Would You Wish For an Airlines Arrivals Lounge ?

[bertair]

Following on from a friends recent experience of not being able to access a Qantas Lounge on arrival at around 6.00am, despite being a QF Club member and flying Business Class, we have since met up and found that his enquiries to Qantas were met with this reply : or similar words in their brief email.

"Qantas Lounges are Departure Lounges, offering a more relaxing environment before your next Qantas flight. On Arrival access to Qantas Lounges is not a feasible service because of capacity limitations. We have passed on your feedback."

My friend & I would like to ask what the feelings are among Australian Frequent Flyer members if they feel an effort should be made to encourage Qantas and other airlines to open access to arrivals or have an Arrivals Lounge with access rights the same as their Departure Lounges.
I am sure that many members who arrive early am for a day of work would welcome a chance to prepare, enjoy a snack or meeting before their work begins in the city.
Or, if someone arrived early morning from an International long haul, they would want to freshen up and look presentable on arrival, especially lady members?
I am sure that there are pros and cons, to this request for an Arrivals Lounge,but with airlines competing for high paying passengers these days, I would have thought that Qantas would welcome the idea.
I would like to open the debate for those that would be in more of a need for an arrivals lounge than my retired self.
Personally,when I fly, I do not want to be waiting around before my flight. It takes enough time as it is out of my time with check in, security etc.

 

[TomVexille]

Multiple airlines offer arrival lounges, mainly in business destinations like LHR or HKG. QF specifically allow arrivals access domestically to their WP and higher members. VA allow access to their SG and above.

However, I think that QF knows that their lounges are crowded enough at peak hour without adding more people and therefore degrading the experience.

 

[harvyk]

I've managed to get arrival access a few times, coffee and showers was all I wanted.
Departure access is valuable esp if you're on a connecting flight.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Qantas also allows arrival access for business class pax travelling on the transcontinental red eye flights from Perth.

But don't forget to ask the desk to phone luggage services and let them know to hold your bag!

 

[JohnK]

Arrivals lounges in international terminals would need to be landside. Firstly where are you going to find the space and secondly who is going to fund the construction?

I think Qantas has got it right. If you need to go to work or a meeting and you want to freshen up then plan your trip better.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Arrivals lounges in international terminals would need to be landside. Firstly where are you going to find the space and secondly who is going to fund the construction?

I think Qantas has got it right. If you need to go to work or a meeting and you want to freshen up then plan your trip better.

Some international arrivals lounges work.
The EY Arrivals lounge in AUH is fantastic.
The CX Arrivals lounge in HKG is disappointing but better than nothing.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

By the way the poll seems to make no sense to me - the two options are broadly the same - surely they should be opposites or at least alternatives?

 

[kermatu]

I too think current arrangements are fine. I like having occasional lounge access on arrival as a high-status QF flyer on domestic flights. Useful to kill time if arrive early for a meeting or even on return home to grab something to eat or drink before heading back to work or home. Keep the benefit for status pax only - yes, partly selfish, but no way there's room for more people in most lounges.

An arrivals lounge from international would be nice but certainly nowhere near top of my "what should QF improve" list. If you have an onward connection just go to the Dom lounges. If not, yes it could be nice to shower or relax, but I'm sure most pax would just want to get home. And as JohnK says, big cost and effort and for minimal gain in general or even premium pax experience.

 

[mannej]

Just adding some perspective to the OP. QP membership isn't seen that highly in the QF Status chain of command.

 

[Nizar]

The EY Arrivals lounge in AUH is fantastic.

Not sure about fantastic.
Shave was nice. Showers quite good. But food could certainly do with an upgrade.

 

[harvyk]

If you need to go to work or a meeting and you want to freshen up then plan your trip better.

Sometimes a little hard to do (eg flight schedules), and that's when arrivals access comes in handy.

I expect most people whom want to use the lounge before they leave the airport precinct (and not on another flight) would use it in much the same way I would, a quick shower, a coffee and you're on your way. Whilst I'm sure there might be some whom would camp out at an arrivals lounge all day I'd imagine they would be in the very small minority.

To me (and I suspect most people) a lounge is nothing more than a very fancy waiting room, and whilst there are some lounges which are worthy as a destination in their own right (eg SYD FLounge), the stock standard run of the mill QP / JLounge doesn't fit the description and I can think of so many other places I'd rather go if I'm not waiting for a flight.

 

[Mattg]

I don't really understand the poll choices. But in principle, I think arrivals lounges are nice to have.

 

[mannej]

I don't really understand the poll choices. But in principle, I think arrivals lounges are nice to have.

Quite obviously a loaded poll.

People complain domestically of overcrowded lounges, Arrivals access will only make that worse.

Is there the space for Arrivals Lounges in Australian International terminals?

I think you may find that if they were to implement arrivals access, some who had access departing will not gain access on arrival due to space constraints (QP for one, perhaps SG as well).

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Quite obviously a loaded poll.

People complain domestically of overcrowded lounges, Arrivals access will only make that worse.

Is there the space for Arrivals Lounges in Australian International terminals?

I think you may find that if they were to implement arrivals access, some who had access departing will not gain access on arrival due to space constraints (QP for one, perhaps SG as well).

To be fair the topic is about arrivals lounges not access to lounges on arrival, so if we take the OP literally they meant a separate arrivals lounge.
I like them after long haul flights and as almost all flights into Australia are long haul I think they'd be a great idea here.
For a shower and a cup of coffee and so on before venturing forth. Not for loitering and drinking in like a departure lounge.

 

[mannej]

To be fair the topic is about arrivals lounges not access to lounges on arrival, so if we take the OP literally they meant a separate arrivals lounge.
I like them after long haul flights and as almost all flights into Australia are long haul I think they'd be a great idea here.
For a shower and a cup of coffee and so on before venturing forth. Not for loitering and drinking in like a departure lounge.

If you are spinning it that way, my second question applies? Is there space available that will make the lounges viable? I don't disagree on the benefits so that isn't in question.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

If you are spinning it that way, my second question applies? Is there space available that will make the lounges viable? I don't disagree on the benefits so that isn't in question.

I suppose we'd have to ask a commercial manager at one of the airports that question.
The short answer is probably that it depends how much airlines would pay for them. And that in turn probably explains why there aren't any.
With all airports now run by private companies for profit, they will lease space to the highest bidder. So we will probably have 15 branches of Travelex before an arrivals lounge.

 

[Lendav Orav]

Qantas also allows arrival access for business class pax travelling on the transcontinental red eye flights from Perth.

But don't forget to ask the desk to phone luggage services and let them know to hold your bag!

Doesn't Qantas allow platinums (and above) arrival access domestically? I thought that was the compromise after taking away any time access.

 

[Hvr]

Yes they do.

 

[dajop]

Yes they do.

Do they also allow WP's arrival access to the one international lounge where it is possible (SIN) as well or are they quite strict on that?

 

[JohnK]

Do they also allow WP's arrival access to the one international lounge where it is possible (SIN) as well or are they quite strict on that?

Yes they are strict. But if you ask nicely and it's a blue moon you may be surprised.