Gold FF First Lounge MEL? & Which lounges in LAX/JFK?

[RedSMS]

Hello All,

I've got two questions:

I booked the following flights on March 30th for the following dates 17/6/22 MEL-LAX QF93 LAX -BOS QF3013(AA) 6/7/22 JFK-LAX QF3030 (AA) LAX-MEL QF94

When my flights appeared on the app, and for the first few weeks thereafter, I was so excited to (aside from the trip itself) be invited into the QF First lounge in Melbourne.

https://imgur.com/a/NDBgLsZ

Although it isn't Sydney's flagship lounge, it's still quite an experience. A great opportunity for a great meal before an incredibly long journey. As an Avgeek, I appreciate the F lounge more as it is airside, the basement is well -The basement.

I knew this was too good to be true. I'm flying PE and I'm only gold.
I opened the app the other day to have a look at something, and sure enough, the "Relax at the International First Lounge", had changed to "Relax in the International Business Lounge"

Doh. I felt really disappointed.

Has this happened to anyone else?
And if this is the case, why is QF doing this?

2. I did ask his question in 2020, when this original trip was scheduled to occur, but I realise that things may have changed.

As QF Gold, which lounges will I be able to use at
1.LAX before my flight to Boston?
2. JFK before my flight to LAX?
3. LAX (Prior to QF94) if time permits

Cheers!

 

[dylarr]

This would have been because the International Business Lounge was closed up until very recently and as a result Qantas were allowing all lounge-eligible passengers into the First Lounge as an interim measure.

However, the International Business Lounge has since re-opened meaning that you won't be able to use the First Lounge when you travel.

 

[justinbrett]

Hello All,

I've got two questions:

I booked the following flights on March 30th for the following dates 17/6/22 MEL-LAX QF93 LAX -BOS QF3013(AA) 6/7/22 JFK-LAX QF3030 (AA) LAX-MEL QF94

When my flights appeared on the app, and for the first few weeks thereafter, I was so excited to (aside from the trip itself) be invited into the QF First lounge in Melbourne.

https://imgur.com/a/NDBgLsZ

Although it isn't Sydney's flagship lounge, it's still quite an experience. A great opportunity for a great meal before an incredibly long journey. As an Avgeek, I appreciate the F lounge more as it is airside, the basement is well -The basement.

I knew this was too good to be true. I'm flying PE and I'm only gold.
I opened the app the other day to have a look at something, and sure enough, the "Relax at the International First Lounge", had changed to "Relax in the International Business Lounge"

Doh. I felt really disappointed.

Has this happened to anyone else?
And if this is the case, why is QF doing this?

2. I did ask his question in 2020, when this original trip was scheduled to occur, but I realise that things may have changed.

As QF Gold, which lounges will I be able to use at
1.LAX before my flight to Boston?
2. JFK before my flight to LAX?
3. LAX (Prior to QF94) if time permits

Cheers!

In LAX you'll have access to the AA Flagship lounge (which IMO is better than the oneworld J lounge)
You'll also have access to the AA Flagship lounge in JFK
Back in LAX, you can chose between the AA Flagship lounge and oneworld J lounge, but due to the distance, probably best to stick with the oneworld lounge; unless you have a long layover - in which case spend the first half in the AA lounge, and the second half in the oneworld lounge.

The AA flagship lounges are pretty good - I'd say it's a level in between the QF international business lounge and the QF First lounge. Definitely no comparison with the Admiral's club.

 

[Matt_01]

As QF Gold, which lounges will I be able to use at
1.LAX before my flight to Boston?
2. JFK before my flight to LAX?
3. LAX (Prior to QF94) if time permits

For 1 and 2 you should be able to gain access to the AA lounges based on the OW rules. The lounge at BOS is a standard AA lounge and pretty underwhelming. In JFK you should be able to access the flagship lounge. For 3 it will be the OW lounge.

 

[RedSMS]

Thanks guys,

Some CAVEATS:

According to the AA website --> Changes at clubs and lounges − Travel information − American Airlines

 

[RedSMS]

In LAX you'll have access to the AA Flagship lounge (which IMO is better than the oneworld J lounge)
You'll also have access to the AA Flagship lounge in JFK
Back in LAX, you can chose between the AA Flagship lounge and oneworld J lounge, but due to the distance, probably best to stick with the oneworld lounge; unless you have a long layover - in which case spend the first half in the AA lounge, and the second half in the oneworld lounge.

The AA flagship lounges are pretty good - I'd say it's a level in between the QF international business lounge and the QF First lounge. Definitely no comparison with the Admiral's club.

I would presume that I wouldn't have a choice for QF3013, as it departs from Terminal 4 I'm pretty sure. The reverse applies to QF94 I would think as it's Intl?

Cheers.

