Refurbished Auckland lounge

[LadyC]

Yea- in the lounge now. Staff has no clue and is rather annoyed about being asked by people.

Agree, was in there yesterday. A sad excuse for a 'first' lounge.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Perhaps I am out of touch, but could someone explain to me how a refurbishment will fix the lounge issue at AKL? When I visited there last month with my partner the issue was the lounge had limited space compared to the number of passengers there, especially in the afternoon when much of the QF flights are departing. And looking to the left hand side when you enter (i.e. the First wing) it looks more like Abu Ghraib than an exclusive lounge dedicated to the most elite and premium travellers.

Now sure some people will mention that this refurbishment will let QF configure the space so that for instance more room is dedicated to that first wing. However, the mistake with such an argument is the assumption that the lounge already has plenty of space as it is. I would challenge anyone here to name a QF operated lounge internationally that is smaller than the one in AKL. And to add injury to insult it is a major hub of theirs including the hub for their flagship service to JFK. Making the argument that refurbishing the current lounge will make much a difference is sort of like saying adding chairs to the titanic would've improved the outcome (aka increasing the number of seats in the Hobart QF lounge as part of refurbishment).

I would encourage anyone who thinks the current (or proposed refurbished) QF AKL lounge is adequate to spend a couple of bucks and try the Strata lounge adjacent to the QF lounge. It's much larger, buffet is bigger, there is way more spaces to work, eat, etc. The shower stalls don't look like they are something you'd find out of Kingston Penitentiary. It's a world of difference. The only saving grace, so far as I can tell is that ice cream cooler. If it wasn't for that, I would be heading straight for the Strata lounge right away (and why not since lounge access for me and a guest is included in the Platinum card by American Express).

 

[lazblue]

Yea- in the lounge now. Staff has no clue and is rather annoyed about being asked by people. “We don’t have a lounge but a wall- at least we have a wall.” The wall she was referring to is a back wall in the Business part of the lounge which has a lovely picture of a modern lounge and says “New lounge coming soon”.

Meanwhile, food options dismal as always and no champagne in the first book. Instead, this:
View attachment 350369

Someone at the AKL Lounge also needs to start using spell-check for signs!

 

[Seat0B]

Someone at the AKL Lounge also needs to start using spell-check for signs!

I noticed that too!!

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Someone at the AKL Lounge also needs to start using spell-check for signs!

Nope that is how you spell that wine. Remember, Qantas buys their champagne from the reject shop!

 

[lazblue]

Nope that is how you spell that wine. Remember, Qantas buys their champagne from the reject shop!

There are more typos on the sign than just the name of the champagne…

 

[kangarooflyer88]

There are more typos on the sign than just the name of the champagne…

Incorrect. Everything else was spelled correctly. You must realize that Qantas much like Bosnia in the mid-90s is are critically low on vowels:

 

[stm1sydney]

With current schedules, really the only way is to fly QF158 departing 8pm+ to MEL.

Sounds like choosing a different airline is the best bet.

 

[serfty]

Sounds like choosing a different airline is the best bet.

Yes - only other option is to fly to DXB ...

 

[exLXCXFF]

Yes - only other option is to fly to DXB ...

Why fly direct when you can do a short stop over

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Yes - only other option is to fly to DXB ...

Brings a whole new meaning to FlyDubai!

 

[ric_melb]

I believe I am able to add to kangarooflyer88's knowledge base regarding refurbishment of the QF Auckland Lounges.
Qantas plan to create a First/Business Lounge in Auckland, using the current spaces, plus additional space that they have negotiated with Auckland Airport. The combined capacity of the new combined Lounge will be 340 people compared to the 244 people the 2 separate Lounges can accommodate. That is a generous increase in capacity.
Lounges can't all be reconstructed in a day. The plan is to start construction about now with the first stage due for completion late 2023. Final construction is due to complete in the last quarter of 2024. Knowing Lounge construction is not often on time allow for slippage!!

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I believe I am able to add to kangarooflyer88's knowledge base regarding refurbishment of the QF Auckland Lounges.
Qantas plan to create a First/Business Lounge in Auckland, using the current spaces, plus additional space that they have negotiated with Auckland Airport.

I am a little confused here. The Qantas lounge at Auckland is located on an upper floor just above the departures area after duty free. Now I haven't studied a floor plan of that floor, but it is my understanding that there are strictly 2 spaces in that area: a Strata lounge and the Qantas lounge. So I suppose my question is where would they get the extra space? Is Auckland airport going to somehow expand the second floor in some way. If so, presumably that won't be easy, albeit I'm not an architect. Alternatively they could take space from the Strata lounge. I suppose the other option is they will move to a completely new space in the airport but given the title of this thread is refurbishment that doesn't seem likely.

The combined capacity of the new combined Lounge will be 340 people compared to the 244 people the 2 separate Lounges can accommodate. That is a generous increase in capacity.

