In Defence of the Melbourne Dungeon

[kangarooflyer88]

Is this the same poster that has criticised the SYD dom J lounge for having poor/worse apron views than the QC or other locations in the terminal? I am unsure how to reconcile this.

Indeed it is! However, what for the SYD domestic lounges is everything else was equal. Sure you could argue that the SYD DOM J lounge has a slightly more expensive bottle of plonk but that's about it. So with all else equal, I would concede that if the only difference is views of apron, then yeah that would be the deciding factor. However comparing SYD INT J versus MEL INT J all else isn't equal with the MEL lounge having the better catering IMHO.

The Aadmirals Lounges, United Club and Delta equivalent are generally paid membership lounges. Along with some non-US-based status holders.

Technically you can access those lounges holding elite status with airlines when travelling internationally with them.

AA’s Flagship lounges and United Polaris lounges are the comparisons. They cater for business class pax. It’s true some airports don’t have Flagship or Polaris lounges yet, but the major gateway airports do… certainly those as important as MEL and SYD.

Keep in mind though that those dedicated International Business class lounges cater for people actually travelling internationally (i.e. on an intercontinental trip), they aren't for Maple Syrup runs. That being said you are absolutely correct those are a step above QF J lounges, and perhaps even Flounges. In particular I am reminded of the sit down dining experience at the Polaris lounge at O'Hare:


-RooFlyer88

 

[Sprucegoose]

Don't forget QF LHR; quite classy. BA has its moments, and CX Pier (J) was good before they hit the skids.....haven't been post covid.

AY HEL was good for a few hours.

Mood changes everything.

 

[dajop]

I will grant you that yes Virgin lounges tend to be better catered. But it's not fair comparing domestic lounges to an international one.

Are you saying it is not fair because you expect international lounges to be inferior to domestic ones? That would be a first for AFF, I think.

 

[RichardMEL]

Keep in mind though that those dedicated International Business class lounges cater for people actually travelling internationally (i.e. on an intercontinental trip), they aren't for Maple Syrup runs.

Which is exactly what the QF International Business Lounges are for. You are in furious agreement!

Post automatically merged: Jan 10, 2023

Don't forget QF LHR; quite classy. BA has its moments, and CX Pier (J) was good before they hit the skids.....have been post covid.

AY HEL was good for a few hours.

Mood changes everything.

oh AY HEL. Get in that Sauna. The only LAX Sauna I've been in was that time it was like 38 degrees when I got out of the joint....

 

[RichardMEL]

I think you could compare this to American's Admirals Lounge, United's Club or Delta's SkyClub and it would come out favourably against all of them, especially considering most of them offer a feast only suitable for a mouse (i.e. cheese and carrots). Wine is constrained to the $10 California red they could source from a party store.

I will grant you that yes Virgin lounges tend to be better catered. But it's not fair comparing domestic lounges to an international one.

And yet... you just did exactly that.

so yep.. not fair.

I'm not trying to deliberately have a go though it probably seems that way. I just call it as I see it.

 

[Sprucegoose]

All lounges are subtly different, but we can all agree that the Reds in the Flounge are amongst the best (if not the best) around.

The Concorde Room set may pipe up at this point.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Which is exactly what the QF International Business Lounges are for. You are in furious agreement!

Post automatically merged: Jan 10, 2023

oh AY HEL. Get in that Sauna. The only LAX Sauna I've been in was that time it was like 38 degrees when I got out of the joint....

Finnair's new Platinum and business class lounges Helsinki review – there's even a sauna!

This is a review of Finnair's new Platinum and business class lounges in the non-Schengen area at Helsinki airport. Earlier this week I wrote about my outbound flight with Finnair

www.turningleftforless.com

 

[MrJetset]

I would also make the argument that for SYD there isn't a single QF lounge that I'm aware of that gives proper plane cough.

QF SYD DOM J Lounge has great views of Gates 1-5, Hangars 191, 245 and taxiing aircraft.

I really don’t think your continual posting of new threads add any value to AFF, especially when they are full of outright mistakes.



QF F is equally photogenic for aircraft with the Skyline in the background.



I hope the mods can merge all your unnecessary posts in a single lounge thread which you seem to discuss at length for no apparent reason.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

And yet... you just did exactly that.

so yep.. not fair.

