Qantas Club Gold Coast

[Travel Guru]

Oops I forgot to post this earlier.

I sampled the QF OOL lounge on Tues 01/01/2013 and I was super impressed.

Walked in and received a super friendly welcome. The family and I were escorted to a group of tables. Had some pancakes and coffees. Barista wouldn't allow me to take 2 coffees & 2 hot chocs to my table as she insisted on delivering them herself on a tray.

Kids loved the kids area and PCs to play some games on.

Had a shower in the very nice showers with the large overhead shower heads.

Empty coffee cups were collected and staffed offer to make us another coffee and bring it back.

Received a fond farewell and safe-flight comment from the team.

They totally rocked the Club! Well done QF!

I think saying they rocked the club is probably over-stating it IMHO, I think it's nice, it certainly isn't as good as the VA lounge, and having the comparison with what the QF Club was like at OOL prior to it being turned into a JQ lounge it's not as nice without the natural light streaming in.

Can't fault it but wouldn't say it's be somewhere I'd rush down to the airport early to sit in.

TG

 

[Flying Fox]

I think saying they rocked the club is probably over-stating it IMHO, I think it's nice, it certainly isn't as good as the VA lounge, and having the comparison with what the QF Club was like at OOL prior to it being turned into a JQ lounge it's not as nice without the natural light streaming in.

Can't fault it but wouldn't say it's be somewhere I'd rush down to the airport early to sit in.

TG

OK fair point about the lack of natural light and I can't say that I have had the pleasure of the VA Lounge.

Either way, I think that the staff did an excellent job and that I had better service there than at some QF J lounges. Whilst not quite the standard of the F lounge it was pretty close given their amenities (which I think is pretty amazing given that they are a QC and never claim to be an F lounge).

 

[markis10]

OK fair point about the lack of natural light and I can't say that I have had the pleasure of the VA Lounge.

Either way, I think that the staff did an excellent job and that I had better service there than at some QF J lounges. Whilst not quite the standard of the F lounge it was pretty close given their amenities (which I think is pretty amazing given that they are a QC and never claim to be an F lounge).

I think you would find any lounge offered good service when the staff are bored s***less because its a public holiday!

 

[jetlagger]

I think you would find any lounge offered good service when the staff are bored s***less because its a public holiday!

& the attractive public holiday loadings to keep them smiling

 

[Hvr]

Myself and petej were there yesterday as part of a day's flying. We arrived about 9.30am and had about three hours to while away.

The food was perfectly acceptable with breakfast still on when we arrived. The internet was certainly fast enough and password protected.

It is the only Qf lounge where I have seen Coke Zero rather than Diet Coke.

Staff were efficient and kept the place clean. We arrived just as a plane was about to depart and got a couch near a power point so all was good.

 

[nonpop]

My observations:

Twice now used the QF club at OOL both times in connection with QF 863 GOLD COAST/SYDNEY
* 28th April (on the back of a long weekend)
* 26th May (a generic Sunday)
We showed up approx 1pm.

Both times the lounge has been very full.

Today (Sun 26th May) as we entered we were told it was very full and would just need to try and find some space. The lady at the desk was very helpful both times I should add. Plus I did also find tables were cleared quickly and staff very polite.

Today (Sun 26th May) is just a generic Sunday, so I'd be concerned for a major public holiday or event. The lounge appears over stretched straight away.

There also appeared to be a lot of J* flights on the board as well.

The staff did note the lounge was closing at 1:50pm.

When the flight was called it appear the lounge emptied and everyone boarded the flight. Seems a lot of people have lounge access in OOL.

 

[ChrisCunard]

My first experience at the new lounge mirrors yours. It was very full (23/05/13 for QF863). I did find a chair with a table.

Was happy to note there was a power plug to recharge my phone.

Staff were friendly and quickly tidied up but the lounge seems too small for the number of people using it.

One QF flight on the board the rest were JQ.

The airport has changed a lot since I was last in OOL. Is the lounge in the same location it used to be in??

 

[samh004]

The airport has changed a lot since I was last in OOL. Is the lounge in the same location it used to be in??

Yup, but the airside terminal area has expanded forwards of the lounge.

 

[JohnK]

I have now been in the lounge 3 times + 3 times on arrival from SYD.

