Recent Poor LAX Business Lounge and Business class flight QF16

[gazzax2]

I recently flew from LAX to BNE on QF16. Although, it felt like it could have been Antarctica. Read on to find out.

1. This flight did not start well. Although there were no other passengers in sight - the check in took an inordinate amount of time. The numerous Qantas staff on hand, none being Australian, seemed unable to handle a request to bag two items together (they weren't even aware Qantas had large plastic luggage bags, until I prompted them).
They, especially the large and slovenly looking attendant, made me wrap and tape my own bags, only a minor task, and then insisted I take an item to the oversized luggage.

This item was a set of small cardboard boxes to hold vinyl records, empty and flat.
I insisted it isn't oversized or valuable and wanted it checked in there, they proceeded to argue, I had to be more firm.
I thought I was the customer right?
It's my bag and my choice. Remember this, we'll come back at the end to it.

2. After a long 3 month holiday I wanted to relax before my journey. I entered the LAX Oneworld Business Lounge to find the temperature chilly, especially around the fake fireplace...
My flight was delayed 3 hours, to warm up I availed myself of the showers. To find the water only lukewarm, when consulting the staff, they informed me all the showers were the same lukewarm temp. No respite from the cold there.

3. After a long delay, a slow boarding took place around midnight. The business seat on the plane was old, tired, and being dirty, I even found four UAE coins in the back of my seat. Joy.


4. The flight could have been pleasant, if not for the chilling temperature on board, I have taken almost 200 flights and I was well prepared with an additional blanket and jumper. Still the cold permeated, exacerbated by the 5 hour wait in the freezing lounge, and the almost cold shower.

5. The crew seemed competent. Yet all kiwi. Strange considering the flight was from USA to Australia. This wasn't a real issue, until upon landing during one of the announcements one of the crew added some jibe about some new Zealand sports team. Not very professional, and on an Australian airline, not bound for new Zealand.

6. The best part is that the vengeful staff member who told me to check my item in to oversized luggage, when I directly informed him not to. Must have felt coy - as at baggage collection, as I had somewhat anticipated, my item was in the oversized collection area. Bravo.


An underwhelming and cold flight. Which could well have been to Antarctica, given the time it took and the temperature.

 

[Quickstatus]

I think you mean QF16...

This item was a set of small cardboard boxes to hold vinyl records, empty and flat.
I insisted it isn't oversized

Could it be because the agent thought the small boxes would be better not in the general luggage section. Do fragile items get sent to oversized??

my item was in the oversized collection area

Do items deemed fragile or of not a normal size get sent to "oversized".

---

temperature chilly

Im the opposite - I find the LAX lounges hot

To find the water only lukewarm

Perhaps its an OHS issue.

The flight could have been pleasant, if not for the chilling temperature on board

I am one of those who want the temp chilly
Its impossible to please everyone. Better to be chilly and rug up than too hot

An underwhelming and cold flight

I understand from your comments it seems you dont like the cold?. Thats a hard one to get right as there are other passengers like me who actually want it chilly. 18C is actually nice.

---

The business seat on the plane was old, tired, and being dirty

Unfortunately aircraft are being operated at a high tempo and cleaning is very cursory. Yours was an A330 but I think your aircraft was only 12 years old?? (VH-EBS)?

---

Yet all kiwi

Possibly because that flight is operated by NZ crew who also do the A330 flights: AKL-BNE // BNE-LAX // LAX-BNE // BNE-ALK

one of the crew added some jibe about some new Zealand sports team. Not very professional,

Maybe they were just being lighthearted?

.

 

[gazzax2]

I think you mean QF16...



Could it be because the agent thought the small boxes would be better not in the general luggage section. Do fragile items get sent to oversized??


Do items deemed fragile or of not a normal size get sent to "oversized".

---

Im the opposite - I find the LAX lounges hot


Perhaps its an OHS issue.


I am one of those who want the temp chilly
Its impossible to please everyone. Better to be chilly and rug up than too hot


I understand from your comments it seems you dont like the cold?. Thats a hard one to get right as there are other passengers like me who actually want it chilly. 18C is actually nice.

---

Unfortunately aircraft are being operated at a high tempo and cleaning is very cursory. Yours was an A330 but I think your aircraft was only 12 years old?? (VH-EBS)?

