Current Qantas First Lounge Menu (SYD/MEL) and relevant topics

[blackcat20]

Thanks for posting. Looks pretty good. Perhaps the wine list will change in time but for the moment looks identical to my recent visit. Aside from the Cab Sav I found the reds pretty disappointing. And the selection of spirits continues to underwhelm.

The Cabernet is delicious.

As is the pudding

 

[kermatu]

Not normally a dessert eater - but reckon I'll be making an exception for this!

 

[GoldCanyon340]

The soy glazed beef with pickled cabbage, black fungi, coriander and jasmine rice. Spectacular; a great item for a winter menu. Beef almost falls apart and the cool cabbage and fungi provide a fantastic combination with the warmer meat. As an aside, the mushroom risotto, promoted to the main menu, was the best risotto I've had in here but Mrs 340 did not like the carrot salad.

 

[Rugby]

Today's Flounge experience continues a very good run we've had over the past 12 months, bouncing back from a drop off in the 12 months prior to June 2016.



We started with the S&P Squid, Five Spice Duck and the Crisp Roasted Pumpkin. Excellent duck with eggplant. The pumpkin was a take on Okonomiyaki and we really enjoyed it. S&P as per usual - not for serfty


For mains we had the Lamb Shoulder and Soy Glazed Beef. The lamb was nicely spiced and contrasted well with rich beef dish. In the decanter was the Grosset Gaia 2014, an excellent Cabernet blend - not usually a Cabernet drinker and have only had their beautiful Rieslings - this was a treat.

 

[Rugby]

For dessert we had a surprise birthday cake and the Apple Butter Cake with Rhubarb Ice Cream. Mrs Rugby also parlayed my birthday into 2 spa treatments after lunch. Lounge staff service has been excellent all day.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Top work with the pics and food effort. The Grosset is drinking so well for a relatively young wine. I may have drained a second decanter on my Sunday visit, but don't tell anyone.

 

[blackcat20]

For dessert we had a surprise birthday cake and the Apple Butter Cake with Rhubarb Ice Cream. Mrs Rugby also parlayed my birthday into 2 spa treatments after lunch. Lounge staff service has been excellent all day.
View attachment 98966

Geez even flying to our own wedding didn't get us a spa appointment

 

[Rugby]

Geez even flying to our own wedding didn't get us a spa appointment

You need Mrs Rugby on your side! But seriously a big congrats to you and TomVexville from both of us. We ran away for our wedding and loved it.

 

[LA10]

Today's Flounge experience continues a very good run we've had over the past 12 months, bouncing back from a drop off in the 12 months prior to June 2016.

View attachment 98961

We started with the S&P Squid, Five Spice Duck and the Crisp Roasted Pumpkin. Excellent duck with eggplant. The pumpkin was a take on Okonomiyaki and we really enjoyed it. S&P as per usual - not for serfty
View attachment 98962

For mains we had the Lamb Shoulder and Soy Glazed Beef. The lamb was nicely spiced and contrasted well with rich beef dish. In the decanter was the Grosset Gaia 2014, an excellent Cabernet blend - not usually a Cabernet drinker and have only had their beautiful Rieslings - this was a treat.

These dishes look delicious. Good choices.

 

[Pushka]

I've only been into the lounge at breakfast and lunch time and am now looking forward to a dinner in a couple of weeks time. And I won't need to feel guilty about the champagne.

 

[JessicaTam]

"Champagne" and "guilty" in the same sentence on AFF. Who would have thought!

 

[Ansett]

| enjoyed the |First Lounge Melbourne on Thursday and the new menu and have good news.

The wine list is about to change and there will be lots of new and perhaps better wine including for example St Hugo 2012 Private collection Shiraz.

The decanter was out and happily filled but cant remember what was in it. Looks a come back

 

[kermatu]

That is good news. Now if you can just get them to up their whiskey selection that'd be great.

 

[mviy]

Looking forward to my first evening visit next week. Travelling with two friends though neither of which is WP (one will be WP for the first time after the return trip and may/may not have international travel whilst WP and is unlikely to reach WP again). At this stage it's looking likely one of my friends will end up in the Business lounge.

I guess it would not be allowed to swap one guest with another part way through the time there?

 

[kermatu]

Looking forward to my first evening visit next week. Travelling with two friends though neither of which is WP (one will be WP for the first time after the return trip and may/may not have international travel whilst WP and is unlikely to reach WP again). At this stage it's looking likely one of my friends will end up in the Business lounge.

I guess it would not be allowed to swap one guest with another part way through the time there?

Technically not allowed but you could always ask - just acknowledge that you may be disappointed.

SYD or MEL? If SYD an evening visit the staff are far more likely to be open to bending the rules as it is much quieter then. MEL I'd be very doubtful as it gets pretty full by 9 or 9:30pm. But I bumped into a ex-colleague in MEL F lounge last month and he was travelling with two of his work colleagues. Only he is WP and the other two were allowed in - but they were on the 6pm EK flight so were only there for maybe 30 minutes and the lounge was practically empty.

 

[eminere]

Had the pumpkin starter and beef main on Saturday. The pumpkin was absolutely delicious but unfortunately no one's definition of crisp as advertised on the menu. It was also served cold, which was quite odd. The beef was reasonably tasty, and was very generously sized, but alas was dry and there wasn't nearly enough gravy to make up for it.

 

[mviy]

Will be in MEL before QF9. All 3 of us in paid J through to LHR. One WP (will retain WP after getting SCs from the return trip), One SG (will reach WP as a result of the return trip) and one PS (will reach SG as a result of the return trip). I guess the lounge will be quite full, especially at this time of year so not much chance.

 

[kermatu]

Will be in MEL before QF9. All 3 of us in paid J through to LHR. One WP (will retain WP after getting SCs from the return trip), One SG (will reach WP as a result of the return trip) and one PS (will reach SG as a result of the return trip). I guess the lounge will be quite full, especially at this time of year so not much chance.

Unless one of your companions gets an F upgrade, I'd say highly unlikely. Lounge gets full before QF9 - I have had to wait for a table on a couple of occasions and seen people 'sharing' a 2 or 4 seat space. Still worth a polite inquiry but expect to be knocked back.

I don't think class of travel below F, $$ or points payment, length of flight or status of pax / companions below WP makes any difference.

 

[Pushka]

So I guess Sunday night on QF9 during school holidays will be extra busy? Both WP so that's not the issue but love the lounge when it's quiet. Last time - lunch time - just the 2 of us.

 

[Princess Fiona]

So I guess Sunday night on QF9 during school holidays will be extra busy? Both WP so that's not the issue but love the lounge when it's quiet. Last time - lunch time - just the 2 of us.

IME it's always very busy in the evening for a QF9 departure. Have done QF9 both in and out of school holidays and equally as busy.