What is the attraction of lounges?

[Deboss]

The QF & VA lounges at all AU domestic ports are always overcrowded. The less time I spend there, the happier I am

 

[ashleyn]

IMHO, the greatest value in lounge access is when traveling with a late departure. This often involves being out and about all day so the availability of showers, etc at the end of the day before your flight is worth the cost. Domestically, I don't think longe membership is particularly good value.

 

[mel1]

We fly business class, most often on points (or one points, one buy), so never pay for lounges. But they are a haven, mostly, for the same reasons everyone has stated. My husband likes to go to the lounge even if we only have 20 mins wait. (I wouldn't bother if I was on my own). Some are terribly crowded tho, it often seems by people not flying in the same class, but who get access via paying or via a credit card. We have also use the priority pass lounges in some airports (Marrakech for e.g.) where there is no business class lounge. They are ok for getting away from the crowds (or people putting their feet/shoes on seats, my pet peeve) - but the food is usually terrible. Singapore Airlines in Singapore has the best food. It's always busy but we never have trouble finding a place to sit.

 

[flybynight]

I'm on a quick trip at the moment doing Sydney - Hong Kong - New York - Boston - Hong Kong - Manila - Hong Kong - Melbourne all in 10 days so a F lounge is almost my home! I never eat on planes no matter how long the flight so a longe snack is all I need to sustain me. I don't pay for lounge access but it's an essential part of my travel.

 

[Nukie]

I pay to be in QC (have done for 20 years) and because we only fly for leisure I really enjoy going in them; just part of the overall excitement of going on a trip. Very pleased I haven't as yet travelled as much as many of you and become jaded with it all! Would love to be able to fly business all the time and save the fee tho.

 

[harvyk]

The QF & VA lounges at all AU domestic ports are always overcrowded. The less time I spend there, the happier I am

Depends on the time you're flying. Flights which are attractive to business people (such as early morning, and just after COB) will always fill up lounges, especially in the golden triangle, but outside of those peak times the dom lounges can be a nice enough place to wait.

I've often thought that had my first lounge experience been in a golden triangle lounge (MEL-CBR-SYD-BNE), then I probably wouldn't have bothered signing up to QP, but my first lounge experience was in ADL, and it was something pretty special, it felt special, not just like a giant waiting room.

For this year and the next, I'm now SG, so my QP membership is on hold. But if I don't get SG the year after next I won't have any hesitation in renewing my QP membership, even though I don't use it very much.

 

[kookaburra75]

As many others have said, when travelling for work, the access to all of the facilities in the lounge makes things a bit easier, especially getting all of the last minute emails completed. Being able to have a shower and know you don't have to watch your bags like a hawk allows me to relax a bit.
And we use the lounges when we travel for lesiure, as you really know you're on holidays when you have the glass of Moet at DXB at 7 in the morning.

 

[openseat]

Crowded lounges aren't a pretty sight, especially the domestic QP in MEL which always seems flithy to me. When the food comes out it seems like a feeding frenzy on the Serengeti.

I also think the standard in lounges has dropped considerably since the 90's when the service seemed to be much more personal in the good ol' Ansett Golden Wing days or perhaps that is just soft focus fondness for the old days that comes with age.

I think I've got my money's worth from lifetime QP bought back in 2001 after the dreaded collapse of AN. But mainly when flying AA in the US, with the AAngels when they had power to help you in all sorts of ways with ticketing problems.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Crowded lounges aren't a pretty sight, especially the domestic QP in MEL which always seems flithy to me. When the food comes out it seems like a feeding frenzy on the Serengeti.

I also think the standard in lounges has dropped considerably since the 90's when the service seemed to be much more personal in the good ol' Ansett Golden Wing days or perhaps that is just soft focus fondness for the old days that comes with age.

I think I've got my money's worth from lifetime QP bought back in 2001 after the dreaded collapse of AN. But mainly when flying AA in the US, with the AAngels when they had power to help you in all sorts of ways with ticketing problems.

Maybe in the older days of the lounges, they were run by, and the staff were actually staff of the airline.
Nowadays, the VA one might be staffed by VA staff members, but I think the QF ones are by a hotel group, is it Accor? Only the girls out the front are QF staff.
Has anyone tried to find a power oulet thats not being used at gates just before departure time?
For me, food is one thing, but being able to plug my android or battery bank devices into a power point is a plus. The desks in the computer area always has some outlets free.
SYD VA T2 has many power outlets in the open area, but not ADL general terminal or MEL QF T1.
Grog after 11am in the VA and after 12noon in the QF lounge is a good thing. Or grog for breakfast in certain lounges in NZ.

 

[flybynight]

Seems like airline lounges mean different things to different people from overt snobbery and being able to gorge as much as possible on freebies to a haven where a traveller can get refreshed and maybe do a bit of work.
For airlines it's about engendering loyalty which works with me because being a very loyal Qantas customer and being able to use Oneworld lounges certainly makes travel for me much easier. I notice the difference when I'm forced into using a non one world airline - generally a nightmare!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Not really freebies.
Think of it this way, directly or indirectly, when a person does get int a lounge, they would have paid for it.
Before I became QF SG, I had QP membership which is on hold at the moment.
In the past, when I tried the old (Air) NZ lounge at AKL international, I paid for entry. Now that has been taken away.
I have flown J with (Air) NZ and got into the SQ SYD lounge, and on another trip, also in J, used the (pre update) (Air) NZ lounge at SYD airport.
Some fly J or subclass or it, some fly F or subclass of it.
Some entry by paying at the door, VAd for one charges Aud$65.
Credit cards do charge you for the privilege of using lounges, even if no card fee, but in the end, you do pay.
In the big scheme of things, everyone has to pay.
Also, you can't access an Aust international (secure) zone without having paid for it, via airline tickets.

