In Defence of the Melbourne Dungeon

[dajop]

QF’s SIN J lounge only has a view over the checkin hall with the only natural light coming in via internal facing windows ( just like MEL dom QC) yet it tends to receive positive reviews and comments, so often “natural light” is not the be all and end all. Soft product, catering, beverages all contribute.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

For pax dropping $9-10k for a base busines class fare to Europe or the USA, almost double pre-covid I reckon the only suitable lounges are the F ones.

 

[Mr H]

QF’s SIN J lounge only has a view over the checkin hall with the only natural light coming in via internal facing windows ( just like MEL dom QC) yet it tends to receive positive reviews and comments, so often “natural light” is not the be all and end all. Soft product, catering, beverages all contribute.

Different people have different preferences - cf the number of pax who like to shut the window blinds on a plane and try to sleep, even on daytime flights.

I do sometimes think that a person's perception of an experience - lounge, flight, hotel, etc. - may correlate to how difficult/expensive it was to access. If a lounge feels exclusive and hard to access, people will rave about it even if it is quite ordinary.

 

[MrJetset]

Perhaps go experience some F lounges a few times and come back to us when you have some real life meaningful comparisons.

Could not agree more.

F Lounges are also generally used for elites of each program which means they are not solely for F pax. I have experienced QF F, BA CCRs & CCB, SQ F, EY F, EK F, TG F, OW F and former AA Flagship First Lounges so think I have a good sample. I've sampled many more J Lounges.

EY have 7 birds with a F cabin at the moment, but continue to operate their excellent lounge at AUH.

 

[Mr H]

F Lounges in my experience vary greatly. Some (AI DEL; AH ALG) are just marked off areas in a very ordinary main J lounge with supposedly superior seating. Others (OZ ICN; SQ LHR; SQ MEL; SQ old SIN) really don't look much different to a regular J lounge but might have better catering. And some (BA LHR T5; TG BKK; LH FCT FRA; SQ old TPR SIN) have something really different, whether it be spas, massages, baths, champagne bars, limousines). Some airlines/stations don't even bother with separate F and J lounges.

All the window dressing in the world cannot disguise that they are basically waiting rooms where time will probably hang heavily.

 

[MrJetset]

All the window dressing in the world cannot disguise that they are basically waiting rooms where time will probably hang heavily.

I constantly say "A lounge is a lounge is a lounge." Even post Covid, I continue to arrive at T-90 for Intl departures and avoid any transits over 4 hours. I would rather overnight in a destination than spend that much time in a lounge.

I appreciate some may want 3 hours in a F Lounge if new to flying or their first time experiencing it, but I too see it as a waiting room.

 

[jase05]

I constantly say "A lounge is a lounge is a lounge." Even post Covid, I continue to arrive at T-90 for Intl departures and avoid any transits over 4 hours. I would rather overnight in a destination than spend that much time in a lounge.

I appreciate some may want 3 hours in a F Lounge if new to flying or their first time experiencing it, but I too see it as a waiting room.

I’ve got a wife though he despite all of our travel still stresses out if we aren’t at the airport as soon as check in opens. She likes to check in, get through immigration and then she can relax.
I’m happy to cut it as fine as possible though

 

[Mr H]

I’ve got a wife though he despite all of our travel still stresses out if we aren’t at the airport as soon as check in opens. She likes to check in, get through immigration and then she can relax.
I’m happy to cut it as fine as possible though

I like to be at the airport good and early too, but that’s to avoid risk rather than to enjoy sitting in an armchair that is less comfortable than the ones I have at home.

 

[RichardMEL]

One item I saw discussed quite a bit in this thread, but agree is worth noting is that travelling on an international J ticket the lounge experience isn't particularly good at most hubs, with the First lounge being comparable to international business class lounges (i.e. Polaris). Given Qantas offers limited First class service internationally, one wonders whether a rebrand is in order with the International J lounge being renamed the Qantas Club (and accessible to OWS/QF Club members) and the First lounge being renamed to Qantas Business lounge (and accessible to OWEs, and those flying in Business/First). I will say having been to two Qantas International business lounges now (SYD, MEL) that they are somewhat underwhelming regardless of where you go. Certainly a step above United Clubs but nowhere near as good as a Polaris lounge or even a Lufthansa Senator lounge at Heathrow or even Dulles.

