Do I get Admirals Lounge access on Qantas Business reward U class?

[justinbrett]

the US legacy airline lounges have usually been pretty low standard compared to what we've been used to with QC's, Korus and so on in our part of the world being quite a deal better, but the AA lounges I've visited (and yes I remember the PHX lounges too) have improved somewhat over the years.

I read this to mean AA/UA/DL which I somewhat disagree with; however the actual ex-US lounges (eg PHX/CLT) are not to the same standard as the AA ones. On gripe in particular - no showers. I'm not comparing to AA Flagship lounges - the ACs at the historic AA hubs are much better than the ex-US ACs.

Snacks were OK but not to a QC level )note all those people who whine about the domestic QC's) but not terrible - fruit, cookies, some chocolate brownies I may have eaten too many of lol, the salty snack mix/pretzel things, an fresh guac station in afternoons were popular(not my cup of terrible coffee)..

Seriously when did you last visit a QP? 1998? If you don't want toasties you're fresh out of luck. This list of snacks would be very welcome in a QP today - the only exception is if you win the lottery and there's a hot food option. The QPs that don't have a J lounge are a step above, but the QPs at the major hubs are just terrible. To be honest, even the J lounges aren't much better these days.

 

[kpro]

I haven't been in a triangle route QP for a while, though I have been in Cairns and Darwin.

Here's a comparison from August 2022 comparing food offerings between the two in Sydney, and I can see that the QP has more then just sandwiches. Compared to what I posted earlier up thread of my latest AC catering experience, I'd prefer to be in the QP.

I still feel like there's a very anti-QF bias on their lounges, where if you applied the same mindset to most AC's, everyone would immediately start jumping up and down.

 

[Lynda2475]

I think the difference between domestic QPub and QBus is most apparent at breakfast as there are no hot options in the QPub (other than toast or pancake machine) i.e. no eggs, bacon, snags etc.

MEL QPub post breaky always has multiple hot options (soup, pasta, nachos) whereas SYD QPub is very hit and miss, often only toasties available, very occasionally potato wedges. BNE QPub has party pies, ADL has baked pototoes with toppings.

AA Flagship lounges at JFK, ORD and DFW had decent food and drink selection, ORD for the win though with king prawn sliders. The AC at JFK very ordinary but better than sitting in the terminal.

Still not impressed that there isnt even going to be a AC on two of my legs this year.

 

[AbsolutelyAnything]

Oh you're not missing much there. PHX ACs are terrible - I've seen larger broom closets!

If you're desperate you can get a day pass. Not cheap though (money probably better spent at a cafe)

Are you connecting to/from an international flight that's also in business? You'd be in luck if that's the case (assuming it's QF or oneworld)

Too true! I flew from SYD to Austin last weekend via Phoenix, used the lounge near Gate 17 and it was indeed tiny! Reminded me of the Alaska Lounge in LAX, very similar layout. Certainly a world away from the Flagship lounges

I frequent the Austin Admirals lounge quite often and that is a little better than Phoenix, but still pretty small

 

[justinbrett]

I haven't been in a triangle route QP for a while, though I have been in Cairns and Darwin.

Here's a comparison from August 2022 comparing food offerings between the two in Sydney, and I can see that the QP has more then just sandwiches. Compared to what I posted earlier up thread of my latest AC catering experience, I'd prefer to be in the QP.

I still feel like there's a very anti-QF bias on their lounges, where if you applied the same mindset to most AC's, everyone would immediately start jumping up and down.

As above, QPs in locations without J lounges are really a different thing, a hybrid between the two. DRW in particular is very good, I'd say better than any of the East Coast J lounges - I assume because it's serving long domestic flights.

There isn't much in that photo of the QP that isn't sandwich fillings (the photos on the right are the J lounges, we're not comparing these to the ACs). You can have a sandwich, or a salad (sandwich without the bread), but that's about it. Good if you want these things, not so if you don't. If you happen to be there for the 30 minutes where a hot option is offered, and there's not a hundred vultures around, you might be ahead - but then again AA does a lot of made to order options as well like the guac stations.

I feel like ACs focus on snackable foods, whereas QF tries to do makeshift meals, and it does so poorly. I'd rather a good snack than a bad meal. At least you do have the option to pay for a meal in the AC; if you're stuck at a terminal in Aus during weather delays, you pretty much have to leave the lounge and go to the food court if you want a proper meal.

I think that's the first time I've been accused of anti-QF bias on AFF!

 

[Kangol]

As above, QPs in locations without J lounges are really a different thing, a hybrid between the two.

ADL really isn't a different thing

 

[Lynda2475]

ADL QPub is vastly superior to SYD QPub (except for views)

 

[justinbrett]

ADL really isn't a different thing

ADL used to be one of the best.

Perhaps they’re letting it decline to get ready for the new ADL J lounge. I went through in 2021 and it was still pretty good, albeit with covid restrictions.

 

[Kangol]

ADL QPub is vastly superior to SYD QPub (except for views)

ADL used to be one of the best.

Perhaps they’re letting it decline to get ready for the new ADL J lounge. I went through in 2021 and it was still pretty good, albeit with covid restrictions.

Thankfully I haven't been to the SYD QP for over a decade and hopefully never will

I don't recall ADL ever being that good. If you compare it to HBA, then sure!

 

[justinbrett]

Thankfully I haven't been to the SYD QP for over a decade and hopefully never will

I don't recall ADL ever being that good. If you compare it to HBA, then sure!

Compared to BNE, SYD, MEL, CBR, PER...