 

[justinbrett]

I would presume that I wouldn't have a choice for QF3013, as it departs from Terminal 4 I'm pretty sure. The reverse applies to QF94 I would think as it's Intl?

Cheers.

You can choose either lounge for either flight. There is an airside connector between T4 and TBIT.

However, it's a bit of a walk, so I'd recommend spending the last hour in the closest lounge, and if you have more time than that, go to the Flagship lounge until that time.

 

[RedSMS]

You can choose either lounge for either flight. There is an airside connector between T4 and TBIT.

However, it's a bit of a walk, so I'd recommend spending the last hour in the closest lounge, and if you have more time than that, go to the Flagship lounge until that time.

Cheers, I will most probably hit up the AA Flagship lounge on the way in as I should have 3Hrs 45 Mins if everything is on schedule.
Different situation on the way back from JFK as arrival into LAX isn't until 1950, assuming that all is going well, which leaves a maximum of just over an hour assuming QF94 isn't delayed.

 

[Danger]

Lounge Access Help Desk

Background to this thread We have noticed an increase in the posting of questions regarding what Airport Lounges are available at specific airports when travelling on specific airlines. While one can be assured of access at the airline lounge when travelling on that airline (provided you have...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[clifford]

Different situation on the way back from JFK as arrival into LAX isn't until 1950, assuming that all is going well, which leaves a maximum of just over an hour assuming QF94 isn't delayed.

That sounds quite tight. I've missed similar connections due wx etc.

 

[sqrt()]

...The lounge at BOS is a standard AA lounge and pretty underwhelming. In JFK you should be able to access the flagship lounge...

The AC at BOS, underwhelming??? What about avocado toast for breakfast and charged premium drinks says underwhelming?

In all seriousness, the Flagship JFK lounge is pretty good, I had a *very* short transfer thru AA BOS-JFK-LAX (F and J) before a dim FJ LAX-NAN-SYD in Y earlier in the year. JFK lounge has champagne at the door, shower suites, and good looking food (though I didn't try as I was there all of 20 mins). I'm surprised OW Sapphires are allowed.

My 8 hour layover in LAX was not helped as the Flagship lounge there was closed for another few weeks, so I had to shuffle around the two ACs in the domestic terminals (I had no status so couldn't get into the OW J lounge, and was relying on the domestic F/J ticket for on-arrival access at the AA ones, which was nice.)

 

[RedSMS]

That sounds quite tight. I've missed similar connections due wx etc.

It has been my experience flying back from JFK-MEL that a delayed JFK-LAX leg results in a delayed LAX-MEL/SYD/BRIS flight as many pax on JFK-LAX are heading for the late QF departures.

Not sure how it will be handled now that QF metal no longer operates JFK-LAX leg...

 

[justinbrett]

Not sure how it will be handled now that QF metal no longer operates JFK-LAX leg...

I'd say the LAX Hilton.

You can't really compare it to when QF had their own metal - 100% of that flight who were connecting to other destinations as QF can't carry domestic pax. No single AA flight is going to have that concentration of QF PAX and thus, there's less merit in delaying a QFi flight for the connection.

The MCT for AA-QF at LAX is slightly longer than QF-QF (1:30 vs 1:10).

Not to say they won't wait, but I'd say they're much less likely to.

 

[Matt_01]

The AC at BOS, underwhelming??? What about avocado toast for breakfast and charged premium drinks says underwhelming?

I find most AA lounges to be underwhelming and gaining entry to the BOS lounge was not the easiest as my QF white card seemed to confuse the lounge entry staff and a supervisor had to be called to confirm I would be allowed access even though there is the OWE branding on the front. In the end I was granted access and the staff mentioned they had never seen a white OWE card. On a side note this has not been unique to BOS I have been through other AA lounges and had experienced similar. Back to BOS, when I was granted access I was given some drinks vouchers for inconvenience caused.

 

[justinbrett]

I find most AA lounges to be underwhelming and gaining entry to the BOS lounge was not the easiest as my QF white card seemed to confuse the lounge entry staff and a supervisor had to be called to confirm I would be allowed access even though there is the OWE branding on the front. In the end I was granted access and the staff mentioned they had never seen a white OWE card. On a side note this has not been unique to BOS I have been through other AA lounges and had experienced similar. Back to BOS, when I was granted access I was given some drinks vouchers for inconvenience caused.

Do you find Qantas Clubs whelming? (Not domestic business lounges). I don't.

I find standard ACs pretty comparable to QPs these days. At least ACs have the option of buying decent food if you're hungry, you don't even have that option in QPs.

Flagship lounges are far above domestic and international business lounges - only the Flounges are better (IMO).

The brand new AC in LGA is actually really nice.

I've never had any issues gaining entry with my WP card.