Those ADL late night international departures

[justinbrett]

Just to clarify, this thread is complaining about a domestic Qantas Club and it’s suitability for international pax (especially F)

It’s a bit of a scam that Qantas market the ADL lounge as “domestic and international lounges combined”. It’s a domestic Qantas club, which is available to international passengers prior to customs and immigration. That defeats most of the purpose of having a lounge - somewhere to relax immediately prior to boarding. Not saying it’s without utility but regardless of the F&B offering, it doesn’t really cut the mustard IMO.

So agree, the beef should be with your carrier that decided not to operate a lounge. Qantas doesn’t operate any international services from ADL so it’s not their fault. They’re operating a domestic lounge for their own flights, and it’s just as sub-standard as the rest of them.

 

[Pushka]

Just to clarify, this thread is complaining about a domestic Qantas Club and it’s suitability for international pax (especially F)

It’s a bit of a scam that Qantas market the ADL lounge as “domestic and international lounges combined”. It’s a domestic Qantas club, which is available to international passengers prior to customs and immigration. That defeats most of the purpose of having a lounge - somewhere to relax immediately prior to boarding. Not saying it’s without utility but regardless of the F&B offering, it doesn’t really cut the mustard IMO.

So agree, the beef should be with your carrier that decided not to operate a lounge. Qantas doesn’t operate any international services from ADL so it’s not their fault. They’re operating a domestic lounge for their own flights, and it’s just as sub-standard as the rest of them.

Well it was a Qantas decision not to run their own international flights anymore and let EK do the work.

 

[Franky]

Sarcasm. It’s not great.

Just sayin..

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Not forgetting or ignoring the fact that down the track, ADL airport has got big plans, ie expansion.
First we will now have the Atura Hotel coming on for bookings end of next year.
If they do expand the airport, they could go towards the old terminal way, ie, get rid of building that AFP used to have, a bit further out from where the taxi rank is now.
ADL airport also has a youtube video showing that they might or will do a fork type of gate arrangements in the future.
So all is not lost as yet.

 

[Pushka]

Not forgetting or ignoring the fact that down the track, ADL airport has got big plans, ie expansion.
First we will now have the Atura Hotel coming on for bookings end of next year.
If they do expand the airport, they could go towards the old terminal way, ie, get rid of building that AFP used to have, a bit further out from where the taxi rank is now.
ADL airport also has a youtube video showing that they might or will do a fork type of gate arrangements in the future.
So all is not lost as yet.

Ah. Why would any of this happen?

 

[justinbrett]

Ah. Why would any of this happen?

Yep - Newcastle went to the expense of building customs and immigration facilities as part of their terminal upgrade - no international service yet (its been over 2 years) and I think they’ve even lost some domestic Jetstar flights.

Canberra did the same - wasn’t it at least a decade before they got services?

The “build it and they will come” motto doesn’t always work in aviation.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Ah. Why would any of this happen?

Maybe they see that Southern China Air is now flying here, Air Asia (might be back) and that other airlines just might come this way.
Remember when the 2 terminals used to maybe 1.5 km apart prior to 2005.
So the joining of the 2 ADL terminals is a good thing.
Also that Etihad emergency landing a few days ago brings it up to note, that ADL airport as it is, is just not equipped for anything big. Prior to this Etihad emergency, wasn't there a few too of these in the past.
Not to mention that Air NZ flight that had to land in ADL to get AFP to get that rowdy pax off the flight AKL - PER.
While I see the development as half a good thing, half not so, as it currently is, I am on 50:50 for this redevelopment.
When the development comes, and is completed, fares to and from ADL will probably increase to cover and reap costs of development.

 

[justinbrett]

If we're talking about lounges specifically - ADL is really too small to operate several international lounges. It makes sense to have a generic lounge (or lead airline, such as SQ) with other airlines paying into it.

Right now, there's nothing stopping EK paying SQ to use their lounge.

 

[Matt_01]

I live in ADL and work on the Eastern seaboard and that it is most like why I ended up meeting the OP in SYD F earlier this year (transit through SYD). I avoid ADL international departures at all costs. Even MrsM and MissM prefer to transit through SYD or MEL for international departures rather than leave from their home base, normally works for us due to my work.

justinbrett, using SQ airside lounge could be an option but it is small and customs only open 90 minutes (from memory) prior to departure. From what I understand QF have rights to an upstairs area similar to SQ but have not developed it. I would suggest that it may make sense for the OW carriers and EK to all pitch in and develop a OW+EK (QF partner) airside lounge

 

[Matt_01]

Not forgetting or ignoring the fact that down the track, ADL airport has got big plans, ie expansion.
First we will now have the Atura Hotel coming on for bookings end of next year.
If they do expand the airport, they could go towards the old terminal way, ie, get rid of building that AFP used to have, a bit further out from where the taxi rank is now.
ADL airport also has a youtube video showing that they might or will do a fork type of gate arrangements in the future.
So all is not lost as yet.

What ADL Airport want and what the airlines agree too may not always be the same

 

[CaptJCool]

Best food at ADL QF Club

 

[Pushka]

Best food at ADL QF Club

At the ADL QP last Thursday around 12 noon. Not interested in breakfast remnants I saw a nice bowl of chicken pieces behind the counter ready to be served. I had to print something out but by the time I did that the bowl had been served and all the magpies had loaded their plates and within a few minutes it was all gone. Boarded about half an hour later and decided to try lunch offering on the plane. Bad move. It was the pulled pork and apple lepinja. Which consisted of some kind of paste and a thick roll.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

At the ADL QP last Thursday around 12 noon. Not interested in breakfast remnants I saw a nice bowl of chicken pieces behind the counter ready to be served. I had to print something out but by the time I did that the bowl had been served and all the magpies had loaded their plates and within a few minutes it was all gone. Boarded about half an hour later and decided to try lunch offering on the plane. Bad move. It was the pulled pork and apple lepinja. Which consisted of some kind of paste and a thick roll.

Pushka next time be a seagull too first.

 

[ross11]

Well it was a Qantas decision not to run their own international flights anymore and let EK do the work.

Well, more of a joint decision I'd say?

 

[muppet]

Yep - Newcastle went to the expense of building customs and immigration facilities as part of their terminal upgrade - no international service yet (its been over 2 years) and I think they’ve even lost some domestic Jetstar flights.

Canberra did the same - wasn’t it at least a decade before they got services?

</snip>

CBR International terminal and facilities finished 2013. Singapore started services 2016.