BA and "The House" at SYD

[TonyHancock]

So....after taking the train, I avoid the livestock truck, I arrived at check in for BA16......and was somewhat surprised to be given an invitation to "The House" rather than pointed towards the QF F lounge. So what is going on there then? More BA cost cutting attempts?



As an aside fast track has gone out of the window until the end of August due to. construction. As always Sydney delivers that "premium experience".

 

[levelnine]

Been going a few months.

British Airways is now directing its Sydney business class and first class passengers to The House lounge – formerly the den of Etihad Airways – rather than the Qantas lounges which have been BA's longstanding choice.

Lounge-worthy travellers checking in at Sydney airport for the daily BA16 flight to London via Singapore are being handed invitations to The House.

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It's actually a positive move.

Gives OWS members a chance to skip the terrible Qantas J lounge.

And OWE can continue to use the Qantas F Lounge.

 

[TonyHancock]

It's actually a positive move.

Gives OWS members a chance to skip the terrible Qantas J lounge.

Yes it looks a step up from the QF J lounge....but still seems an odd move by BA. I wonder whether they will have a consistent gate down "that end".

 

[Denali]

Did you go to The House and whats your review on it?

cheers

 

[TonyHancock]

Did you go to The House and whats your review on it?

cheers

May drop in on the way to the gate.....the reviews seem positive.......but not positive enough to draw me from the QF F lounge just yet.

Interestingly I was not offered an invitation to The House on my last BA16 departure in April. I got the feeling from the QF staff manning the BA checking desks that it was being "forced" upon them. The lady took great pains to explain that I could still go to the QF lounge.

 

[drron]

Not offered mid May either.Suspect we might get it when flying August.

 

[opusman]

Tony Hancock is in da house!

 

[I love to travel]

Please review. It's the Ethiad lounge and I have a flight in August. You can always go back to the F lounge if you don't like it.

 

[RooFlyer]

I assume they will serve 'House wine' = $5/bottle plonk.

 

[TonyHancock]

Sorry All, I failed to get to The House" the rather pleasant Shiraz kept me in the the QF F Lounge. (The BA flight was leaving from gate 53 so I won't be going back to the QF F lounge from "The House")

I suspect it will be a while before I get "the invitation" again as I am heading to Blighty via MEL and HKG for the foreseeable future. Anything to avoid the utterly dreadful SYD. (Yes I know most people travel an awful lot more than I do but SYD rates as the worst transfer experience in the world for me. )

 

[drron]

TH you should try the terminal transfer at FRA at present.Syd is a luxury experience compared to FRA.

 

[TonyHancock]

TH you should try the terminal transfer at FRA at present.Syd is a luxury experience compared to FRA.

.....makes mental note to avoid FRA.

I must confess that LHR T5 has improved beyond belief with the increase in the number of incoming e-gates and the BA F check in wing. If you can use the e-gates and have access to there F wing it is much quicker, and rather more pleasant, than using the designated flight transfer route.

SYD remains my personal nightmare. BA15 arrives dead on 5:00 AM and as HLO I have no choice but to take the train - unless I want to sit and wait for the amusingly named QF seamless transfer service to start at 6:00 AM. With the construction work underway in the International terminal there will be no priority lanes for outbound immigration or security until late August.

 

[drron]

TH you just have to pray for the right wind.Only allowed to land at 0500 if approaching from the sea.So if wind is from the wrong direction and landing is from the west they can only land at 0600.We have only had 1 0500 arrival.

 

[TonyHancock]

TH you just have to pray for the right wind.Only allowed to land at 0500 if approaching from the sea.So if wind is from the wrong direction and landing is from the west they can only land at 0600.We have only had 1 0500 arrival.

That I didn't know. The winter schedule for BA16 has an arrival time of 05:10 and I have had pretty good consistency with that. It is of course later in summer.

 

[I love to travel]

Went on Sunday to the House. It was packed. 5 choices for sit down menu, very small portions. Entree size is being generous. Alcohol low to middle shelf, wines were limited.
Honestly the best bit was the shower. If you have a choice QF F or J lounge much better

 

[serfty]

QF ... J lounge much better

Surprising.

Admittedly I have only experienced the MEL version of the House but it would need to be rather a poor experience to be worse than the QF International Business lounge at SYD.

(I have been known to order three 'meals' at the House )

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Sorry All, I failed to get to The House" the rather pleasant Shiraz kept me in the the QF F Lounge. (The BA flight was leaving from gate 53 so I won't be going back to the QF F lounge from "The House")

The long walk to 53 from QF F easily sheds calories from three glasses of the Shiraz. I tell myself that.