At MEL this would not be practical - at least with the current situation. While the Dungeon could definitely be a QC analogue easily enough the F lounge is WAY too small to include J pax and OWE (and currently it basically IS a OWE lounge given no QF metal F service). If you added J pax into that space it would be massively overcrowded.

Now during covid, the J lounge was closed and the F lounge space WAS used for a period, with reduced menu and services. Traffic was way down of course and I did not experience it, but it probably would have, even then, got quite busy I can imagine.

Now the other issue is is that the QF F lounge experience is above a Polaris lounge or Flagship lounge experience. There's more food options, the drinks are (or used to be ) of a generally higher level (though Krug in AA Flagship First dining is way better imo), and where there are spa services there's that.

While I agree a Polaris lounge is better than a QF International Business lounge in general (I've not used LHR yet), I'd still rate QF F as higher. Not a massive level higher it's true. I mean I'd rate the Wing and Pier First at HKG for example above them all, and the FCT at FRA again still (let alone the QR/EK F lounges) but these are always going to be subjective.

This has not been my experience at all! I would challenge you to try eating at the sit down restaurant at the Polaris lounge in Los Angeles or San Francisco without waiting an hour or more for seating to open up. Now yes, I will grant you that at O'Hare, it's not a problem, in large part to United continually increasing the floor space of the Polaris lounge. Aside from O'Hare, every time I've visited a Polaris lounge I ended up using the buffet whose food quite frankly doesn't hold a candle up to the Emirates lounge.

You have challenged and I accept. I have been to Polaris at both LAX (when flying NZ J) and SFO (UA Polaris) and did not have to wait either time. Perhaps I've just been lucky - or you've been at very peak tmes and unlucky. Certainly with LAX I went in around 1800ish IIRC, which was before the big bank of UA long haul transpacs which are a bit later, so it was quiet. I only did that to give relaxed time for dinner and a couple of drinks and an easy walk over to TBIT (but I digress).

I can't help feeling that all the pictures of EK and other lounges seem to be part humblebrag but also to actually go against your support of the MEL International J lounge - because you're essentially pointing out how much better they are!

 

[Peanutbladder]

For me at the end of the day QF J lounge at MEL beats sitting out in the terminal paying for overpriced drinks and food.

 

[RooFlyer]

I constantly say "A lounge is a lounge is a lounge." Even post Covid, I continue to arrive at T-90 for Intl departures and avoid any transits over 4 hours. I would rather overnight in a destination than spend that much time in a lounge.

I appreciate some may want 3 hours in a F Lounge if new to flying or their first time experiencing it, but I too see it as a waiting room.

I'm pretty much like you, although I'll get to the airport, and therefore the lounge probably 2-2.5 hrs before departure because I've allowed for a delay in getting to the airport

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I'm pretty much like you, although I'll get to the airport, and therefore the lounge probably 2-2.5 hrs before departure because I've allowed for a delay in getting to the airport

Yes but how much of this avoidance of lounges is caused by post-traumatic stress induced by visiting the HBA QF Club?

 

[RooFlyer]

Yes but how much of this avoidance of lounges is caused by post-traumatic stress induced by visiting the HBA QF Club?

What lounge avoidance? I wrote that I got to the airport early as I allow for delays en route. Specifically talking international.

 

[Mr H]

What lounge avoidance? I wrote that I got to the airport early as I allow for delays en route. Specifically talking international.

I suspect your near namesake finds 2-2.5 hours remarkably short for a lounge visit - he would probably be planning his whole day around it.

 

[RichardMEL]

Probably a discussion topic for a more general thread imo - as in the priorities of airport lounge experiences and the timings we make before flights (and if any particular lounge offering, or even airport amenity overall factor into this).

(and of course transits are a whole separate thing)

Any lounge can be super fancy and great but can also be just dull after a bit depending on many factors and is very subjective.

Like others I tend to factor getting to the airport earlier to account for potential delays in getting there. I'd rather be there with an hour til boarding than running out of breath to get through security while the flight is boarding. Obviously a greater factor being added for international flights.

