about service on Qantas either. Very very rare to have a bad crew in my experience.

 

[kermatu]

But I hardly ever complain about service on Qantas either. Very very rare to have a bad crew in my experience.

I’ve only had bad service on Qantas a couple of times from probably hundreds of flights. But it’s increasingly becoming indifferent. VA the crews so far in my experience are very proactive, enthusiastic, helpful and fun. A real pleasure.

Though as I’ve noted above my last couple of QF flights have been well served by the crew. Have some flights coming up. Hoping for some different menus!

 

[Berlin]

I’ve only had bad service on Qantas a couple of times from probably hundreds of flights. But it’s increasingly becoming indifferent. VA the crews so far in my experience are very proactive, enthusiastic, helpful and fun. A real pleasure.

Though as I’ve noted above my last couple of QF flights have been well served by the crew. Have some flights coming up. Hoping for some different menus!

See- the “enthusiastic” and especially the “fun” has always pi$$ed me off massively. And I’m usually all for being modern and upbeat. But on Virgin (no matter which one), it has always seemed really cheap to me. Cheap n nasty.

Now, the ever same menus. This is my real bugbear with Qantas!

 

[Berlin]

See- the “enthusiastic” and especially the “fun” has always pi$$ed me off massively. And I’m usually all for being modern and upbeat. But on Virgin (no matter which one), it has always seemed really cheap to me. Cheap n nasty.

Now, the ever same menus. This is my real bugbear with Qantas!

Update: Got in without issues. Computer said no at first but the friendly lady added me manually and even apologised that it took so long. Veuve for me though it seems as if they on purpose don’t put the hot food out until the last Qantas flights, mine and one to Melbourne, have left.

I always think it’s extremely silly of Qantas to not respond in kind and tell any Emirates guest in the Flounge in SYD or MEL “Sorry but it’s cold nuts for you!” And of course, likewise, strictly no access to the Flounge for QR or BA guests unless they travel on a fully paid F ticket on one of the two Qantas flights a day that has a First class. Just like that F lounge in the Doha and Concorde rooms

 

[kermatu]

Veuve for me though it seems as if they on purpose don’t put the hot food out until the last Qantas flights, mine and one to Melbourne, have left.

I’m sure that’s a factor though to be fair I’ve been in other EK lounges where the hot food has not been out for some time after opening - Glasgow and Singapore (very brief wait) come to mind.

 

[Eija]

Travelling on QF158 last Tuesday and entered the Qantas First lounge around 16:30, lounge busy and as there was 2 of us found it quite difficult to find 2 seats together. Due to some of the posts here and the lounge being nearly full I went by myself to the Emirates lounge at 17:00 (it opened at 16:45) to enquire about using the lounge for myself and my wife. The Emirate's lady was lovely and there were no issues going back and collecting luggage and wife and using this lounge. So much better food and drink wise than the Qantas First lounge and best of all hardly any people there! Also the Emirate's lady let us know when boarding commenced and which gate to go to. We were both flying business and I am Plat and my wife is Gold.

I fly through AKL 3/4 times per annum and know those ladies well. Always have a gift for them...we have reached the point of embarrassment now. But, what the heck I love doing it.

 

[Berlin]

I’m sure that’s a factor though to be fair I’ve been in other EK lounges where the hot food has not been out for some time after opening - Glasgow and Singapore (very brief wait) come to mind.

Fair enough! Maybe then it’s just quite “convenient” to be a bit delayed but not really done on purpose.

 

[kermatu]

Fair enough! Maybe then it’s just quite “convenient” to be a bit delayed but not really done on purpose.

Actually if memory serves even when EK had four flights out of AKL there were at least half a dozen times I was the first entrant to the lounge and was told maybe three of the times that they would ‘now start getting the hot food ready’ — ie, they waited for pax to show. And given they don’t like to only have 2 or 3 of the 8 or so dishes out and prefer them all being available, that entailed quite a delay. I knew the old kitchen and wait staff there quite well so if I was on a tight schedule with QF they’d fast track the beef fillet or seafood pie for me. Hardly know any of them now, and am not even attempting entry that often.

