Domestic Lounges - Food for purchasing, why not?

[PuravidaTC]

I'm somewhat surprised that QF have not started offering food for purchase in domestic lounges similar to what AA did with their Admirals Club lounges (non flagship).

Whilst I am critical of the present food offerings being sub par (especially in SYD), outside of early breakfast times when most everything else is closed, I don't actually ever enter a lounge expecting or even wanting to eat the "free" food on offer.

If needing to eat, I'd much prefer to have it at one of the better in airport offerings. That being said, if there was much higher offerings (which would require purchasing) than I would opt in for that in lounge offering.

Right now in MEL for example, a lot of in airport food offerings are closed due to the renovations being done (and were never great pre-renovations anyway) and whilst MEL is far above SYD offerings, the "free" in lounge offerings are still poor - so adding even for sale sandwich/bakery items would be a step up!

 

[Hvr]

Please no! Once they start charging for food the free food will get even worse and quickly disappear.
Alcohol would also disappear.

The opportunities for enhancement are too tempting for QF.

 

[oz_mark]

What could possibly go wrong?
End of the day, I don't think the club should try to be everything to everybody.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

There would be too much work for the outsourced provider, about reporting for GST, as there is the IAS to keep tabs on what has GST, what has no GST, etc.
Ie, fresh foods like fruits, no GST, but prepared foods, there is GST, drinks, there is no GST on water, but on alcohol, there is GST, aerated drinks, there is GST.
Not to mention GST also on sundries.
Right now, is it still accor that runs the lounges for and on behalf of QF, they would charge GST on everything, as the membership is GST relevant, so its easy.
If all and everything had GST like SIN, then its ok, easy.
If I ran a lounge, I would not want the large task of keeping tabs like this, the current way, where QF pays accor or the provider a fixed contract fee is best.
I also would not buy, as I would already pay an annual fee, and a joining fee, to enter the QP, or pay a large price for the J/F tix.
There is always the opportunity to buy food outside of the lounge environment, so many deli style outlets, its a money makers galore at airports, prices of sandwiches are $15 or so, also the vending machines are $5 for a bottle of water, other places its only $4.

 

[AIRwin]

(Lounge) QFood for thought...

 

[muppet]

Consider we all pay (one way or the other) already for lounge access, I’d prefer Qantas just offer an acceptable quality.

It certainly doesn’t have to be First Lounge standards, but some simple, fresh food would be nice - rather than large bain-maries of slop.

 

[kpro]

No thanks! Please don't turn Q Pub's into USA style lounges.

The non paid options are terrible, much worse then what we get in QF lounges. I've also never found it enticing to pay for food at an AA lounge over proper food stores outside.

 

[Daver6]

A few times I've left the lounge, purchased some food and brought it back in with me.

 

[RohanZ]

Consider we all pay (one way or the other) already for lounge access, I’d prefer Qantas just offer an acceptable quality.

It certainly doesn’t have to be First Lounge standards, but some simple, fresh food would be nice - rather than large bain-maries of slop.

I was going to say! I wonder how Q Club members would feel paying a not-insignificant fee to have the privilege of paying for quality food...

 

[ric_melb]

The emphasis should be on improving the food offer, not making you pay for a better food choice.
I value the Lounges for various things, including comfortable seating and hopefully less activity than in the terminals, even though at times you get neither. The food is generally edible, the wines may vary, but the spirits are good.
Once I get to the airport I don't want to be pulling my card out to buy food or drink.

 

[muppet]

I think part of the issue is, we know that QF knows how to produce quality food as a number of the domestic lounges have acceptable quality food. So why don’t they just make the QPs like the Darwin QP and make the J lounges like the Melbourne or Perth J lounge and be done with it.

Why are some lounges serving this inedible slop (Sydney J Lounge, LAX J Lounge etc.) while others have perfectly nice food?

 

[p--and--t]

The answer is NO! (IMHO)

The lounge is already being paid for one way or another by patrons.

It is not a restaurant, nor a café nor a public F&B outlet.

It is a pre-paid for lounge that is offering refreshments as part of the package.

Confusing the issue as suggested by the op will result in "enhancements" that nobody wants to see.

Lobbying for improved refreshments to match the best already being offered in some lounges is a more fruitful exercise

 

[Daver6]

I think part of the issue is, we know that QF knows how to produce quality food as a number of the domestic lounges have acceptable quality food. So why don’t they just make the QPs like the Darwin QP and make the J lounges like the Melbourne or Perth J lounge and be done with it.

Why are some lounges serving this inedible slop (Sydney J Lounge, LAX J Lounge etc.) while others have perfectly nice food?

My gripe with places like the PER dom J lounge is if you're outside of actual meal times then the offering is a little average. Breakfast finishes at 10am or 10:30am and they don't roll out the pizza until midday. So if your time in the lounge is between though times, bad luck.

 

[odysseus]

My gripe with places like the PER dom J lounge is if you're outside of actual meal times then the offering is a little average. Breakfast finishes at 10am or 10:30am and they don't roll out the pizza until midday. So if your time in the lounge is between though times, bad luck.

But adding charging isn't going to fix/guarantee that. You see the same thing in regular restaurants with different operating times and menus.

But at the same time all you've done is increase the cost existing patrons pay.

 

[PuravidaTC]

The lounge is already being paid for one way or another by patrons.

We all use the services of the lounges in our own ways.. as to paying one way or another, your correct and as a Platinum FF I'm "paying" more then most.

I'm simply stating that as a premium paying customer (be it via FF or Business tickets) I am open to the idea of purchasing quality food within the exclusive lounge environment (as it's that environment that I most desire).

The case of QF improving on their present offerings could and should also be argued (be it in the Club or Business lounges) but I don't believe it needs to be a one or the other - the two options could live in harmony together and may even (god forbid we look at possible pluses) prove a cost positive way for them to improve the whole of lounge environment for all.

 

[Daver6]

But adding charging isn't going to fix/guarantee that. You see the same thing in regular restaurants with different operating times and menus.

But at the same time all you've done is increase the cost existing patrons pay.

I wasn't suggesting paying is the solution here. Just griping that it's sub-optimal.

 

[RooFlyer]

So, is the question: do you want to keep the current arrangements for J lounge ( often) slop, or pay for the same stuff?

 

[Spike_T]

A few times I've left the lounge, purchased some food and brought it back in with me.

I often bring in a decent coffee from outside since Qantas insist on serving Vittoria which is vile.