Why a Qantas Hawaii Lounge?

[exLXCXFF]

Saw on another site that QF just refurbished its QF lounge in Hawai serving essentially one single flight. Why??? Does anyone have any clue? Sounds like quite an expensive exercise for a single flight & not catering for the JQ flight. Plus there are other OW lounges there. Is there a historic reason behind it?

 

[AIRwin]

They are listening to customers particularly AFF members?

 

[serfty]

Saw on another site that QF just refurbished its QF lounge in Hawai serving essentially one single flight. Why??? Does anyone have any clue? Sounds like quite an expensive exercise for a single flight & not catering for the JQ flight. Plus there are other OW lounges there. Is there a historic reason behind it?

They have generally operated a lounge there for at least 30 years. Early this century it was a joint effort with American Airlines where it was a Qantas lounge (beer and Wine) until the last Qantas flight departed mid-late morning and it became an Admirals Clube (no Beer or Wine).

 

[SYD]

Maybe it’s possibly cheaper than some people think? HNL is a sprawling airport from the days when most transpacific flights had to bounce through to get to/from the America’s and Asia/Oceania. With all that airport space and such a small lounge footprint maybe it’s not a big overhead? Obviously some operating costs but it’s not like it’s a F lounge or sit-up coughtail bar arrangement.

Maybe there are other historic/nostalgia reasons. When I started flying, QF still had some USA flights bouncing through HNL (the 747SPs would bypass). Plus QF codeshares to Canada would high five there. The lounge could get quite busy!

 

[jrfsp]

Maybe they signed a long lease.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

HNL is a major Pacific hub would be my argument. Look at the OneWorld network for just a moment and see what a HNL stopover gets you:

• American and Alaskan flights to virtually anywhere in the United States
• WestJet flights to Canada
• Japan Airlines flights to Japan and parts of Asia

In addition, QF and JL are the two OneWorld lounges at such a major hub airport as HNL. United (which has a large presence at HNL) has a United Club (albeit it's kind of crummy) and SkyTeam partner Delta has a lounge there too (which is quite nice might I add). Put simply Hawaii is a popular destination and connection point for many travellers. To this day I'll fly to Honolulu or Kona than roll the dice with Fiji or Bali.

-RooFlyer88

 

[TheInsider]

I don't really think it's been refurbished too much,
Just some new furniture from what I've heard.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I don't really think it's been refurbished too much,
Just some new furniture from what I've heard.

I reckon we'll need a detailed trip report of someone heading to the land of coconuts and Starbucks to find out!

 

[kpro]

Photo's on AusBT Executive Traveler.

It’s Mimosa time at the new-look Qantas Honolulu Lounge

Qantas reveals a fresh face for its Aloha State lounge.

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[SYD]

Photo's on AusBT Executive Traveler.

It’s Mimosa time at the new-look Qantas Honolulu Lounge

Qantas reveals a fresh face for its Aloha State lounge.

www.executivetraveller.com

I was reading that earlier and went to post under the HNL lounge thread but noticed this new thread. Anyway, keen to try the Mimosa and Bloody Mary dispensers! An espresso martini one would also be nice for my morning coffee!

 

[RooFlyer]

HNL is a major Pacific hub would be my argument. Look at the OneWorld network for just a moment and see what a HNL stopover gets you:

• American and Alaskan flights to virtually anywhere in the United States
• WestJet flights to Canada
• Japan Airlines flights to Japan and parts of Asia

In addition, QF and JL are the two OneWorld lounges at such a major hub airport as HNL. United (which has a large presence at HNL) has a United Club (albeit it's kind of crummy) and SkyTeam partner Delta has a lounge there too (which is quite nice might I add). Put simply Hawaii is a popular destination and connection point for many travellers. To this day I'll fly to Honolulu or Kona than roll the dice with Fiji or Bali.

