Contrasting approaches to premium travel

[daft009]

after now having experienced first on SQ (only SQ so far)

I'm infinitely happy & satisfied with J.
I get to fly flat and eat better food on-board and arrive well rested, ready to start work as soon as I land.

 

[Flying mermaid]

In a way I'm with Mrs @HockeyMonkey but also try to enjoy the experience. Premium Travel is highly overrated.

SYD SQ First lounge was a disappointment. I built up the visit to the First lounge to my wife and she wasn't too excited. In saying that the eggs benedict were nice and the other food on offer was also ok but I'd expect that food in any lounge. Qantas First lounge is streets ahead.

to get a fair comparison you need to compare the TPR in Singapore with the Qantas Sydney F lounge, or the Qantas Singapore lounge with the SQ Sydney lounge. An airline is always going to put more into its home port lounges.

I prefer the TPR to the Qantas F lounge. Although the QF lounge is still visually stunning, it looks like a cafeteria with its acres of tables. It can also feel like a zoo at peak times. The TPR is much more like what the Qantas F lounge felt like when it opened in 2007.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

to get a fair comparison you need to compare the TPR in Singapore .

Having used it a number of times over a number of years the TPR is a massive appointment. I love SQ as an airline, but their Flagship Lounge sucks.



This Sunday had a longish layover and noted that when they changed the lunch menu to the dinner menu that there was only one dish different.

 

[Denali]

Im starting to bypass the lounge and pay/book a transit hotel or day room for private shower and rest.

I know some airlines have quite rooms or cabanas but not the airlines Ive flown.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Having used it a number of times over a number of years the TPR is a massive appointment. I love SQ as an airline, but their Flagship Lounge sucks.



This Sunday had a longish layover and noted that when they changed the lunch menu to the dinner menu that there was only one dish different.

I guess I am looking more for ambience than the food . I just love how quiet and relaxed it is. Can’t stand the railway station feel at Sydney’s QF lounge.

And they have really nice chocolates and champagne, so that ticks the major food groups for me

 

[TheRealTMA]

Im Team Mrs Hockey - space and chill is my preferred way to travel.

Must say, the Hennessy bottle is an attractive design.

The taste is even better!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Im starting to bypass the lounge and pay/book a transit hotel or day room for private shower and rest.

I know some airlines have quite rooms or cabanas but not the airlines Ive flown.

Indeed. I will normally get a room at the Paza and just use the TPR to grab a meal before and.or after.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I guess I am looking more for ambience than the food . I just love how quiet and relaxed it is. Can’t stand the railway station feel at Sydney’s QF lounge.

And they have really nice chocolates and champagne, so that ticks the major food groups for me

Quite it is. Morgue like. The arm chairs they have are hard like mortuary slabs too.

Custom in the TPR is so limited that the food on offer is limited in options and is not that flash in quality IMO.

Yes there is expensive booze on offer, though as I get that on the flights in and out I rarely really need that in the lounge too.

Yes they can keep the quite, but really if they want to be a flagship lounge they should in this day and age they also really need offer a better range of amenities, services and options.

Look at how F on the planes has changed, whereas the TPR has stagnated.

My theory is that SQ are only really worried about the F pax who originate/terminate in SIN and who pay $$$$ for their seats and who do not use the lounge much if at all as they just whizz in and out of the airport.

For a transit hub like SIN this is not good enough.

 

[SOPOOR]

In a way I'm with Mrs @HockeyMonkey but also try to enjoy the experience. Premium Travel is highly overrated.

SYD SQ First lounge was a disappointment. I built up the visit to the First lounge to my wife and she wasn't too excited. In saying that the eggs benedict were nice and the other food on offer was also ok but I'd expect that food in any lounge. Qantas First lounge is streets ahead.

Onboard I had 4-5 glasses of Dom. I think it was Dom. They poured them in front of me. It tastes no diiferent to any other champagne.

I'm not sure if I have ever had Caviar but it was so-so. Definitely not something that says more please.

The meal was quite good but that in itself isn't a reason to fly premium.

The First Class host on arrival was a nice touch at the end of the flight. She managed to keep my daughter occupied for 15-20 minutes.

Im not whinging but I'll leave premium travel for special occasions or where the deal is too good to refuse.

Any lounge is so much better than no lounge.
But ive heard many people say the tpr is not as good as its appearance

My experience is that for most of the lounges the differnce btween a decent normal lounge and an average first class lounge would be minimal

 

[Flying mermaid]

Quite it is. Morgue like. The arm chairs they have are hard like mortuary slabs too.

Custom in the TPR is so limited that the food on offer is limited in options and is not that flash in quality IMO.

Yes there is expensive booze on offer, though as I get that on the flights in and out I rarely really need that in the lounge too.

Yes they can keep the quite, but really if they want to be a flagship lounge they should in this day and age they also really need offer a better range of amenities, services and options.

