Best lounges in Australia?

[ossigeno]

I have recently visited the Virgin lounge in Canberra and Sydney. The food is very limited, bread, crackers, roasted peppers, olives, cheese, sometimes there is soup available. 5 years ago I visited the Qantas lounge in Melbourne. I recall the food and general environment being better. Any opinions on who has the best lounges in Australia?

 

[bambbbam2]

You mean QP's?

I actually like the ADL one.. lots of room, lots of computers etc.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

I have only been to QC lounges at YMML and YSSY, I loved the view from Melbourne, buy Sydney was quiter and has more space... Food and perks about equal...

Service at Sydney was better but business was quiter at the time...

 

[JohnK]

If you are referring to Australian domestic lounges then SYD T3, BNE and MEL would be the better Qantas lounges.

As for international lounges then SYD F lounge followed closely by MEL F lounge. To be honest I have not been to too many business lounges to leave a lasting impression.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Yep... Yet to fly international since getting QC...

Have not flown enough to enjoy the benefits of F lounges... here is hoping (but being a Scientist I doubt it )

 

[dajop]

I have recently visited the Virgin lounge in Canberra and Sydney. The food is very limited, bread, crackers, roasted peppers, olives, cheese, sometimes there is soup available.

Unless you are flying business class with QF, or have Platinum status to access the QF Business lounge, the offering in the Qantas lounges is not significantly different to the Virgin lounges. The main point is that QF have basic spirits, Virgin don't.

The international lounges are often a notch or two higher, and I can't speak for SYD but at MEL the Qantas First Lounge, Emirates Business Lounge and Air NZ lounge (in that order) are all quite impressive.

 

[NM]

You mean QP's?

I actually like the ADL one.. lots of room, lots of computers etc.

I like ADL because they have Coopers on tap

 

[serfty]

I like ADL because they have Coopers on tap

... that's a very good reason ...

Note, that in my opion the International J lounges in MEL and SYD are not as well catered in food and drink as the domestic QP's in the same ports.

 

[anat0l]

I haven't been in a DJ lounge yet, except for the one at ADL (I was SC running with a WP buddy and we decided to, with the consent of the lounge receptionist, to have a little "tour" of The Lounge at ADL). I thought that ADL The Lounge was OK, but compared to the expansive ADL QP it seemed very boxed in and a bit sterile.

As far as domestic lounges go, my votes go to the ADL QP due to the size and comfort. Probably a little biased given that ADL airport itself already looks amazing, but them's the facts. MEL QP and J Lounge come in on second.

SYD T3 QP (not J Lounge) and PER QP have nice views, the latter with a full view of the runways. They have a tendency to be quite crowded, though. In the case of the PER QP, it's a low ceiling so when it's busy you can really hear it.

As for international lounges, on the QF QP side of things (apart from ADL QP which caters for both kinds of traffic) I like BNE I QP best. It's a relatively small lounge, but a great view of the terminal and further of part of the tarmac. The architecture of BNE I also gives a nice airy open feeling. Only fault is that BNE I and BNE D QPs both have pathetic showers (I know we restrict water use, but this is ridiculous...)

SYD T1 QP isn't the greatest offering that QF can give for it's oneworld and QFF traffic in its major international hub, but considering other overseas lounges I've seen, heard of or been in, I think it's actually quite a nice lounge. Good showers in SYD T1 QP (and F Lounge, of course).

 

[thewinchester]

You mean QP's?

I actually like the ADL one.. lots of room, lots of computers etc.

I'll agree with ADL on the domestic side of the coin, having visited there week before last it's one of the best QP's I've seen on the network. It's a large lounge, great facilities and you don't feel like you're sitting on top of the person next to you. While it doesn't have views of the main apron, the quiet zone up the far end overlooks Gates 50 upwards where the smaller prop aircraft operate from.

Sydney for me is a close second, mainly for apron views and the vibe of the place.

I'm hanging out to try the PER T1 QP after it's upgrades which finished late last year. Looks a whole lot nicer from the outside, but never had the privilege of visiting there before the upgrades commenced, visited when they were in progress in September of last year.

