Worst Domestic Qantas Lounges & What Can be Done About It?

[jpp42]

I just got bumped into the QF domestic business lounge. SG travelling in discount Y. Scanned ticket at the club and got told to go to the business lounge

At what airport? Was the QP open at all? Sometimes during lower demand times the lounges are combined into one (i.e., everyone sent to business lounge). Alternatively, could be for load-balancing if the QP was particularly busy.

 

[RichardMEL]

I'm going to suspect potentially a capacity thing - perhaps QC was pretty full?

either way very nice gesture. I'm sorry the flight was cancelled and hope your rebooked flight is not too far off.

 

[gaz0303]

Oops sorry…at SYD. Indeed a nice surprise.

 

[Kendall Roy]

I'm going to nominate CBR, only because the QP was closed on Monday evening we were all lumped in together in the J lounge

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Oops sorry…at SYD. Indeed a nice surprise.

Sorry to hear of the downgrade at SYD as the QF Club is clearly the superior lounge when it comes to things like views.

 

[SYD]

Sorry to hear of the downgrade at SYD as the QF Club is clearly the superior lounge when it comes to things like views.

Trays of G&Ts being taken around the J lounge today.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Trays of G&Ts being taken around the J lounge today.
View attachment 315230

Great to see Uncle Alan has been reading the suggestions I stuff in the suggestion box at QF lounges. It's surprising what a $100 spend from the petty change draw of QF can do to traveller morale at these lounges!

 

[UP4014]

I'm going to nominate CBR, only because the QP was closed on Monday evening we were all lumped in together in the J lounge

The QP has a much better view.

 

[jcwhizz]

Sunday late afternoon CBR business lounge absolutely packed to the gunnels as Qantas club closed. Probably made even worse through cancellation of 4.35 to Melbourne.

 

[Lynnelanne]

Flew out of Brisbane lounge yesterday for first time. Can’t believe it hasn’t ranked higher in the ‘terrible’ listings. The CHAIRS! Eew. Really dirty worn out old fabric, made me feel icky even sitting in them. Seriously, when the downstairs cafes are more clean and pleasant than the lounge, why are we there? Also, those tiny lemon yoghurt slices are nasty as, seriously half the ingredients for the DIY toasted sandwiches had run out and the hot option was a pile of corn chips and some sort of unidentified hot red sauce. Very, very disappointing.

 

[RichardMEL]

Flew out of Brisbane lounge yesterday for first time. Can’t believe it hasn’t ranked higher in the ‘terrible’ listings. The CHAIRS! Eew. Really dirty worn out old fabric, made me feel icky even sitting in them. Seriously, when the downstairs cafes are more clean and pleasant than the lounge, why are we there? Also, those tiny lemon yoghurt slices are nasty as, seriously half the ingredients for the DIY toasted sandwiches had run out and the hot option was a pile of corn chips and some sort of unidentified hot red sauce. Very, very disappointing.

Was this QP or J lounge?

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Flew out of Brisbane lounge yesterday for first time. Can’t believe it hasn’t ranked higher in the ‘terrible’ listings. The CHAIRS! Eew. Really dirty worn out old fabric, made me feel icky even sitting in them. Seriously, when the downstairs cafes are more clean and pleasant than the lounge, why are we there?

If you thought that was bad, try speaking to those who have the privilege of making HBA their home airport!

seriously half the ingredients for the DIY toasted sandwiches had run out

I still to this day can't figure out why QF has their own build your own toastie station. Like stop being cheap and just put the sandwiches together like Virgin and even Rex lounges do! If I had all day to put together my own toastie I'd be at home, not a lounge!

and the hot option was a pile of corn chips and some sort of unidentified hot red sauce. Very, very disappointing.

That's not surprising. Corn chips and tacos are a foreign concept here in Australia!

 

[RichardMEL]

To be fair to QF with the sandwich bar - I think it provides a lot of flexibility for the customer. Say the lounge put out say a generic salad sandwich and a ham,cheese and tomato sandwich (for example). then what if you just wanted a cheese and tomato sanga, or ham and carrot, or whatever people's preferences are.

