What is the attraction of lounges?

[agentgerko]

My favourite part of Lounging is the VA Express Entry in Sydney domestic. The private baggage and security is great. Apart from that I just have either a coffee or a juice so the food means nothing to me. I do enjoy the peace that some lounges provide but others have become so big and crowded that Its debatable whether outside might not be quieter. Between the noisy little kids and the bunches of FIFO blokes in their high viz shirts, most of the domestic lounges are hardly business-friendly any more. And if you're around when a couple of A380's are getting ready to load, the international lounges can be even busier. Don't get me wrong, I do value entry, but where once upon a time each airline had its own discrete little lounge, now there are just these huge lounges that get shared by a dozen or more airlines and just finding a seat can be a trial.

 

[11sjw]

Having watched my status plummet down to the current LT Silver I'm about to extinguish the QP membership given when I dropped from gold. @Nat Z has almost convinced me to pony up for a year's QP. Need to do some numbers on how much work travel is anticipated.

 

[beardoc]

I love your excitement NatZ. Thank you for posting as it's easy to become used to the lounge benefits. Clean amenities and showers are a godsend when travelling, as well as wifi and a snack when you are waiting or when there are flight delays.

I keep on trying to remind myself how amazing it is flying with status by periodically going to check in the usual way, sit at the gate rather than in the lounge, board in the usual line and not the priority line. It just helps me to keep grounded and so the next time I come to the airport I'm a lot more grateful for what the airlines are offering me.

And any time I'm in a lounge that I think is not as good, I still try to remember that it's a lot better than trying to buy that $8 coffee in the terminal and sitting somewhere in row after row of seats at gates. Or at places like LHR, in those large cattle pens, waiting for the gate number to be assigned.

People don't understand why I love travelling, but then they don't realise how different it is for many of us compared to them.

And so flying still excites me, even in Y long haul.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Hey beardoc, haven't heard from you for ages! Welcome back.

 

[dfagan]

Currently sitting in the KAL business class lounge in LAX as flying on China Airlnes to Sydney via TPE. What a shoddy affair this is. Ok. I know I am picky but really: chardonnay ONLY and two red wines. No spirits apart from Jack Daniels and Ballantynes. I asked a worker here and qas told they put the vodka away at 2000 (it being 2100 when we got here and the CI flight departs at 0010. No sparkling wine let alone champagne. A few sandwiches and very old soggy pizzas slices are sitting sadly on the bench. Ooops. I almost forgot the most edible offering here —- cup of noodles!!!!! This is the return portion of a Sydney to North America trip and I cannot fault CI apart from this choice of lounge partner. SYD to TPE then TPE to JFK were really amazing flights for me as a first time CI flyer: food, service, quality was surprisingly good and their business class product overall was excellent. Their LAX lounge however is pretty downmarket and disappointing

 

[beardoc]

Hey beardoc, haven't heard from you for ages! Welcome back.

It's been a while. Now that I have big ATO bills, I found myself coming back to look for the best option, and will try to stay a bit more!

 

[Natalie Z]

Your next challenge should be Hotel lounges, as there are some, in my opinion, far better than most airline lounges. Bangkok Marriott Marquis, JW in BKK & KUL just but a few. With status comes the upgraded rooms and other things.

Currently sitting in the KAL business class lounge in LAX as flying on China Airlnes to Sydney via TPE. What a shoddy affair this is. Ok. I know I am picky but really: chardonnay ONLY and two red wines. No spirits apart from Jack Daniels and Ballantynes. I asked a worker here and qas told they put the vodka away at 2000 (it being 2100 when we got here and the CI flight departs at 0010. No sparkling wine let alone champagne. A few sandwiches and very old soggy pizzas slices are sitting sadly on the bench. Ooops. I almost forgot the most edible offering here —- cup of noodles!!!!! This is the return portion of a Sydney to North America trip and I cannot fault CI apart from this choice of lounge partner. SYD to TPE then TPE to JFK were really amazing flights for me as a first time CI flyer: food, service, quality was surprisingly good and their business class product overall was excellent. Their LAX lounge however is pretty downmarket and disappointing

Wow, that actually does sounds pretty disappointing. I think that I recall someone in America saying that their lounges weren’t all that great and that the standard is higher in Australia.

