Article: Qantas Auckland Lounge Upgrade: The End of an Era

[Kiwi_Flyer]

oh it really HAS changed since pandemic. thanks! I guess that partially explains that.

I guess that explains that.

I need to go back through AKL again soon.

No that change was pre-pandemic. NZ lounge used to be opposite the QF lounge but moved to its current location when the terminal upgrade was done. Where the NZ lounge is used to be landside and a useful quiet spot to sleep if overnighting at AKL.

 

[serfty]

Strata lounge is where NZ lounge used to be.

I have vague memories of you telling me that in the early days of when it was an AirNZ lounge, one could turn right into the "First" section.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

I have vague memories of you telling me that in the early days of when it was an AirNZ lounge, one could turn right into the "First" section.

Yes. There was also a brief period when Gold Elite (since renamed to Elite) status pax could use it. Then when NZ ceased offering F it was turned into a nice crew area.

 

[RichardMEL]

oh yes. I remember now. So yes I've been in the "new" lounge then - up the escalator and turn right etc. OK. I was still thinking of the older days when it was opposite where QF is. I'm getting old! mea culpa

 

[kangarooflyer88]

A pizza oven or noodle station is pretty much the most one can hope for in terms of food and champers will most likely be gone completely (or hidden somewhere for special guests). Maybe some “exiting local treats” or “signature coughtails” which will quietly disappear after the first few months post opening. But that’s probably it.

Small improvements like this could go a long way for lounges that have been neglected for some time (i.e. SYD domestic, HBA, etc.). I've said it before and I'll say it again, all it would take is Uncle Alan to give some of his pocket change to an assistant to make noticeable improvements in QF domestic lounge quality.

The AKL F "cupboard" is quite fondly remembered tbh. Was it great? no. Was it adequate? not really. Did the party pies run out? usually. Was the ice cream the best thing? probably!

It seems to me like QF should just have a pantry with premium treats only accessible to First class passengers. Perhaps they could have a sliding door for the pantry much as LH does to separate the Senators from the commoners at their lounge in LHR or how Rex's lounge is via a sliding door behind a gate.

-RooFlyer88

 

[RichardMEL]

It seems to me like QF should just have a pantry with premium treats only accessible to First class passengers. Perhaps they could have a sliding door for the pantry much as LH does to separate the Senators from the commoners at their lounge in LHR or how Rex's lounge is via a sliding door behind a gate.

yes, but as discussed the space was there for F pax - real ones initially.

Clearly QF's "combined" lounge strategy is to have a reserved area for status and F pax (eg LHR) with limited extras such as real bubbles).

I doubt they would change this concept anytime soon. I guess we'll just have to see.

 

[Rangalad]

LAN had full 3 class service. In fact, in the latter years after QF had ditched First from their 747's, the F&B Quality would improve in the hours before LAN's 2 daily departures (morning to SYD, afternoon to SCL)

Qantas also had domestic lounge in NZ - AKL, WLG (mentioned above) and CHC - they eventually bit the dust a while after Qantas Jetstarized their NZ domestic services.

One of my op-ups was on LAN SYD/AKL J to F.

Post automatically merged: Jan 4, 2023

Small improvements like this could go a long way for lounges that have been neglected for some time (i.e. SYD domestic, HBA, etc.). I've said it before and I'll say it again, all it would take is Uncle Alan to give some of his pocket change to an assistant to make noticeable improvements in QF domestic lounge quality.

It seems to me like QF should just have a pantry with premium treats only accessible to First class passengers. Perhaps they could have a sliding door for the pantry much as LH does to separate the Senators from the commoners at their lounge in LHR or how Rex's lounge is via a sliding door behind a gate.

-RooFlyer88

BNE INTL cupboard, I mean lounge.
R.I.P.

 

[RichardMEL]

So ET reports that the upgrade is set to be completed by June (in time for AKL-JFK) and they are expanding the footprint with total space for 342 pax. I get the impression they will try and add features from the PER int transit lounge somehow but that's just my impression. Time will tell (though time is also running out!).

