New MEL lounge opening times and/or spa times?

[defurax]

Seems like the Spa opened at 6:30PM today instead of 6PM, but this might be due to QF95 being an hour late today.

I've created a bit of commotion at emigration today. I showed up at 6PM for JL774 and the flight wasn't opened yet, so first an agent had to come double check that Japan Airlines indeed wasn't showing up on the smart gate screen. Then he had to ask another agent to release my passport from the reader. Then I had to go to the "manual" processing where they requested the control room to open JL774. It took a few minutes...so the three agents there asked me why I was so early and one suggested maybe it had to do with the lounge. I told them that indeed a massage and good meal in the F lounge before a flight is worth showing up early!
They couldn't believe that there was a spa in the F lounge. Quite a funny experience, the guys were really nice. I can easily imagine a few countries where they would have simply said: flight is not open so get lost.

 

[kermatu]

Can anyone advise if the spa is open now 6pm to 9pm every evening, or just on nights there is a QF flight to the US?

 

[Ansett]

Can anyone advise if the spa is open now 6pm to 9pm every evening, or just on nights there is a QF flight to the US?

It is my understanding that the 6 to 9 is every day even when no QF95

 

[Himeno]

I've created a bit of commotion at emigration today. I showed up at 6PM for JL774 and the flight wasn't opened yet, so first an agent had to come double check that Japan Airlines indeed wasn't showing up on the smart gate screen. Then he had to ask another agent to release my passport from the reader. Then I had to go to the "manual" processing where they requested the control room to open JL774. It took a few minutes...so the three agents there asked me why I was so early and one suggested maybe it had to do with the lounge. I told them that indeed a massage and good meal in the F lounge before a flight is worth showing up early!
They couldn't believe that there was a spa in the F lounge. Quite a funny experience, the guys were really nice. I can easily imagine a few countries where they would have simply said: flight is not open so get lost.

That agent must have remembered me.
Same thing happened to me when I took JL774 in its first month of operation.

 

[kermatu]

It is my understanding that the 6 to 9 is every day even when no QF95

Thanks. Hope that is the case - it would be good to have consistency in times, particularly as there aren't any QF F flights in the evening in any event (as far as I'm aware).

I may be passing through and able to visit the lounge during that window (just) in coming weeks. Might see if the P1 team can confirm. Pretty sure QF95 isn't operating then - but there are more OW flights in the evening these days, which is great, and will be great if the spa is open for them.

 

[Ansett]

Just spoken to the First Lounge Directly here in Melbourne and the Spa is open Every Day even when no QF95 from 6.30 PM with last treatment at around 10pm. They have 1 Person on during these times.

 

[mviy]

I might go on the evening flight to SFO once that's started or I may still go via SYD to fly on the 747 whilst I still can and earn more SC thanks to going indirect.

It'd certainly be very nice to have a long time in the MEL Flounge including a spa appointment.

 

[kermatu]

Just spoken to the First Lounge Directly here in Melbourne and the Spa is open Every Day even when no QF95 from 6.30 PM with last treatment at around 10pm. They have 1 Person on during these times.

Terrific news - thank you. 10pm last treatment is as late as, if not later than, the last treatments used to be for the QF MEL-DXB-LHR flights (or at least that I could get on this or another OW / QF flight), so that is terrific.

 

[kermatu]

Sadly yet more inconsistency and incompetence (if not plain lying) from staff. The spa is not open every evening. On first being told by the P1 team that it was, and a booking was made, I received an apologetic email later to say actually it would not be open on the night I was attending, nor the next visit (about 10 days later).

Rock up and indeed it was closed. But told this was rare. The ‘girls were given the night off’ but assured it was open every night. When pushed, citing my exchange with the P1team, eventually it was conceded that QF95 wasn’t operating. But still couldn’t get a straight answer as to when exactly it would be open of an evening.

Frustrating that it is open for one QF flight that does not have a first class cabin, but not other QF flights nor the EK and Qatar flights which do.

And frustrating that the front desk staff continue their seeming incompetence or disinterest in telling people simple facts.

Anyway, safe to assume I reckon that if there’s no US flight the spa won’t be operating.

 

[kermatu]

Sadly yet more inconsistency and incompetence (if not plain lying) from staff. The spa is not open every evening. On first being told by the P1 team that it was, and a booking was made, I received an apologetic email later to say actually it would not be open on the night I was attending, nor the next visit (about 10 days later).

Rock up and indeed it was closed. But told this was rare. The ‘girls were given the night off’ but assured it was open every night. When pushed, citing my exchange with the P1team, eventually it was conceded that QF95 wasn’t operating. But still couldn’t get a straight answer as to when exactly it would be open of an evening.

Frustrating that it is open for one QF flight that does not have a first class cabin, but not other QF flights nor the EK and Qatar flights which do.

And frustrating that the front desk staff continue their seeming incompetence or disinterest in telling people simple facts.

Anyway, safe to assume I reckon that if there’s no US flight the spa won’t be operating.

So, just to prove the inconsistency — was in the lounge this week again, on a night QF95 not operating and having being told the spa would not be open; rock up and the lounge host offers me a spa treatment. Expressed surprise and the lovely agent (Elaine or Ellen, sadly can’t remember exactly) said she was fairly new, it is hit and miss, as QF95 wasn’t operating she needed to double check and was apologetic if she had offered me a spot in error, but then confirmed spa was open. She indicated the policy would be changing soon to be open every night — consistent with the info Ansett provided earlier. Hope that is the case.

One therapist only. 6.30pm to 10pm were the available sessions.

Aside from the bonus spa treatment, it was nice to see a MEL host that was upfront about the issue and generally seemed switched on and more engaged.

 

[kermatu]

Bumping this to see if there's anyone with more up to date, confirmed spa times - both day and night.

 

[defurax]

Anyone knows why the MEL F lounge page says that the lounge will open from 4:30AM to 12:15AM October 27-31? End of summer time in Europe?
"6th to 26th October 2019
5:30am to 11:00pm

27th to 31st October 2019
4:30am to 12:15am "

Airport lounge locations | Qantas

Discover Qantas airport lounge locations, including features, business facilities and eligibility.

www.qantas.com

 

[AIRwin]

Anyone knows why the MEL F lounge page says that the lounge will open from 4:30AM to 12:15AM October 27-31? End of summer time in Europe?
"6th to 26th October 2019
5:30am to 11:00pm

27th to 31st October 2019
4:30am to 12:15am "

Airport lounge locations | Qantas

Discover Qantas airport lounge locations, including features, business facilities and eligibility.

www.qantas.com

And no opening times after October 2019...