 

[bertair]

Yes, Airline Lounges can be a haven, or a hell, depending on the airline and the times you go to the lounge. Around noon to 1400 hours in the QF International lounge at Syd, it has been packed when I have visited, probably with many there to join to SYD/DFW flight, or CX to HKG.Noisy kid uncontrolled kids, make it even worse at school holiday times.
My gripe with most lounges are that they are a closed shop to arriving pax.
My schedule doesn't usually allow for visits prior to departure.It is rare for me to use a lounge prior to departure.
I use them when in transit, but with the $$$$ paid for Club membership or the price of a Business Class,or First Class fare, added to one's loyalty by flying regularly to earn Gold or Platinum status, there is still no consideration given to an arriving passenger when after a long flight, or overnight flight, a lounge would be most welcome to have a shower, relax or a snack before hitting the tasks ahead.
I may be in the minority, but I am sure there are many among you who would cherish a lounge on arrival rather than departure.

 

[11sjw]

Yes, Airline Lounges can be a haven, or a hell, depending on the airline and the times you go to the lounge. Around noon to 1400 hours in the QF International lounge at Syd, it has been packed when I have visited, probably with many there to join to SYD/DFW flight, or CX to HKG.Noisy kid uncontrolled kids, make it even worse at school holiday times.
My gripe with most lounges are that they are a closed shop to arriving pax.
My schedule doesn't usually allow for visits prior to departure.It is rare for me to use a lounge prior to departure.
I use them when in transit, but with the $$$$ paid for Club membership or the price of a Business Class,or First Class fare, added to one's loyalty by flying regularly to earn Gold or Platinum status, there is still no consideration given to an arriving passenger when after a long flight, or overnight flight, a lounge would be most welcome to have a shower, relax or a snack before hitting the tasks ahead.
I may be in the minority, but I am sure there are many among you who would cherish a lounge on arrival rather than departure.

Platinum's do get access after their flights or has that been enhanced out in recent times?

I do agree that F or J fares should include after flight access. How this is achieved logistically with intl travel (easy enough domestically in Oz) I'm unsure, would it require arrivals lounges?

 

[JessicaTam]

Platinum's do get access after their flights or has that been enhanced out in recent times?

Arrival's access is still available for WPs.

 

[Cult of one]

Platinum's do get access after their flights or has that been enhanced out in recent times?

I do agree that F or J fares should include after flight access. How this is achieved logistically with intl travel (easy enough domestically in Oz) I'm unsure, would it require arrivals lounges?

on VA domestic as both Gold and WP I have received lounge access on arrival with a boarding pass, card, smile and a quick "hi I just need to use a clean toilet please" and the angels let me in. I always make sure to thank them on the way out. Love the VA angels.

 

[Natalie Z]

Platinum's do get access after their flights or has that been enhanced out in recent times?

I do agree that F or J fares should include after flight access. How this is achieved logistically with intl travel (easy enough domestically in Oz) I'm unsure, would it require arrivals lounges?

Forgive me for my ignorance here, but does that mean that if you get a Qantas platinum one credit card then you can have lounge access on arrival?

Edit: Oh. I think WP is something different to Platinum One, if that's even really a thing. I really don't know much about anything.

 

[JessicaTam]

Forgive me for my ignorance here, but does that mean that if you get a Qantas platinum one credit card then you can have lounge access on arrival?

Edit: Oh. I think WP is something different to Platinum One, if that's even really a thing. I really don't know much about anything.

An AFF acronym ...

WP = W@nker Platinum. I.e. Platinum status with QF.
Platinum One (P1) is the next level up. Nothing to do with platinum credit cards.

 

[Natalie Z]

An AFF acronym ...

