What is the attraction of lounges?

[GSP]

Thanks very much for the info.
My issue is that I don’t have status - I have a red card, however I am a qantas club member. I wonder, if I went in on arrival during a quieter time, if they’d let me in.

What do you think?

I've no idea how they differentiate between a QFF Gold (or Plat) member and a Qantas Club member, but I'd guess it would be OK. If it was outside busy times (actually Adelaide doesn't get that busy. Maybe on departure next time, just check that it is OK with the people at the desk.

Cheers

 

[jase05]

Thanks very much for the info.
My issue is that I don’t have status - I have a red card, however I am a qantas club member. I wonder, if I went in on arrival during a quieter time, if they’d let me in.

What do you think?

My understanding is that QF club or VA lounge memberships don’t allow access on arrival

 

[jase05]

As Gold for Qantas, I've regularly (over a dozen times) got into the lounge on arrival at both Adelaide and Melbourne.

Similarly as Gold for Virgin, I've regularly (over two dozen times) got into the lounge on arrival at both Adelaide and Melbourne.

Generally only in there for a short while, but some circumstances have been longer (i.e in the morning and a few hours before first meeting or waiting for colleague on another flight)

I regularly use lounges on arrival without a problem although I have heard of VA SG being turned away at peak times occasionally

 

[Forg]

My understanding is that QF club or VA lounge memberships don’t allow access on arrival

The Qantas site says mere QC membership doesn’t allow QC access on arrival.
However, I think it says that if you’ve got access to domestic lounges on the basis of status, not QC membership, you have access to domestic lounges on the same day as travel (whether that travel itself is domestic or imternational).

If it’s not busy, they may not be fussy. My Platinum better-half has “smuggled in” more than the allowed number of guests to the J domestic lounge, without complaint, when it was pretty quiet.

 

[JohnK]

I regularly use lounges on arrival without a problem although I have heard of VA SG being turned away at peak times occasionally

I've never been refused VA Gold arrivals access even with full lounge. I guess some of the morning peaks could be a different story.

 

[serfty]

The Qantas site says mere QC membership doesn’t allow QC access on arrival.
However, I think it says that if you’ve got access to domestic lounges on the basis of status, not QC membership, you have access to domestic lounges on the same day as travel (whether that travel itself is domestic or imternational).

If it’s not busy, they may not be fussy. My Platinum better-half has “smuggled in” more than the allowed number of guests to the J domestic lounge, without complaint, when it was pretty quiet.

To clarify, the QF rules state arrivals access to domestic Qantas operated lounges is available to WP. There is no such access for Qantas operated international lounges.

With VA, Velocity SG and WP get similar access to VA operated lounges. Since VA don't operate international lounges, the question of international travel is moot.

 

[Sdtravel]

Assume this might have come up before.so sorry if it has.

I was chatting with some friends some of whom I have guested into the QF Syd J & F lounge.
Their impressions were that J was bursting at the seams. Would have been more space at the gate.
The F lounge is sterile and lifeless. Full of high class snobs that meant they felt a little out of place.
They would prefer more practical things such as a pool table or more a pub / bar style where you can freely interact and make noise.
Despite us calling it QF Pub and some people treating it like a pub I dont think international lounges really look like this.

Thought it was interesting and more of a millenials take on it. Most of us want the opposite and to date most lounges lean towards this. Obviously space is limited and you cant please everyone.

 

[serfty]

They would prefer more practical things such as a pool table or more a pub / bar style where you can freely interact and make noise.

Until it's recent renovation, the AirNZ lounge at MEL had a pool table and a fooseball setup.

 

[Deleted member]

Assume this might have come up before.so sorry if it has.

I was chatting with some friends some of whom I have guested into the QF Syd J & F lounge.
Their impressions were that J was bursting at the seams. Would have been more space at the gate.
The F lounge is sterile and lifeless. Full of high class snobs that meant they felt a little out of place.
They would prefer more practical things such as a pool table or more a pub / bar style where you can freely interact and make noise.
Despite us calling it QF Pub and some people treating it like a pub I dont think international lounges really look like this.

Thought it was interesting and more of a millenials take on it. Most of us want the opposite and to date most lounges lean towards this. Obviously space is limited and you cant please everyone.

I kinda agree with the sterile comment about the Sydney F lounge. However in my experience the number of “high class snobs” would never “Fill” the lounge. Moreover any suggestion about the character and social status of those who visit as being snobbish or high class is a long bow to draw.

 

[travelislife]

Until it's recent renovation, the AirNZ lounge at MEL had a pool table and a fooseball setup.

