Sydney First Lounge

[Mal]

Are they able to handle non-QF flights?

Dave

I'm very sure they were able to give me a LAN BP last time I flew...

 

[anat0l]

Ah, talk of decent cheese and dessert wines...give me a De Bertoli Noble One any day and any number of cheeses or a citrus or lime tart.

Still got about 10 bottles (most half bottles) in my cellar - now to find friends who like it...:shock:

Woo hoo! :mrgreen: Here's another dessert wine drinker right here! De Bortoli is nice but often served by the bottle, and one bottle for one person is often crushing on one's constitution (if it isn't already crushing on one's wallet!)

Nothing like a modest dessert accompanied with a glass of dessert wine. (Note modest: the sweeter a dessert, the less likely it will blend with the wine.) Also great as a post-meal drink (or my other favourite sweetner Baileys on the rocks).

I like most cheeses, pates and wines. The problem with me is that I'm not cultured (pun intended :mrgreen enough to distinguish between all of them properly. In other words, for wine, I have only two categories: it tastes good, it doesn't taste good. That's it. Not "full bodied", "hints of berries" etc. etc. Same with cheese.

As a new SG, no FLounge for me yet, but I know there is some great food in there. Of course, since I don't often FLounge, perhaps the psychosomatic effect of "it doesn't often happen, so you enjoy it" may be responsible for some bias towards the actual quality of the food, but there doesn't seem to be many comments I've seen about the FLounge food being of very ordinary (or less) quality (c.f. domestic QC or JL food offerings).

 

[chooms]

½ the Jetconnect flights within NZ are 734 wich have 16 millenium seats at the front.

As a QF WP, you have a very good chance of scoring one of these seats on the one class flights. (Forward preference essential).

Yep, 2A was most certainly a millenium seat.

It was quite funny actually, as soon as the door closed about 10 people asked to move up from the Y seats to the 3 empty J seats and there was a little bit of a fracas.... the 3 spare seats were filled though!

It seemed as though there was not as much legroom as the AUS Dom J Millenium seat cabins but I could be wrong.

All they handed out on the flight was an apple which felt a tad odd while sitting in a J seat!

PS for the record... not liking no stamps in the passport!!!

 

[simongr]

Woo hoo! :mrgreen: Here's another dessert wine drinker right here! De Bortoli is nice but often served by the bottle, and one bottle for one person is often crushing on one's constitution (if it isn't already crushing on one's wallet!)

Try and find Cookoothama - lovely dessert wine.

 

[anat0l]

All they handed out on the flight was an apple which felt a tad odd while sitting in a J seat!

This is NZ dom right?

They usually give you an alternative of something or apple. The something may be a cake, biscuits, quiche, fudge or sandwich.

If it was just an apple then this is ridiculous.

As for the J seat incident I didn't even know people could or would do that. As for the fracas I wonder if they managed to sort it out with civility (first-come-first-served or by status). Either way, that's rather a hoot.

 

[chooms]

This is NZ dom right?

They usually give you an alternative of something or apple. The something may be a cake, biscuits, quiche, fudge or sandwich.

If it was just an apple then this is ridiculous.

As for the J seat incident I didn't even know people could or would do that. As for the fracas I wonder if they managed to sort it out with civility (first-come-first-served or by status). Either way, that's rather a hoot.

Well technically it was NZ Y that I was in... it was just a Millenium seat. I was just handed an apple so I assume that is all there was! Plus it was a very short flight so I wasnt fussed.

Yea it was sorted out - it was the first three people that asked.

 

[Danger]

I was fortunate enough to be in the Sydney FLounge this morning and I noticed some small changes: some miniscule and probably irrelevant, some perhaps not so.

First, the Payot moisturiser jar has disappeared from the shower suites, as has the rather sturdy razor (replaced now with some cheaper version by Bic, I think). Also gone is the rather nice white hair brush in the plastic bag. I think the soap has changed also. It's now a small round cake, the same as that used in the domestic J lounges (ie. Eucalyptus and something).

Second - and I know this is small - no more serviettes which say 'Qantas First Lounge', just simply 'Qantas Lounges'.

Third, a host of staff in the dining area I'd never seen before (although it has been several months since I was last there). Their attention to detail was a little on the lax side (eg. served my main course without supplying new utensils after clearing them with my entree; failing to deliver my glass of water; spilling an espresso on another passenger (accidents happen, though)). And no sign of that rather professional older silver-haired gentleman with, I think, an American accent.

The food was outstanding, though.

 

[Febs]

And no sign of that rather professional older silver-haired gentleman with, I think, an American accent.

Asian bloke who often minds the door? He was there a week ago, but there's been the odd time when he hasn't been around. Can't work 7 days a week!

Nice guy.

 

[anat0l]

I've found the service in the SYD F lounge getting more and more towards average rather than excellent. Perhaps its that since I've been in so many times the 'novelty' factor of being in the F lounge rather than the self-service (i.e. DIY) J lounge is wearing off. So your expectations have to be lowered otherwise you will ultimately end up disappointed.

