MEL Dom. lounges refurb Completed October 2018

[RichardMEL]

People go to restaurants to be social (mostly, anyway ) and are usually with a group or at least one other and it can be easier to accept the communal table thing (it's not my cup of chai. but that's mostly because I am a singleton).. a lounge is a very different place, specialy with more solo pax(business types) wanting to work or whatever. Definitely a difference to me.

Anyway yesterday MEL 7am was an absolute zoo because of school hols and the J lounge was full of kids/families(nothing wrong with that in itself) but it was pretty busy. I would also say for 7am the usual scrables and snags were lukewarm and poor..


I would say that the coffee queue was far better managed though it moved quickly and despite being long I got a cuppa in around 3-4min.

I would also submit that school hols sees some relaxing of the usual dress rules as I saw sandals and the like, and in BNE J thongs and some almost imodest short shorts on some young ladies....

 

[JohnK]

I don’t understand this move to communal seating everywhere. Airlines rave endlessly about the privacy of their seats and suites on board, but then expect everyone to sit with strangers at some long table or communal bench.

Is this actually what people want?

I don't like it either but you start to understand when you see single travellers taking up the whole 4 seater tables around the lounge. Seriously? Same thing happens on a train so you start to wonder.

 

[RichardMEL]

yes, I notice that behaviour and find it selfish and inconsiderate. I try to not do that (unless empty lounge, so not MEL ) but recently have used one of the stand up tables or even a bench spot rather than take up seating areas obviously meant for groups.

The other morning I saw a bunch of singletons sitting at the 4 seater tables in the dining area which I thought was very frustrating but it seems to be human nature. I get you don't want to be disturbed or sit with others not known to you, but seems to me there are more appropriate spaces.

I do like in MEL J the bench areas (eg: near the newspaper area on entry and across from the bar area) with power and so on. A good setup.

I still do not like or get the huge orange circular seating area.

but that's just me.

 

[VPS]

Some photos taken in early September

 

[kermatu]

Any sense of when all the lounge will be up and running? Not travelling domestic through MEL for a while, but just curious.

 

[RichardMEL]

Any sense of when all the lounge will be up and running? Not travelling domestic through MEL for a while, but just curious.

It's set to open fully by end of November.

 

[Pushka]

First time in the Business Lounge. It’s like Adelaide new Hospital. Cost a motza and is just jam packed. Wednesday at 4.40pm. I’m sitting on a bar stool perched like jakky!

I think the issue is that you can see everyone. No quiet areas at all.

 

[RichardMEL]

There are some quieter spots, eg: just next to the QF service desks there's some chairs set back from the main walkway a bit tat could be a little more quiet.

I'd also hope the extra space opened up in November might help (though I suspect with the noodle bar there it could get quite busy/noise too, but my free up some other spots.

 

[Pushka]

No coffee or tea available except that bench near the entrance and asking at the bar. Machines are absent. Couldn’t see any cookies etc.

Maybe it will improve with the extra space but it seems like a very significant downgrade to me. Seemed more like a zoo than ever before. Too much open space and some weirdly uncomfortable chairs.

 

[calmelb]

Just in the MEL Dom J lounge now, it has been fully opened (In fact I'm sitting in the new area at the end). Seating is still an issue with a lot of people perching at the double seats by the window as just a single traveller. The new area does help fix this (and with the big divider things where they have the water you do feel blocked off from the rest of the lounge).

Drinks are still a downside as unless you want water or juice (Fine for a morning, not so good for the afternoon) you have to queue with everyone else wanting their 9am coffee. The spice bar is open from 12pm each day so unfortunately I won't be able to taste test it (or even see a menu) for everyone here. If the rest of you want pictures let me know, though it isn't much different to the rest of the lounge (same style, same look and feel as the other corner with a window)

 

[calmelb]

Here’s some pictures anyway.

One flaw I’ve already noticed with the lounge, in the men’s bathroom there’s only 3 sit down toilets, on a Monday morning it means there’s a lot of people queueing for a toilet (and one of the lounge staff actually went in and told people to go to the shower suites and use them there) which is pretty poor (there used to be around 5 in the old J lounge)

 

[ric_melb]

Thanks for the photos calmelb. It is an interesting comment about the lack of cubicles in the men's bathroom.
Three is definitely not enough for the 350 passengers the new J Lounge can hold. Another gripe is the present two cubicles in the yet to be finished MEL Qantas Club. Completely insufficient. It remains to be seen how many will be available when the rest of the QC is open. I guess by Qantas calculations it will be 5 for 530 passengers.
By contrast the Sydney QC has ten cubicles, admittedly being larger (I assume); but their J Lounge only 4 cubicles, which are often totally occupied.

