QF F lounge Closures in '06 (Sydney & Melbourne)

[serfty]

From the November Frequent Flyer Newsletter

A new First Class lounge experience is taking shape

Qantas is developing new First Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne. With world-renowned designer Marc Newson leading the design team, these lounges will offer unsurpassed levels of comfort and luxury.

Development starts in January 2006 and while work is under way, the First lounge in Sydney will close. We have organised exclusive interim lounge facilities for customers to use during this time. Details of the new location will be available when you check in.

The SYD lounge is only 3½ years old, created by Tony Masters Design and opened in mid 2002.

IMO, they looked tired when they first opened. Their only good facit is the excellent bathroom facilities. Aside from other aesthetic issues, they have proved to be too small.

Since it opened there have been some changes to alleviate this size problem:

• A subtantial wedge of the J lounge was 'taken' to expand the F lounge.
• Removal of the baggage racks near each of the bathroom facility entrances to add more space for seating.

This still has not been enough. It would not surprise me if the entire upstairs facility is given over to J and a new F louge is built near the A380 gates as in MEL.

Lets hope "world-renowned designer Marc Newson" does a better job than his predecessor. I would suggest thay have a look at this year's refurbishment of the QF/BA Singapore Lounge as a good starting point.[/QUOTE]

 

[serfty]

Update

In SYD F lounge at the moment; they have some brouchers around the place:

Development starts in February 2006, when the Qantas First Lounge in Sydney will close. ... exclusive interim lounge, adjacent to gate 24 ...

I took the initiative and asked at the counter; (unofficially) they are looking at late February or even March before the current lounge closes.

 

[QF WP]

Wasn't this discussed over at the QF Forum in Flyertalk??

 

[straitman]

Wasn't this discussed over at the QF Forum in Flyertalk??

Yes, however not everyone that looks here also looks there. 8) :roll:

 

[serfty]

Wasn't this discussed over at the QF Forum in Flyertalk??

Yep, but I did a search and could not find any reference here on AFF; so i posted this new thread. 8)

 

[Alan in CBR]

Since it opened there have been some changes to alleviate this size problem:

• A subtantial wedge of the J lounge was 'taken' to expand the F lounge.

Is that why the great lounges in the corner disappeared?

I thought they had just decided to take them away to add more seating - I didn't realise it was actually the whole space they had taken away!

 

[Tooner]

I was looking around the Qantas site yesterday as I'm flying across the ditch tomorrow morning and a date of March 2007 is mentioned as the opening date for the new F lounge. There is also a presentation which looks like the old one, and certainly doesn't look like the current temporary one downstairs at gate 24.

One year seems an awful long time to redevelop internally, or am I being unreasonable?

Cheers

 

[Alan in CBR]

It does seem like a long time, but I'm wondering whether they are restricted as to when they are allowed to do the work. Pure speculation, but perhaps because of noise considerations they can only do the work after hours. If so it would take a long time because there are only a few hours each day when the terminal is closed.

And following up from my own post above, the "great lounges in the corner" from the Business Lounge are now in the (temporary) First Lounge!

 

[Tooner]

Good point, well made!

I'll try to bags one of the great lounges

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

By comparison when NZ redeveloped their CHC lounge it was closed for less than a week!

 

[NM]

By comparison when NZ redeveloped their CHC lounge it was closed for less than a week!

Ahh, yes. That explains it .

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Ahh, yes. That explains it .

Have you been in the NZ CHC dom lounge since it reopened?

 

[NM]

Have you been in the NZ CHC dom lounge since it reopened?

Nope . That would require a visit to the LOTLWC .

Actually, have not been through CHC for about 8 or 9 years now. Just AKL since then. And never been to a NZ lounge either .

 

[Altair]

Nope . That would require a visit to the LOTLWC .

Actually, have not been through CHC for about 8 or 9 years now. Just AKL since then. And never been to a NZ lounge either .

Well you are missing out .

 

[NM]

Well you are missing out .

Happy to miss out at this point in time.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Well you are missing out .

For sure. Generally NZ lounges better than QF counterparts (although no any time access).

NZ dom > QF dom (in Australia or NZ)
NZ int > QF int (in general)

 

[NM]

For sure. Generally NZ lounges better than QF counterparts (although no any time access).

NZ dom > QF dom (in Australia or NZ)
NZ int > QF int (in general)

I'll just have to take your word for that .

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

with the codeshare scuppered no chance while flying QF

 

[Tooner]

Well, having spent a little time (more than expected due to the late arrival /weather) at the F lounge yesterday, the lounges were indeed there, and the breakfast was perfect (particularly as the muesli was Whisk & Pin Gluten Free muesli - perfect for me). Not too many people around at that time of day either.

A quick glance while walking past the J Lounge entrance showed lots of hoardings (on ground level as well?), suggesting additional works. Not much activity so it seems the work is being done when the terminal is closed.

Not looking like opening anytime soon though.

Cheers

 

[NYCguy]

Generally NZ lounges better than QF counterparts.

And sure as hell better than UA's RCC. I'll take NZ's Kuru (look it up) Club any day.

I'm sure Mark Newson will do a good job for QF. I wonder if UA want to hire him next? His fee is probably out of their league!