Brisbane Lounge Changes

[cwphoto]

Wish they'd do some basic stuff like pies and sauso rolls, meatballs are a hit too.

I'm sick of the same old slop.

 

[JohnK]

JohnK

How were the chicken wings presented?. Fried?

Fried from memory.

 

[Sdtravel]

So i have visited the new lounge today. Here are some things i have noted.

My quest for a real boarding pass took longer than normal. There is only one service desk and the family in front seemed to have several issues with their separate bookings meaning they got separated and excess baggage issues which needed sorting out. A roaming staff member kept directing people to machines but i prefer a printed cardboard one (Who doesnt?). Finally got my boarding pass but the agent encouraged me to use a machine and there was no need to see the desk in future.
Perhaps since im usually HLO i will get a printed boarding pass from the main terminal (assuming there are service desk there still) and then head into the premium entry.

Anyway the lounge i am very impressed with and looks excellent.

The special plate was a baked potato with kidney beans and cheese. After about 2-3 bites i wasnt impressed. It wasnt hot and i dont think it was cooked yet.
There is no soft drink machine and the coke and lemonade i got from the bar had a strange taste to it. Perhaps sour even. So maybe the syrups or tonic needs a change. There wasnt much else great to eat. I can usually find something but struggled here. Perhaps this is just a time of day thing.

The lounge is getting very busy at the moment. Seats will be hard to find soon. The service is really good. Im fairly sure i have been asked about drink refills at my seat a few times now.

Overall i do like the new lounge. Hopefully a sign of things to come in other domestic lounges.

 

[coyote25]

There is no soft drink machine and the coke and lemonade i got from the bar had a strange taste to it.

I found this a little weird as well. Meant the bar staff had to work even harder in peak time.

 

[Steady]

So i have visited the new lounge today. Here are some things i have noted.

My quest for a real boarding pass took longer than normal. There is only one service desk and the family in front seemed to have several issues with their separate bookings meaning they got separated and excess baggage issues which needed sorting out. A roaming staff member kept directing people to machines but i prefer a printed cardboard one (Who doesnt?). Finally got my boarding pass but the agent encouraged me to use a machine and there was no need to see the desk in future.
Perhaps since im usually HLO i will get a printed boarding pass from the main terminal (assuming there are service desk there still) and then head into the premium entry.

When I checked in via the premium entry a few weeks ago, I was given card boarding passes down stairs before security.

 

[Sdtravel]

When I checked in via the premium entry a few weeks ago, I was given card boarding passes down stairs before security.

Yes this is where i got it. The self service machines give you a very thin paper printout. I prefer the cardboard which you can only get from the service desks. Better memento that doesn't fade as fast.
Im just strange and don't like the flimsy paper ones and prefer to see someone. Similar to how i don't use self serve checkout at Woolies.

 

[Blackbird]

For premium passengers, the only check in for travellers with international connections is the single desk at the new premium lounge entry.
Not unusual for international check in to take some time given usual itineraries.

When we used the desk on 3 April, there was a line up of about 10.
Most of these were travellers with just domestic bags for check in. There are three staff floating around at the door and they guided these travellers to the bag drop.
it took 30 mins to clear check in.
They need two desks in busy times to handle this.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

For premium passengers, the only check in for travellers with international connections is the single desk at the new premium lounge entry.
Not unusual for international check in to take some time given usual itineraries.

When we used the desk on 3 April, there was a line up of about 10.
Most of these were travellers with just domestic bags for check in.

There are three staff floating around at the door and they guided these travellers to the bag drop.
it took 30 mins to clear check in.
They need two desks in busy times to handle this.

The irony is that you could be served quicker at the 'normal' checkin counters as there are more staff to process people.

I can't understand the 'logic' in only having one full checkin counter in the new Premium area when previously they had three counters - 14, 15 & 16 with regular economy 17-21.

The floating staff must only be there in the morning as there weren't any the other day when checking in for the evening flight to PER.

There were a couple of families in the queue with strollers and car seats which can't be sent through the auto bag drop anyway so they had to see a person.

 

[Sdtravel]

Wasnt one of the issue early on when the self service checkins was introduced years ago that premium pax dont want to tag their own bag or use the self service checkin.

 

[JohnPhelan]

The irony is that you could be served quicker at the 'normal' checkin counters as there are more staff to process people.

I can't understand the 'logic' in only having one full checkin counter in the new Premium area when previously they had three counters - 14, 15 & 16 with regular economy 17-21.

This exactly. The only time I use the manual check-in is when I have an international connection. I want to be served reasonably quickly. There needs to be two staffed desks for international connections.

