SYD J International Lounge [not good]

[Ewing]

Re: SYD J Lounge

Are you saying that the EK lougne is better than QF J lounge in Sydney?

There's no comparison. It's far better.

I was in both not long ago as we had a group too big to get into the F lounge but we could access the J, EK (and Amex) lounges with no issues so we did a bit of a lounge crawl.

Both J and Amex were packed along with mediocre F&B. The EK lounge was lovely - excellent food, decent champagne (Veuve), and not to mention there were only 3 other people in there.

A little bit of a walk to the departure gate but that doesn't bother me - I like a bit of a walk around the terminal before sitting down in a sit for a number of hours.

 

[eminere]

Re: SYD J Lounge

Personally I have always found the food quality at EK lounges to be excellent.

 

[RichardMEL]

Re: SYD J Lounge

There IS precedent for "3 classes of lounge" as it were at various hubs.. eg: SQ at SIN have a real F lounge, real J lounge one for their SilverKris members and there's the coughpy lounge for *G's to use. LX at ZRH now have a new F lounge, a J lounge and a Senator (FF) lounge, and so on.

As for space issues, at least at MEL QF *could* do something if they wanted. Now that EK has moved out of the space next to the QF F lounge over Gate 11, QF could take over that space and make it a dedicated J lounge, then the current basement J lounge could become a QP/oneworld lounge.

It could work if other lounge owners in OW were willing to be involved (for example CX).. That way all the QP members and OWS could use the basement lounge, those flying in Business on QF or OW airlines could use the ex-EK space, which could also share some items with the F lounge if they wanted due to proximity, and the current QF F lounge.

SYD is probably a different mater, but I am sure a similar rationalisation could occur if one wanted.

I'm not saying this is something that will happen but it could IMHO.

 

[serfty]

Re: SYD J Lounge

Its for things such as this that I choose not to fall back to my life time SG while I continue to be able to attain WP.

 

[mviy]

Re: SYD J Lounge

As for space issues, at least at MEL QF *could* do something if they wanted. Now that EK has moved out of the space next to the QF F lounge over Gate 11, QF could take over that space and make it a dedicated J lounge, then the current basement J lounge could become a QP/oneworld lounge...I'm not saying this is something that will happen but it could IMHO.

That would be good. The current J lounge offering in MEL is very poor for those paying for J all the way to LHR and the lounge in SYD is a little better. If QANTAS gets their way and flights to NZ leave the Domestic terminal that could also help. With less short international flights using the lounges they might feel they can justify providing a better lounge as those visiting are paying more for their flights.

Its for things such as this that I choose not to fall back to my life time SG while I continue to be able to attain WP.

Having reached WP I'm very keen to keep it while I can, but the safety net of LTG is a long way off for me. I don't think I could justify going for WP without the LTG target to aim for.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Re: SYD J Lounge

fly out of BNE, it is a very nice , clean and modern lounge with great views

I've seen the pics and would be keen to try out the BNE lounge - looks like a big step up from SYD/MEL. Unfortunately my next few trips are to MNL so BNE is a no go for me.

Sounds like you were there for breakfast? Wait until lunchtime onwards if you really want to see a mess, the far left hand end is more akin to an RSL on ANZAC Day (without the two-up).

Yes I was there for QF81 and arrived around 0930. By 10am it was chockers and the poor staff were trying their best but they didn't have any room or budget to work with. I was lining up for scrambled egg slop dreaming about a mimosa in the F lounge upstairs when I dropped out of the line and refused to subject myself to such an experience LOL!!

I made the mistake a couple months ago by not realising I could use the Emirates lounge on a QF ticket

If I am ever in the same spot again with a group I will definitely try the EK lounge - there is no way it could be worse than what we experienced last week!

So one is proposing a First lounge, a Business Lounge, and a Qantas Club in International terminals such as SYD and MEL.
Never going to happen.

Needs to happen if QF wish to put their customers first. You cannot have so many PAX accessing the one lounge in their home hub - the volume ex-SYD certainly warrants lounge upgrades for both QP and J - Alan Joyce needs to make another 'enhancement' of the positive kind and not treat PAX like animal herds.

Probably something to do with the fact that the staff in SIN/HK cost 20% of what they do in Australia

Nothing to do with staffing levels. The hard product is a joke. Incredibly small and impractical space for such high volume of PAX, old dirty carpet and tiles, old decrepit chairs with way too many bum hours clocked up.

Staff were not the issue. I was also in the SIN and HKG lounges last week and staff levels didn't seem overly huge. The hard product in both locations is fantastic - modern, stylish, bright and new with several different areas for eating, relaxing, reading, computing, etc. All the features that SYD (and MEL) home hub J lounges are severely lacking in.

 

[muppet]

Re: SYD J Lounge

Given the announcements in the SYD QF J lounge, it seems they sell access to heaps of other airlines. Surely they could cut back on that?

