Qantas to permanently close QF HKG lounge

[TonyHancock]

No, they just don’t value these things in the same way others do.

I see, I think I understand. So it is like they lack the common sense and good judgment that the majority of AFF members have?*

 

[jakeseven7]

I see, I think I understand. So it is like they lack the common sense and good judgment that the majority of AFF members have?*

Yea totally bro…

 

[Kangol]

I think it was a pretty expensive just to accommodate Qantas club passengers. There were better lounge options for First class and platinums (CX F) and for business class and golds (CX J lounges). The whole 'champagne on request for platinums' was a bit redundant when it was free pour for everyone at the CX lounges a few metres away. Did the lounge do enough to attract premium QF pax away from the CX offering?

The champagne was only for P1/CL/F IIRC. I don't recall going as a WP and had Veuve Clicquot NV when a flight was departing from the adjacent gate. This was after a visit to the Pier F.

Did QF do enough? No, because it's not an F lounge. You can't expect them to run a J level international lounge to the same standard as an F lounge.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The champagne was only for P1/CL/F IIRC. I don't recall going as a WP and had Veuve Clicquot NV when a flight was departing from the adjacent gate. This was after a visit to the Pier F.

Did QF do enough? No, because it's not an F lounge. You can't expect them to run a J level international lounge to the same standard as an F lounge.

But that's the thing... QF's version of an international J lounge is the equivalent of a Qantas Club or slightly upgraded AAdmiral's Club. Many other business class lounges have champagne as standard. If I was a QF gold or QF business class passenger I'd be heading to the CX lounge where I wasn't faced by cost cutting. (I guess it's possible QF and CX had some sort of off-set in cost recovery? The CX lounges were so dire in Australia I guess all their pax would have gone to QF's lounge.)

 

[Kangol]

But that's the thing... QF's version of an international J lounge is the equivalent of a Qantas Club or slightly upgraded AAdmiral's Club. Many other business class lounges have champagne as standard. If I was a QF gold or QF business class passenger I'd be heading to the CX lounge where I wasn't faced by cost cutting. (I guess it's possible QF and CX had some sort of off-set in cost recovery? The CX lounges were so dire in Australia I guess all their pax would have gone to QF's lounge.)

Which international J lounges have champagne? I haven't been to one (by choice) for years, so I have no idea.

EK do, but their network offers F across the board with very few F lounges. Because that's where their F pax go, you can't really consider that to be a true J lounge.

How about CX, SQ, QR, EY, SQ, LH/LX, NH, TG? I've only been to the F lounges of these airlines, may have wandered into J to have a look but that's about it.

I know JL, BA and AA don't.

Can't imagine that champagne is standard across true international J lounges across the world, for those without separate arrangements for F pax.

 

[Daver6]

Which international J lounges have champagne? I haven't been to one (by choice) for years, so I have no idea.

EK do, but their network offers F across the board with very few F lounges. Because that's where their F pax go, you can't really consider that to be a true J lounge.

How about CX, SQ, QR, EY, SQ, LH/LX, NH, TG? I've only been to the F lounges of these airlines, may have wandered into J to have a look but that's about it.

I know JL, BA and AA don't.

Can't imagine that champagne is standard across true international J lounges across the world, for those without separate arrangements for F pax.

BA J lounges have champagne. As do QR J lounges.

 

[Kangol]

BA J lounges have champagne. As do QR J lounges.

The last BA J lounge I visited was in GVA last year which didn't have any.
Haven't been to a LHR J lounge for many years which might be the difference.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

BA J lounges have champagne. As do QR J lounges.

I know JL, BA and AA don't.

Can't imagine that champagne is standard across true international J lounges across the world, for those without separate arrangements for F pax.

CX and SQ too. AA's flagship lounges, which are now the standard lounge for international business class also has champagne. EK's home lounges are dedicated J class offerings and have champagne (noting that where lounges are shared with F, champagne is available to all without discrimination).

I think the main issue with QF business class lounges is that they are aimed primarily at economy class pax with status. Pax entering based on class of service are the losers.

