Qantas operated LAX First/oneworld lounges at TBIT

[RooFlyer]

They're all actors and so is the lady with the baby.

I guess I should move beyond Frank Sinatra re-runs .

 

[defurax]

I'm currently sitting in the LAX First lounge. I have to say the ambiance is actually nicer that what transpires from the pictures and video posted by QF. The dining section is already almost full at 7:45PM, but outside the dining area there is still plenty of space to sit down.
I find the menu to be a bit limited: 4 choices of "small plate", 3 mains, 3 desserts and a cheese plate. Two thirds of the wines are Californian, including a great Chardonnay from Monterey and a bold Cabernet sitting quietly inside the decanter on the bar counter.

Sorry no pictures...phone is dead.

Being the only QF First lounge outside of Australia...there are also more rude and obnoxious travelers than you typically find in MEL or SYD. The rude pig next to my table wants his diet Coke in a big glass and now...

 

[DC3]

I'll worry about the celebrators when I get there, which unfortunately won't be until May. So, still a few months to go.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm currently sitting in the LAX First lounge. I have to say the ambiance is actually nicer that what transpires from the pictures and video posted by QF. The dining section is already almost full at 7:45PM, but outside the dining area there is still plenty of space to sit down.
I find the menu to be a bit limited: 4 choices of "small plate", 3 mains, 3 desserts and a cheese plate. Two thirds of the wines are Californian, including a great Chardonnay from Monterey and a bold Cabernet sitting quietly inside the decanter on the bar counter.

Sorry no pictures...phone is dead.

Being the only QF First lounge outside of Australia...there are also more rude and obnoxious travelers than you typically find in MEL or SYD. The rude pig next to my table wants his diet Coke in a big glass and now...

If you are still there when you see this ... can you tell if 'dinner' type dining begins at a certain hour ... ie what are the options, say, at 3-4pm-ish?

Cheers

 

[defurax]

If you are still there when you see this ... can you tell if 'dinner' type dining begins at a certain hour ... ie what are the options, say, at 3-4pm-ish?

Cheers

I just went back and stole a menu from the garçon!
The "All day dining" starts from midday. So you'll have access to the full menu.

The Cabernet is the Rodney Strong 2012, a nice drop for US25 a bottle.
The Chardonnay is from Wente Vineyards.

 

[serfty]

Re: QF LAX F lounge opens - TBIT

...
serfty - where is the entrance in relation to the new OW, but pre-F reno layout? ie you walk in and the bar is to the right, the atrium is not too far in front.. it looks like there is a "new" atrium with the F entrance?

OK, look at your post from last year below.

The old lift to the *O lounge is at the top left of that diagram.

The First section is actually in the space of the old *A lounge area - the C6 is over a multi floor void with the entrance to the First lounge (see my recent photo upthread) being the red pointy outline to the right of C6.

The Business lounge takes over the old *O lounge as well as the expanded area to the West (lower area on the plan) in the new building (C7).

To access, you come up the escalator near the curvy bit above C3 and turn right. The Business lounge entrance is in front. You head up then turn right again and go along down past the void on your left and the KE (*S) lounge entrance on your right. At the end is the entrance to the First Lounge (to your left).

I'm having trouble orienting the map
For the old TBIT level 5 OW lounge, you'd walk out of the lift and the entrance to both lounges is on your right..

Where is the lift and location of the old lounge in relation to the purple OW symbol below?

 

[madrooster]

Re: QF LAX F lounge opens - TBIT

A quicker way to avoid going around in a circle is to go through security, up the escalators into the new TBIT, walk through the shop* in front of you then turn left. Walk straight until the end and just before the end is a lift. Take the lift up to level 5, and the F lounge is to your right.

* this shop was closed early morning before QF107... in which case it makes no difference to take serfty's route.

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: QF LAX F lounge opens - TBIT

I assume there are signs one can follow?

 

[defurax]

Re: QF LAX F lounge opens - TBIT

I assume there are signs one can follow?

Yes, no need to bring blueprints of the building. Plenty of signs and helpful staff around to find the lounge.

 

[serfty]

Oh yes ... the shower - not a good photo, but it's all rather white:

 

[docjames]

The shower itself is good but the room gets so humid you are sweating three seconds after you get out!

 

[jpk]

I was actually disappointed with the F lounge last week. The restaurant food looked good, but I was on the 108 from JFK so didn't want a meal. Couldn't see any other snacks or buffet food, perhaps that's only out earlier? The lounge was bright and open and pretty boring, I actually preferred the business lounge ambiance and would probably just go in there next time unless I wanted a meal. Shower rooms were good, although as serfty showed, very white and sterile.

Here is a pic of the F menu.