Yep. Loved that. A few beers, the footy on TV and a game of pool was a great way to relax before a flight on a Friday evening. Nothing raucous by any means, but better than just sitting around.

 

[Forg]

I kinda agree with the sterile comment about the Sydney F lounge. However in my experience the number of “high class snobs” would never “Fill” the lounge. Moreover any suggestion about the character and social status of those who visit as being snobbish or high class is a long bow to draw.

I've only been in that lounge a few times ... every time there've been a few families, and the majority of people have been pretty casually dressed.
I agree it's not a place to be rowdy, though; I think most lounge users would prefer not to have rambunctious drunk kids around?

 

[Sdtravel]

High Class Snobs was probably an exaggeration on their part. But I guess the lounge is meant to be a taste of what the service will be once on board i guess. First class lounges arent for everyone i guess.
its like that Simpsons Episode where they prefer Krusty Burger instead of the high end country club.

 

[Hvr]

I agree it's not a place to be rowdy, though; I think most lounge users would prefer not to have rambunctious drunk kids around?

So if they're quiet and drunk that's ok?


I recently gave a QF lounge pass to a friend who had never previously been in a lounge. She visited the MEL INTL lounge and loved it. It just shows that if you've never been in one before any lounge looks good. She is an experienced traveller so knew about them but never had the opportunity so I was pleased to help.

 

[Ausbt]

It's been quite a few years since I've been in there, but the QP at BNE directly in front of the bar always used to remind me of a true pub. All those high tables with people standing around chugging beers. Of course the multitude of hi viz might have also contributed to that (not casting aspersions - I'm a decent chugger too). Really not keen to see any pool tables in the domestic lounges though, thanks.

I'm a frequent user for arrivals access but of course visits are very short, just enough time for bathroom, a quick bite if need be and to pick up a takeaway coffee. It's a convenience issue and might mean you don't need to break your day later to chase those things.

 

[Forg]

So if they're quiet and drunk that's ok?

Indeed, why not?!

I recently gave a QF lounge pass to a friend who had never previously been in a lounge. She visited the MEL INTL lounge and loved it. It just shows that if you've never been in one before any lounge looks good. She is an experienced traveller so knew about them but never had the opportunity so I was pleased to help.

It doesn't take long to become a Lounge Snob though ... I usually only have lounge access when travelling with someone that's got lounge access, this means I've probably been in international lounges maybe 10 times. We've got a holiday Friday-week, and we're in the Sydney SkyTeam lounge & I'm already all "meh it's no SQ or QF or CX or even EK".

I'm a frequent user for arrivals access but of course visits are very short, just enough time for bathroom, a quick bite if need be and to pick up a takeaway coffee. It's a convenience issue and might mean you don't need to break your day later to chase those things.

In order to get a PE-priced J trip to the UK, I've gone with an airline which has a 3.5hr wait on the way there & a 4.5hr wait on the way back. I suspect that in this circumstance, we would've maybe liked more of the entertainmenty stuff that people are talking about (but we'll also definitely be liking the fact that we do have J lounge access).

 

[ALH]

“FLounge full of high class snobs”?

I’m not sure that I’ve observed anyone who was obviously ‘high class’ in the Lounges, and I can’t remember speaking to any other guests so I probably haven’t encountered any snobs there.

Something must have happened to your friends to have come away with such an impression.

 

[Forg]

“FLounge full of high class snobs”?
[snipperoo]
Something must have happened to your friends to have come away with such an impression.

No, I can understand where they're coming from ... had a long-weekend away in Singapore staying in a hotel obviously used by lots of businesspeople during the week, and it had it's own "lounge" from which to get breakfast. I was in my t-shirt & shorts because it was summer & I slept-in & I was on holidays & the lounge's posted dress-regs were fine with that, and yet felt a tad uncomfortable going to get breakfast when everyone else was in suits ready to go to meetings.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

By definition can you have 'high class' 'snobs'?

Aren't you either high class, or a snob?

 

[Sdtravel]

I think it was more of a comment of being out of place. The atmosphere moreso than the people in it i guess
Staff are wearing white jackets, formal table dining service, everyone calls you sir. Its more of a formal environment that could make someone who hasnt experienced it before and only ever sat in Y feel out of place.

Personally I love the environment and service in F. But i can see it from the perspective of someone who hasnt been in many airport lounges before it is very different from sitting at burger king.

 

[Forg]

By definition can you have 'high class' 'snobs'?
Aren't you either high class, or a snob?

I'm a low-class snob, but classy ones exist too.