Qantas First Lounge Syd vs JAL First Lounge HND?

[FF98]

Hey All,

if given the option to experience either of these First lounges for only 1 time, which would you pick? Flying SYD-HND return JAL for both

- Qantas F lounge Sydney 9am flight
- JAL F lounge HND 6pm flight

Lowly Qantas Bronze here.
Thanks!

 

[elanshin]

HND hands down for me.

Both are very good, but HND is just better imo.
Doesn't have the same view as SYD but they have a sushi bar, better snacks to swipe a bunch of. Also theres Yamazaki 12 freely available.

 

[levelnine]

Lowly Qantas Bronze here.

Is the thinking that you'll only do First class one way on the SYD-HND JL flight?

If so, you should also consider that you'll get Salon champagne departing HND, but not SYD.

Though HND-SYD is overnight, so possibly less opportunity to enjoy the full on board experience.

 

[elanshin]

Is the thinking that you'll only do First class one way on the SYD-HND JL flight?

If so, you should also consider that you'll get Salon champagne departing HND, but not SYD.

Though HND-SYD is overnight, so possibly less opportunity to enjoy the full on board experience.

Yes and not just that but overall catering departing HND is better ino than SYD.

 

[FF98]

Is the thinking that you'll only do First class one way on the SYD-HND JL flight?

If so, you should also consider that you'll get Salon champagne departing HND, but not SYD.

Though HND-SYD is overnight, so possibly less opportunity to enjoy the full on board experience.

Yes, not Platinum so won’t have easy access to First Lounges. Thinking of only do one leg in First, and the other in Business (JAL, China Airlines/Cathay) for more variety

 

[elanshin]

Yes, thinking of only do one leg in First, and the other in Business (JAL, China Airlines/Cathay) for more variety

If you're doing Cathay you can check out some other interesting lounges at HKG.

 

[RichardMEL]

HND imo. QF F brekky is kinda average. Prefer all day menu.

 

[yachty]

Hm. SYD if it were me. And if you want to enjoy the F experience do it ex-SYD since it's the day time.

Personally I don't rate JLs (or NHs) lounges, and certainly not better than the QF SYD F lounge (others though...). But I wouldn't make this decision based on the lounge to be fair.

 

[knightfall88]

haha Haneda and in my opinion, it's not even close..

 

[justinbrett]

They’re very different.

Personally I found the physical space at HND more like a J lounge and was more self serve than QF (that could be a pro or a con depending on the person).

Overall I was underwhelmed. Doesn’t hold a candle to CX.

 

[RealtimeY]

SYD F breakfast menu is pretty underwhelming. You may as well get your bacon and eggs from an airport restaurant.

 

[henrus]

I'd say Sydney anyday. The JAL HND F lounge food is ok but nothing special aside from a couple of nice bottles of whiskey upstairs.

 

[ausfox]

I find the ordering from your table via Qcode coughbersome. The selection is not overwhelming IMO.

 

[DC3]

SYD F breakfast menu is pretty underwhelming. You may as well get your bacon and eggs from an airport restaurant.

Gastronomic philistine?

 

[muppet]

SYD F breakfast menu is pretty underwhelming. You may as well get your bacon and eggs from an airport restaurant.

I love to critique QF too, but the airport cafe will hardly come with free Champagne?

 

[DC3]

The QF F lounge is wasted for some

 

[Princess Fiona]

It very much depends on what your priorities are for the F Lounge visit.

As a lounge space SYD F is far more impressive than HND F. Overall size probably about the same given HND has the upstairs bar.
Breakfast time at QF F not the best to experience it. The Spa won’t be open until 10am and the food is better on the all day menu. Having said that there are some excellent staples at breakfast and it’s hard to beat a window table with a plate of corn fritters washed down with a glass of bubbles.
JL F has an excellent QR menu (esp the Sushi) along with some self serve options but the dining area doesn’t have the ambience of QF F.
Alcohol selection superior in HND.

Bonus points to HND for the massage chairs, they are amazing!!

Overall if this is a one off visit to an F lounge then I’d still pick QF F at SYD.
Better start to the trip than QF J lounge by a long margin , JL J lounge isn’t such a downfall at the other end.

 

[RichardMEL]

The QF F lounge is wasted for some

It's an interesting point I think.

I reckon it all depends on one's subjective needs, priorities and views of the offerings.

Many uf us are so fortunate to have experienced many QF F visits over the years, plus many other offerings - eg CX EK SQ QR etc and it can be easy to become a bit blasé about them.

Thinking back to the question of this thread for a very first experience, and potentially only one.. which to pick.

I based my earlier answer on the food offerings at breakfast time. If it were the more varied all day dining I'd say QF F easily.

However, that is one aspect. What about the (possibly difficult) opportunity for a spa treatment? I don't use that, but many value it. What of showers? (If it were HKG I'd say CX Wing F for a shot of a Cabana...)

QF F in SYD can be an absolute zoo at times, and that can lessen how relaxing it is (plus impact on service levels)

Sometimes it can even be for specific amenity. For example, a few weeks ago, I landed at LAX on UA flying J outbound to MEL. I was offered an escort to the UA J lounge (Polaris, which is somewhere between a J and F lounge) but I had decided and planned to walk the 20ish minutes over to the lesser Star Lounge in TBIT. Why? To grab a glass or two of wine and sit outside to enjoy the balmy air at the outdoor terrace. A very specific feature of that lounge. It was super relaxing and totally worth the 40min roundtrip walk to me. Others would likely have picked differently.

Finally, the flight to be taken can also influence things - eg QF F out of SYD? Or J? JL F? Eg one may want to hold back in the lounge potentially for onboard (or vice-versa)

All important aspects to tryung to pick Imo.

At the end of the day, whichever choice is made, chances are it will be a great experience prior to a long flight which is the main thing. Those of us who can become a bit jaded and critical can forget the delights and special feeling for the first timers

 

[drron]

Pre COVID it was a no brainer. HND by a mile. Now a toss up but I lean towards the JAL lounge.

 

[ausfox]

I agree with Richardm, I encounter some ordinary meals in our travelling but it makes me enjoy those meals which are good or better.
After leaving rehab following our road crash my palate changed away from any alcohol for nearly 3 months. Those 5 months must have helped the internal organs but now I really appreciate being able to eat and drink anything and better when it is in a good lounge somewhere.