Qantas operated LAX First/oneworld lounges at TBIT

[raleyoz]

Go there and see is all I can really say. But put simply and quickly it's cheap n' nasty.

Sorry i have been there, you must be clearly jaded by something else, because that is rubbish.

 

[cdinoz]

Trolling for the hell of trolling? The QF FLounge at LAX is rather nice! Good food, good service, and a great ambience. Not sure what you might be smoking, or which lounge you are actually referring to. But it does not sound like the TBIT FLounge!

 

[RooFlyer]

LAX First Class lounge. It's not even a Second class lounge. The bathrooms at Chadstone are better! Another embarrassing failure for Qantas. Why though? What are they thinking?

Go there and see is all I can really say. But put simply and quickly it's cheap n' nasty.

You are talking about the new F lounge, not the old one, aren't you? Entitled to opinion, of course but sorry, I can't take it seriously. The lounge is terrific. Not as good as SYD or MEL QF First, or CX The Wing at HKG, but for a none own-country lounge, maybe one of the best.

I was there a few weeks back, arrived about 3:00pm for the 6:30 departure of QF96. Few people there at that time; I agree with others that it should be broken down into smaller spaces, especially the dining area, but also throughout - keeps groups together and apart from others.

At that time the white-jacketed ones (the waiters I think) prevailed, even behind the bar. I asked about Champagne options, and was offered a "sweet one" or a "dry one". :shock: The same waiter was obviously training a new guy. By what he was telling the new guy, while I was in the dining area, the new guy must have gone onto the floor with zero prior training; it was everything from what Qantas was; where it flies to; to a brief description of the wines served, the type of service in the lounge, how to address customers etc. But at least the new guy was receiving some practical training and no issues with the service!

In the kitchen, open to the customers in the modern style, was an Aussie, possibly the head chef, loudly sounding like a typical hectoring prat of a head chef. It was a bit off-putting, to be honest.

Around 5pm-ish IIRC the said same guy got a bunch of black-uniformed servers (now in abundance) to the edge of the kitchen area and gave them the summary of what was on the menu. Again, loudly. I hope for the local's sake this guy isn't a permanent fixture.

Otherwise, few complaints. Cheap n' nasty, it isn't.

 

[maninblack]

The lounge is noisy, there are no quiet areas, no comfortable seating, the bathrooms are terrible, with loose paper towels and toilet rolls falling off a little shelf and a $10 pedal bin from Walmart in the corner and an ugly sharps receptacle placed right next to the toilet bowl. Service is okay, and really the only thing that separates it from the J lounge, which if it weren't so overrun is actually a far nicer space. First class lounge, no way.

 

[maninblack]

Qantas F lounge

The Wing

You be the judge!

 

[RooFlyer]

Qantas F lounge
View attachment 43358
The WingView attachment 43359

You be the judge!

Sure, I agree that the QF F bathrooms are inferior to CX The Wing's Cabanas (and serfty got in first re the 'whiteness ). Quelle horreur! But that's a silly comparison, surely? I don't think there is a lounge anywhere which matches the Cabanas. Désolé! And several of us have mentioned the noise. But to utterly condemn the place based on these issues is simply over-the-top.

Dnicoll's constructive criticisms above are far more likely to get things rectified, although the showers are probably not going to change.

For me, as long as the showers are clean and available, with a decent water flow, that's OK.

 

[opusman]

For me, as long as the showers are clean and available, with a decent water flow, that's OK.

Agree, this is the most important thing. Last time I was in the DXB F lounge there was no hot water at all. Not to mention those bathrooms are the size of a small closet.

The bathrooms in the QF MEL/SYD F lounges are nothing special either, but they're functional and how long do you really spend in there anyway?

 

[QF029]

LAX First Class lounge. It's not even a Second class lounge. The bathrooms at Chadstone are better! Another embarrassing failure for Qantas. Why though? What are they thinking?

You be the judge!

Do you have a photo of the toilets at Chadstone for an accurate comparison?

 

[maninblack]

Sure, I agree that the QF F bathrooms are inferior to CX The Wing's Cabanas (and serfty got in first re the 'whiteness ). Quelle horreur! But that's a silly comparison, surely? I don't think there is a lounge anywhere which matches the Cabanas. Désolé! And several of us have mentioned the noise. But to utterly condemn the place based on these issues is simply over-the-top.

Dnicoll's constructive criticisms above are far more likely to get things rectified, although the showers are probably not going to change.

For me, as long as the showers are clean and available, with a decent water flow, that's OK.

Hang on! You're saying that if it's clean and the water runs okay then that's good enough to call it an F lounge? On that basis if it ticks and keeps time it's okay to call it a Rolex. Not for my hard earned it ain't.

Btw that's not a photo of a Wing Cabana just a standard F shower room. It's equivalent to the standard of a modern 5 star hotel, it's "First Class". What Qantas has done is equivalent to a modern 3 to 4 star hotel. It is not "First Class" and just because you label it that, doesn't make it so.

PS. The water pressure was poor.

 

[RooFlyer]

Hang on! You're saying that if it's clean and the water runs okay then that's good enough to call it an F lounge? On that basis if it ticks and keeps time it's okay to call it a Rolex. Not for my hard earned it ain't.

Btw that's not a photo of a Wing Cabana just a standard F shower room. It's equivalent to the standard of a modern 5 star hotel, it's "First Class". What Qantas has done is equivalent to a modern 3 star hotel. It is not "First Class" and just because you label it that, doesn't make it so.