 

[defurax]

I was actually disappointed with the F lounge last week. The restaurant food looked good, but I was on the 108 from JFK so didn't want a meal. Couldn't see any other snacks or buffet food, perhaps that's only out earlier? The lounge was bright and open and pretty boring, I actually preferred the business lounge ambiance and would probably just go in there next time unless I wanted a meal. Shower rooms were good, although as serfty showed, very white and sterile.

Here is a pic of the F menu.

View attachment 41379

So they added one small plate since I was there 2 weeks ago (the carrot soup). Hopefully the menu is a work in progress, one or two additional mains would be great.

 

[PassengerX]

Visited the lounge last week on the way home to Syd and although its a nice space we were a little disappointed with the ambience. I agree with earlier poster re the noise - there was a big group of friends who had taken over a large section of seating and were having a good but very noisy time and were letting their kids run wild around the whole lounge. If you weren't eating (we slipped out of the airport for a few hours and had a meal) there weren't many options for quiet spots. Maybe if we hadn't been travelling all day and weren't so tired it may have been different. Also there was a bit of a battle for power points - one person had a laptop cord across a walk way causing a couple of people to trip. I was surprised that one of the staff didn't ask him to move it.

 

[defurax]

Also there was a bit of a battle for power points -

I was also surprised by the lack of power points. It's almost similar to these hotel rooms where you need to unplug the TV, coffee machine and all lamps to recharge your gadgets.

 

[DC3]

Dnicoll, I can't see your post, although I had an alert that you had posted something here.

Edit: It's all okay. I found it six minutes after my post???
Sounds good, but unfortunately I won't get to see it until May.

 

[Dnicoll]

Tried the LAX F lounge last night.

The good:
A beautiful lounge with friendly and helpful staff, excellent food/drinks/showers. Best place to relax after dinner was the lounge chairs overlooking the big glass windows, showing the hordes of travellers entering the retail area from security, with a 3-storey video panel showing waterfall/LA skyline/etc. Huge improvement on old lounge.

Some simple ways to improve the ambience and functionality:
1. I think more could be done to separate the lounge from one big hall into discrete areas - both to make it more cozy and reduce sound travelling from noisy groups. Perhaps increase height of separating panels between areas by adding plants or display shelves? And some California-scenery pictures on the beautiful but plain wooden walls?
2. I couldn't understand much of the menu - embarrassing to have to ask for translation on 5 items - need some plain English translation for simple folk like me!
3. Add some buffet-style snacks beyond crisps & mints (simplest would be fresh fruit and cookies)
4. Put some colourful padded stools in shower & bath rooms - to add colour to the white starkness, hide the dirt from grubby shoes, and to give more space to get changed. Also tissues.
5. More side tables in lounge area.

I hope I don't sound like a spoiled brat with this critique - it's a wonderful lounge that has required a huge investment and is a privilege to use, but I think a few simple tweaks could give it that wow-factor it deserves. Would be happy to send this feedback direct to Qantas if someone can tell me how.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Dnicoll, that's a good review and some good suggestions for improvement. I also have to agree with you about the menu translation!

 

[Red Roo]

Tried the LAX F lounge last night.

The good:
A beautiful lounge with friendly and helpful staff, excellent food/drinks/showers. Best place to relax after dinner was the lounge chairs overlooking the big glass windows, showing the hordes of travellers entering the retail area from security, with a 3-storey video panel showing waterfall/LA skyline/etc. Huge improvement on old lounge.

Some simple ways to improve the ambience and functionality:
1. I think more could be done to separate the lounge from one big hall into discrete areas - both to make it more cozy and reduce sound travelling from noisy groups. Perhaps increase height of separating panels between areas by adding plants or display shelves? And some California-scenery pictures on the beautiful but plain wooden walls?
2. I couldn't understand much of the menu - embarrassing to have to ask for translation on 5 items - need some plain English translation for simple folk like me!
3. Add some buffet-style snacks beyond crisps & mints (simplest would be fresh fruit and cookies)
4. Put some colourful padded stools in shower & bath rooms - to add colour to the white starkness, hide the dirt from grubby shoes, and to give more space to get changed. Also tissues.
5. More side tables in lounge area.

I hope I don't sound like a spoiled brat with this critique - it's a wonderful lounge that has required a huge investment and is a privilege to use, but I think a few simple tweaks could give it that wow-factor it deserves. Would be happy to send this feedback direct to Qantas if someone can tell me how.

Thanks for the detailed, constructive feedback. I'll be sure to pass it on internally for you.

Glad you enjoyed the lounge overall. Yes it's a big investment, but also an opportunity to showcase some of the finest aspects of our flagship First Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne that our customers have come to love and expect.

That said, we're always looking to improve the customer experience and your first hand account will be useful towards the ongoing management and review of our newest lounge.

Please send me a private message should you have anything to add, or wish to include any personal information.

 

[RooFlyer]

Nice contribution Dnicoll. Sometime the 'big picture' designers overlook the small and/or functional things that transform a 'beautiful space' into a 'beautiful space that's great to be in' .