Sydney QF First Lounge v Emirates Business Lounge

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Henk

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Visiting the QF First Lounge 5-8 times a year, I noticed that it is not the First QF Lounge it used to be. Tonight I travel on a EK flight with a QF number so I went to QF First Lounge first to have my favourite salt & pepper squid, but was disappointed with the "enhanced" selection of champagnes & wines.
As my flight to Dubai is delayed at least 30 minutes I went to visit the Emirates Business Lounge and found it far more superior to QF First Lounge. There was a good selection of food and the choices of wines and champagnes is much more attractive than in the the QF First Lounge.
Wondering what others think???
 
Think your experience is similar to many other AFF members. EK may not be perfect, but is in a different class to QF in so many aspects of its premium offerings.
 
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What were the champagnes on offer in the EK lounge?
I usually only find veuve and moet in their J lounges.
 
Visiting the QF First Lounge 5-8 times a year, I noticed that it is not the First QF Lounge it used to be. Tonight I travel on a EK flight with a QF number so I went to QF First Lounge first to have my favourite salt & pepper squid, but was disappointed with the "enhanced" selection of champagnes & wines.
As my flight to Dubai is delayed at least 30 minutes I went to visit the Emirates Business Lounge and found it far more superior to QF First Lounge. There was a good selection of food and the choices of wines and champagnes is much more attractive than in the the QF First Lounge.
Wondering what others think???
Think your experience is similar to many other AFF members. EK may not be perfect, but is in a different class to QF in so many aspects of its premium offerings.
I completely disagree. The EK Lounges with the exception of Dubai F are pretty standard, cookie cutter affairs. Pleasant enough J lounges, I’ll grant they can have a better range of wine, especially reds. Champagne is usually Veuve, nothing remarkable about that. No a la carte menu, spa. Nothing really that would entice me there over QF F.
I will go to EK Lounge if on the very early morning EK departure from SYD just for convenience but otherwise not a chance.
 
I generaly prefer EK over QF First Lounges these days and use both QF & EK when the opportunity arises - the last time the buffet food at EK in MEL was better than that being served in the Qantas First lounge. I don't do spa so that is never a consideration.

YMMV

Some of my recent comments in that thread:
The duck was "well cooked" - may have been casseroled rather than stir fried (or both) ... Plenty of it.

Barra was overcooked.
Gua bao with lamb ... bring back the pork!

Bun was a soggy lump of glutonous stomach filler ... I basically ate just the filling which was like a rather spicy Chilli lamb casserole thing.
I tried the brisket ... a decent slab but aside from a couple of few fatty bits, the meat itself was dry, coarse and tasteless.

Steamed vegy ok with a bit of salt and the sauce was great (shiny bit on top) but I left most of the rest and decamped to the EK lounge.

Now do not get me wrong, I have appreciated the Qantas First lounges since they first opened in 2007; they have had their deep highs and shallow lows, but lows are becoming the norm.
 
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I generally am more than disappointed with the QF Flounge at SYD. It resembles a high level cafeteria at peak times and it can take forever to get a table let alone a drink other than Champagne. Earlier this year it took close to 40 minutes to be served a Negroni . The staff said that there was only one bar tender on... at peak hour on a Friday night of a long weekend.
I've relocated to the EK Lounge a number of times as I am in no mood for the peak hour shambles.. it is totally fine for my needs. Just usually a bit of a schlepp there and back.
But in saying all this.. if you can get table and it is not busy the FLounge can be quite the experience when the Champagne hasn't been enhanced and the staff and service is holding together.
Ooh ROo

Willie
 
I was referring to the EK premium class offering overall, not just lounges. I guess it comes down to personal expectations and tastes but have to agree with Serfty's comments on the quality of QF food. When last in SYD F lounge the Gua Bao was inedible.
 
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I generaly prefer EK of QF these days and use both QF & EK when the opportunity arises - the last time the buffet food at EK in MEL was better than that being served in the Qantas First lounge. I don't do spa's so that is never a consideration
I too prefer the MEL EK lounge food.
The spa doesn’t really bother me and I’m not a huge Champagne drinker so that isn’t a consideration either.
Since I’ve dropped back to SG the choice is taken out of my hands anyway 😂
 
Sydney had Laurent-Perrier La Cuvee earlier this year.
Usually Veuve Clicquot or Moet NV.
The Laurent-Perrier is decent.
Neither the Veuve nor the Moet would tempt me to give up the Pommery.
 
+ 1 with PF.

The only time I've used the EK lounge at SYD after the QF Lounge is when boarding was delayed.

It was absolutely full so we sat by the desk at the entrance. No comparison at all.
 
I'm not sure they're even in the same league - seems like most people are just basing the comparison on the champagne.

I'm usually flying to the US so morning flight - ability to have a great full breakfast seated at a table, served mimosas and follow it all with an Espresso Martini (all without getting up) makes it the superior choice IMO. Not that I could use the EK lounge flying to the US, but the point remains.

I've got an evening flight to HNL after Christmas so I'll sample the evening offerings. I guess it's pretty hard to mess up breakfast food.
 
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