What is the attraction of lounges?

[Justinf]

The QF PER J lounge yesterday was nice. But after some bircher museli and a coffee, I was bored and went out into the terminal and sat and people watched.
I wish the bar would open earlier in the lounges.

 

[GSP]

The QF PER J lounge yesterday was nice. But after some bircher museli and a coffee, I was bored and went out into the terminal and sat and people watched.
I wish the bar would open earlier in the lounges.

Strewth, what time of the day were you planning on hitting the booze?

p.s White Hart Lane a frequented haunt.

 

[pauly7]

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.

I actually really like the ADL QF Club! Lovely staff there too on front desk.
I have 7 domestic flights to take in the next 4 days and I stand by my original comment I won't be visiting any lounge of either airline unless there is a significant delay / cancellation Straight from curb to gate to plane in minimum time for me these days! Just don't have the time (or inclination).

 

[Justinf]

Strewth, what time of the day were you planning on hitting the booze?

p.s White Hart Lane a frequented haunt.

After a weekend of watching the Tiges win by 104 points, I will admit to feeling like a brekky beer at the time, but certainly no more than one.

 

[Alnwick]

It isn't just the lounge access that is the main attraction. We fly long haul to Europe once a year and prefer to travel as comfortably as possible. It is part of our overall holiday experience to fly Business Class and part of that overall experience is visiting the lounge before and after the long flight, as well as during any connection. I think that the connecting hub is the most welcome break for being able to shower, stretch out in comfort, be in a quiet place and enjoy food and drink if wanted. People do not join lounges for the food and drink, mostly that is just a distraction to fill in time. It is the comfort of that home lounge room feeling that is important.

 

[carambola]

For domestic work travel, particularly the red-eyes, I just love the convenience. Getting through the priority security scans, ordering a coffee and grabbing myself a plate of food at the lounge usually takes <5 mins in total, even with the explosives test added in. By the time my coffee is ready, I've finished my breakfast and am ready to head out to the gate if I need to. That process used to take around 30 mins (mostly in queuing time). Now it takes 10 mins. That's an extra 20 mins of sleep - or more usually, an extra 20 mins to relax and catch up on emails before going offline for a few hours. Hot food and self-serve wine after a long day doesn't hurt either.

For long hauls with stopovers, the attraction is definitely in the showers and the relative peace and quiet. The lounges with quiet rooms for sleep and relaxation are particularly welcome. Mr Carambola and I tend to use complimentary entries (e.g. Priority Pass, other freebies through credit cards) when we can, but there was one time we paid for lounge access during a 10h stopover.

 

[smckay]

I pay for Qantas Club membership, albeit discounted through work. Like many others I just want somewhere to eat, relax before a flight. And as a result I will get there hours before departure. Qantas domestic in the club lounges is pretty naff with ordinary food and queues however.
But as a result of being on here I have found the way to fly J for peanuts and we've done Europe & USA now. That's when you appreciate Lounges. I am a convert to the BA spa at LHR T5. No better way to arrive in the Old Dart than being subjected to a spa facial with nice product. Or the Cathay arrival lounge at Frankfurt. A relaxed way to enter Europe.
On the way back being able to have a shower and change into fresh clothes before hitting the pod makes my flying pleasant.

I couldn't care less about who is in there or who see's me I just want to enjoy my oversea's holiday and a lounge is <so far> the best way I have found to do so.

 

[UP4014]

I actually really like the ADL QF Club! Lovely staff there too on front desk.
I have 7 domestic flights to take in the next 4 days and I stand by my original comment I won't be visiting any lounge of either airline unless there is a significant delay / cancellation Straight from curb to gate to plane in minimum time for me these days! Just don't have the time (or inclination).

Yes I find the Adelaide staff very good and often get drinks service to my table when in the QP. I don't know if it's because they see me often or they try and do that for everyone.

 

[ameno]

Strewth, what time of the day were you planning on hitting the booze?

It's always 5pm somewhere in the world...

 

[Sluggo]

The Qf longue is certainly getting more crowded and will continue to so do as more customers trigger there lifetime gold

 

[pauly7]

The Qf longue is certainly getting more crowded and will continue to so do as more customers trigger there lifetime gold

Disagree actually, we had a lunch a few years back with QF loyalty and data clearly shows lifetime golds as a whole fly significantly less, that's really the purpose of the benefit

 

[UP4014]

I guess by the time you reach life time gold you're the boss or retired and the young'uns are doing the work.

 

[Sluggo]

Time will tell but recent numerous visits to Syd, Mel and Adelaide business/Platinum lounges show these to be close to overflowing.

 

[marki]

New lounge in Melbourne 65 Dollars for single adult and 35 for children open to anyone flying that day for up to 4 hours. T2 international so not easy if your flying Domestic. Has Hudsons coffee.


You can now kick-start you holiday the right way with free-for-all access at the new marhaba lounge at Melbourne Airport.

Read more: New 'pay as you go' lounge opens at Melbourne Airport
Follow us: @TravellerAU on Twitter | TravellerAU on Facebook

 

[Sluggo]

Don't know that lounge. $65 seems a bit steep

 

[TomVexille]

Don't know that lounge. $65 seems a bit steep

It's new. In the old EK space.

 

[Sluggo]

Are the old lounges still open?

 

[marki]

Don't know that lounge. $65 seems a bit steep

Complimentary access will be provided to those flying with partner airlines JAL, Xianen and Tianjin. Marhaba are working on adding four more partner airlines to this list by the end of the year.
So you might not have to pay anything however I am not sure about Priority Pass but it looks not great unfortunately!

 

[TomVexille]

Are the old lounges still open?

Not sure which ones you mean?

 

[JohnK]

The Qf longue is certainly getting more crowded and will continue to so do as more customers trigger there lifetime gold

Time will tell but recent numerous visits to Syd, Mel and Adelaide business/Platinum lounges show these to be close to overflowing.

It's not Lifetime Gold. It is the constant double SC and 50% SC offers that Qantas send out. Some targetted the majority open to all. The person that only ever flies enough to fall short of Gold all of a sudden has Gold easily and goes out of the way to earn Platinum.

Then Qantas says that lounges are overcrowded so they tighten up lounge access rules, remove a few benefits and then start selling discounted Qantas club memberships and send out more double SCs offers.