QF Club vs QF J Lounge @ SYD - What's the difference?

[Daver6]

Haven't tried the showers at the QF J lounge but found the Pub ones at SYD to be of acceptable quality. From what I recall across the QF lounge network the showers are all pretty good in the sense that they exist, there's no broken champagne flutes on the floor with decent water pressure and hot water. Certainly a cut above North American business lounges which rarely have showers these days (albeit not as good as the showers in the NH lounge at NRT which have excellent ventilation)

The J ones are pretty tiny and lacking room. That's my main gripe. Also the fact there's only three!

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I was also in SYD dom J at the same time as the OP (iirc the 483 left just prior to my delayed 475).

In case you're wondering I was the dude on his laptop sitting on the side desk where stragglers go to find a power port! The crowdedness level there was approaching chock-a-block! That's the one thing I'll miss from travelling in late 2021 - the empty lounges and airport where there were no queues even for normal security!

As others have said it is a poor excuse for a J lounge for all the reasons previously given. The usual curry slop was there. I always chuckle with some dismay when I see it, A bit "oh no, not again" sigh.

Yeah I saw the soup and was disappointed too. A lot of first timers who were impressed, though. Perhaps this is the first time they dipped their beak into the lounge life?

I was in there for quite some time due to a flight change and the delay of my flight.

Quite a few flights down to MEL were cancelled on Friday. I was lucky enough to escape that nonsense (albeit I would've loved to have been on the A330 as originally booked since that would let me eat and have a good nap).

I was bemused to note that the "selection of cakes" which was either carrot cake or a kind of red velvety/strawberry type flavour (I honestly couldn't tell which, despite a number of pieces) was where the infamous party pies used to go.

I had the red velvet and found the cake to be a bit dry. I will point out that the MEL lounge has way better selection of snacks in my books including in the Pub: good selection of lollies and cakes. I have nothing against pies as they can be a main meal when they are done well. But when they consist of sub Four n'Twenty level quality, then they make an hors d'œuvre at best.

Seems like that "feature" (lol) has gone perhaps? Don't get me wrong - the cakes were quite nice and all, but the party pies were on a whole other level of popular - which in a way says so much about both the lounge, and many of the clientele that this was seen as one of the "better" options by punters in the arvo.

I've tried the pies at MEL, they're okay (certainly wouldn't be filed as an incident report in the Australian Bureau of Pie Investigation) but in terms of pie standards they're nothing to write home about.

I do find the bar setup to be quite strangely small. Now it's been quite some time since I've been in the SYD QP, but I seem to recall it was quite a large bar area (and let's face it, that was what many were there for).. the small area for the bar/coffees is quite odd.

Yes the pub in the Qantas Pub at Sydney is considerably nicer than that of the Business lounge. Perhaps that's why it's called the Qantas Pub?

At least MEL has the "wrap around" design with the bar being at least a little more separate from the coffee station, and when there's enough staff service is usually pretty good.

Self-serve is always preferable. I don't know what the booze laws are here, but back in North America everything drink related would be self-serve (aside from the Centurion and United Polaris lounge). I can serve myself quite well, and if I can't I'm sure there will be a mountie who can escort me out of the lounge!

yes, it is past needing a reno.. but not just physically (though more power points is a desperate need!) but it could easily be improved with even a modest improvement in the catering offering... Doesn't have to be the PER pizza Oven, or the spice bar area like MEL (space seems limited since the area was spit from the original QP space to create the J lounge) but.. something. I've been in there.

I haven't been around SYD in the mornings but I do recall the TSV and DRW lounge had a pancake maker which for brekkie really improves the offering.

Friday arvo/evening of course is the worst kind of time for this lounge - specially with some delays going on. It's always crowded and that doesn't help. I had to hiunt around to find a single seat out of the way a bit so I wasn't taking up a two (or more) seat area.

I get that but am somewhat surprised that the level of crowdedness would be comparable to that of the Qantas Pub considering both have a comparable amount of square footage and the Pub admits way more people (i.e. Qantas Pub members, those with Gold status, those with lounge invites, those who can cite Alan Joyce's middle name, etc.)