PS. The water pressure was poor.

Well, yes, for me a shower is a F shower as long as it meets those basic criteria (oh, I forgot I require a towel, a floor mat and some basic soaps and shampoo). I'm not into long, luxurious 'soaks' and don't require room to fling cats or so-called 'luxurious' gels and shampoos. YMMV. And yes, for me a Rolex is about as valuable as a Swatch. They both tell the time; that's all I require of a watch. Again, YMMV and it apparently does. No problem for me; its just the way its expressed.

It is not "First Class" and just because you label it that, doesn't make it so.

Well, yes, but the converse also applies I think.

By all means, boycott the LAX F lounge. Each to their own.

 

[Quickstatus]

The biggest challenge for airlines is keeping takeoff - landing ratio to 1.00
the second biggest challenge for airlines is managing passenger expectations while using all the tricks in the marketing book to upsell their product

 

[blackcat20]

Do you have a photo of the toilets at Chadstone for an accurate comparison?

Last time I was in the loos at Chaddy there was a lady washing a pooey baby in the sink, ignoring the parent room down the hall. I'd take the F lounge any day!

 

[BD1959]

Last time I was in the loos at Chaddy there was a lady washing a pooey baby in the sink, ignoring the parent room down the hall. I'd take the F lounge any day!

Chaddy and Jetstar are similar entities, different business - both of which I avoid like the plague.

Regards,

BD

 

[RichardMEL]

Hang on! You're saying that if it's clean and the water runs okay then that's good enough to call it an F lounge? On that basis if it ticks and keeps time it's okay to call it a Rolex. Not for my hard earned it ain't.

OK you've told us how much you hate the LAX F lounge due it seems mostly to the bathroom/shower facilities and noise. Is there a better F lounge in LAX/California/USA that you've used / prefer? Perhaps the AA Flagship lounge at T4? how about the cubicle, I mean F lounge at ORD? Or over the wild side of the UA LAX "F" lounge at T7 (I've used it).

What exactly do you want for your hard earned? This is a serious question not intended as a troll or a flame.

I tend to agree with the others, short of The Wing which is something else again (oh Cabana heaven! ) this has to be one of, if not THE best lounge in Nortm America hands down (which I admit doesn't say much for the USA lounge situation !!).

I'm also curious, did you ever use the old OW/QF "F" lounge? If so how do you compare? (I have, and have my own thoughts- as I am sure others would ).

Personally if it's clean and comfortable I'm pretty happy. the drinks and food are a really nice bonus and a good hot shower is a godsend after a long flight (or before, if connecting etc).

Each to their own. I guess you can always stay in the J side or go use the T4 Admirals Club

 

[maninblack]

I think that there is a dichotomy between those who travel F, who have paid for F and expect an F experience all the way and those who are flying in other classes but are WP so are generally just happy with the extra perks.

The Qantas F product isn't really something to write home about these days and the lounge just exemplifies that to me. It's just so mediocre, I really was disappointed ... For Qantas, more than in any other way.

Btw. Chadstone is a far more profitable business than Qantas and attracts plenty of luxury tenants.

 

[RichardMEL]

A few assumptions there, but I digress.

What do you expect from your paid F experience?
Which airlines currently deliver the experience you expect?

have you flown United "Global First" at all?

personally I would rate onboard and lounge F with CX to be superior and EK in general to be better and SQ Suites and the SIN lounges at SIN.

Given LAX is an outstation (out of home country) for QF, the LAX F lounge is really pretty good specially compared to other options.

Obviously YMMV (and does)

 

[RooFlyer]

I think that there is a dichotomy between those who travel F, who have paid for F and expect an F experience all the way and those who are flying in other classes but are WP so are generally just happy with the extra perks.

<snip>.

Ah! Now we seem to be getting to the nub of things. Not so much the facilities but rather the WP F pretenders and other members of the great unwashed who share the F lounge with those who have paid for F (or at least paid for F on the airplane ). These type of people are happy with plain, clean white bathrooms, so QF drags down the lounge décor to their standard.

I agree; if I was paying F I certainly wouldn't appreciate such folk, with their pedestrian wants and needs, happy with some second class fit-out.

 

[maninblack]

Ah! Now we seem to be getting to the nub of things. Not so much the facilities but rather the WP F pretenders and other members of the great unwashed who share the F lounge with those who have paid for F (or at least paid for F on the airplane ). These type of people are happy with plain, clean white bathrooms, so QF drags down the lounge décor to their standard.

I agree; if I was paying F I certainly wouldn't appreciate such folk, with their pedestrian wants and needs, happy with some second class fit-out.

I accept the dig, but if you pay for F you should expect to get F all the way. QF flies about as many F seats out of LAX as any other port, more than MEL anyway!

 

[RichardMEL]

Send all JQ flying WP's to Chaddy huh?

Seriously though perhaps this is a topic for a more general forum, but I sense a more general "issue" of "First Class" expectations v. reality - and this is one area where I think everyone has their own very subjective ideas.

I took a friend on an AA F flight LAX-LAS in a 738 and she was like OMG this is awesome. The seat is so big.. we get free drinks!!! (and yes, I took her to the T4 Flagship lounge).... it was kind of cute how awesome she thought it was and I just smiled and thought "You'd pass out on EK or QF longhaul F"

 

[get me outta here]

I am coming in on QF F and have 6 hours till my AA LAX-JFK also F from T4 LAX- JFK. AS this seems to be the best lounge, should I make my way to TBIT and (try to) get in there?