Status Run

[turtlemichael]

IMHO the J lounges are meant to appeal to the "I'm special" aspect of QFF membership. The food and booze are not significantly different if at all, and the lounges are generally no less crowded. I've found computer access about the same. But you do go through a special entrance. There are some decent benefits in WP level membership (more points, Flounge access, upgrade availability etc) but the Dom J lounge is not one of them. Reminds me of the old ploy of giving an employee a better title and calling it an upgrade without increasing his pay.

 

[Mal]

What the toilets aren't out in the pleb lounge at BNE.

My one experience of the J lounge at BNE, involved going out for toilets.

They opened the lounge before the lounge was complete. The toilets are now in the lounge itself (rather than having to cross back into the QP). They're basically on the window side of the lounge down the corridor past the PC's.

 

[Commuter]

What the toilets aren't out in the pleb lounge at BNE.

My one experience of the J lounge at BNE, involved going out for toilets.

I take it that the loos are still just in the QC side then? Are they going to do anything about that, or is that the way it stays? I'm not particularly fussed about the loo placement but just curious.


Anyway, apart from having a bit of hot (but not always hot) food almost always on offer (which can be quite un-appetising), Blounge is hardly any different from the QC IMHO.

 

[rwatts]

What the toilets aren't out in the pleb lounge at BNE.

My one experience of the J lounge at BNE, involved going out for toilets.

I believe I read from someone else that the toilets were not ready when the lounge opened. I hadnt heard that they were open and was expecting to use those next door but I went exploring and found them by accident. I dont remember seeing any signage until I found the little corridor they are off. The MEL J lounge "Mens" seems a little strange - separate from the womens, showers, etc.

The only difference in the food I've noticed is that instead of rolls they seem to have thick slices of bread.

I'm yet to experience the CBR J lounge (it opened two days after my last time through there). At least it isnt cut out of the regular pub. What then were the building works when I was there ? Enlarging the CL for the ever increasing number of public servant invitees ?

Richard.

 

[garyjohn951]

The Blounge and the Qantas Club don't seem that greatly different to me

Dave

I have found one major difference when flying on weekends [ paying myself as compared to company paying fares Mon-Fri] and that is way less ankle biters. A big plus. Some weekend lounges are full of them.

 

[medhead]

I take it that the loos are still just in the QC side then? Are they going to do anything about that, or is that the way it stays? I'm not particularly fussed about the loo placement but just curious.

Seems I got there during the construction phase. As others have posted they appear to now be in the J lounge.

 

[JohnK]

In my opinion there is not a great deal of difference between the new business lounges and the Qantas Club lounges. Somedays I prefer to go to the BNE Qantas Club lounge as this is much bigger and does not get as crowded as the business lounge.

As far as food and drink goes it is almost identical in both lounges....

 

[anat0l]

In my opinion there is not a great deal of difference between the new business lounges and the Qantas Club lounges. Somedays I prefer to go to the BNE Qantas Club lounge as this is much bigger and does not get as crowded as the business lounge.

As far as food and drink goes it is almost identical in both lounges....

I think it has been widely recognised and accepted now that not many people find many differences at all between the J Lounge and regular QP. Makes you wonder why they rationalised to create them in the first place. (What your fares pay for...)

There are only select times where the JL is markedly quieter than the QP, otherwise they are much the same. The decor is a bit nicer in the JL, but most here would just say, "Big deal!"

MEL JL is probably the nicest one, though I haven't tried the new CBR JL. BNE JL has a good view but is quite cramped; SYD T3 JL looks satisfactorily big enough but IMHO was set up on the wrong side - the QP gets a much better view.

 

[simongr]

MEL JL is probably the nicest one, though I haven't tried the new CBR JL. BNE JL has a good view but is quite cramped; SYD T3 JL looks satisfactorily big enough but IMHO was set up on the wrong side - the QP gets a much better view.

Ithought the CBR J lounge was quite nice - although I am not sure how busy it would be at busy times - mind you would most of the people likely to use the J lounge be in the CL anyway in CBR?