Look at how F on the planes has changed, whereas the TPR has stagnated.

My theory is that SQ are only really worried about the F pax who originate/terminate in SIN and who pay $$$$ for their seats and who do not use the lounge much if at all as they just whizz in and out of the airport.

For a transit hub like SIN this is not good enough.

oh well each to their own . I definitely prioritise quiet over pretty much everything else. I just want a nice chair, where I can read a book while I wait for my flight.

I have yet to find an airport lounge where the food is anything to rave over. Nice cafe is about where I would rate even the best of them. People go on about the menu at the QF lounge and it’s nice but not anything you would go out of your way for, if you were paying for it. I have had times in the QF lounge where I couldn’t get any service at all it’s been so busy I just don’t see what the TPR is lacking apart from a Spa and I couldn’t be bothered with airport Spas anymore - once again no real ambience. I prefer a Spa in beautiful surroundings at a resort.

But as I said each to their own - for me a lounge is just a waiting area for your flight, not a destination . However that might be just my old age showing up.

However don’t get me started on the Qantas J lounge in Sydney - good grief it’s bad and noisy! Was in there for the first time in many years in December and I couldn’t believe how bad it was - grubby, toilets filthy. Unfortunately will be using it again in January, but will absolutely avoid flying J on Qantas again in future just based on avoiding that lounge.

 

[JohnK]

Any lounge is so much better than no lounge.
But ive heard many people say the tpr is not as good as its appearance

My experience is that for most of the lounges the differnce btween a decent normal lounge and an average first class lounge would be minimal

You are right. At the end of the day a lounge is just a lounge and we all need a lounge for different reasons.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

But as I said each to their own - for me a lounge is just a waiting area for your flight, not a destination . .

No it is not a destination, but it is part of the journey. For me the A getting to B is lounge, flight, lounge, flight and I fail to see why SQ have such a high standard for their F flight a low standard for their F lounge.

Once the flights are booked, time in a lounge is a given for me and I personally would like it if the TPR was more than just a quiet room.

A good or bad lounge does not get me to my destination any quicker but it can enhance the overall journey experience, or not.

 

[Flying mermaid]

No it is not a destination, but it is part of the journey. For me the A getting to B is lounge, flight, lounge, flight and I fail to see why SQ have such a high standard for their F flight a low standard for their F lounge.

Once the flights are booked, time in a lounge is a given for me and I personally would like it if the TPR was more than just a quiet room.

A good or bad lounge does not get me to my destination any quicker but it can enhance the overall journey experience, or not.

I don’t disagree with the general thesis. Qantas’ appalling J lounge makes me very reluctant to pay for J fares with them again. Unfortunately time constraints for Ms FM and her husband meant I had to book J with Qantas to South America, for the 4 of us, but if it were just me I would have done something like Qatar instead. I did think very seriously about flying them direct and Mr FM and I via Doha, but that defeated the purpose of a “bonding” holiday So that would have been very much based on not wanting to be in that lounge. We are going to overnight in Sydney and spend the minimum time possible in it

I guess I just like the TPR - apart from a Spa I just don’t see anything missing. You get a breakfast menu in the Sydney QF lounge and another menu to cover the rest of the day - they don’t change their menu either?

EDIT - thinking about it some more

1. I would rather SQ put their effort into the onboard experience than the lounge, as you can’t get away from the plane

2. Possibly we travel in different ways. These days I avoid connections wherever possible so the lounge is less important. E.g going to Africa in September, we would have had a long connection in Dubai, so I booked the transit hotel. I like the Ek F lounge, but 10 hours would be way too much. Coming back we do have a 4 or 5 hour connection, but that’s Ok after you have had a shower etc. Generally I would factor in a stop over, rather than being in a lounge for an extended period.

 

[SOPOOR]

for me its about expectations,

if I was payign 20k one way flying etihad residences, I would expect cheaufferur and $1000 bottle of wines, and if they served me johnny walker red label, id be pissed

however I am going to try the free amex melbourne lounge soon, its free for me, and im expecting basic food and drinks, so if I get a johnny walker red im not going to get concerned!

 

[Flying mermaid]

for me its about expectations,

if I was payign 20k one way flying etihad residences, I would expect cheaufferur and $1000 bottle of wines, and if they served me johnny walker red label, id be pissed

however I am going to try the free amex melbourne lounge soon, its free for me, and im expecting basic food and drinks, so if I get a johnny walker red im not going to get concerned!

I think this is partly why I was so critical of the Qantas J lounge. We booked last minute J fares to SFO at 12K each and a grubby lounge with not much on offer felt a step too far

 

[JohnK]

to get a fair comparison you need to compare the TPR in Singapore with the Qantas Sydney F lounge, or the Qantas Singapore lounge with the SQ Sydney lounge. An airline is always going to put more into its home port lounges.

