International transfer in Sydney or Melbourne?

[kangarooflyer88]

Really? I've been to the Melbourne QF international business lounge and it was very average. Not even a single window to plane spot or just see natural light!

Certainly on the domestic end MEL has better QF lounges. International, I will concede that the J lounge leaves a little bit to be desired. EK lounge at MEL I will concede I haven't been to but if it's anything like the SYD one it will blow the QF International J lounges at any Australian port out of the water.

I've also been to the AMEX Centurion lounge - even worse than the QF one with little options available. Not even worth a visit even if you have AMEX invites imo.

Between the two Centurion lounges SYD and MEL, the MEL one is slightly better as they have those nice little suite things like they have at LAX. Unsure about the invite thing you are talking about, just flash your Platinum card and they'll let you in.

I haven't been to the Emirates lounge though, would like to visit one day.

If you are departing around when the EK lounge is open and you are travelling on a QF/EK flight anywhere except the Americas it can be quite good. Here's some shots from the SYD EK lounge when I was flying QF Y over to CHC back in December:

 

[justinbrett]

Certainly on the domestic end MEL has better QF lounges. International, I will concede that the J lounge leaves a little bit to be desired. EK lounge at MEL I will concede I haven't been to but if it's anything like the SYD one it will blow the QF International J lounges at any Australian port out of the water.

Between the two Centurion lounges SYD and MEL, the MEL one is slightly better as they have those nice little suite things like they have at LAX. Unsure about the invite thing you are talking about, just flash your Platinum card and they'll let you in.

If you are departing around when the EK lounge is open and you are travelling on a QF/EK flight anywhere except the Americas it can be quite good. Here's some shots from the SYD EK lounge when I was flying QF Y over to CHC back in December:
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You said Melbourne Lounges - plural.

SYD INT F > MEL INT F (Melbourne is fine, it's a mini version of SYD, but SYD is definitely better)
SYD INT J > MEL INT J (It at least has natural light)
MEL DOM J > SYD DOM J - no arguments there
SYD QP = MEL QP - pros and cons for each, nice view in the SYD lounge, lots of space and seating. MEL is tiny and no view, but newer.

As for AMEX, I didn't rate MEL, haven't done SYD. My brother, who is not a status holder, went to the SYD AMEX lounge on departure and the SYD QP on arrival back. He thought the QP wiped the floor with the AMEX lounge.

OP got it right by using SYD outbound and MEL inbound.

Oh - as for EK, as far as I'm aware, EK send their top tier pax to the SYD Flounge.

 

[Daver6]

For outbound, the SYD lounges makes up for it in spades (both F and J are better than their counterparts). In fact, it's a good excuse for a 5 hour connection

It's been a while since I've been to the J lounges, but just because SYD isn't a dungeon I'd agree. The SYD F lounge for some reason does "feel" a little nicer but in no way makes up for the terrible SYD transfer experience. Plus I like the spa treatment rooms in MEL better since they have a view.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

SYD QP = MEL QP - pros and cons for each, nice view in the SYD lounge, lots of space and seating. MEL is tiny and no view, but newer.

I would respectfully disagree with you. Yes I concede SYD does have the better views compared to MEL. But the MEL lounge is newer, and the food is noticeably better.

As for AMEX, I didn't rate MEL, haven't done SYD. My brother, who is not a status holder, went to the SYD AMEX lounge on departure and the SYD QP on arrival back. He thought the QP wiped the floor with the AMEX lounge.

Really depends on what you're interested in. It tends to be less crowded than the QF lounges since only those holding Platinum cards can get in. And not everyone has $700/year to spend on that!

OP got it right by using SYD outbound and MEL inbound.

I would tend to agree there, all of that being said. International to Domestic transfer at SYD is a pain, even when it works correctly. Hardly seamless.

Oh - as for EK, as far as I'm aware, EK send their top tier pax to the SYD Flounge.

Fair point, I'm just pointing out that if you are QF Gold or are in J on QF/EK you have access to the Emirates lounge. Is it as nice as the QF Flounge? Probably not. But it's certainly up there as one of the better international lounges, at least in Australia.

 

[serfty]

The MEL walk is completely indoors on polished floors with maybe 25% on a travellator as you head up to Departures where you will find dedicated baggage drop counter(s).

... also, there's no bus or train trip to follow at MEL after dropping bags

As far as lounges go, the only relevant ones are the Domestic Qantas lounges at the two respective airports.

 

[bam71]

I think when you’re heading home, you just want an easy ride home when you’;re transferring, therefore Melbourne over Sydney…

 

[justinbrett]

I think when you’re heading home, you just want an easy ride home when you’;re transferring, therefore Melbourne over Sydney…

I think the route you are flying should also play a large part.

Frequency to QLD is a lot better from SYD; to ADL/HBA is better from MEL.

Not to mention reduced flight time for the domestic leg.

 

[Hvr]

Dare I say, you've all missed the main point of making a routing choice:

Which routing gets you the most SCs?