I'm not trying to deliberately have a go though it probably seems that way. I just call it as I see it.

United Clubs, Admiral Lounges and Delta SkyClubs are domestic and international lounges though, since the US doesn't believe in segregation of passengers based on their destination (unlike some other countries ). So yes, it is a fair comparison in that regard and not contradictory. It is also true that some lounges do have the Polaris lounge, which I reckon would be comparable to the Flounge as others have described it (remember too that the US doesn't offer First class service internationally).

 

[justinbrett]

remember too that the US doesn't offer First class service internationally.

Wrong, for the moment. AA still does, and the current lounge construct for AA is based on that.

since the US doesn't believe in segregation of passengers based on their destination

Quite a few airports in the US separate domestic and international terminals.

 

[dajop]

Quite a few airports in the US separate domestic and international terminals.

In the context of the posts in this thread, I'm trying to think of the airports that have pure play (unconnected) international terminals that DL, UA, and/or AA use for international departures only. I'm sure there must be some, but struggling. Of the three main "international terminals" that come to mind two are connected airside (SFO, TBIT@LAX) whilst at ORD, UA and AA international flights don't depart the international terminal.

That aside, I'm pretty sure the turn this thread has taken is a bit groundhog day-ish .... .

 

[Virgin Bart]

I have defended the J dungeon before and continue to do so (after 5 years as a Plat using the Flounge). Flounge is something else, but the dungeon has decent food, good drinks self serve and I like the dungeons style of it... Darkness before the flight.

 

[dajop]

On the topics of Dungeon Lounges at MEL, the coolest undoubtedly is the NZ lounge, the level below the QF lounge. And not being sarcastic, I think the apron views from that lounge are pretty unique, you get an up close look at the ground goings on, often around the undercarriage of an A380. It’s the yin to the F Lounge’s yang.

 

[Virgin Bart]

On the topics of Dungeon Lounges at MEL, the coolest undoubtedly is the NZ lounge, the level below the QF lounge. And not being sarcastic, I think the apron views from that lounge are pretty unique, you get an up close look at the ground goings on, often around the undercarriage of an A380. It’s the yin to the F Lounge’s yang.

I also agree!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

United Clubs, Admiral Lounges and Delta SkyClubs are domestic and international lounges though, since the US doesn't believe in segregation of passengers based on their destination (unlike some other countries ). So yes, it is a fair comparison in that regard and not contradictory. It is also true that some lounges do have the Polaris lounge, which I reckon would be comparable to the Flounge as others have described it (remember too that the US doesn't offer First class service internationally).

But… if you are a business class customer on AA or UA you can use the Flagship or Polaris lounges at major gateways. Melbourne is a major gateway. The lounge offering there is akin to an aadmirals Club or United club. Basically an economy lounge with economy catering.

What more could we want from an international gateway J lounge? Decent food and drink!

 

[Rich]

I like natural light in my lounges. I will continue to judge lounges.

But do you judge a lounge solely on natural light, because that's what the OP was referring to?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But do you judge a lounge solely on natural light, because that's what the OP was referring to?

For me, not solely, but it's a factor. SQ's old Private Room lacked ambience. LH's FCT, while it has light, the view is a commercial building and car park. I don't use it on that basis given the other lounges offer the same amenities.

If you had equal lounges with and without light, which would we choose?

 

[Peanutbladder]

On the topics of Dungeon Lounges at MEL, the coolest undoubtedly is the NZ lounge, the level below the QF lounge. And not being sarcastic, I think the apron views from that lounge are pretty unique, you get an up close look at the ground goings on, often around the undercarriage of an A380. It’s the yin to the F Lounge’s yang.

I always choose the NZ Lounge instead of the SQ lounge (now if you want to talk about a dungeon feel !!) I would take QF J over SQ J anytime at MEL.

 

[Rich]

I checked out the Centurion lounge, which IMHO is superior to the SYD lounge on account of there being those desk/chair thingys they have at LAX at SQ lounges.

Nice post and good perspective.
I gather, apart from the chairs, the Centurion lounge was nothing to write home about?

 

[Hvr]

I guess it's lucky the lounge isn't anthropomorphic because it might react to being called a dungeon with high dudgeon.