I guess in a way you are right but I think on AFF we talk up lounges very highly and that can lead to disappointment.

I did visit the SIN T3 F lounge a few years back. I don't think it was the TPR. Lounge was ok.

SYD F lounge was a thrill when it first opened but has lost it's gloss over the years. MEL F lounge was also OK but haven't been there in years.

For me the benchmark was the BA F lounge in LHR T5 in 2009. Decent food available at the buffet or restaurant and a wide variety of beverages. Also quiet at the time.

I like to experience lounges for myself. I don't rate lounges for the type of champagne available or whether there's a cabana or spa treatment available. I simply want a variety of food at the buffet that is not curry or some heavily spiced Asian food.

And my preference is to be able to make my own Bloody Marys not some bartender or waiter bringing it to me.

 

[love_the_life]

I don’t disagree with the general thesis. Qantas’ appalling J lounge makes me very reluctant to pay for J fares with them again. Unfortunately time constraints for Ms FM and her husband meant I had to book J with Qantas to South America, for the 4 of us, but if it were just me I would have done something like Qatar instead. I did think very seriously about flying them direct and Mr FM and I via Doha, but that defeated the purpose of a “bonding” holiday So that would have been very much based on not wanting to be in that lounge. We are going to overnight in Sydney and spend the minimum time possible in it ........

I agree that the QF international J lounge in Sydney can be awful and it seems to be getting worse. We pay for our flights so even if it's a discount J, it is not usually a small amount for 2 of us. I am really looking around at other carriers these days as we enjoy being able to use a lounge and the QFi J one is pretty dire. Given that we only travel OS a couple of times a year usually we are not going to make WP again to be able to use the F lounge which is better.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I agree that the QF international J lounge in Sydney can be awful and it seems to be getting worse. We pay for our flights so even if it's a discount J, it is not usually a small amount for 2 of us. I am really looking around at other carriers these days as we enjoy being able to use a lounge and the QFi J one is pretty dire. Given that we only travel OS a couple of times a year usually we are not going to make WP again to be able to use the F lounge which is better.

we are in the same boat and also hunt for discount fares (normally - December was a bit of an aberration). The F lounge is fine, even if it’s not my favourite, so I was really shocked to see how bad the J lounge was.

I was reading an article in AFR about Qantas’ FF program. It said Qantas earned more from selling points than international airfares, so I guess the lounges are more about providing the minimum to keep status people happy than a genuine business lounge. When we were there in December it seemed pretty full of happy looking people, so I guess they are succeeding

 

[lovetravellingoz]

2. Possibly we travel in different ways. These days I avoid connections wherever possible so the lounge is less important. .

I too minimise times between connecting flights where I can, but as I redeem for all long haul international flights ( ie I never buy any) it is not always possible to have the shortest connection as it will either not be offered at all for various reasons (already gone, might be a blocked out New Suites etc)....or for some routings (ie Kathmandu, Nairobi) there were no short connections even if one was paying on my dates.

Sometimes I will pick a longer layover so I can overnight at the Plaza Hotel. But that can also be due to maximising day flying vs night flying, as for example I see getting on a Suite at midnight in SIN as a real waste IMO. I have sometimes used the airside hotel for 6 hour-ish layovers and will avoid the lounge altogether except for say a quick breakfast perhaps.

I would never pick a long layover merely to "enjoy" a lounge for longer. No lounge is that worthy of my time.

Back when I was a Flight Warrior I might arrive for a morning flight half an hour earlier to grab breakfast and a proper coffee in the Golden wing and later QC instead of what was offered on the flight..

 

[Flying mermaid]

I too minimise times between connecting flights where I can, but as I redeem for all long haul international flights ( ie I never buy any) it is not always possible to have the shortest connection as it will either not be offered at all for various reasons (already gone, might be a blocked out New Suites etc)....or for some routings (ie Kathmandu, Nairobi) there were no short connections even if one was paying on my dates.

Sometimes I will pick a longer layover so I can overnight at the Plaza Hotel. But that can also be due to maximising day flying vs night flying, as for example I see getting on a Suite at midnight in SIN as a real waste IMO. I have sometimes used the airside hotel for 6 hour-ish layovers and will avoid the lounge altogether except for say a quick breakfast perhaps.

I would never pick a long layover merely to "enjoy" a lounge for longer. No lounge is that worthy of my time.

Back when I was a Flight Warrior I might arrive for a morning flight half an hour earlier to grab breakfast and a proper coffee in the Golden wing and later QC instead of what was offered on the flight..

not so different then Except I only use points domestically and pay internationally. Initially that was because I had no idea how o but after finding this board I have become more competent and often book international award flights for friends and family. For ourselves now I just cant be bothered - I want to fly when and what routes I want to and don't want to fiddle around trying to get two awards. Too old I think I don't find suites overnight a waste - in fact I often try and book an overnight flight. However I do agree - minimum lounge time these days where possible.