---

Possibly because that flight is operated by NZ crew who also do the A330 flights: AKL-BNE // BNE-LAX // LAX-BNE // BNE-ALK


Maybe they were just being lighthearted?

.

Do you have your sword and shield with you?

 

[muppet]

I prefer lounges and aircraft cold. If I or another pax is cold, they can always put on a jumper or an extra layer. If someone is hot, they have few options in public once down to a tshirt.

I love a good QF whinge as the next pax, but in my opinion there’s not a lot in these issues. (noting we’re all entitled to our own opinions/expectations)

 

[offshore171]

Do fragile items get sent to oversized??

Yeah oversized is a bit of misnomer. It's really any object that they feel may not be suitable for the luggage belts and chutes, where they get banged around quite a lot.

If I can be honest, I'm finding most of the OP's complaints pretty minor, even a bit precious.

I mean if the lounge, the shower and the plane all felt "too cold", it suggests something to do with the individual. It would be a remarkable coincidence that all of these are deliberately set uncomfortably low for the typical traveller.

Rocking up to check in with loose items and asking the staff to bag them up, and then complain that it takes a while? Wow.

Edit: Or is it satire?

 

[gazzax2]

Yeah oversized is a bit of misnomer. It's really any object that they feel may not be suitable for the luggage belts and chutes, where they get banged around quite a lot.

If I can be honest, I'm finding most of the OP's complaints pretty minor, even a bit precious.

I mean if the lounge, the shower and the plane all felt "too cold", it suggests something to do with the individual. It would be a remarkable coincidence that all of these are deliberately set uncomfortably low for the typical traveller.

Rocking up to check in with loose items and asking the staff to bag them up, and then complain that it takes a while? Wow.

Edit: Or is it satire?

I understand I don't have the physical extra layers many have these days.
Yet lukewarm water in the showers, when the temperature was turned to max is not acceptable.

 

[stm1sydney]

Underwhelming is a stretch target for Qantas, so consider yourself lucky!

 

[gazzax2]

I think you mean QF16...



Could it be because the agent thought the small boxes would be better not in the general luggage section. Do fragile items get sent to oversized??


Do items deemed fragile or of not a normal size get sent to "oversized".

---

Im the opposite - I find the LAX lounges hot


Perhaps its an OHS issue.


I am one of those who want the temp chilly
Its impossible to please everyone. Better to be chilly and rug up than too hot


I understand from your comments it seems you dont like the cold?. Thats a hard one to get right as there are other passengers like me who actually want it chilly. 18C is actually nice.

---

Unfortunately aircraft are being operated at a high tempo and cleaning is very cursory. Yours was an A330 but I think your aircraft was only 12 years old?? (VH-EBS)?

---

Possibly because that flight is operated by NZ crew who also do the A330 flights: AKL-BNE // BNE-LAX // LAX-BNE // BNE-ALK


Maybe they were just being lighthearted?

.

Lighthearted banter about New Zealand sports teams generally doesn't go down well with predominantly Australian and American passengers...

 

[serfty]

I understand I don't have the physical extra layers many have these days.
Yet lukewarm water in the showers, when the temperature was turned to max is not acceptable.

Given you had access to the Oneworld Business Lounge, it is likely you could have used the American Airlines Flagship Lounge in T4. It is no more than a 10 minutes airside walk. The lounge may have been warmer as well as the showers. Certainly better F&B.

 

[Andy72]

I much prefer it cold. Had a flight with Emrites and with the PJs I very much overheated.
Agree about the FF lounge in LAX, if you can't access first

 

[gazzax2]

Given you had access to the Oneworld Business Lounge, it is likely you could have used the American Airlines Flagship Lounge in T4. It is no more than a 10 minutes airside walk. The lounge may have been warmer as well as the showers. Certainly better F&B.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[kpro]

seemed unable to handle a request to bag two items together (they weren't even aware Qantas had large plastic luggage bags, until I prompted them).
They, especially the large and slovenly looking attendant, made me wrap and tape my own bags, only a minor task, and then insisted I take an item to the oversized luggage.

I've never heard of this service - check in attendants can wrap and tape your luggage if you ask them? In any case, it sounds like an odd sized item to me.