 

[jase05]

Oh - as for EK, as far as I'm aware, EK send their top tier pax to the SYD Flounge.

I want aware of that. Personally I think the SYD EK lounge is on par if not better than the QF F lounge and in MEL I think the EK Lounge is easily better.

 

[AIRwin]

Certainly on the domestic end MEL has better QF lounges. International, I will concede that the J lounge leaves a little bit to be desired. EK lounge at MEL I will concede I haven't been to but if it's anything like the SYD one it will blow the QF International J lounges at any Australian port out of the water.

Between the two Centurion lounges SYD and MEL, the MEL one is slightly better as they have those nice little suite things like they have at LAX. Unsure about the invite thing you are talking about, just flash your Platinum card and they'll let you in.

If you are departing around when the EK lounge is open and you are travelling on a QF/EK flight anywhere except the Americas it can be quite good. Here's some shots from the SYD EK lounge when I was flying QF Y over to CHC back in December:
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Deja vu

 

[justinbrett]

I want aware of that. Personally I think the SYD EK lounge is on par if not better than the QF F lounge and in MEL I think the EK Lounge is easily better.

Noted, but I think you're in the minority there, haven't seen a single review online (from a vast variety of sources, including our own AFF Emirates Reopens Most Australian Airport Lounges) that suggests EK/QF WPs should go to the EK lounge, they all suggest the other way, to use the QF Flounge.

They do say to use the EK lounge over the QF J lounge, which is obvious.

But as always, YMMW.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

They do say to use the EK lounge over the QF J lounge, which is obvious.

I would disagree with how obvious that fact is. Indeed I would challenge anyone to go to the QF J lounge when the EK lounge is open and compare it to the EK lounge in terms of how crowded it is. QF J lounge is always chock-a-block whereas the EK lounge is nearly abandoned. I reckon many travellers aren't aware of the QF/EK partnership when it comes to lounge access.

In terms of EK vs QF J lounge, I wouldn't say it's obvious that one is better than the other unless of course you visited both lounges as I have. Certainly if you go by the limited hours the lounge is open at outstations like SYD or MEL, one would think that the lounge couldn't be that impressive (some might even see it as an overflow lounge should the other available lounges fill up but EK J passengers want a lounge experience).

 

[jase05]

Noted, but I think you're in the minority there, haven't seen a single review online (from a vast variety of sources, including our own AFF Emirates Reopens Most Australian Airport Lounges) that suggests EK/QF WPs should go to the EK lounge, they all suggest the other way, to use the QF Flounge.

They do say to use the EK lounge over the QF J lounge, which is obvious.

But as always, YMMW.

Absolutely YMMW.
I prefer the F&B options in the EK lounges so that gives them the nod over QF F lounges IMO but they are all very nice lounges. The QF J lounges on the other hand are pretty average

 

[justinbrett]

The QF J lounges on the other hand are pretty average

Absolutely

I would disagree with how obvious that fact is.

Obvious (to us) that the EK lounges are better - not that pax know about it.

That said, keep in mind a lot of QF international pax are travelling to North America, and some to South Africa, and these pax can't enter the lounge. Also a lot of pax in the QF lounges are there on oneworld status entry, Qantas Club/Admirals Club membership or credit card invites.

 

[docjames]

IME/IMO:

In MEL, QF F > EK F/J (combined lounge) > QF J

QF SYD J > MEL J

QF F SYD and MEL roughly on a par (comes down to how busy they are at the time).

 

[Lynda2475]

since only those holding Platinum cards can get in

Since when?

I've been granted entry to the Amex lounge in Sydney using Amex Qantas Ultimate (which doesn't have the word platinum and only costs $450 which you get back as a travel voucher). The picture of the cards displayed at entry which are eligible includes non platinum cards.

 

[MelbFlyer]

Unsure about the invite thing you are talking about, just flash your Platinum card and they'll let you in.

I had a Velocity FF Platinum AMEX card which came with 2 lounge invitations per year (unless it's actually "unwritten" unlimited entries?).

 

[Travelqueen]

Hi there, and hope everyone could enjoy the long weekend,

Another question regarding this particular trip.

We are coming from Gold Coast to Syd the afternoon before QF 11 on the next day. It is all on the same ticket. I was just concerned with the short transfer time on offer from Gold Coast the same morning of QF11

Will our luggage be checked through on the previous afternoon for the international flight the next morning or will we need to collect, take to our hotel and recheck in at international the next morning?

Thanks for all your valuable informatio

TQ

 

[Ade]

Oh - as for EK, as far as I'm aware, EK send their top tier pax to the SYD Flounge.

OT perhaps - I have been to the EK lounge in SYD as QF WP. When you say SYD FLounge - are we talking about the QF F lounge in SYD? OR is there a EK F lounge in SYD?

 

[AIRwin]

When you say SYD FLounge - are we talking about the QF F lounge in SYD?

This