 

[flybynight]

I get it that someone pays somewhere but I don't get the focus some people have on grabbing anything and everything because "I've paid for it ". Why would someone load up on food even if they're not hungry?
I see my complimentary membership as a privilege and act accordingly. And the true benefit for me is making my travel experience smoother and more comfortable.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Ah, I see.
More so of overdoing it, or taking more than whats required.

 

[Franky]

But as you say Poochie - there's no such thing as a free lunch..

 

[bertair]

I tend to agree that Lounges are not what they used to be. I remember during the FIFO boom seeing hi vis shirted guys with boots off sleeping on the lounges.
The crowding in Qantas Lounges is crazy at certain times of the day.
My biggest beef is that after arriving on a long haul flight or a red eye from Perth, there is no access with either Qantas or Virgin.
It is then that I most need the lounge access.
Virgin do not have their own International Lounge in Sydney, sharing with Etihad.
While it is nice when it is not crowded, it easily fills when there is an A380 due to depart.
I was once a QF Club member, but it wasn't worth it, as I flew Business Class anyway.
More often than not, I do not have time to hang out in lounges, making my arrival at the terminal to allow check in and going to the gate. To make it worthwhile an extra hour or two is needed in the lounge.
When in transit or a delay, this the only time I feel like being in an airlines lounge.
The pay per entry while high is only adding to the numbers in these lounges.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I think the question is at least partly misconceived.
I have never paid directly for lounge access.
I have paid indirectly by doing status runs.
But I didn't chase status just to get lounge access. There are many other benefits, some of which aren't available by class of travel, either.
In particular the extra baggage allowance, priority cehck-in and priority through immigration and security are benefits which make the whole airport experience completely different.
I think most of us appreciate status for the whole suite of benefits, not just the lounge access.

I do value the lounge access itself highly though.
When I was travelling on staff travel on EY I couldn't use my status for lounge access so I was out in the terminal with the masses.
This was not a pleasant experience, especially in Abu Dhabi. Not because I hate other people or need to feel special, but for very practical reasons.
The food and drink options were limited, expensive and crowded. I couldn't find anywhere to charge my phone where I could also eat and drink.
As a solo traveller the worst aspect of it was having to be constantly vigilant about my cabin baggage.
The main reason I didn't pay for access to a lounge was because I knew I only had to put up with it for an hour or so before boarding and being spoiled in the F cabin.
Although when one flight was delayed for several hours I was sorely tempted!

Amusingly in Paris I resorted to buying maccas before boarding. Unfortunately maccas was crowded and slow and boaarding was called early.
So I was somewhat embarrassed to arrive at the gate, having the separate aerobridge unlocked for me to board, and being greeted by the on-board chef, all while clutching a big mac, coke and fries.

On several occasions I have had to transit overnight in Kuala Lumpur because the flights home to Perth leave early in the morning.
It has been convenient to stay in the MH F lounge, where I was able enjoy a la carte dining and of course champagne, and then retire to a sleeper room.
Then have a shower and get changed in the morning and eat breakfast (with more champagne) before boarding.

But nothing beats CX's F Wing Lounge in HKG.
For me the ultimate in refined travelling is drinking champagne in the bath in the cabana suites while my clothes are being pressed.

Apologies for the rambling reminisences. I agree that you either appreciate these privileges or you don't.
They can't be explained.

 

[APAC747]

I've read every reply to the OP's question to ensure I'm not just repeating the 'attractions' of lounges.

I think only Cult of One has alluded to my favourite aspect - the pleasure I get from seeing the faces of my parents, friends, colleagues or guests when they enter a lounge for the first time - especially if it's the Concorde room at Heathrow, the F international lounge in Sydney or The Pier in Hong Kong.

It's one of the few times that I genuinely care about lounge access.

 

[large]

I pay to be in QC (have done for 20 years) and because we only fly for leisure I really enjoy going in them; just part of the overall excitement of going on a trip. Very pleased I haven't as yet travelled as much as many of you and become jaded with it all! Would love to be able to fly business all the time and save the fee tho.

Sums it up for me too. I joined the Qantas Club 5 years ago, I only travel Y. But even as Y passenger, I think the Q Club in Adelaide is great, I've used the EK lounge in DXB twice, the Mania lounge in CHC and every QF Lounge in capital cities in Australia. It is just a nice way to kill time at an airport, not forgetting the lounge maybe the only place you can find a clean toilet. QF lounge in ADL is the only place in ADL airport you can get a good coffee. Definitely adds to the travel experience for me.

 

[Astroboi82]

I think it comes down to choice, if you can afford it / get access and deem it to be worthwhile.

I personally enjoy the quieter atmosphere / space to relax.

I also love the ability to have a shower and put on clean clothes before a Long flight, particularly if you have a late departure after spending the day in a city where its a hot climate.

 

[Shamrock55]

I've found after a few years of business travel that much like being loyal to a brand of hotel because you crave the consistancy, you are loyal to your airline lounge because it becomes like a second home.

Its a familiar place to shower, change, eat, work, charge and relax. You know what to expect be it good or bad. I wouldn't go out of my way to chase access, its just part of my business toolkit like my laptop or my suit.

I love the priority checkin, beating the queues and selecting what seats I want on board just as much. All those little perks just add up to make days away from your family on the road just a little more bearable.