 

[Groundfeeder]

I recall there weren't many cubicles in BNE J lounge recently. Still no J lounge in ADL with QP very packed. Great entertainment though with regional plane marshall practising his dance movements with the paddles seemingly oblivious to the packed QP watching his antics!

 

[drron]

Here’s some pictures anyway.

One flaw I’ve already noticed with the lounge, in the men’s bathroom there’s only 3 sit down toilets, on a Monday morning it means there’s a lot of people queueing for a toilet (and one of the lounge staff actually went in and told people to go to the shower suites and use them there) which is pretty poor (there used to be around 5 in the old J lounge)
View attachment 142390 View attachment 142391 View attachment 142392 View attachment 142393

I see your first pic shows 2 tables of 4 occupied by a single traveller.I would have no hesitation if no other seat available to just rock up and sit in one of the other 3.They don't own the table.
also in some pics you see my other pet peeve-putting you bag or belongings on an otherwise empty chair.

 

[calmelb]

Thanks for the photos calmelb. It is an interesting comment about the lack of cubicles in the men's bathroom.
Three is definitely not enough for the 350 passengers the new J Lounge can hold. Another gripe is the present two cubicles in the yet to be finished MEL Qantas Club. Completely insufficient. It remains to be seen how many will be available when the rest of the QC is open. I guess by Qantas calculations it will be 5 for 530 passengers.
By contrast the Sydney QC has ten cubicles, admittedly being larger (I assume); but their J Lounge only 4 cubicles, which are often totally occupied.

They have also replaced the big heavy door cubicles (which I think MEL used to have) and replaced them with the thin plastic ones. So not only do you hear everything but the smells just waft out.
I didn’t realise the QC had such a low number of cubicles too. What is it with QF and not getting the ratios right (The 787,330, etc).

I see your first pic shows 2 tables of 4 occupied by a single traveller.I would have no hesitation if no other seat available to just rock up and sit in one of the other 3.They don't own the table.
also in some pics you see my other pet peeve-putting you bag or belongings on an otherwise empty chair.

I will admit I have done this before, but only in an empty lounge. I usually do it to ensure no one decides to set up camp right next to me when there’s plenty of space

 

[hm520]

I recently visited the MEL and BNE J lounge. Obviously the same architect/style used. No photos were taken

MEL was Friday afternoon ~2pm-4pm - very busy (looked busier than the Qclub) and food was poor, a semi spicy sweet korean pork curry or toasted sandwiches. Coffees were great and bar was busy but had quick service. I would like Qantas to consider broadening their horizons with beer, IMO James Boags, 150 lashes, Coopers pale ale and Hahn super dry is a poor (and limited selection) and there is a huge variety of beers plus local aussie craft brewers they could partner with.

BNE - quiet and better layout I thought. There was the usual sandwich/dip offerings plus a lacklustre taco bar. I don't understand why go to the effort to build a special food bar and serve uninspired cough.

 

[boomy]

Old J lounge also had 3 cubicles in the men toilet with same issues on morning departures where I found myself going to QC instead of waiting in the queue in J. Shame they didn’t add more in the new lounge.

 

[sudoer]

Looks like the ribbon cutting is on Thursday if anyone wants to share their mind with Alan!

Qantas opens new-look Melbourne Qantas Club, business class lounge

(@DavidFlynn there's an error in one of the subheadings: "What's new at the Qantas Melbourne Business Club". Let's not give Qantas any ideas please!! )

there is a huge variety of beers plus local aussie craft brewers they could partner with.

Absolutely agree it would be nice to have a greater selection of beer, but it wouldn't surprise me if the smaller craft breweries can't meet the volume or prices Qantas would need (or both). Compared to domestic lounges overseas I think we have it pretty good at the moment.

 

[VPS]

Slightly OT but guys welcome to a women's world where there are often not enough cubicles

 

[calmelb]

Old J lounge also had 3 cubicles in the men toilet with same issues on morning departures where I found myself going to QC instead of waiting in the queue in J. Shame they didn’t add more in the new lounge.

Ah I was misremembering that! It’s a bit harder now to go through to the QC to get to the bathrooms, have to bring your BP and walk all the way around (though you’ll probably still end up queuing)