6. The best part is that the vengeful staff member who told me to check my item in to oversized luggage, when I directly informed him not to. Must have felt coy - as at baggage collection, as I had somewhat anticipated, my item was in the oversized collection area. Bravo.

The might have been the baggage handlers at BNE. What's the issue with the item arriving in the oversize area?

2. After a long 3 month holiday I wanted to relax before my journey. I entered the LAX Oneworld Business Lounge to find the temperature chilly, especially around the fake fireplace...

4. The flight could have been pleasant, if not for the chilling temperature on board, I have taken almost 200 flights and I was well prepared with an additional blanket and jumper. Still the cold permeated, exacerbated by the 5 hour wait in the freezing lounge, and the almost cold shower.

Echoing some of the others here, I also prefer a colder ambient temperature. I sometimes find cabin temps too high to sleep comfortably, and can't really walk around the cabin with my shirt off. Whereas, if it's cold you can always use/request extra blankets or PJ's.

My flight was delayed 3 hours, to warm up I availed myself of the showers. To find the water only lukewarm, when consulting the staff, they informed me all the showers were the same lukewarm temp. No respite from the cold there.

LAX showers are likely due to water supply at the airport I would assume?

 

[MrJetset]

Is it possible that you were very cold and not the three different spaces that you describe?

I am no QF defender, I find the crew average at best, but unsure that the luggage and temperate issues are that concerning.

The ME3 run the cabins hot and it is MUCH harder to cool down than warm up on an aircraft.

 

[SeatBackForward]

, I have taken almost 200 flights

yeah...nah... sorry your post comes across as an entitled whinge.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

1. This flight did not start well. Although there were no other passengers in sight - the check in took an inordinate amount of time.

There may be many reasons for this. For instance, there could be one person ahead of you who has a very complex issue. This happened to me on Sunday afternoon in Auckland. I couldn't check-in online and a QF agent had to spend half an hour on the phone with HQ to get my ticket re-issued. Turns out redeeming a Qantas classic award on Avios then using Qantas Points to secure an upgrade causes the ticket to go into limbo. I've also waited 20 minutes in the J line with one person ahead of me who didn't know how to pack items in their checked bag resulting in several staff members having to help them out.

The numerous Qantas staff on hand, none being Australian, seemed unable to handle a request to bag two items together (they weren't even aware Qantas had large plastic luggage bags, until I prompted them).
They, especially the large and slovenly looking attendant, made me wrap and tape my own bags, only a minor task, and then insisted I take an item to the oversized luggage.

Most airlines who operate at outstations have staff that comes from a contractor like Swissport. These people may not know the ins and outs of the dozens of airlines they service in a given day. Also, you are in the Americas where items are put into things called suitcases. I know that's a huge concept for the rest of the world to figure out but that's how you pack checked items.

It's my bag and my choice. Remember this, we'll come back at the end to it.

Incorrect. The second you hand your items over to the airline it becomes their responsibility. Indeed the Montreal Convention of which Australia is a signatory even says airlines are on the hook for up to $2100 USD for lost or damaged bags. So yeah, I think they should have some authority that the baggage you give them is in a state where it can go through the various conveyors and processes needed to get your bag to point B.

2. After a long 3 month holiday I wanted to relax before my journey. I entered the LAX Oneworld Business Lounge to find the temperature chilly, especially around the fake fireplace...
My flight was delayed 3 hours, to warm up I availed myself of the showers. To find the water only lukewarm, when consulting the staff, they informed me all the showers were the same lukewarm temp. No respite from the cold there.

You are in LAX easily one of the best airports in the world when it comes to lounges. Don't like the OneWorld lounge? Try Qantas! Don't like Qantas? Try the American Flagship lounge. You are flying business and literally have a dozen lounges to choose from, mate. Indeed part of the joy of travelling on such itineraries is being able to hop between lounges each of which offer different amenities.

3. After a long delay, a slow boarding took place around midnight.

Australians and Americans don't know how to board planes. This is not new. In the time it takes the Japanese to board a wide body 777 you would be lucky to get a JetStar A319 boarded.

The business seat on the plane was old, tired, and being dirty, I even found four UAE coins in the back of my seat. Joy.