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Ithought the CBR J lounge was quite nice - although I am not sure how busy it would be at busy times - mind you would most of the people likely to use the J lounge be in the CL anyway in CBR?

Well, the old QP was standing room only in the evening peak, so I suspect plenty of people in the new J lounge in CBR, even after taking into consideration the CL type people.

 

[JohnK]

I think it has been widely recognised and accepted now that not many people find many differences at all between the J Lounge and regular QP. Makes you wonder why they rationalised to create them in the first place. (What your fares pay for...)

Maybe the intention and the actual design got separated somewhere along the way.

 

[munitalP]

Maybe the intention and the actual design got separated somewhere along the way.

I think you are right JK

The intention was great, the outcome was poor, perhaps the rise in fuel costs, down turn in the economy and the general lack of ability in QF to get things exactly right helped in a somewhat ordinary experience in the J lounges.

Mind you....

The worst J lounge is better than the best public departure lounge

Mr!

 

[Mal]

The intention was great, the outcome was poor, perhaps the rise in fuel costs, down turn in the economy and the general lack of ability in QF to get things exactly right helped in a somewhat ordinary experience in the J lounges.

Maybe (like Amex), once they did their sums they had a "O.F! What have we done" moment

 

[turtlemichael]

I suspect QF got what it wanted. The exercise would have required relatively small capital outlay, probably no additional rent for the majority of lounges, and only minimally increased staff costs. The benefits, at low cost, are a market differentiation from the opposition who have also now got QP equivalent domestic lounges. QF does not want to lose it's front of the plane flyers and the Blounges serve the need for those who want to be treated as special.

 

[anat0l]

To be somewhat fair at QF, what could have they done to improve the JL?

Firstly, some rough qualification and observation will find that the JL does get relatively crowded; perhaps not as much as the QP but complaints have been raised here and on FT. Quite odd when it should only have WPs (no anytime access) and J tickets (and their guests), but there you go.

I was thinking that there would be better food, either the quality of the offering and/or a mini-restaurant style (a la F Lounge). The latter would be an expensive exercise indeed, and would be insane for the faster pace of domestic flights (compared to international where things can proceed a bit slower). It would also be out of line with the International J Lounges (i.e. the "international QP"), although IMHO calling the "international QPs" as international J lounges is rather misleading.

The former of the above suggestions might not have been too difficult for QF to actually achieve, but some may view it as a corny suggestion anyway. Actually there is some different food on offer at times in the JL which is of reasonable quality and not offered at the QP (e.g. hot pastry items, quiches and pies at the SYD T3 JL vs. the QP). Having said that:

• The type of food (fried or baked stuffs) may not appeal as quality and hence is not a real contributor to an improved service over the QP
• The food disappears quickly anyway (but that applies to every QP where hot food is served)

I wouldn't mind if they actually had a human barista there who could make a good coffee, including soy and flavoured coffees. (Yes there are machines, but a good cup of coffee is an art, not a science.)

Apart from that, not sure what other kind of food that could be served buffet style would be appropriate. Unless the JL was set up like a Sizzlers (*shudder*)...

I don't think the JL could really improve on alcohol offerings over the QP. Adding a couple more types of beer to the range isn't going to be spectacular.

The JLs look somewhat better than the QPs, but unless you're QF009 I think the decor has little impact (certainly the difference in the decor between a JL and QP would be almost unnoticeable to the commoner). The chairs are certainly not much more comfortable in the JL compared to the QP.

One mistake is that the JLs in SYD T3 and BNE are not walled off, so the noise carries through either lounge. Not a good idea.

The showers (and associated facilities and amenities) are on par with QP, so perhaps a better offering here might be warranted. (I wonder how many people would then like the JL just to swipe some good quality amenities.)

So, anyone have any other ideas as to how the JL could have been improved? Or should they have just canned the whole idea?