 

[moa999]

Re: SYD J Lounge

As for space issues, at least at MEL QF *could* do something if they wanted. Now that EK has moved out of the space next to the QF F lounge over Gate 11, QF could take over that space and make it a dedicated J lounge, then the current basement J lounge could become a QP/oneworld lounge.
.

I don't think MEL has an issue with crowding though, and I shift enough space to relocate everything upstairs. Just think the MEL J needs a large overhaul (even if it's introducing fake outside views and skylights - eg BA SIN, and CX HKG Pier

SYD lounges have the space issues but no obvious solution, and the airport seems to have dropped prior plans for a oneworld / the rest redevelopment creating a new pier where the current QF maint sheds are

 

[eminere]

Re: SYD J Lounge

Given the announcements in the SYD QF J lounge, it seems they sell access to heaps of other airlines. Surely they could cut back on that?

If there's money to be made...

 

[Spongbob]

Re: SYD J Lounge

As QF's Sydney Int J lounge has the overcrowding problem, rather than create new a lounge there is this option: Int J becomes QP; Int F becomes mixed J and F; CL becomes mixed Cl, P1 and (QF only) F.

 

[Pleb Status]

Re: SYD J Lounge

If QF would stop creating 'fake status' with DSC promotions etc then any capacity problems may resolve themselves with no further intervention required.

 

[Pushka]

Re: SYD J International Lounge [- not good]

When they combine J and F into one lounge then all that seems to happen is they downgrade F to J levels.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Re: SYD J Lounge

As QF's Sydney Int J lounge has the overcrowding problem, rather than create new a lounge there is this option: Int J becomes QP; Int F becomes mixed J and F; CL becomes mixed Cl, P1 and (QF only) F.

Where is the CL Lounge at Syd ?

I Don't believe your proposal solves the problem with the J lounge without creating many others.

 

[Spongbob]

Re: SYD J Lounge

Where is the CL Lounge at Syd ?

You mean you don't know?

 

[serfty]

Re: SYD J Lounge

Where is the CL Lounge at Syd ?

...

Don't think there is one at SYD T1 ... They use the First lounge.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Re: SYD J Lounge

Don't think there is one at SYD T1 ... They use the First lounge.

yes that was my understanding

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Re: SYD J International Lounge [- not good]

If QF would stop creating 'fake status' with DSC promotions etc then any capacity problems may resolve themselves with no further intervention required.

This won't happen. Along with all the credit card promotions for massive points it drives business to QF and in turn more PAX learn about status and aspire to reach higher levels. We could also shut down this forum right? Surely has helped many a person get higher up the ladder and right into the overcrowded J lounge

When they combine J and F into one lounge then all that seems to happen is they downgrade F to J levels.

True. The SIN and HKG combined lounges while great are not fantastic like the F lounge is, however the divide between the J and F lounge in Sydney at least is now horrendously large, and unacceptably so in my books.

If I was a generic Qantas customer with no status and for whatever reason had purchased a $10k J fare to Europe and rocked up to the Sydney J lounge to partake in some luxury I would be turned off Qantas for life!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: SYD J International Lounge [- not good]

If I was a generic Qantas customer with no status and for whatever reason had purchased a $10k J fare to Europe and rocked up to the Sydney J lounge to partake in some luxury I would be turned off Qantas for life!

Don't worry - if the lounge didn't do it the hardware on board would... drooping seats, glacial meal service and sharing WCs with PEY :shock:

(might as well set expectations in the lounge before departure!)

 

[Reeldeel]

Re: SYD J International Lounge [- not good]

I live in a regional centre in QLD. The local lounge here is so overcrowded that there it has been standing room only the last two visits and I have had to turn around and adjourn to the airport cafe.
I realise this is about SYD J but the reason for the local problem here is more related to the fact that the flight schedules are grouped together and I am not sure why, perhaps an agreement between the airlines and the company who manages our airport.

Im wondering does this impact SYD as well and influence the lounge crowds?

 

[harvyk]

Re: SYD J International Lounge [- not good]

I live in a regional centre in QLD. The local lounge here is so overcrowded that there it has been standing room only the last two visits and I have had to turn around and adjourn to the airport cafe.
I realise this is about SYD J but the reason for the local problem here is more related to the fact that the flight schedules are grouped together and I am not sure why, perhaps an agreement between the airlines and the company who manages our airport.

Im wondering does this impact SYD as well and influence the lounge crowds?

In part it's to do with flight schedules, there are certainly peak and non peak times, but the lounge is also very small. I would guess it's got the same capacity as some smaller capital city airport QP's, but unlike the smaller cities it serves some very large aircraft in one of Australia's main entry points.

The other side of the coin is that it looks old, it doesn't have that "premium" feel that many of the international lounges (and now BNE) has. Considering that some ppl have paid bug dollars to be in there it doesn't exactly put QFs best foot forwards