This would help alleviate things a bit I suppose. Although it would be interesting to see how they split the lounge. For instance, will it be 330 people in the J wing and 10 people in the F wing? Or will it be more of a 75 (J) / 25 (F) split? Or perhaps an even split between the F and J lounges?

Lounges can't all be reconstructed in a day.

If there's enough $$$ there's always a way.

The plan is to start construction about now with the first stage due for completion late 2023. Final construction is due to complete in the last quarter of 2024. Knowing Lounge construction is not often on time allow for slippage!!

We'll see about that.

 

[Economy_Gold]

This would help alleviate things a bit I suppose. Although it would be interesting to see how they split the lounge. For instance, will it be 330 people in the J wing and 10 people in the F wing? Or will it be more of a 75 (J) / 25 (F) split? Or perhaps an even split between the F and J lounges?

The new lounge will be a "combined" J and F lounge - so in reality a single large J lounge like in Hong Kong. This is why I am personally not at all a fan of this development - this will be another location without a F lounge and therefore a devaluation of the Platinum benefits.

 

[Berlin]

I am a little confused here. The Qantas lounge at Auckland is located on an upper floor just above the departures area after duty free. Now I haven't studied a floor plan of that floor, but it is my understanding that there are strictly 2 spaces in that area: a Strata lounge and the Qantas lounge. So I suppose my question is where would they get the extra space? Is Auckland airport going to somehow expand the second floor in some way. If so, presumably that won't be easy, albeit I'm not an architect. Alternatively they could take space from the Strata lounge. I suppose the other option is they will move to a completely new space in the airport but given the title of this thread is refurbishment that doesn't seem likely.

Well, there's also the EK lounge which is never used to full capacity these days so might be a spot to "pick something" from. Also- more seats doesn't mean more floorspace necessarily. Not having a decision between "First" and Business (and the associated separate toilet "facilities" etc.) would create some additional space alone. Add some denser seating and that might already do, I'm no expert. But doesn't sound entirely impossible

 

[Berlin]

The new lounge will be a "combined" J and F lounge - so in reality a single large J lounge like in Hong Kong. This is why I am personally not at all a fan of this development - this will be another location without a F lounge and therefore a devaluation of the Platinum benefits.

Well- if you could seriously call this little overstuffed booth a "First" lounge, then your worry might be warranted. But that's not the case in Auckland and I'd go with a HongKong- or, I suspect, rather Brisbane- like combined lounge over that coughpy old corner with limited food options and sold out champagne any day tbh.

 

[PrezRegan]

Hopefully this is on topic, but I was in the "first" lounge this morning and from what I saw it appears to be more of an ante room to the larger j lounge rather than a lounge in and of itself

Overall it wasn't the worst lounge I've been in but definitely can't call it a true "first" lounge in the same league as SYD/MEL/LAX etc.

When I was there it was pretty quiet and never got above 50% capacity. There was barista made coffee on demand, good selection of alcohol and a surprisingly nice egg and tomato shakshuka style dish was offered. No a la carte and only 2 hot options. The showers were quite nice with the typical marble finish, smelt a bit funky but the water pressure was amazing. Worth it almost just for that alone!

I'd definitely choose it over the J lounge and it's open when the Emirates lounge isn't, but if I'd gotten access through flying in F rather than through status then I'd be disappointed.

The view is quite sad, but at least there's windows!

 

[kangarooflyer88]

The new lounge will be a "combined" J and F lounge - so in reality a single large J lounge like in Hong Kong. This is why I am personally not at all a fan of this development - this will be another location without a F lounge and therefore a devaluation of the Platinum benefits.

The key to providing a good F lounge, I would argue is actually providing a lounge worth visiting. Simply having a separate space with extra chairs ain't gonna do it. There are reasons why people tire over getting Platinum status, it's for that Flounge experience be it the a-la carte dining, the spa, the places to sleep, etc. In other words, unique experiences you would not find in the run of the mill J lounge.

I would make the argument that QF has decided that AKL is yet another domestic destination they serve. After all, if they wanted to go all out on the QF refurbishment, they could've snatched some or perhaps all of the space occupied by the existing Strata lounge and make a proper J lounge and F lounges with all the stuff you would find at SIN or LAX. Which is really a pity given the fact that AKL is the one international destination they serve the most with over a dozen non-stops each day.

-RooFlyer88

 

[DrJ]

Meanwhile, food options dismal as always and no champagne in the first book. Instead, this:
View attachment 350369

I'd forgive the lousy spelling if they had come up with an alternative Champagne. Surely they can raid the stocks of Jacquart / Duval Leroy they serve in J?

The worst thing about the otherwise excellent EK lounges is their short opening hours.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

OffT, can't disagree more about the EK lounge at AKL.
They were great when I used them on their (EK) 380s when they still flew trans Tasman.
Took and ate several of their salmon bites from the round servery, mmm.
Now that their flights fly direct AKL - DXB, with less flights to Aust, on EK, I can see why their AKL lounge, (EK's) now has less opening hours.OnT.