WP = W@nker Platinum. I.e. Platinum status with QF.
Platinum One (P1) is the next level up. Nothing to do with platinum credit cards.

Yep. Just realised after doing a little research. It seems that you can only be P1 if you've accumulated enough points/status credits. Bugger. I would just love lounge access on arrival.

 

[JessicaTam]

Yep. Just realised after doing a little research. It seems that you can only be P1 if you've accumulated enough points/status credits. Bugger. I would just love lounge access on arrival.

Platinums get arrival's access too, if that helps!

 

[11sjw]

Yep. Just realised after doing a little research. It seems that you can only be P1 if you've accumulated enough points/status credits. Bugger. I would just love lounge access on arrival.

It is good. Back in the day I'd get to PER at 0430 and arrive back there at 1900ish the same day as a weekly event. Grabbing dinner and a shower on the way out made life much easier.

 

[Chris Triebe]

I too shared Nat Z's excitement some years ago when I was travelling internationally a lot. Being a loyal QF flyer I heard of the lounges and ended up paying the money for a lifetime membership. I have certainly got my value out of that membership through QF, BA and AA lounges as has my partner who has been travelling with me over the last 8 years or so. I have flown some definite pterodactyl airlines and enjoy Qantas' safety record and as has been noted on this site by other members, feel like I am almost home by walking onto the 747 or A380.
What I am now finding is that in many cases, the loyalty I have shown by paying the premium price for a seat and membership, isn't really being returned by the company. We flew an EK codeshare from Aust to Istanbul via Dubai and had a 7.5hr wait in Dubai. Because we weren't on a QF ticket and not flying business, weren't allowed entry to a lounge. To make matters worse, we weren't able to leave the terminal because we were told we had to be there for a minimum 9 hrs. The same thing happened in LHR where we were there for the mandatory pre-departure time and we weren't allowed into the lounge.
We certainly enjoy the lack of hustle and bustle, the quality of the food and the ability to read a paper and not be disturbed. However, while I don't fly as much international as I used to and am therefore on a bronze membership due to the infrequent interstate travel, I find it disappointing that a life membership is over-looked in the manner it is.

 

[Natalie Z]

What I am now finding is that in many cases, the loyalty I have shown by paying the premium price for a seat and membership, isn't really being returned by the company. We flew an EK codeshare from Aust to Istanbul via Dubai and had a 7.5hr wait in Dubai. Because we weren't on a QF ticket and not flying business, weren't allowed entry to a lounge. To make matters worse, we weren't able to leave the terminal because we were told we had to be there for a minimum 9 hrs. The same thing happened in LHR where we were there for the mandatory pre-departure time and we weren't allowed into the lounge.
We certainly enjoy the lack of hustle and bustle, the quality of the food and the ability to read a paper and not be disturbed. However, while I don't fly as much international as I used to and am therefore on a bronze membership due to the infrequent interstate travel, I find it disappointing that a life membership is over-looked in the manner it is.

How terribly disappointing. I am disappointed that I will not be able to use the lounge in DPS (it isn't a Qantas Club however a QC member travelling on a QF can use it). I will be flying Jetstar. It's a little unfortunate.

I really just want to get back to the lounge in Adelaide. I really only live a ten minute drive from the airport, so I was contemplating just buying a $45 Jetstar sale ticket to Melbourne or something, getting my boarding pass, and then just using the lounge for a few hours (and not jumping on the flight) LOL. I'm so excited to use it again and I won't have the opportunity for several months as my next flight is with VA from SYD -- CNS.

 

[juddles]

Have never used on-arrival lounge access - usually in too much of a hurry. But just to check with those that do, if I arrive in BNE on a domestic QF flight, can I go in to the Business lounge and have a shower? (P1 status)

 

[Hvr]

I was contemplating just buying a $45 Jetstar sale ticket to Melbourne or something

Get two tickets and visit a lounge in another state. If you travel to Melbourne make sure it is actually MEL and not AVV, no lounges there.