And in this context, for me at least, lounge amenity does have a factor. Specifically in MEL (so relevant here ) I'm doing MEL-DFW soon - luckily in J. Now if I did not have my status and only had the QF J lounge to use - tbh I would not make extra effort to use that lounge. Now I'd still want to be checking in around 2h prior just to deal with the process of check in and departures... so sure would probably end up with say an hour or so in the lounge and to me that would be probably too long. Sure, enjoy a couple of drinks perhaps and a nibble but it's not something I would factor in as something I'd want to do. Of course, thanks to status, I will be using the Flounge, and given the menu and amenity I'll actually add 30min or so to my schedule to allow for a relaxed lunch to try a number of items, a few glasses of adult beverage and generally have a relaxed time prior to a 15+ hour flight. In this instance, yes, my lounge choice does factor into it.

Having written that, I've also been on a delayed flight and wound up with 5ish hours one time in the F lounge and it was absolute tedium. Another time I was invited into the MEL CL (a rare privilege) which was wonderful prior to a MEL-SYD-OOL trip. It was fantastic for an hour or so relaxed brekky and all. Unfortunately MEL-SYD was cancelled and QF rebooked me onto a direct OOL flight which was 3+ hours later. Suddenly the "best" domestic lounge was mind numbingly dull (and boy it was quiet they probably could hear me snoring! lol).

My point being that no matter how great a lounge is they can get old really quick. That's why things like pool tables and other distractions can help and some are great at this.. but also entire terminals that focus on passenger experiences as a whole and not just the lounge lizards - and I'm thinking specifically of SIN as a great example of this over the years - can be real winners - for long transits, delays and so on. Back in the days when I was flying Y with no status, going to the gardens at CHangi, even the terminal top pool and spa use was fantastic and I'll say better than 99% of lounges (CX Wing F Cabanas, and I think it's QR at DOH with spa/bath rooms as very very close).

Many airports I feel miss that aspect I think. The focus is on shopping and food (which is understandable off course) but there are other ways to make an airport experience worthwhile imo.

but that's way off topic to the MEL dungeon

 

[Rich]

I've got to say our dungeon visit last month was very disappointing unlike the previous visit (albeit a while ago).
We just missed breakfast and lunch items were not replenished frequently enough, nor dirty dishes cleared away in a reasonable time.
I think we'll try Centurion next time.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I've got to say our dungeon visit last month was very disappointing unlike the previous visit (albeit a while ago).
We just missed breakfast and lunch items were not replenished frequently enough, nor dirty dishes cleared away in a reasonable time.
I think we'll try Centurion next time.

If you have an AmEx Platinum (which I assume you do given you have Centurion lounge access) then your best bet would actually be visiting the Marhaba lounge at the international terminal. Unlike the Centurion lounge (which is also located in the dungeon area) the Marhaba lounge is located beside the QF First lounge and has some decent catering (I'd say comparable to QF J lounge). You should have access to all the Priority Pass lounges as a AmEx Platinum member (although you'll want to call AmEx to get the Priority Pass membership card mailed to you).

Another possibility to consider if you have QF Gold and above (or flying QF J or EK J) and are travelling on either QF or EK to Europe or Asia-Pacific is the Emirates lounge (provided you are travelling when it is open). I visited the one in Sydney back in December when I was flying to CHC on QF and was blown away:





-RooFlyer88

 

[Rich]

If you have an AmEx Platinum

Actually no. One of the other cards that allow 2 visits per year. It doesn't look like Marhaba would be an option.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Actually no. One of the other cards that allow 2 visits per year. It doesn't look like Marhaba would be an option.

If you are travelling on either QF or EK to anywhere except North America and hold QF Gold (or above) or are flying in business, and lastly are traveling when the EK lounge is open (17:15 to 20:45 and 23:25 - 04:45) then you should be able to avail yourself of the EK lounge at Melbourne which like the Marhaba lounge is located above ground.

As for the Centurion lounge at Melbourne, it's okay. I mean it's in the dungeon (which is a big minus) but tends to be quieter and arguably has better food and seating:




With that being said, if you only have two of those passes but are flying out of LAX before they expire, then I would argue it would make more sense to use them at the LAX lounge which is far superior to any AmEx lounge in Australia (i.e. the have multiple buffets and a spa).

-RooFlyer88

 

[justinbrett]

With that being said, if you only have two of those passes but are flying out of LAX before they expire, then I would argue it would make more sense to use them at the LAX lounge which is far superior to any AmEx lounge in Australia (i.e. the have multiple buffets and a spa).

-RooFlyer88

For most of the AU platinum cards, at least my QF one, the passes are only valid at Australian lounges (SYD/MEL). They can’t be used overseas.