The lounge can get full but I have never had an issue finding a seat by myself. A couple of weeks ago on Mothers Day weekend there were 2 of us in there and it was not that full on the Friday afternoon/evening.

The food is similar to any Qantas club and is adequate.

I do not care about natural light and in my opinion the lounge is slightly better than the Virgin lounge even with the views outside and the availability of hot dogs.

 

[themaster]

I'm flying through to Japan from Melbourne via OOL on JQ in a few weeks - just wondering if anyone has used the QP lounge with an international flight - obviously the lounge is pre-immigration, so time would need to be allowed to go through all that - has anyone got any experience of what the process is (eg. getting called out of there an hour before boarding or some such). I think the layover is 3 hours so the lounge would be better than the alternative (even if the bar won't be open at that time of day )

Any information would be appreciated.

Cheers
TM

 

[mickeyc747]

I'm flying through to Japan from Melbourne via OOL on JQ in a few weeks - just wondering if anyone has used the QP lounge with an international flight - obviously the lounge is pre-immigration, so time would need to be allowed to go through all that - has anyone got any experience of what the process is (eg. getting called out of there an hour before boarding or some such). I think the layover is 3 hours so the lounge would be better than the alternative (even if the bar won't be open at that time of day )

Any information would be appreciated.

Cheers
TM

Hi Themaster

I have been in the lounge before and they do call the JQ international flights from the OOL Lounge not sure on exact timing but it has been around 40 minutes prior to departure.

Safe Trip

 

[themaster]

Great, so long as international pax are allowed in, should all be good, thanks for the reply.

Cheers

 

[mickeyc747]

As long as you meet you meet the normal entry requirements you are allowed in.

Cheers

 

[kevrosmith]

I'm flying through to Japan from Melbourne via OOL on JQ in a few weeks - just wondering if anyone has used the QP lounge with an international flight - obviously the lounge is pre-immigration, so time would need to be allowed to go through all that - has anyone got any experience of what the process is (eg. getting called out of there an hour before boarding or some such). I think the layover is 3 hours so the lounge would be better than the alternative (even if the bar won't be open at that time of day )

Any information would be appreciated.

Cheers
TM

Yeah, Gold Coast Airport encourage international pax to stay in the Domestic departure area due to the increased range of retail and food & beverage options. Then the airlines often make announcements asking passengers to make their way through the additional security screening point into the international departure area at the appropriate time. As long as you're eligible to access the lounge, you shouldn't have any problems. Though the OOL QP has limited operating hours, including a short closure period during the afternoon, so keep that in mind (they ask any remaining pax - mostly JQ pax - to vacate the lounge during the closure).

Opening hours listed here: http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/air...gold-coast/domestic/the-qantas-club/global/en

 

[themaster]

Thanks, that makes more sense now.

And I am aware of the hours thing, but will be there from 0715 to 1055 and so I should be fine.

Having spent years travelling to and from Hobart and seeing the change to the hours in the QP there, and having my correspondence regarding this sent to QF bounced back between QF and JQ each blaming the other but with no actual reply to me, I better not get started on the unavailability of QPs to fliers forced onto JQ because of poor timetables and an arbitrary separation of airlines when it suits (and not when it doesn't).

 

[MWM]

Thanks for asking this question themaster. I have similar flights mid feb and was wondering the exact same thing. Cheers!

 

[themaster]

No problems, it is good to have answers to all these little questions online for future reference, and not much can be taken for granted with JQ and the QP in my experiences...

 

[Heidi71]

Why does the lounge not stay open for Jetstar flight? Or is it only open for Qantas flights. Was at the airport recently, only to find the lounge closed at 1250 on a Monday. And reopened in the afternoon around 1500

 

[themaster]

Basically it's a money saving idea by Qantas at the expense of its loyal customers. It's pretty disappointing that timetables dictate that Jetstar may suit better but despite the fact that QP members are entitled to access the QP while flying Jetstar, they close the QP so that we are no actually able to gain that access...

 

[qantas21]

I recently spoke with a lounge staff member who said there were approx 6000 guests for the month of August. This averages about 200 guests per day.

Considering the size of the lounge, I was quite shocked. Are there any figures for bigger ports like SYD/MEL?