SYD Named 5th Most Luxurious Airport in the world

[clifford]

The Skyteam lounge is just an extension of the Plaza Premium lounge upstairs but branded as Skyteam with a tiny bit more food.

If I had to rate the lounges at Sydney T1 (noting the only one I haven't been to is SQ F). Curious to hear if others agree.

1. Qantas First Lounges (spa, great table service food and good views)
2. Singapore Airlines First Lounge (only one I haven't been to - basing this off numerous positive reviews/only other F lounge)
3. Emirates Lounge (best non first lounge in terms of food and drinks)
4. Singapore Airlines Business Lounge (good food selection plus a solid drinks selection)
5. The House (when the buffet is going they've got a good selections plus slightly better drinks then Air NZ)
6. Air New Zealand (almost put it at 5th as it's often got a solid food service prior to Air NZ flights)
7. SkyTeam (nicer than Qantas but only slightly due to more food and better newer space)
9. Qantas Business (needs a reno asap - need I say more - arrive at the wrong time and only hot food could be a soup)
8. Centurion (often really busy, food limited to a very average single main meal per entry and average drinks)
10. Plaza Premium (it's the old Amex space which is tiny, food is limited and average drinks)

Sorry, but I don't agree with your assessment.

I'd switch 1 and 2 (having been in both). I find the service in QF 1st can be rather condescending, whereas the service in SQ 1st is, well, Singapore Airlines, ie flawless.

Emirates is always a favourite of mine and would retain its place as No. 3. SQ J at 4 is a no brainer.

Then there's the also-rans. I would put the QF J lounge at No, 5 (don't let the slightly worn furniture put you off), the food, drinks and natural light are not too bad. NZ at No. 6 is about right, and The House I would rate just above the Amex lounge, at No. 8.

The others as suggested, but not worth a visit unless you don't have an alternative.

 

[fly2earth]

Sorry, but I don't agree with your assessment.

I'd switch 1 and 2 (having been in both). I find the service in QF 1st can be rather condescending, whereas the service in SQ 1st is, well, Singapore Airlines, ie flawless.

Emirates is always a favourite of mine and would retain its place as No. 3. SQ J at 4 is a no brainer.

Then there's the also-rans. I would put the QF J lounge at No, 5 (don't let the slightly worn furniture put you off), the food, drinks and natural light are not too bad. NZ at No. 6 is about right, and The House I would rate just above the Amex lounge, at No. 8.

The others as suggested, but not worth a visit unless you don't have an alternative.

Glad I'm not missing out on much by not having a Black Card

 

[fly2earth]

Wow … the QF J lounge has plummeted since 2018, if the Skyteam lounge is now better than it! In 2018, Skyteam meant a red or a white (if you asked & waited), a VB, and maybe half a stale Jatz …

Which is quite surprising since Skyteam consists of lower-tier Asian airlines in emerging markets (eg. non-Singapore, ANA, JAL, Asiana, Cathay...). Not saying that they are bad but there is a reason why they chose to join Skyteam instead of Star Alliance (big boy club only). The only big player in Skyteam is Delta.

 

[jase05]

Can you please detail why you think that is?

Overall IMO the QF J lounge isn't that bad. I always give it a visit when flying ex SYD (after lunch in the F lounge), and sometimes don't return to F, if I can snag a nice window seat with power point.

I much prefer the self-service aspect to the variable waiter service in F.

But, YMMV.

I think the food in QF J can be quite boring and I’ve posted photos before of how tired and grotty the furniture is. I really don’t think stained and ripped seats are great but each to their own.
SkyTeam lounge is open and airy and has new and comfortable furniture plus has a pretty good cooking counter serving tasty noodles and other dishes as opposed to the slop in the QF J lounge that is usually some unappealing curry or meat dish. If I had the choice of either I’d take the ST lounge over the QF J lounge everyday but as you said YMMV
If you have access to the QF F lounge at SYD though I wouldn’t even bother going to the QF J lounge.

 

[Forg]

Which is quite surprising since Skyteam consists of lower-tier Asian airlines in emerging markets

Since it’s improved so much since mid 2018, which is really only 3 years if you remove the limbo; mebbe it’s just the newness of the refurb at play vs QF J being … a couple of decades since they changed anything?

 

[fly2earth]

the food in QF J can be quite boring and I’ve posted photos before of how tired and grotty the furniture is

A polite way of saying Qantas is so forking cheap. Which is ironic since to me Qantas is the most unique airline company out of all the airlines in the world. How many airlines can carry a big fat forking kangaroo logo that represents the spirit of Straya where crocodiles snakes and sharks and lethal spiders coexist with humans on a day to day basis?

 

[Matt_01]

Quite rediculous scores with repect to use of airports etc. Who actually buys overpriced junk from the supposed "luxury" stores in airports when it's cheaper outside?

It’s not cheaper outside though.
The vast majority of the luxury boutiques in these airports are brands that don’t do discounts.

Getting them duty free is a discount over buying the same stock at a boutique in the CBD.
Could always claim TRS etc but why bother if the item you want is available at the Airport?

