Auckland QF J lounge is disgustingly filthy, worn out, and with s*^t food. Get it remodelled now Qantas!

[Berlin]

More hot food (party pies, quiches, braised beef cheek, roasted vegs, creamy pasta, plain rice) than you could poke a stick at last Saturday with maybe 20 pax in lounge while I was there.

Well, Friday afternoon it's an absolute zoo and the food gets boring over time (always the same bloody beef cheeks and pies). Also generally don't like the crowd, lots of bogans which doesn't surprise as this is the crowd Virgin tends to attract in general. There's not even any reading material anywhere in the lounge (which makes sense, given the crowd ). Each to their own, but not my cup of tea.

 

[Major]

Also generally don't like the crowd, lots of bogans which doesn't surprise as this is the crowd Virgin tends to attract in general. There's not even any reading material anywhere in the lounge (which makes sense, given the crowd ). Each to their own, but not my cup of tea.

That is one of the most disgraceful comments I have seen on this forum for a long time. I would be eternally grateful if you did not set foot in this lounge ever again.
I find the food / drink offerings and the other lounge facilities more than adequate.

I have been called a lot of names...bogan is not one of them

 

[Berlin]

That is one of the most disgraceful comments I have seen on this forum for a long time. I would be eternally grateful if you did not set foot in this lounge ever again.
I find the food / drink offerings and the other lounge facilities more than adequate.

I have been called a lot of names...bogan is not one of them

I never called you a bogan and it was not my intention to do so. I just did what is very much my right and described what I don't like about this lounge (and the airline): There tend to be a lot of bogans in there and from my thank science limited experience, it was the same on every single Virgin Australia flight. No need to get a hissy fit for no reason

 

[Berlin]

In the Auckland “First” QF lounge as we speak. Full to the last seat, particularly unappealing food choices, no newspapers left and one last stake dreg of champers. Staff grumpy and inconsiderate people everywhere talking loudly on the phone, playing computer games and videos at full volume and so on.

As always- a total disgrace for Qantas.

 

[Pleb Status]

Also generally don't like the crowd, lots of bogans which doesn't surprise as this is the crowd Virgin tends to attract in general.

As a regular VA passenger, I can only assume that I am one of the aforementioned 'bogans'....

 

[Berlin]

As a regular VA passenger, I can only assume that I am one of the aforementioned 'bogans'....

Could be or could not be, how would I know. Just said that Virgin tends a lot of them and it’s evident every single time I end up trapped on one of their airplanes.

Which luckily doesn’t happen very often as I’d always chose Air NZ or Qantas over them if I get the chance. But each to their own- I’m glad that Virgin is around as it keeps fares down on the competition ☺

 

[jase05]

Could be or could not be, how would I know. Just said that Virgin tends a lot of them and it’s evident every single time I end up trapped on one of their airplanes.

Which luckily doesn’t happen very often as I’d always chose Air NZ or Qantas over them if I get the chance. But each to their own- I’m glad that Virgin is around as it keeps fares down on the competition ☺

Are you specifically talking about TT routes or all in general?
As one of those VA “Bogans” I’m more than happy for you QF fans to continually take your overpriced, poor quality flights and leave all the cheaper, better quality flights to the great unwashed like myself

 

[wannabe_wp]

I went through the Auckland Business Lounge recently. It wasn't as bad as I expected after reading reviews on here. Food options were pretty dire. Seats all looked fine to me and toilets were clean. Didn't really have any interaction with staff. That said, out of all of the international lounges, it should be the next one to be upgraded (in front of Melbourne and Sydney).

 

[zig]

I visited the lounge last Saturday afternoon and it was better than my previous experiences. I think this was because it was so empty, there seemed to be only about 20 odd people there. Food wasn't great - beef cheeks that were a bit tough and not hot, even though they had just come out of the kitchen. Not a great selection of spirits - the absolute basics were provided. Bathrooms were clean. Staff were moving around constantly cleaning tables. I considered going across to the priority pass lounge, but the QF lounge was at least quiet and peaceful, so I stayed put.

 

[Berlin]

I visited the lounge last Saturday afternoon and it was better than my previous experiences. I think this was because it was so empty, there seemed to be only about 20 odd people there. Food wasn't great - beef cheeks that were a bit tough and not hot, even though they had just come out of the kitchen. Not a great selection of spirits - the absolute basics were provided. Bathrooms were clean. Staff were moving around constantly cleaning tables. I considered going across to the priority pass lounge, but the QF lounge was at least quiet and peaceful, so I stayed put.

Not surprised at all, if the lounge is close to empty, it’s usually quite alright (besides being generally old and quite shabby).