-RooFlyer88

I get all that, but I wouldn't have thought that Qantas was in the business of providing/upgrading lounges for OneWorld partner-transiting passengers.

As for UA and DL ... they are US airlines in a USA capital city, and I bet they have more than 1 flight to service!! Not really relevant to this discussion.

I wish Qantas would put funds into upgrading the Hobart QP - I bet there are more pax using that than their lounge at HNL!!!

 

[jase05]

I wish Qantas would put funds into upgrading the Hobart QP - I bet there are more pax using that than their lounge at HNL!!!

Concur.
The HBA lounge is a absolute disgrace and needs plenty of wok

 

[Hvr]

Concur.
The HBA lounge is a absolute disgrace and needs plenty of wok

As well as other cooking modes. Probably another party pie heater as well.

 

[Gold Member]

This lounge investment was a purely financial reason, for whatever reason. Rest assured, this wasn’t made in the interest of their loyal customers. We’ve seen hundreds of similar data points over the years to confirm this rationale.

 

[RichardMEL]

I agree it does seem odd - of all the outstations it seems odd to still maintain a lounge here. While HNL has been seen as a mostly leisure route for many, I suspect there's obviously a business component at play here (also consider the high paid J loads and well known difficulty with reward seats) so that may be a factor.

It also isn't the biggest lounge and only seems to be open for a few hours prior to the QF104. Kind of a niche operation (which in a way makes it a very interesting lounge as the rent for the space and all would definitely be a factor)

Clearly QF see a benefit to maintaining it or they wouldn't and just send people to the AA or some other lounge. That they've given it a "lick of paint" refresh suggests they clearly have some level of ongoing commitment to it.

Anyway certainly a bonus for QF pax out of HNL and overall a god thing.

(noting there is also a JL lounge in HNL for those with status or in j)

 

[AIRwin]

Anyway certainly a bonus for QF pax out of HNL and overall a god thing.

Heavenly HNL...

 

[SYD]

Anyway certainly a bonus for QF pax out of HNL and overall a god thing.

Heavenly HNL...

Reminds of the dyslexic atheist insomniac who’d lie awake at night wondering if there really was a dog.

Let alone QP in HNL…

 

[dairyfloss]

I can’t help but think many are looking at this from the wrong perspective.

HNL is, has and always will be an actual and aspirational premium destination, and is very popular with honeymooners, couples and many others who are putting cost to the wayside for a dream holiday. I can’t think of any other medium haul route that QF flies where they routinely get away with billing upwards of $10K per pax return in J, and rarely do they have a need for a sale, or to open up award seats. Travel in Y is also regularly at a premium, though sales might appear more frequently. It’s hard to find many days where there are more than a couple of flexible J seats remaining on either leg of this route.

I’d wager that the small space they have in HNL for the QP lounge, together with the cost to operate and stock it would be easily covered by the margins of the single SYD<>HNL route. Those travelling on the route expect something to be available, and AA is too unreliable

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I was reading that earlier and went to post under the HNL lounge thread but noticed this new thread. Anyway, keen to try the Mimosa and Bloody Mary dispensers! An espresso martini one would also be nice for my morning coffee!

Still doesn't beat the old Qantas Club (operated by Delta Airlines) that was around earlier this year with its signature Mahalo Mai Tai:

I get all that, but I wouldn't have thought that Qantas was in the business of providing/upgrading lounges for OneWorld partner-transiting passengers.

A similar argument could be made for many Qantas lounges: why bother with having a lounge at LHR when they've got what a couple flights a day there? And besides BA has a huge lounge presence there anyway, it seems like a total duplication of effort for such a small pay off. We could say a similar thing about domestic lounges too like Port Hedland, Mackay and dare I say it, Hobart! Not a whole lot of QF birds coming and going there which is why the lounge only opens an hour before a scheduled QF flight.

As for UA and DL ... they are US airlines in a USA capital city, and I bet they have more than 1 flight to service!! Not really relevant to this discussion.