I sometimes find shower suites that are devoid of the Payot cream. Sometimes I think this is because the suites aren't refreshed often enough after they are used, or aren't fully restocked, or people are simply going in and taking them. After all, they make wonderful gifts for ladies....young or young-wannabe :mrgreen: I also found that the soap last time was one Kevin Murphy and one Eucalyptus, or two Eucalyptus in some suites. And yes the cheap razors do rear their ugly heads hither and thither.

I see some restaurant staff regulars who are still around - in fact, one served me the last time I was in the SYD FL (1 Nov going to Europe). But I also see many new faces; not too surprisingly, it seems that the turnover rate of staff is moderately high.

I find that it is impossible to get anything greater than a 30 min appointment for the Spa, and that's even if you can get an appointment. Often, this will also rub out the option for a massage. My last few appointments (if I've actually booked one) have been a foot scrub and a facial. I haven't tried prebooking yet, but you need to be flying QF F for that to happen (and no do not say WP or OWE or any oneworld F - because I have already tried and/or asked!) The Payot lady I was talking to last time and who was giving my treatment said that they are absolutely swamped everyday with appointments to the point that it's almost becoming unmanageable (the guarantee, though, is that every QF F pax will be entitled for a treatment).

Despite the SYD F Lounge looking very much more busy and perhaps showing some "breakdown" signs, it is still a great lounge. On the whole, the staff are still quite attentive, if mechanistically.

 

[JohnK]

I've found the service in the SYD F lounge getting more and more towards average rather than excellent.

Yes I have said it before but isn't a lounge just a lounge? The novelty does wear off after a while.

I sometimes find shower suites that are devoid of the Payot cream.

What is Payot cream? I am not even going to bother to Google it. I am glad my expectations are low.

But I also see many new faces; not too surprisingly, it seems that the turnover rate of staff is moderately high.

Waiters? I would be extremely surprised if any lounge staff would/should make a career out of working there.

Despite the SYD F Lounge looking very much more busy and perhaps showing some "breakdown" signs, it is still a great lounge.

Still a much better lounge than most around the world....

 

[Gold Member]

I find that it is impossible to get anything greater than a 30 min appointment for the Spa, and that's even if you can get an appointment.

I was in SYD Flounge a couple of weeks ago and enquired about the chances of the 50 minute service. I was told that although the Spa 'menu' offered a 50 minute service, this was never offered in reality since they are always so busy and therefore a 30 minute session max.

BTW, has anyone ever used the showers in the spa rooms? After they towel you off to remove the massage oil I've never really felt the need to shower.

And for the record using my two cents worth, MEL FLounge is far more personal and enjoyable than SYD!

 

[Febs]

And for the record using my two cents worth, MEL FLounge is far more personal and enjoyable than SYD!

I'd heard this a lot and figured it was just typical Sydney-bashing from Melbournites (), but having visited the MEL Flounge last week I'd have to say I agree on the 'personal' part. Not that I have any issues whatsoever with the SYD staff (I think they're great), but the MEL lounge definitely had more of a "personal service" feel.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Flying Fox]

How do you pre-book the spa service? Is there a phone number that you need to call?

 

[serfty]

How do you pre-book the spa service? Is there a phone number that you need to call?

Travel in First Class on Qantas and they should call you!

 

[simongr]

I'd heard this a lot and figured it was just typical Sydney-bashing from Melbournites (), but having visited the MEL Flounge last week I'd have to say I agree on the 'personal' part. Not that I have any issues whatsoever with the SYD staff (I think they're great), but the MEL lounge definitely had more of a "personal service" feel.

Cheers,
- Febs.

I have been only once to the MEL F lounge but my biggest issue was that it seemed so hot...

 

[Flying Fox]

Travel in First Class on Qantas and they should call you!

That's what I thought. For a minute I was worried that I missed something.

 

[djfuzz]

Travel in First Class on Qantas and they should call you!

Just to clarify - does this mean that WPs can't prebook?

Seeing as they don't sell F on QF29/30 any more, would they even bother keeping the spa open late if it was only to be used by pleb WPs (and guests ) travelling in J?

 

[drewbles]

Just to clarify - does this mean that WPs can't prebook?

Seeing as they don't sell F on QF29/30 any more, would they even bother keeping the spa open late if it was only to be used by pleb WPs (and guests ) travelling in J?

Correct. Pre-booking of spa is *only* for F travelling pax, regardless of status. If you want a Spa treatment for WP it's first come first served for available space, if they have any.

 

[Febs]

Correct. Pre-booking of spa is *only* for F travelling pax

..and CL's travelling in any class, as far as I know.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[serfty]

WP's generally can't pre-book.

However, since for QF29 there's currently no F for the next months it may be worth calling and asking.