Qantas FF and Cathay Pacific

[JohnK]

Introspective tonight John ...

Ross they are big words for me to comprehend after a few Extra Drys. Please understand that I was not having a dig at you. Not having a dig at anyone in particular either. I know I have only sampled 1 F lounge but it was nothing special and this is not undermining Lindsay's kindness for inviting me.

Let's put it into context. An F lounge experience, any F lounge experience, is surely not worth spending the extra ticket money to get into it, even if it is work paying for the ticket, or even to get the status to get into it. It is not even worth discussing, especially dedicating it's own threads, but that is just my humble, out of place, opinion!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Sorry Ross, not knocking your post and I know I am just a party pooper and I do not belong on a FF forum but there is no significant difference between a J lounge or an F lounge. Does not matter how many different ways you disect the subject. It is certainly not worth the fuss associated with it even if it was for top notch champagne or dim sum. Surely there are more important things to worry about in life or frequent flying!

Thank you very much Lindsay Wilson for inviting me to BNE F lounge last year but I certainly would not be paying any extra money or trying very hard for the privilige to visit it again. Who cares whether it is Krug, Dom or Great Western sparkling! Same effect once you have had more than a few! Same people make it sound like it is the greatest thing to happen to humanity since sliced bread. Grow up!

I agree the current QF F lounges are little different to their J lounges, but the same is not true for other airlines.

F lounges often have more experienced and more senior staff (read more ability & discretion to do useful stuff for you).

F lounges usually quieter (although not always).

F lounges may have lots more amenities - case in point LH FRA FCT.

F lounges have better ratio of showers to pax - so less time queueing (or in some cases impossible to get a shower in J lounge vs get one in F lounge).

For someone who views lounges as far more than just somewhere to be fed and watered, these apparently small differences count for a lot.

JohnK - you may well change your mind if you ever get the chance to use LH FRA FCT. I think NM is already sold on the basis of 50 different fine single malts to sample.

 

[serfty]

... Let's put it into context. An F lounge experience, any F lounge experience, is surely not worth spending the extra ticket money to get into it, even if it is work paying for the ticket, or even to get the status to get into it. It is not even worth discussing, especially dedicating it's own threads, but that is just my humble, out of place, opinion!

Fully agree the BNE lounge is nothing special (I mentioned AKL & CNS in this context as well). I could also put the "Hong Kong" lounge into this category as well.

However, the CX F lounges in the same terminal provide a far greater level of service than their J lounge or either of the QF/BA Lounges.

I personally would not pay for F, but being a W@nker Plat am happy to employ those available to me when I fly.

As I posted, if you are into HP's (or Equiv.) there is a huge difference between the SYD T1 J and F catering for Beer.

 

[NM]

I think NM is already sold on the basis of 50 different fine single malts to sample.

Indeed I need to find a way to spend a weekend transit there :mrgreen: .

 

[NM]

I know I have only sampled 1 F lounge but it was nothing special and this is not undermining Lindsay's kindness for inviting me.

BNE does not have any QF flights with an F cabin, so the BNE FLounge can hardly be considered a real FLounge. Its just a little smaller and more private than the J Lounge.

The big differences are at long haul places like LHR, HKG, and LAX.

 

[JohnK]

The big differences are at long haul places like LHR, HKG, and LAX.

Should get a chance to sample the first 2 in the next 12 months.

 

[NM]

Should get a chance to sample the first 2 in the next 12 months.

Then you will notice the difference between J and F lounges.

For example, at LHR you can make use of the food-to-order off the menu. You will notice the self-serve availability of JW Blue and other top-shelf beverages.

At HKG you will notice the dining room with buffet food and waiter drinks service (called The Haven) and the Cabanas are a great place to rejuvenate before or after a 12+ hour flight.

The J lounges at those locations are still good. But the FLounges are very nice to use before a very ling flight.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Indeed I need to find a way to spend a weekend transit there :mrgreen: .

The lounge closes overnight but you could spend about 18 hours :shock: by arriving on the early flight (eg SQ & LH SIN-FRA arrives before 6am) and departing on the late intercontinental flights (leave midnight or later).

 

[NM]

The lounge closes overnight but you could spend about 18 hours :shock: by arriving on the early flight (eg SQ & LH SIN-FRA arrives before 6am) and departing on the late intercontinental flights (leave midnight or later).

Now you are setting me a challenge. What the access requirements for that lounge?

 

[serfty]

Now you are setting me a challenge. What the access requirements for that lounge?

Easy ( ) two ways are:

* travel on a LH First class ticket ex Frankfurt, or

* become a LH "HON CIRCLE MEMBER".

The second can be done by travelling "600,000 HON Circle miles or more within two calendar years".

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Easy ( ) two ways are:

* travel on a LH First class ticket ex Frankfurt, or

* become a LH "HON CIRCLE MEMBER".

The second can be done by travelling "600,000 HON Circle miles or more within two calendar years".

Actually you can use FCT if arriving at FRA on LH F also, provided flying out of FRA same day on LH in any class. (If not then alternatively use LH F lounges in the main terminal as an arrivals lounge.)

Also the benefit extends to those flying out of ZRH on LX F but connecting through FRA on LH or LX.

FYI HON Circle miles only include airlines most closely associated with LH, ie LH, LO, OS, LX, OU, and JP. However class of service and status bonuses do count. So once you have attained HON you can requalify on as little as 171,429 flown miles in F within 2 consecutive calendar years (or even less if minimum miles apply or generous intra-europe fixed mileage applies (200 international flights within europe in business class would also do it). Easy huh?

 

[NM]

Easy ( ) two ways are:

* travel on a LH First class ticket ex Frankfurt, or

* become a LH "HON CIRCLE MEMBER".

The second can be done by travelling "600,000 HON Circle miles or more within two calendar years".

Now lets see, one of them is achievable in a short period of time, the other takes a lot of planning and expense. I can see a LH fully refundable F ticket being an option here :mrgreen:

How about guest access if I can convince a LH F passenger that I am a worthy friend?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

How about guest access if I can convince a LH F passenger that I am a worthy friend?

Standard *A lounge access rules don't apply - so need to be flying on the same flight as the LH F pax.