I'm still laughing at the bar attendant at ADL who lost his train of thought while making himself a quick drink, and in a concentration lapse picked up a bottle of worcestershire sauce and put quite a few drops of it in his drink

 

[ANstar]

I really like the new Virgin Blue lounge in Sydney.

It is huge always can get a seat and I'm happy with beer/wine choices.

They usually have hot food on offer - sometimes soup and a risotto.

 

[N860CR]

Yeah I'd have to agree. I took Virgin on last weeks run home for the first time in a while so used The Lounge in BNE instead of the QP and I'd have to say its much better. Food selection was far greater, the only negative being the lack of spirits at the bar (not that I'm overly fussed by that). Of course the other positive is that its quiet and there are plenty of seats. The QP tends to get a little packed in the evenings, and by 7pm the food seems to start to disappear.

 

[taswegian77]

My votes go to.
DOM - ADL QP Lounge followed by OOL QP lounge when it was open (the service and food was awesome).
INTL - MEL or SYD F Lounges for QF awesome both of them

 

[Grooba]

SYD T1 F Lounge has to be far and away top of the heap internationally. MEL F Lounge a close second (purely due to the smaller size).

Domestically I agree with the comments that the ADL QP is quite roomy and spacious however the SYD J is slightly quieter with slightly better ammenities.

PER QP has to be the worst lounge in OZ, based purely on the fact it's just way to packed, all the time. Can't wait for the refurbs to finish.

The BNE/SYD DJ lounges are also ok - I was actually suprised at how well they were set up the first time I checked them out.

QP all the way though...

 

[taswegian77]

Domestically I agree with the comments that the ADL QP is quite roomy and spacious however the SYD J is slightly quieter with slightly better ammenities.

Yes, SYD J lounge is very nice due to layout, much bigger and roomier than MEL but can still get crowded. I find late travel after 8pm is a nice time to use it....

 

[Grooba]

All lounges get crowded but at least now they have split a few QP lounges up there are generally less bodies in J.

Anytime after 1300 is good for me in any lounge actually... hehe

 

[serfty]

I find using the one in MEL for QF133 to AKL an absolute dream.

Not too shabby for QF29 eariy last month either.

 

[dajop]

MEL F Lounge a close second (purely due to the smaller size).

It's funny, I actually like the intimacy of the MEL lounge better, you do almost feel like you're in small trendy restaurant/bar lounge rather (how very Melbourne I guess) rather than a big resort hotel type of restaurant/bar ... but the views at SYD lounge a great (not to bad though at MEL either).

 

[Flashback]

I'm hanging out to try the PER T1 QP after it's upgrades which finished late last year. Looks a whole lot nicer from the outside, but never had the privilege of visiting there before the upgrades commenced, visited when they were in progress in September of last year.

It must have been very late then. I was there on December 11 and it was still not completed....... when I was at PER T1 (no QP though, was flying RB) I had a quick peer in and it looked like it may have been finished. Well, the sign saying that there was no liquor available in the lounge as the license hasn't been organised was gone at least...

 

[samh004]

As for international lounges, on the QF QP side of things (apart from ADL QP which caters for both kinds of traffic) I like BNE I QP best. It's a relatively small lounge, but a great view of the terminal and further of part of the tarmac. The architecture of BNE I also gives a nice airy open feeling. Only fault is that BNE I and BNE D QPs both have pathetic showers (I know we restrict water use, but this is ridiculous...)

I've never really been a fan of the BNE I QP, though I am used to using the Marco Polo lounges in Hong Kong, which I find are far better. Though they're not in Australia. I guess it is my local lounge though so I have used it a few times.

I liked the MEL D QP, it was so big, even when busy there was space somewhere. Got a bit noisy, but was acceptable. I also don't mind the CNS I QP, it's smaller, but there's space and corners to block the noise. I think they were refurbishing it too, so it might have changed since I last used it.

The best lounge I have been in was the F SYD I QP though, that was really an experience. Library, views, good food. I think it'll be a while before I get the opportunity again, but that lounge is world class.

And... this is my first post here. I reckon I'll probably be more of a lurker than a particularly active user, but will read and gain knowledge from all of you.