In general I find Star Alliance lounges are a bit more basic than OW's offerings - LX/LH/NH don't have champagne. Nor JL.

 

[serfty]

The BA lounge at BOS had champagne when I was there in late 2018, but they had no First lounge (or section) there.

 

[Ade]

Which international J lounges have champagne? I haven't been to one (by choice) for years, so I have no idea.

EK do, but their network offers F across the board with very few F lounges. Because that's where their F pax go, you can't really consider that to be a true J lounge.

How about CX, SQ, QR, EY, SQ, LH/LX, NH, TG? I've only been to the F lounges of these airlines, may have wandered into J to have a look but that's about it.

I know JL, BA and AA don't.

Can't imagine that champagne is standard across true international J lounges across the world, for those without separate arrangements for F pax.

UL J lounge (Serendiva or Serendib, or something similar) in CMB had Piper Heidsieck, free pour, left at the bar for anyone to self serve, regardless of time of the day.

Now, is Piper Heidsieck the quality of champagne that we are talking about ? That's a different discussion

 

[Kangol]

CX and SQ too. AA's flagship lounges, which are now the standard lounge for international business class also has champagne. EK's home lounges are dedicated J class offerings and have champagne (noting that where lounges are shared with F, champagne is available to all without discrimination).

I think the main issue with QF business class lounges is that they are aimed primarily at economy class pax with status. Pax entering based on class of service are the losers.

In general I find Star Alliance lounges are a bit more basic than OW's offerings - LX/LH/NH don't have champagne. Nor JL.

The AA F/Ls are an exception - they were OWE/F level lounges and designed as such, not originally intended to be at J/OWS level. Opening it up (or devaluing) to allow J doesn't make it a J lounge. Not to mention they only have a very limited number across their network.

To consider champagne to be the standard in all international J lounges across the board is a bit of a stretch. You'd also have to include all the short haul international J lounges in Europe, Asia, Africa and so on...

You could make the same argument for "is an F lounge really an F lounge if it doesn't have ___ standard (or offering)?"
What's available around the world should be considered as part of the standard.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

To consider champagne to be the standard in all international J lounges across the board is a bit of a stretch. You'd also have to include all the short haul international J lounges in Europe, Asia, Africa and so on...

We are talking about major international lounges here - some of which are at QF's bigger hubs of SYD and MEL. They do not provide champagne as standard in their business lounges. Compare that to BA/QR/CX/AA (and even UL!)

AA's flagship may have been considered 'F' lounges but AA recognised that business pax paying substantial amounts of money perhaps shouldn't be relegated to the economy AA clubs. QF could do the same by offering F access in SYD/MEL/LAX/SIN. Dropping $6-8K on a QF business class ticket MEL-LAX and you end up in the QF dungeon in Melbourne is somewhat poor.

The point is that when I was in HKG I had the choice of either going to the QF lounge - to save QF money. But I didn't. I went to CX where the amenities such as champagne were available. So the question is whether QF's intentions - presumably because it was going to be cheaper - by opening their dedicated lounge in HKG were met?

 

[vt01]

The QF first lounge used to have a self service little fridge full of Haagan Daaz ice cream. So I used to stop off for a few of those and then head to the pier for everything else.
It is my fondest memory of the lounge!

 

[RichardMEL]

UA Polaris (specifically Polaris - which is their international J) have champagne. Or did when I last flew and used one a few years ago. Of course they also have a la carte sit down dining and a proper bar so are unusual for US majors. Not quite AA Flagshup F dining, but pretty good. IIRC NZ operated Star Lounge (which is J mostly though there is a small F part iirc) has bubbles too I think.

Really though the "new concept" QF J lounges which started with HKG and SIN and then LHR (and I guess AKL was/ or is being turned into at some point) makes sense for outstations. Of course SIN got their F lounge so that's a bit different but really at a place like HKG where QF did not serve with a F product on a regular basis (remember those A380's flew with F being sold as J) and where the home carrier is a major partner with far superior offerings... why would they spend a lot of effort on it when the F pax and likely the higher tier members would go to CX anyway? In SIN there is not a dominant OW carrier, and since QF ditched DXB and routed F product through there it made a bit more sense for a dedicated F ;lounge (yes BA has their lounge and EK is further away. QR is a nice lounge-with champagne-but like EK is a combined lounge).