By all means, move those with domestic only flights to the kiosks. (Those who want a proper BP can ask for a reprint in the lounge.)

 

[edwina86]

I visited the lounge two days ago. It looks great! Lots of different places to sit which is good. F&B a little disappointing. A bit weird that you can't serve yourself at the Mexican food station and you have to order drinks at the bar, no self-serve that I could see. It was just a bit annoying because the food server couldn't understand me (I asked what the food was but he just started plating it up) and the bartender asked me for ID. Just extra hassles. But I have to say again - it all looks great! Looks to be lots of barista coffee action too which will be great for AM flights

 

[Steady]

I visited the lounge two days ago. It looks great! Lots of different places to sit which is good. F&B a little disappointing. A bit weird that you can't serve yourself at the Mexican food station and you have to order drinks at the bar, no self-serve that I could see. It was just a bit annoying because the food server couldn't understand me (I asked what the food was but he just started plating it up) and the bartender asked me for ID. Just extra hassles. But I have to say again - it all looks great! Looks to be lots of barista coffee action too which will be great for AM flights

My 3rd visit today, first that I wanted to eat something. Mexican F&B on offer today (jacket potato and re-fried beans/bacon + a slimy/snotty/wet chicken salad) not to my liking at all and I agree re the bar service. My barista experience over 3 visits has been below other QF lounges. The space is modern and nice but I don't think it is as good as PER or the new DRW QP...

 

[drross]

Qantas need to reinstate the 'skip the line' for the lounge - far too slow without it

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Wasnt one of the issue early on when the self service checkins was introduced years ago that premium pax dont want to tag their own bag or use the self service checkin.

I don't think anything's changed there ie plenty of premium pax don't want to DIY and use a kiosk and/or auto bag drop and want someone to do it for them. Some people just don't like automation and others just like talking to a 'real person' and others don't like change and just want to continue to do things the way they've always done it.

 

[PineappleSkip]

First visit to new J lounge. Annoying the valet parking still not open, could have paid heaps less for BNE parking and been just as close. Nice checkin, arriving just after peak hour. Just mrs pineapple and self, plenty staff. Liked the upmarket security people. :up:

Nice entry, lovely furnishings, but the F&B - OMG. :down: :down: Press a button pancakes if you like that, fruit salad without the strawberries and blueberries that looked and tasted great. Straight out of QP 10 years ago. Hot offering scrambled eggs sausages baked beans. That's it. If this is the premium offering, things must be grim in QP. All the places at table nicely set and nothing to eat from the empty bain marie.

Tea fail, no self serve we could find, ask the barista for a cuppa, get a cup of warmish water and the tea bags pointed out to you :down:

Lovely looking lounge but an empty shell. Sofitel should hang their heads in shame, maybe QF should get a team in from HIX. Or maybe they already have :|

Cheerless skip

 

[QF WP]

I'm looking forward to seeing the new Lounge finally (now that VA Gold is in the bag and QF are throwing around 150% and 200% SC offers to me ). Doesn't make me want to hit Platinum again to get underwhelmed with the Business Lounge offer - I'll just stick with my Lifetime access with QC

 

[JohnK]

Had to laugh today in the lounge. I got party pies from the Qantas lounge and brought them to business lounge and left them on bench while I was helping wife make a toasted sandwich. Friday afternoon and we're making a toasted sandwich. When I got back to bench there was a guy with a member of staff asking where he can get the party pies. LOL.

Anyway the beef stew was ok when it finally arrived. Mexican food? Who cares? People coming and going walking back with something that looks inedible. Anyway party pies were great when I went back they were gone.

 

[PineappleSkip]

NPPPs not available in the J lounge? I rest my case

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

My first visit to the QFd BNE J lounge is not till Jun, never used the J lounge before.
Whats the layout like, is the QFd BNE J lounge still next to the entry to BNE QP, on the right hand side of the QP entry?
And its ok to go between the 2 lounges?
My flight is at 19.30 so I would have entry to both, flying flexY (using points to whJ).
Plan to get to BNE airport about 4pm to test both lounges out.
Edit: Austman's pic of the offerings as for dinner (now)?
Mmm, I had high hopes, but that pic was indeed a letdown.
Umm, he did have a pic of a cut potato on a plate there before.

 

[Austman]

I'm generally not that fussed by food offerings in lounges. Reasonable is fine by me.

But with two recent visits to the new BNE J lounge, I must say it's pretty unimpressive!

The lounge is beautiful and comfortable. But at least they should aim for a standard of food and beverage equal to the other dom J lounges? Or even what BNE J was before.

Cold and nearly raw "baked" potatoes? For goodness sakes!