I do like the views of the hangars and the ramp area by gates 1-7ish - I don't think that's a drawback of the lounge per se.

If you fly enough times, those birds in the hangar become tiring!

Hopefully the actual revamp of the lounge isn't too far off (but wait for the grumbles for the time it takes to do... !)

I'm just waiting for people to whine about their beloved lounge being closed or capacity reduced when QF tries to renovate!

-RooFlyer88

 

[RichardMEL]

Yeah I saw the soup and was disappointed too. A lot of first timers who were impressed, though. Perhaps this is the first time they dipped their beak into the lounge life?

no, I was referring to the "red" curry. No matter what curry they claim it is it always looks the same to me. I didn't try the soup myself, but sometimes they can be quite good. I just wasn't in a soup mood

Self-serve is always preferable. I don't know what the booze laws are here, but back in North America everything drink related would be self-serve (aside from the Centurion and United Polaris lounge). I can serve myself quite well, and if I can't I'm sure there will be a mountie who can escort me out of the lounge!

Well, there are RSA laws and the domestic lounges have noon(ish) opening time for alcohol (not a thing in international). Of course there IS self service wine and the poor excuse for sparkling wine they have. That was definitely in use in SYD as has been for years. It's only beer/cider/spirits (and coffee) to go to the bar for.

As for North American lounges... to compare apples with apples here and discuss domestic louinges (so Polaris doesn't apply) pretty much every UA and AA lounge I've been in over the years have all had staffed bars. I could be wrong but I don't recall self service wine (as with QF) and sometimes not even soft drink fountains (thoug AA in CLT did recently have a neato coke machine lol). So the reality is in my experience in the US that you still need to go to a bar to get an alcoholic drink Since you mention mountie (and "North America" ) then I'll go with Canada. And yep, IIRC some of the AC MLL's have/or had self serve wine too.. maybe beers in the fridge etc.

It does seem odd to me that it's self serve wine but not a fridge for beers or even a tap (like LH have in their lounges) butthere's probably a reason.

I am definitely a fan of self service myself.. QF is not horrible when it comes to this imo.

If you fly enough times, those birds in the hangar become tiring!

I guess that's a subjective view. I just like the view of the general ramp area, a/c taxing etc.

here's a pro tip.. don't go to CBR J lounge. That has no view. You'd prefer the QP

 

[kangarooflyer88]

no, I was referring to the "red" curry. No matter what curry they claim it is it always looks the same to me. I didn't try the soup myself, but sometimes they can be quite good. I just wasn't in a soup mood

Ahh yes it was lentil soup that was on offer. Definitely not soup weather though!

Well, there are RSA laws and the domestic lounges have noon(ish) opening time for alcohol (not a thing in international). Of course there IS self service wine and the poor excuse for sparkling wine they have. That was definitely in use in SYD as has been for years. It's only beer/cider/spirits (and coffee) to go to the bar for.

Technically coffee has self serve machines but again if none of the staff pay attention to it from time to time it becomes unusable and you're forced to deal with staff. In North America serving laws vary, some places it's noon, other places it's whenever you feel like it (i.e. Vegas). Then there's the UK and RSA where it seems like booze o'clock is any hour (I remember being in the United Club at 7 AM for a flight back to North America and the bartender busy filling glasses )

As for North American lounges... to compare apples with apples here and discuss domestic louinges (so Polaris doesn't apply) pretty much every UA and AA lounge I've been in over the years have all had staffed bars. I could be wrong but I don't recall self service wine (as with QF) and sometimes not even soft drink fountains (thoug AA in CLT did recently have a neato coke machine lol). So the reality is in my experience in the US that you still need to go to a bar to get an alcoholic drink Since you mention mountie (and "North America" ) then I'll go with Canada. And yep, IIRC some of the AC MLL's have/or had self serve wine too.. maybe beers in the fridge etc.

