HKG new lounge open

[jojen]

Currently sitting in the new lounge. Mr jojen & I were warmly welcomed by Paul , the lounge manager. Enjoyed the BBQ pork and a glass of sparkling wine before sitting at a table and enjoying some salads with a glass of Koonunga Hill Riesling. Our first visit to the new lounge and we think it is a great improvement on the "dungeon " downstairs. Have yet to sample the dim sum trolley, desserts or coughtails before boarding our flight !!!! And as we used points to upgrade from PE to J even better !!,

jojen

Now that we are home and have finally finished unpacking, just thought I would update this.

We were seated at a table nearest the bar area with no reserved sign on it. Did notice that tables on the other side did have signs on them. The dim sum trolley appeared about 6.40 and then again at 6.55 in the area we were seated. The dim sum was excellent, hot and very fresh. We chose not to have the plate of the day, but the table next to us did and it looked very good.

We had excellent service from the staff, and were offered drinks several times. Dessert was good and offered a choice of salted caramel cheesecake YUM !!! and I don't normally eat cheesecake ,another cake and chocolate brownies.
The lounge was fairly quiet when we entered about 5pm, but was quite busy when we left to board QF 128.

We have only visited the first class lounge once,( but that will change in August when a become PLATINUM !!! ) so are not really used to table service. However we did feel the new lounge is a vast improvement on the old one and look forward to returning in August on our way to Europe.

jojen

 

[Princess Fiona]

Seems like CX may be getting a bit of competition from the new QF Lounge
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-asia-miles/1593838-temporary-closure-haven.html

Personally I never rated The Haven.
Reminded me too much of a Uni cafeteria and the food is nowhere near the standard of the QF F Lounges IMHO

 

[sydstar]

Had my first visit to the new lounge in the past week. I think QF have again done an excellent job for an outstation lounge. While I can understand F pax and WPs may not be impressed with a one size fits all lounge, considering QF only have 3 flights to Aus, a soon to be extinct F product, and CX F lounges in walking distance, building a lounge that is a step above a standard J lounge is a good result.

I liked the design aspects of the lounge; but of course this is very subjective. There was a good range of different seating options and I loved the prints of the skyline throughout the lounge. I don't mind the concrete floor, but understand others wouldn't like it. Obviously being on level 7 gives great natural light.

Buffet spread was very good. Toilets and showers as expected.

But what was a definite step up from my previous visits to the old-bunker J lounge was the staff. Paul gave me a brief tour of the lounge and explained the food options. Staff were constanlty coming around offering drinks and clearing tables. Bar staff were very friendly. The trolley made appearances, and I was encourgaed to try the dish at the bar which was delicious.

Well done QF

 

[ermen]

First time at the lounge today.

Boy when people say it is huge... it really is - probably the biggest QF lounge? But it really does get packed to the rafters...feel like a giant caferia prior to all the QF flights leaving for the night... Perhaps they could create a WP+ / F section. It has really lost its intimate feel...

Food etc was good, never saw a trolley. Bar food closed after QF128 left and lounge subsequently emptied.

 

[Flywithd]

I enjoyed the QF HKG lounge and think they did a pretty good job for an offshore lounge!

more pics on my blog!

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Re: Thank you Red Roo

they already do something similar in HKG. F pax have reserved tables, separate alcohol, and special services. They could introduce that in QF F lounges.

When they feel like it. I travelled in F ex HKG in recent months and received none of these.

 

[FRONT ROWER]

Qantas website claims this lounge is open until 11:30pm. Was surprised to find it closed well before that when I tried to visit it a first time.

Have subsequently gone back at a time when it was open. It is a really massive space. So big it seems odd that they didn't put an F lounge is as well.

My review is at Review: Qantas lounge Hong Kong | Miles Down Under

 

[JohnK]

In my opinion the HKG Qantas lounge is improving all the time.

I was there end of January and must say the atmosphere feels nicer and the food on offer is much better.

Looking forward to visiting again in a few weeks.

 

[cmon0005]

In my opinion the HKG Qantas lounge is improving all the time.

I was there end of January and must say the atmosphere feels nicer and the food on offer is much better.

Looking forward to visiting again in a few weeks.

My issue all along has been more about the treatment of WP when in this lounge, like special seats for WP1 but nothing for WP, crowded open nature of the lounge and lack of variety in food. so I still prefer the far superior CX F lounges in HKG.

Saying that, despite the lack of variety especially in the made to order items, the quality and taste is really good.

 

[under the radar]

My issue all along has been more about the treatment of WP when in this lounge, like special seats for WP1 but nothing for WP, crowded open nature of the lounge and lack of variety in food. so I still prefer the far superior CX F lounges in HKG.