Actually it goes a bit deeper than that. They are the only airlines that fly to Hawaii from Europe (via a US gateway). Think about it there are no non-stop flights from Europe to Honolulu. Even flying across the Pacific, for some countries Honolulu ain't a nonstop destination either like Taipei or S'pore.

I wish Qantas would put funds into upgrading the Hobart QP - I bet there are more pax using that than their lounge at HNL!!!

It's debatable. I reckon we would have to carefully inspect the numbers on that one. That being said, certainly the passengers leaving HNL are more valuable than those leaving HBA. After all, the HNL passengers have options... the HBA ones don't!

I agree it does seem odd - of all the outstations it seems odd to still maintain a lounge here. While HNL has been seen as a mostly leisure route for many, I suspect there's obviously a business component at play here (also consider the high paid J loads and well known difficulty with reward seats) so that may be a factor.

A surprising number of conferences are held in Honolulu (both academic and trade shows), albeit most large tradeshows occur on Hawaii's 9th island of Las Vegas (i.e. the annual Consumer Electronics Show takes up the entirety of the Las Vegas Convention Centre, the Palms, and a few other locations throughout the strip).

It also isn't the biggest lounge and only seems to be open for a few hours prior to the QF104. Kind of a niche operation (which in a way makes it a very interesting lounge as the rent for the space and all would definitely be a factor)

It doesn't need to be, either! In addition, having been through HNL a number of times now, I would say it's not like Sydney in the sense that there are zero redeeming qualities to the airport. Honolulu has a wonderful open air terminal, they've got coy ponds and other stuff you would normally see at places like SIN.

Clearly QF see a benefit to maintaining it or they wouldn't and just send people to the AA or some other lounge. That they've given it a "lick of paint" refresh suggests they clearly have some level of ongoing commitment to it.

I think part of the problem is AA doesn't operate a lounge up to international standards out of HNL, it's just an Admirals Club which quite frankly doesn't hold a candle to Flagship Dining

HNL is, has and always will be an actual and aspirational premium destination, and is very popular with honeymooners, couples and many others who are putting cost to the wayside for a dream holiday. I can’t think of any other medium haul route that QF flies where they routinely get away with billing upwards of $10K per pax return in J, and rarely do they have a need for a sale, or to open up award seats. Travel in Y is also regularly at a premium, though sales might appear more frequently. It’s hard to find many days where there are more than a couple of flexible J seats remaining on either leg of this route.

Ding, ding, ding! The flight from Sydney to Honolulu is 10 hours. The flight from Chicago O'Hare to Honolulu is also 10 hours. It's not uncommon to find economy for $700 and business class for $2,200 return whereas with QF you might be able to find SYD to HNL for $999 in economy return during a special sale but otherwise expect to spend $6K-$8K return in business. All of that said, JetStar does seem to run very good sales on HNL from time to time. When I flew down to HNL back in May the fare was $520 return for a Plus fare which included accruing 90 status credits, meals, seat selection and checked bags.

-RooFlyer88

 

[cambriamarsh]

I agree it does seem odd - of all the outstations it seems odd to still maintain a lounge here. While HNL has been seen as a mostly leisure route for many, I suspect there's obviously a business component at play here (also consider the high paid J loads and well known difficulty with reward seats) so that may be a factor.

It also isn't the biggest lounge and only seems to be open for a few hours prior to the QF104. Kind of a niche operation (which in a way makes it a very interesting lounge as the rent for the space and all would definitely be a factor)

Clearly QF see a benefit to maintaining it or they wouldn't and just send people to the AA or some other lounge. That they've given it a "lick of paint" refresh suggests they clearly have some level of ongoing commitment to it.

Anyway certainly a bonus for QF pax out of HNL and overall a god thing.

(noting there is also a JL lounge in HNL for those with status or in j)

Also a lot of military so perhaps keeping them on side?