This is true in virtually every airline. Every airline you mention I can point to specific birds in the fleet that will deliver a disappointing result. With Emirates it is the 777, with Qatar it's the older wide bodies that don't have Q Suites. On Qantas in particular, the A330 isn't a particularly amazing product for a long haul flight like this (albeit it is perfectly serviceable for domestic flights to NZ or within Australia).

4. The flight could have been pleasant, if not for the chilling temperature on board, I have taken almost 200 flights and I was well prepared with an additional blanket and jumper. Still the cold permeated, exacerbated by the 5 hour wait in the freezing lounge, and the almost cold shower.

It is very difficult to set the thermostat at most homes as everyone has their own comfortable temperature. For me as I tend to operate on the hotter end of the spectrum and combined with the fact that I'm a Canuck, I personally prefer cooler temperatures. Now imagine trying to choose a temperature that will satisfy the hundreds of passengers on a given aircraft. You frankly aren't gonna be able to please most people, and on the last long haul flight I took there wasn't a poll asking passengers what temperature they want the cabin set to (that would be an interesting idea).

What you need to do here is have contingencies for this. A blanket and a jumper is a joke. And I say this as someone who hiked for several hours in Whitehorse, Yukon where temperatures were at -43 degrees. A lightweight base layer consisting of Merino wool was what helped me avoid frostbite and remain comfortable during the hike. I suggest you look into something similar.

5. The crew seemed competent. Yet all kiwi. Strange considering the flight was from USA to Australia. This wasn't a real issue, until upon landing during one of the announcements one of the crew added some jibe about some new Zealand sports team. Not very professional, and on an Australian airline, not bound for new Zealand.

Like most international airlines, Qantas has crew bases around the world, including in domestic destinations like New Zealand. If you track any Qantas aircraft (or JetStar aircraft for that matter) you will see it traversing both Australian and Kiwi territories.

6. The best part is that the vengeful staff member who told me to check my item in to oversized luggage, when I directly informed him not to. Must have felt coy - as at baggage collection, as I had somewhat anticipated, my item was in the oversized collection area. Bravo.

Yes but did the items you checked in arrive safely at your final destination?

 

[Himeno]

You are in LAX easily one of the best airports in the world when it comes to lounges. Don't like the OneWorld lounge? Try Qantas! Don't like Qantas? Try the American Flagship lounge. You are flying business and literally have a dozen lounges to choose from, mate. Indeed part of the joy of travelling on such itineraries is being able to hop between lounges each of which offer different amenities.

Except that the "oneworld lounge" at LAX is the Qantas J lounge. Qantas operates the lounge. Other oneworld members help staff it. Oneworld doesn't (yet) have their own alliance branded lounges (the first is reportedly currently being built at ICN).

There are 7 lounges at LAX operated by oneworld members.
AS in T6
AA Admirals Clubs in T5, T4 and the remote terminal
AA Flagship in T4
QF F in TBIT
QF J "oneworld" lounge in TBIT.

Someone flying long haul business on a oneworld airline can use any of them, except the QF F lounge (unless they have Emerald status).

 

[SCM]

Not to invalidate the rest of your experience, but I would kill for a chilly cabin, it's impossible for me to sleep on most flights because I find the temperature uncomfortably hot, despite wearing barely anything.

if you are cold ask for an extra blanket or something, it's an easily solvable problem - unlike if it's too hot.

 

[DC3]

Do you have your sword and shield with you?

Not to mention the helmet with the horns

 

[JohnPhelan]

The check-in agent was "slovenly" and "vengeful" ???

People tend to treat others the way in which they are treated. Might the person perhaps have picked up on your attitude?

The airline will determine how - and exactly where - luggage is processed and transported - especially if it is inadequately packed and presented at check-in .

 

[kangarooflyer88]

People tend to treat others the way in which they are treated. Might the person perhaps have picked up on your attitude?

Couldn't agree with you more. If you act like an entitled cough don't be surprised if you are treated like one. Having travelled enough times I have seen too many people pop their tops on things like delays and upgrades not clearing. You would think that travellers would be grateful to travel once again after being trapped in their homes for the better part of 2 years due to you know what.

The airline will determine how - and exactly where - luggage is processed and transported - especially if it is inadequately packed and presented at check-in .

In some instances, where the luggage is transported can be different from where the passenger is travelling!

-RooFlyer88