Saying that, despite the lack of variety especially in the made to order items, the quality and taste is really good.

the QANTAS Hong Kong lounge is NOT a branded FIRST lounge...so why expect a full F 'experience'/LOUNGE..QF dont even fly FIRST to Hong Kong( i mean FIRST FARES)..and why expect a better offering from any airline that is not BASED in Hong Kong? I would hope that CX offers the better lounges in its HOME PORT... you WPs sound so precious

 

[cmon0005]

the QANTAS Hong Kong lounge is NOT a branded FIRST lounge...so why expect a full F 'experience'/LOUNGE..QF dont even fly FIRST to Hong Kong( i mean FIRST FARES)..and why expect a better offering from any airline that is not BASED in Hong Kong? I would hope that CX offers the better lounges in its HOME PORT... you WPs sound so precious

You are absolutely right, it's not a first lounge, but it once was, although I didn't mention in my post that it SHOULD be like an F lounge but better treatment of WP's in the lounge. and also in a competitive environment where other airlines of which we have access choice to (OW lounges) in the same airport will give us the benefits of F they need to compete with an advantage over the other or at least come close to it. Every time we enter a CX lounge on a QF ticket, QF has to pay CX for the entry so maybe if QF's HKG lounge was a bit better then people wouldn't goto the CX lounges over QF.. just saying!
I don't think any of us demand expensive champagne or caviar, but at least be able to get a table for a traveling party of 4 (but be denied despite there being 4-5 empty WP1 reserved tables).etc

I don't think I was being 'precious' as you put it, we're allowed to say what what we do and don't like about certain things that is what this forum is about.

 

[yohy?!]

the QANTAS Hong Kong lounge is NOT a branded FIRST lounge...so why expect a full F 'experience'/LOUNGE..QF dont even fly FIRST to Hong Kong( i mean FIRST FARES)..and why expect a better offering from any airline that is not BASED in Hong Kong? I would hope that CX offers the better lounges in its HOME PORT... you WPs sound so precious

No need for the shrillness. It's perfectly reasonable to expect better after many years whereby now QF closes F lounges at outports and devalues the offering to WPs without any attempt to offset the reductions ro standards.

 

[baggyred]

What time does the dinner/table service finish?

 

[cdp88]

i will be visiting this lounge tomorrow afternoon. I hope to be perched at the bar, enjoying the snacks that will be personally served to me by Neil Perry.

I will be sure to post a brief report. I was hoping to enjoy the plate of the day service with a view to not eating much for dinner on the plane.

 

[RooFlyer]

the QANTAS Hong Kong lounge is NOT a branded FIRST lounge...so why expect a full F 'experience'/LOUNGE..QF dont even fly FIRST to Hong Kong( i mean FIRST FARES)..and why expect a better offering from any airline that is not BASED in Hong Kong? I would hope that CX offers the better lounges in its HOME PORT... you WPs sound so precious

DYKWWA?

... and I do hope Qantas finds WP, and WP1s precious, too. Otherwise there are plenty of other airlines who would love our custom.

 

[PaulST]

the QANTAS Hong Kong lounge is NOT a branded FIRST lounge...so why expect a full F 'experience'/LOUNGE..QF dont even fly FIRST to Hong Kong( i mean FIRST FARES)..and why expect a better offering from any airline that is not BASED in Hong Kong? I would hope that CX offers the better lounges in its HOME PORT... you WPs sound so precious

They're not called WP for nothing. I figure since they're (or their work) are paying as much as they are, they're probably entitled to be a little precious.

On the topic of the HKG lounge, I flew QF128 out of there in J in Jan 2015 and put together some footage.
[video=youtube;3hfzVFGd1-U]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hfzVFGd1-U[/video]

 

[offshore171]

No need for the shrillness. It's perfectly reasonable to expect better after many years whereby now QF closes F lounges at outports and devalues the offering to WPs without any attempt to offset the reductions ro standards.

I'd put it as something of a hybrid between a J and F lounge. You've got fresh dishes cooked to order (rather than just sneeze guards and bain-maries), full service coughtail bar and excellent shower facilities.

Definitely a step up from the typical J lounge.

 

[cdp88]

As promised, a brief overview of what's available in the HK lounge.

The website description is perhaps a little generous compared to what is actually available. That being said, the level of service, quality of food and the comfort seemed more than adequate to me. The bar service was limited to one dish, pork char siu with rice. The dim sum trolley service did come around but probably ramped up after we left (being on the 715pm to Brisbane).

Staff were generally quite obliging and would bring you drinks or food on request. The plate of the day was proactively offered if you sat in the dining area. Otherwise staff would bring you drinks or other dishes as they came around. From other comments on this topic it seems that is a hybrid of business and first lounge service. As I only ever visit business or QP lounges I found this to be just fine.

We started our journey for this holiday in the Brisbane international business lounge. This is much better than Brisbane's lounge as far as amenities, service and food offering goes.

 

[Awesom Andy]

The dim sum trolley service did come around but probably ramped up after we left (being on the 715pm to Brisbane).

My experience is that you either see it once, or not at all.

 

[Awesom Andy]

My experience is that you either see it once, or not at all.

And as soon as I said that... The trolley came past twice today already... And it's only 6.40pm!