I can't comment on AA lounges specifically but have been to a number of UA lounges. You are quite right that some United Clubs do in fact have a bartender that you must order from. However there those in my experience seem to be the exception and not the rule (i.e. DEN and EWR are the two that come to mind). Even within an airport we see differences in serving activity for a given lounge. In particular some United Clubs at SFO have a bartender (i.e. the domestic ones) whereas the one in the international terminal is all self pour (that lounges is tied for HNL as being the worst UA lounge in the US)

It does seem odd to me that it's self serve wine but not a fridge for beers or even a tap (like LH have in their lounges) butthere's probably a reason.

Yes Lufthansa seems to be self serve although some hard liquor and top shelf stuff is bartender (at least that's what I recall from the Senator lounge at IAD when I visited back in January 2020). ANA also plays it laissez-faire when it comes to booze with them even having those neat beer machines where you insert your stein and it pours a perfect beer into it. Talk about efficiency!

I am definitely a fan of self service myself.. QF is not horrible when it comes to this imo.

Except when QF does a schedule change or cancels a flight and you can't fix the problem online (a story for another day).

I guess that's a subjective view. I just like the view of the general ramp area, a/c taxing etc.

I have nothing against the ramp area at all. Indeed some of the best lounges (i.e. Virgin lounge at MEL) I've been to have featured the ramp front and centre meaning plenty of plane cough seeing those birds push back and taxi on the apron. My only issue with the domestic lounge wrt the ramp area is you just don't see a bunch of birds taxiing as you do at other lounges (i.e. it's really not position at the ideal ramp location to bask in the birds)

here's a pro tip.. don't go to CBR J lounge. That has no view. You'd prefer the QP

Fortunately, when I travel to CBR later this month it's all in Y meaning it's QP for me (as a valued QF Gold).

-RooFlyer88

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

O, one more thing, (due to covid), is diy coffee machine still in operation, ie as in the porcelain cup now a no no in the QP/dom J lounge?
Is it all now disposable paper cups?
Ta.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

O, one more thing, (due to covid), is diy coffee machine still in operation, ie as in the porcelain cup now a no no in the QP/dom J lounge?
Is it all now disposable paper cups?
Ta.

So far as I can tell no COVID restrictions remain at QF lounges. It's full seating, showers are back to operation, self-service buffet, soft drink dispenser, wine, and coffee machine (including China cups).

-RooFlyer88

 

[Matt_01]

ADL is a bit of the newer combo lounges.
But if you take an indepth look at it, SYD airport has not ever since T3 was taken by QF, done any major works to either of these lounges.

Maybe I have been travelling for far to long or just have become complacent. I remember when the ADL QP and AN GW lounge were almost opposite to each other with an escalator up to the lounge and steps back down. There were also no air bridges in those days all boardings and arrivals were from the tarmac.

From Memory there was a period (early 2000s) that QP (edit) in SYD was split to form the J lounge and then the QP was further extended. I may be wrong.

 

[SYD]

Maybe I have been travelling for far to long or just have become complacent. I remember when the ADL QP and AN GW lounge were almost opposite to each other with an escalator up to the lounge and steps back down. There were also no air bridges in those days all boardings and arrivals were from the tarmac.

From Memory there was a period (early 2000s) that QP was then split to form the J lounge and then the QP was further extended. I may be wrong.

That was the old ADL terminal? Doesn’t the current terminal sit on the site of the old international shed?

 

[Sprucegoose]

There was a short queue to get your boarding pass scanned in and then into the lounge. After getting scanned in I was frankly a bit disappointed with the lounge.

You're disappointed........I've been putting up with a monopolist version of a 'great lounge' for well over 15 years.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

You're disappointed........I've been putting up with a monopolist version of a 'great lounge' for well over 15 years.

If you think QF lounges are bad, by all means try visiting lounges in the US or Canada!


-RooFlyer88

 

[Matt_01]

That was the old ADL terminal? Doesn’t the current terminal sit on the site of the old international shed?