 

[kiwitripper64]

WE flew out of Auckland last Thursday. There was champagne in the F lounge, but no seats. I am not talking about a table with 1 person taking 4 seats, there were no spare seats. 4 people were sitting in the computer area as an overflow. We ducked back out and were lucky to see someone get up to leave their table for 2 in J, but it was just as busy there. I asked the QF if we could go into the EK lounge and she did go and ask, but they were "full". Not a happy situation

 

[kermatu]

WE flew out of Auckland last Thursday. There was champagne in the F lounge, but no seats. I am not talking about a table with 1 person taking 4 seats, there were no spare seats. 4 people were sitting in the computer area as an overflow. We ducked back out and were lucky to see someone get up to leave their table for 2 in J, but it was just as busy there. I asked the QF if we could go into the EK lounge and she did go and ask, but they were "full". Not a happy situation

May I ask what time of day?

My last visit a few days ago - close to full, but this time there were some empty seats and one selfish couple taking up two seats plus charging their devices at another set of two seats making them look occupied. (Just move there!). Approx 14:30 to 15:00 with only the 15:45 flight to Sydney, an A330, the likely source.

Interestingly I left a few minutes after 'Go to gate' (16) appeared, but before the call. Leisurely walk to a nicely expanded and much more comfortable gate area. Sat down while a few wheelchair and elderly pax were helped onboard. Then all the faces from the F lounge arrived, stood near the PB lane (but not lined up). As soon as boarding called they all went in. Then best i could tell all of them crossed over to the Y aerobridge. I only recognised one pax in the J cabin - the rest must have been Y.

Not mentioning as a complaint (I take advantage of status for better lounge than flying class would confer all the time). Just was a very stark demonstration of how many pax have status yet travel in Y. Can't help but blame all the DSCs for this.

 

[kiwitripper64]

We were qf158, leaving about 6.30pm So they had a flight to SYD, Santiago and MEL. I am not sure how 3 flights managed to completely overwhelm the lounge, but its not unusual. Either more J pax, more people with status, lots of guests or a combination. It wasn't a Friday or school holidays either.

 

[Berlin]

Endured the F lounge in Auckland on Good Friday in the morning, just after EK was closed. Pretty empty but it still felt old and coughpy. “Breakfast” had the chewiest bacon I’ve ever eaten but at least the Lawson seems to be back for good (not the greatest of champagnes but at least it’s actual champagne). Zero newspapers or other worthwhile reading material but that was probably due to the public holiday.

Still absolutely no sign of the renovation work starting. I was so frustrated a while back that I vented via Twitter and Qantas sent me the most meaningless (and slightly idiotic) reply back: “Hey Berlin, watch out for exciting news and updates regarding our lounges! Regards, Qantas” Haaaah?

 

[Berlin]

Just moved over from the dreadful Qantas first hole. First the lady at EK was super friendly but then she lectured me about how I was the “last Qantas passenger I am going to let in today”. I turned out to be the first and only guest in the entire lounge Saying that,she then even looked up my flight to see how much delay we have.

The difference is an absolute embarrassment for Qantas, really. While the EK lounge is even for Business class too, it is SO much better than what QF offers in so-called first. Veuve as champers and the always excellent beef fillet on offer today, hard to beat that!

But what annoys me even more about Qantas is that they don’t retaliate when their Middle Eastern “partners” don’t fill their end of the deal. The QF Flounges are REALLY over capacity often, especially the Melbourne one. Why not send the multi-generational Arab families with their screaming kids away with a “Sorry, you’re booked on Emirates”. Or, like Qatar does it, send them to some pro-forma mini dungeon at the other end of the terminal which is specifically used for Oneworld Emeralds who don’t fly on QF metal. Oh and same goes for BA passengers- sorry, the Flounge is now a ‘Concorde room’ so you only get in if you fly in First on QF.