However, try it on a Friday afternoon which unfortunately is when I usually fly out of Auckland- a total nightmare. But so are AirNZ and the Strata lounge at that time of day.

If Qantas had an offering similar to the combined J/F lounge at Brisbane International, it would easily blow out all the competition at AKL (Emirates excepted, if it still exists by then).

 

[Berlin]

Are you specifically talking about TT routes or all in general?
As one of those VA “Bogans” I’m more than happy for you QF fans to continually take your overpriced, poor quality flights and leave all the cheaper, better quality flights to the great unwashed like myself

I’m mostly talking trans-Tasman, yes, because that’s my close to weekly commute at the moment.

Funny thing is that Virgin isn’t even cheaper on the route over the Tasman, often it’s the most expensive out of them all.

And then you get a “business class” that can at best be called premium economy- no champagne (!!!), a “cheese platter” that contains one (!!!) slice of cheese and so on and on. Not to mention the clownish crews with their dumb Dad jokes. Thank you but no thanks.

 

[jase05]

I’m mostly talking trans-Tasman, yes, because that’s my close to weekly commute at the moment.

Funny thing is that Virgin isn’t even cheaper on the route over the Tasman, often it’s the most expensive out of them all.

And then you get a “business class” that can at best be called premium economy- no champagne (!!!), a “cheese platter” that contains one (!!!) slice of cheese and so on and on. Not to mention the clownish crews with their dumb Dad jokes. Thank you but no thanks.

Fair enough, I don’t travel TT so don’t get to see that side of things. Australian domestic it’s the complete opposite IMO

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Don't dare take pix of bar close up, but here us a cider.
And food close up.
This is the QF AKL J lounge.
Table cleared in 15 mins cycle.
Kapiti ice cream here too.
Am flying J so no F visit as QF NB.
Not going to EK lounge, not sure if its opened.
Would probably be a nice lounge once they redeveloped the whole AKL airport.
Space constrains by the looks too in existence.
Don't plan to check out Loo's.
Many kids, crowded with wheelchair.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Back in Au now.
Doesn't look like QF is going to do anything about their AKL J and F lounge.
Quite tight.
EK lounge has now got timings of opening by their door.
Am and pm only.

 

[Berlin]

Back in Au now.
Doesn't look like QF is going to do anything about their AKL J and F lounge.
Quite tight.

No, indeed it doesn’t look like anything will happen soon. But then again, renovation could just start one day out of nowhere.

This lounge is such a disgrace, I just still cannot believe that they just live with it. But as I’ve said before- all other lounges at AKL aren’t much better, bar the EK one that is.

 

[Mattg]

I flew out of Auckland on Christmas Eve. I arrived early enough to pop into the Emirates Lounge, which was excellent as usual (especially the food), but closed after the DPS flight left. I then headed next door and noticed that the QF lounge seems to have some new furniture since my last visit - although it’s still not great.

The one saving grace was that they were giving out some very tasty Christmas ham and the lounge manager was walking around handing out Christmas coughtails, which were actually quite nice. (I expect it will be back to the same low standard on my next visit, however.)

 

[Berlin]

I flew out of Auckland on Christmas Eve. I arrived early enough to pop into the Emirates Lounge, which was excellent as usual (especially the food), but closed after the DPS flight left. I then headed next door and noticed that the QF lounge seems to have some new furniture since my last visit - although it’s still not great.

The one saving grace was that they were giving out some very tasty Christmas ham and the lounge manager was walking around handing out Christmas coughtails, which were actually quite nice. (I expect it will be back to the same low standard on my next visit, however.)

Well- that’s a nice surprise at least!

Doesn’t make up for the long stalled and much needed reno but it’s nice to see that they’re trying to make the best with what they got!

 

[Berlin]

Just in the “First” lounge as we speak after being rather rudely rejected at EK which royally p&$$$ed me off.

Alas, a nice unexpected surprise here at QF was them bringing out these delightful corn fritters with pork belly. Never had these before and they are yu-humm (next to it some of the standard chicken pasta salad)!

 

[DC3]

Just in the “First” lounge as we speak after being rather rudely rejected at EK which royally p&$$$ed me off.

Alas, a nice unexpected surprise here at QF was them bringing out these delightful corn fritters with pork belly. Never had these before and they are yu-humm (next to it some of the standard chicken pasta salad)! ...

Well, the bonus is that you got that delicious-looking pork dish, whereas with EK, such a dish would be in your dreams?

 

[Berlin]

Well, the bonus is that you got that delicious-looking pork dish, whereas with EK, such a dish would be in your dreams?

Good point, hadn’t even thought about that!