I cannot understand why Rolex or their ADs pay for retail space airside when they have no product available for sale. Rolex aside Mrs&MissM are normally quite canny when it come to cosmetics and perfumes and will only purchase airside if it is a saving over landside.

 

[RooFlyer]

I think the food in QF J can be quite boring and I’ve posted photos before of how tired and grotty the furniture is. I really don’t think stained and ripped seats are great but each to their own.

Exactly. And the last couple of times I've been there the service has been poor too - as I said at the time, they are suffering from the shortage of trained hospitality staff as everyone else.

Place doesn't need a full refurb, just a replacement of those horribly battered seats.

 

[stm1sydney]

Maybe they are just equating expensive with luxury.

 

[stm1sydney]

Dunno about the durries, but "duty free" booze (local or in OS airports) isn't worth bothering anymore either, you spend $2k+ on an airfare & then go through the hassle of saving all of $20 on a really nice scottle of botch ...

SIN Lotte DF: A$25 for Tanqueray 1L 47% versus Dan Murphy A$70 Tanqueray 1L 40%. Not to be sneezed at (when buying up to your allowance of 2L).

 

[RealtimeY]

The Skyteam lounge is just an extension of the Plaza Premium lounge upstairs but branded as Skyteam with a tiny bit more food.

If I had to rate the lounges at Sydney T1 (noting the only one I haven't been to is SQ F). Curious to hear if others agree.

1. Qantas First Lounges (spa, great table service food and good views)
2. Singapore Airlines First Lounge (only one I haven't been to - basing this off numerous positive reviews/only other F lounge)
3. Emirates Lounge (best non first lounge in terms of food and drinks)
4. Singapore Airlines Business Lounge (good food selection plus a solid drinks selection)
5. The House (when the buffet is going they've got a good selections plus slightly better drinks then Air NZ)
6. Air New Zealand (almost put it at 5th as it's often got a solid food service prior to Air NZ flights)
7. SkyTeam (nicer than Qantas but only slightly due to more food and better newer space)
9. Qantas Business (needs a reno asap - need I say more - arrive at the wrong time and only hot food could be a soup)
8. Centurion (often really busy, food limited to a very average single main meal per entry and average drinks)
10. Plaza Premium (it's the old Amex space which is tiny, food is limited and average drinks)

I'd place Plaza Premium above Centurion purely because it isn't a dungeon. However, if hot food matters to you, then QF J is probably last.

However, looking at the list I admit that SYD does have a reasonable choice of lounges. There are large airports with far worse out there.

I find the service in QF 1st can be rather condescending

I've found the hospitality staff to be incompetent, let alone condescending. It seems to be a training ground of some sort.

 

[tdimdad]

I find the service in QF 1st can be rather condescending

Pheew! Here I had been thinking I just don't get them. I feel like I'm in the wrong place.
If there are more of us feeling like this, perhaps it's them not getting some of their customers...

 

[Forg]

SIN Lotte DF: A$25 for Tanqueray 1L 47% versus Dan Murphy A$70 Tanqueray 1L 40%. Not to be sneezed at (when buying up to your allowance of 2L).

That’s not too bad; but compared to the cost & effort of a trip even just to Southeast Asia that saving of $90 all-up really ain’t that much, even the return train trip to the airport chews up half of that.

 

[stm1sydney]

That’s not too bad; but compared to the cost & effort of a trip even just to Southeast Asia that saving of $90 all-up really ain’t that much, even the return train trip to the airport chews up half of that.

No additional effort (or cost) if you are transiting SIN anyway. Bottles are delivered to your seat on the plane. Easier than going to Dan's.

 

[Forg]

No additional effort (or cost) if you are transiting SIN anyway. Bottles are delivered to your seat on the plane. Easier than going to Dan's.

OK, if you frame it in terms of "WTF am I going to do with myself while waiting for the next flight?" then you've convinced me.

 

[stm1sydney]

OK, if you frame it in terms of "WTF am I going to do with myself while waiting for the next flight?" then you've convinced me.

Got me in one. I am a sad and unimportant person, whereas you are very important and every minute of your life you are doing great benefit to mankind.

 

[n7of9]

The fact that I'm forced to walk through luxury brand offerings in places like airports and ground floor DJ's before I can get to something actually useful just makes me hate their existence even more. Useless wastes of space.

 

[SYD]

The fact that I'm forced to walk through luxury brand offerings in places like airports and ground floor DJ's before I can get to something actually useful just makes me hate their existence even more. Useless wastes of space.

Yet, they must sell a bag now and then otherwise no one would open one (the shops that is)?

 

[clifford]

And the last couple of times I've been there the service has been poor

What service are you referring to? I must have missed it on my visits there.

But as I've said, I do quite like the J lounge, as I think it's rather homely, and battered furniture doesn't cause me any discomfort, as when you've got a couple of German Shepherds roaming your loungeroom you're quite used to it.

And surely self-pour beats snooty bartender service?

 

[Forg]

whereas you are very important and every minute of your life you are doing great benefit to mankind.

You’re the very first person ever to recognise this after 53 years … I’m sure everyone else will follow shortly!