While it seems lazy, I think it's quite popular because it gives people more choice of just what they want (or don't).

Sure it's easier to have a selection of a few options for customers to grab and go (or grab and toast maybe) but it also limits selection. It would probably be cheaper for the airline to provide that than the sandwich makings too. It's probably one of the better things they do looking at it from the point of view of customer choice.

(note: I almost never use them myself, but see how popular they are).

 

[exLXCXFF]

While it seems lazy, I think it's quite popular because it gives people more choice of just what they want (or don't).

controversial: I normally bring another few ingredients along into the lounge, such as brie or emmentaler to use when building my sandwich. I do not accept QF‘s cheese offering (compare it with NZ domestic / regional lounges!!!) but rather than just complaining, I just solve the faulty part proactively

 

[kangarooflyer88]

controversial: I normally bring another few ingredients along into the lounge, such as brie or emmentaler to use when building my sandwich. I do not accept QF‘s cheese offering (compare it with NZ domestic / regional lounges!!!) but rather than just complaining, I just solve the faulty part proactively

I believe the cheese QF puts out in the buffet isn't meant for human consumption but rather to appease the mice so they don't start attacking customers!

 

[RichardMEL]

controversial: I normally bring another few ingredients along into the lounge, such as brie or emmentaler to use when building my sandwich. I do not accept QF‘s cheese offering (compare it with NZ domestic / regional lounges!!!) but rather than just complaining, I just solve the faulty part proactively

understandable given the kraft singles they have

but still you're taking advantage of the very flexible ability to make your own so I think that's an overall positive vs premade/selected sandwich options.

 

[kpro]

Didn't the DIY sandwich concept begin in the VA lounges? Do they not have them anymore?

Pro-COVID I also seem to recall pre-made sandwiches in the QF J lounge during breakfast. You could just grab them and put in a toaster if you wanted to save time.

 

[Lynnelanne]

Was this QP or J lounge?

Qantas Club

 

[justinbrett]

Flew out of Brisbane lounge yesterday for first time. Can’t believe it hasn’t ranked higher in the ‘terrible’ listings. The CHAIRS! Eew. Really dirty worn out old fabric, made me feel icky even sitting in them. Seriously, when the downstairs cafes are more clean and pleasant than the lounge, why are we there? Also, those tiny lemon yoghurt slices are nasty as, seriously half the ingredients for the DIY toasted sandwiches had run out and the hot option was a pile of corn chips and some sort of unidentified hot red sauce. Very, very disappointing.

I think you had a bad experience rather than it being a "terrible" lounge.

The hard product is fine IMO - I've not noticed the issue with the chairs - I'll have a closer look next time. It wasn't that long ago it was renovated so they can't be that old. Leaps and bounds nicer than SYD.

For QP, I don't think the F&B issues are specific to BNE, I've found it pretty much the same as SYD & MEL. Not to say it's good, but it's no worse.

BNE also gets extra credit for being the only QF lounge in Australia with premium entry.

 

[MooTime]

Didn't the DIY sandwich concept begin in the VA lounges? Do they not have them anymore?

Pro-COVID I also seem to recall pre-made sandwiches in the QF J lounge during breakfast. You could just grab them and put in a toaster if you wanted to save time.

VA lounges have the pre-mades atm. don't recall self make toasties available on my last visit few weeks ago, others will verify. Think it was just toast & spreads.

premades great if it's what you like, but agree with @RichardMEL that DIY would be preference for more lounge lizards than not.
Apart from the cheese & cucumber slices etc that placed (thrown) back due to ppl taking too much initially.

I'm not fussed, happy to eat what's on offer & drink what's on offer & get onboard.

Back on topic, been in Hobart lounge only once & didn't mind it, small like Hobart, yeah packed, but was clean, plentiful F&B & nice staff, that's what I look for, don't need boardroom space to myself. onboard it's mm between next pax.