 

[AnonymousCoward]

I wouldn't mind if they actually had a human barista there who could make a good coffee, including soy and flavoured coffees. (Yes there are machines, but a good cup of coffee is an art, not a science.)

There are humans in the Syd J lounge in the mornings on weekdays. I've always got a decent to excellent flat white (and I'm a bit of a coffee snob) though the service has been pretty slow.

 

[Mal]

To be somewhat fair at QF, what could have they done to improve the JL?

A domestic lounge is just that - a (hopefully) short term place to sit and while away your time before your (hopefully) short flight. So, they do not have to be overly special.

Qantas was full of information before the lounges were opened about how good they would be. Take for example:

These lounges provide a new area in which to relax, work or socialise before your flight. Guests are invited to enjoy the signature dish menu, complimentary wireless internet, shower amenities and more. Get back to work with private space and quiet work suites, or catch up with a fellow guest over a drink from the bar.

I wouldn't call one or two food items different a "signature dish menu", but conversely I don't need a 2 course meal, or silverware before a domestic flight. Likewise, I don't need JW Blue at the bar, but would appreciate a varied drinks selection from the normal QP.

So, I think Qantas could improve the food selection a bit more by giving more food options, and improve the bar a little by adding in some more drink options. The "quiet space" bit would be nice too - especially when you're there in peak hour!

I wouldn't mind if they actually had a human barista there who could make a good coffee, including soy and flavoured coffees.

A barista service does operate during weekday morning 'peak' hours.

 

[anat0l]

A domestic lounge is just that - a (hopefully) short term place to sit and while away your time before your (hopefully) short flight. So, they do not have to be overly special.

Qantas was full of information before the lounges were opened about how good they would be.

I wouldn't call one or two food items different a "signature dish menu", but conversely I don't need a 2 course meal, or silverware before a domestic flight. Likewise, I don't need JW Blue at the bar, but would appreciate a varied drinks selection from the normal QP.

So, I think Qantas could improve the food selection a bit more by giving more food options, and improve the bar a little by adding in some more drink options. The "quiet space" bit would be nice too - especially when you're there in peak hour!

I agree that QF seemed to make a big deal out of the new J Lounges before they were released, but having said that what is a "signature dish menu"? If Neil Perry put his or Rockpool's name to anything I've seen in the JL then I'm a mongoose.

Also, as I discussed, what kind of food would constitute a few more good options? More pastries, more soups, what? Perhaps offering butter chicken with rice? Help me out here........

I wouldn't know what drink options to introduce unless they start a small coughtail bar.

A barista service does operate during weekday morning 'peak' hours.

The last time I was in a JL in the morning (I was travelling J) this wasn't the case, so must be a fairly new thing, or just wasn't good timing. In any case, I assume you mean a real barista operating a real coffee machine, not just some lady pushing a button.

 

[tuapekastar]

Isn't space the major issue here? I get the impression QF just divvied up the existing QP space - which while perhapsslightly altering the mix, is hardly a surefire way for easing overcrowding.

And I think overcrowding was the main cause for QP patrons' concern!

 

[anat0l]

Isn't space the major issue here? I get the impression QF just divvied up the existing QP space - which while perhapsslightly altering the mix, is hardly a surefire way for easing overcrowding.

And I think overcrowding was the main cause for QP patrons' concern!

I thought the idea (at least when one "thinks like QF", if that is possible) was that WPs and J-tickets make up a small amount of the QP-accessible population. Dividing the existing QP and adding perhaps just a smidgen of space was supposed to divide the two groups, and possibly allow just the upper tier some space away from the plebs, so to speak.

What they probably didn't count on was that there are a sizeable number of WPs in Australia, then factoring in the J ticketeers. I'm not sure how many "ninjas" there would be in the JL, but that doesn't help affairs either. Then add in all the buddies (guests) of the aforementioned people!

So yes space was - and continues to be - an issue. What to do about it? Build a bigger QP (more plaster walls again, *sigh*.....)? Stop paid QC (I can just imagine the utter outrage on that one)?