TBH I have no idea, in 1990 I followed a skirt to ADL, 32 years later we are still together. Over the years we have been back and forth to see her family and now live here. During those 32 years ADL airport seems to be in a constant state renovation, be it major or minor.

 

[jase05]

TBH I have no idea, in 1990 I followed a skirt to ADL, 32 years later we are still together. Over the years we have been back and forth to see her family and now live here. During those 32 years ADL airport seems to be in a constant state renovation, be it major or minor.

The new terminal opened in 2005. AN were dead and buried by that time.

 

[Sprucegoose]

If you think QF lounges are bad, by all means try visiting lounges in the US or Canada!
View attachment 307949

-RooFlyer88

Your point is well-made, KF88, and is already assisting my current myopic episodes.

I will be back in North America in a few months, so I expect a few doses of these scenes; some stale pretzels and warm soda should complete the treatment.

That looks more like a rehab entrance to a medical facility.

 

[BAM1748]

The difference in Sydney is the size of the persons wallet. ie bigger wallets sit together but the furniture is the same.

In Canberra the pub is superior in my view as a nice view of the runway and I've never noticed much difference in the food.

 

[Sprucegoose]

The difference in Sydney is the size of the persons wallet. ie bigger wallets sit together but the furniture is the same.

In Canberra the pub is superior in my view as a nice view of the runway and I've never noticed much difference in the food.

Agree; CBR is more spacious and measured and caters for a (generally) different market. There is an air of quiet professionalism with QF Pubs in Canberra.

I honestly thought the Melbourne J lounge was the worst in Australia (pre-makeover) mainly due to the staff they had on the front desk; they seem to have weeded that lot out, so the customer-facing side of the business has improved considerably.

CBR remains my favourite airport for all sorts of legitimate reasons.

 

[smckay]

I did just what you are contemplating - went Gold to WP last month. The Sydney J lounge is moderately better than the QP. I don’t miss the toasted sanga’s so the soup/slop in J is actually an improvement.
Both lounges are overfull, both have poor seating and power availability and both need a rebuild.
I’d suggest doing what I did; WP came about by not actively chasing it but through circumstance. Unless you travel internationally and want rewards seats Gold would do me. The improved WP phone service is appreciated but yesterday when changing a flight the call dropped out and QF have not called me back. Reminiscent of the non-premium call centres. Sigh. 2 out of 3 calls have not been ‘premium’ so far.

 

[Dr4manyspecies]

In a dream world, Qantas could take a leaf from Singapore Airlines flagship lounges... bright, comfy space, OMG the food options were sooo good, helpful staff, full bar, great biz centre... the list goes on. I miss my Krisflyer status and I miss the Qantas of old... if they offer a status swap like Virgin recently did I'd strongly consider leaving QFF and all of their dramas.

 

[serfty]

Maybe I have been travelling for far to long or just have become complacent. I remember when the ADL QP and AN GW lounge were almost opposite to each other with an escalator up to the lounge and steps back down. There were also no air bridges in those days all boardings and arrivals were from the tarmac. ...

Correct, gate lounges were ground level.

As for the clubs, one escalator up from the concourse for each, left for QP, right for GW.ad you walked up from security

I had a business associate who was paraplegic, there was the the only the one lift which was on the AN side. They had to use that before crossing over to the other side using the bridge that was there.

...
From Memory there was a period (early 2000s) that QP (edit) in SYD was split to form the J lounge and then the QP was further extended. I may be wrong.

You are not wrong; see post #16.

 

[serfty]

That was the old ADL terminal? Doesn’t the current terminal sit on the site of the old international shed?

This is correct, the old international terminal was indeed demolished to make way for the current passenger terminal

 

[serfty]

I honestly thought the Melbourne J lounge was the worst in Australia (pre-makeover) mainly due to the staff they had on the front desk; they seem to have weeded that lot out, so the customer-facing side of the business has improved considerably

Maybe a perception attained because to access the original Domestic J lounge you had to run the gauntlet of lounge dragons twice.

Once at the current J entrance (which was the QP entrance) and a second time about three quarters of the way down where the old J lounge entrance was.