But yes QF's policy has been for quite some time that in J lounges the bubbles go to P1/CL/F pax and that's about it. Does seem a bit cheap for sure but heck remember domestic CL's only have Australian sparkling (oh the pain, the pain! ).

It also seems a bit odd that for international you can get Champ on board QF J services but not in the lounge. But you know... Consistently Inconsistent(tm).

All of this are side issues imo as to the closing of the QF lounge. The question is that will QF do a deal with CX to allow QP members into one of the J lounges going forward? The result probably from a pax perspective ma be a slightly better result - specially for a QP member who could not normally access those lounges (IIRC) for the noodle bar or whatever (all assuming these come back in some form post pandemic).

I still say the real joy of QF HKG lounge were the staff and that is loss. I remember one time with a bunch of flights all leaving in a block and a bunch of us wanted coughtails.. the bar staff made a competition to make them all as fast as possible for those of us partaking before rushing to various gatest... it was all in a very fun and pleasant way and I know everyone around the bar that evening had a great experience and it was all down to the nature of the staff involved. That's just one example...

I understand why it's going. it's a pity of course.. one less hop on the once infamous HKG lounge crawl!

 

[sxc]

But that's the thing... QF's version of an international J lounge is the equivalent of a Qantas Club or slightly upgraded AAdmiral's Club. Many other business class lounges have champagne as standard. If I was a QF gold or QF business class passenger I'd be heading to the CX lounge where I wasn't faced by cost cutting. (I guess it's possible QF and CX had some sort of off-set in cost recovery? The CX lounges were so dire in Australia I guess all their pax would have gone to QF's lounge.)

The HKG lounge was definitely better than a Qantas club and also better than the SYD J international lounge. There were also a number of HK based travellers (me included) who would choose to go to the QF lounge instead of the CX J lounge. Better quality food in the QF lounge and bar tenders who knew what they were doing.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I walked into the QF HKG lounge ONCE.
I walked out again within a minute after the barkeep tried to convince me the Australian sparkling wine was better than champagne.
Straight back to the CX The Wing F Lounge, with it's dedicated champagne bar and cabana bath suites.
Wondering why I had ever left.

For what it's worth, AirCalin's business class lounge at Nouméa has champagne. The brand varies, it was Taittinger last time I was there.
AirCalin has no F class.

 

[jakeseven7]

The HKG lounge was definitely better than a Qantas club and also better than the SYD J international lounge. There were also a number of HK based travellers (me included) who would choose to go to the QF lounge instead of the CX J lounge. Better quality food in the QF lounge and bar tenders who knew what they were doing.

The bar was definitely a highlight

 

[Daver6]

For what it's worth, AirCalin's business class lounge at Nouméa has champagne. The brand varies, it was Taittinger last time I was there.
AirCalin has no F class.

I think not providing champagne in France (which is what NC is) would be considered treasonous

 

[Jack_OC]

I think the main issue with QF business class lounges is that they are aimed primarily at economy class pax with status. Pax entering based on class of service are the losers.

There is some truth in what you say, but of course even economy pax with status have access to CX lounges if they are flying with QF or another OW member.

AFAIK, the only people who had access to the QF lounge in HKG but not the CX lounges were:
(i) people with no status flying in economy with QF, who had Qantas Club membership or a QF lounge pass; or
(ii) people flying with a non-OW partner of QF (e.g. JetStar), who had status or Qantas Club membership or a QF lounge pass.

It really is hard for QF to justify operating its own lounge to cater for those pax.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

I agree with general sentiment here in that I'd rather they closed it and reallocated that capital across the domestic J lounges if it had to remain in a lounge bucket.

For those of us who ordinarily pass by a QF dom J weekly and HKG quarterly I'd rather my weekly visits be incrementally better than a quick pre red-eye visit after a day of work.