I'd rate it pretty close to DRW which I also think is one of the best.

Plenty of online reviews agree - Points Hacks AU rate it as the best QP.

Where are the best Qantas lounges in Australia?

Here are the best Qantas Lounges within Australia, from International First lounges to Domestic Business lounges, plus how to access them.

www.pointhacks.com.au

 

[kpro]

As above, QPs in locations without J lounges are really a different thing, a hybrid between the two.

Yes I got that point, hence the link to the comparison in SYD where the QP still looks superior to me. Beyond the sandwich fillings, there's potato salad, noodle salad, baked potatoes, fruit, soup and some kind of desert slice.
But I feel like we're differing in core opinion about what makes a good lounge in terms of catering.

I think that's the first time I've been accused of anti-QF bias on AFF!

This is more an observation in general - and not just limited to AFF. QF is held to such high standards that I sometimes feel isn't applied to other airlines. Same thing is happening with this Finnair wet lease situation.

 

[RichardMEL]

I read this to mean AA/UA/DL which I somewhat disagree with; however the actual ex-US lounges (eg PHX/CLT) are not to the same standard as the AA ones. On gripe in particular - no showers. I'm not comparing to AA Flagship lounges - the ACs at the historic AA hubs are much better than the ex-US ACs.

Definitely not comparing to a flagship lounge - that wouldn't be fair.

Seriously when did you last visit a QP? 1998? If you don't want toasties you're fresh out of luck. This list of snacks would be very welcome in a QP today - the only exception is if you win the lottery and there's a hot food option. The QPs that don't have a J lounge are a step above, but the QPs at the major hubs are just terrible. To be honest, even the J lounges aren't much better these days.

While it's true I don;t generally visit the QP where there's a J lounge (eg: BNE/SYD/MEL), I've used the QP's in OOL, CNS and ADL on a fairly regular basis - most recently Feb this year. so yeah, a bit more recently than 1998 (although it seems like the orange/brown slop in SYD J domestic lounge may indeed be still from that era.... )

for example, OOL QC in Feb had little squares of pizza (probably mccain standard, but tasty enough!), some delicious chocolate brownie squares and some other bits and bobs in addition to the usual sandwich/salad bar arrangement. ADL has tended to be a bit hit and miss with hot food I agree, though.

My point being that in an average UC or AC, the food options are not even at the level of "make your own toastie" buffet offerings at QF imo. And when QC's have soup options and a hot item - even if it is pizza squares - it's still above the average offering at a US legacy club. There are always exceptions(and again I'm not onfusing AC's with flagship lounges or UC's with Polaris) but a general observation.

 

[justinbrett]

Yes I got that point, hence the link to the comparison in SYD where the QP still looks superior to me. Beyond the sandwich fillings, there's potato salad, noodle salad, potatoes, fruit, soup and some kind of desert slice.
But I feel like we're differing in core opinion about what makes a good lounge in terms of catering.

Like ACs, food at QP varies. I can’t remember the last time I saw potato salad or noodle salad. Potatoes was the special hot dish in that article - these vary markedly and are only available for short periods in the day.

As you say you haven’t visited a major hub QP in a while, maybe reserve judgement until you return.

 

[justinbrett]

Definitely not comparing to a flagship lounge - that wouldn't be fair.



While it's true I don;t generally visit the QP where there's a J lounge (eg: BNE/SYD/MEL), I've used the QP's in OOL, CNS and ADL on a fairly regular basis - most recently Feb this year. so yeah, a bit more recently than 1998 (although it seems like the orange/brown slop in SYD J domestic lounge may indeed be still from that era.... )

for example, OOL QC in Feb had little squares of pizza (probably mccain standard, but tasty enough!), some delicious chocolate brownie squares and some other bits and bobs in addition to the usual sandwich/salad bar arrangement. ADL has tended to be a bit hit and miss with hot food I agree, though.

My point being that in an average UC or AC, the food options are not even at the level of "make your own toastie" buffet offerings at QF imo. And when QC's have soup options and a hot item - even if it is pizza squares - it's still above the average offering at a US legacy club. There are always exceptions(and again I'm not onfusing AC's with flagship lounges or UC's with Polaris) but a general observation.

I guess that works as a reply to you as well.

I consider the QPs in locations without J lounges a different beast to the main hub QPs.

The hot food option you speak of is extremely limited in the major hubs.

 

[RichardMEL]

I guess that works as a reply to you as well.

I consider the QPs in locations without J lounges a different beast to the main hub QPs.

The hot food option you speak of is extremely limited in the major hubs.

Fair point. Well, I have a BNE trip coming up and I had actually been thinking to nip into the QP (since it's so easy) as was, so I shall try to remember to make a point of it Certainly the J lounge hasn't been extra inspiring of late tbh.

 

[justinbrett]

Fair point. Well, I have a BNE trip coming up and I had actually been thinking to nip into the QP (since it's so easy) as was, so I shall try to remember to make a point of it Certainly the J lounge hasn't been extra inspiring of late tbh.

Ahhh- BNE might be an exception. The J lounge is so poor there, I sometimes wander into the QP and discover the food options are better! I return to the J lounge with a plate of party pies, and the QF staff member has that look of "yeah, I know..."

It's not to say the BNE QP is good - but if they have a hot food option out, it's usually better than the J lounge. The BNE J lounge food has been miserable since Covid. Bring back the Cantina I say.

 

[straitman]

[mod hat]An interesting discussion in itself however nowhere near the original topic thanks folks.
Let’s get back to the original question please.
Thanks. [/mod hat]