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

For 5 months of work, they would certainly "have" to close the whole lounge, gut the place, move the lounge onto the outside area... wouldn't they?
Assuming they do start by end of Jan, and have to finish by Jun.
I might be passing through in mid Jul, and have a choice of various carriers, if they do start the gutting of the lounge end of this month, I "must" pay the new lounge a visit in Jul.

 

[RichardMEL]

nope. very specific about staging it so there's always some part of the lounge open for use.

and then Poochie 2nd half of 2023 is ADL J lounge going in next to the current QC....

 

[Berlin]

nope. very specific about staging it so there's always some part of the lounge open for use.

Yep, and that’s very much how Qantas tends to do “these things”. Will probably quite a mess during this time but there will be some sort of Qantas lounge remaining.

 

[smckay]

For me, it would have to be a substantial improvement and at least match the Emirates lounge. I used Emirates in November after sitting jammed into the F cupboard waiting till 2.15pm.
What a revelation - massive size, huge food offerings (I tried nearly all of them in the interest of research) power points close to seats, and decent champagne.
This is where QF fails in comparison to other carriers in my experience.

 

[RichardMEL]

yeah the EK AKL lounge has always been a big space with very generous everything.. even when they had 3x380's doing the trans tasman tags it never seemed to be overvrowded somehow. Definitely a superior lounge.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

yeah the EK AKL lounge has always been a big space with very generous everything.. even when they had 3x380's doing the trans tasman tags it never seemed to be overvrowded somehow. Definitely a superior lounge.

It got pretty full when they had 4 a380 flights (3 trans-Tasman plus 1 nonstop).

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

It got pretty full when they had 4 a380 flights (3 trans-Tasman plus 1 nonstop).

Don't worry.
That is history nowadays that EK does not do an AKL - Aust eastern state stop anymore.
Only NZ one is CHC - SYD.
Edit: AirNZ's fare AKL - MEL was too cheap to ignore, so will be flying them back from AKL - MEL this Jul.
But will report back (as others will) of how the refresh/reno is moving along in Jul.

 

[RichardMEL]

It got pretty full when they had 4 a380 flights (3 trans-Tasman plus 1 nonstop).

yeah but perhaps that was due to the time of year. IIRC when I used to fly those routes the AKL-DXB left a few hours after the "trans tasman three" so there was not a huge overlap.. but this may have changed in the winter season?

obviously not an issue now but well who knows what the future could hold - the tags could yet return beyond SYD-CHC.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

For me, it would have to be a substantial improvement and at least match the Emirates lounge. I used Emirates in November after sitting jammed into the F cupboard waiting till 2.15pm.
What a revelation - massive size, huge food offerings (I tried nearly all of them in the interest of research) power points close to seats, and decent champagne.
This is where QF fails in comparison to other carriers in my experience.

Completely agree with you here. As a QF Gold, I would ordinarily visit the QF J lounge at SYD but decided to give the EK lounge at SYD a try and was absolutely blown away. Both the quality of the food and the presentation of the buffet was unlike anything I've seen before at a lounge, good selection of booze and bubbles, and the shower area was top notch including having roses in the shower room to make everything smell fresh. Everything was a cut above QF lounges and as a bonus wasn't filled with dime a dozen QF flyers (likely due to its limited hours, the fact it's on the other side of the terminal at SYD, and few QFF are aware of the carve-out allowing for access on QF flights). That being said, I haven't set foot in the QF Flounge, but would be surprised if it's that much of a step above the EK lounge, especially given the dime a dozen OWE passengers occupying the lounge.

 

[RichardMEL]

Funnily enough I found the EK lounge at SYD to be inferior to AKL. You will have to get there sometime. It's OK iN SYD don't get me wrong, but it's not their best in my experience

but yes, EK do have a higher standard in general. No argument there at all. They do combined lounges pretty well for their clientele. This is what lots of $$$ can do....

 

[SYD]

Completely agree with you here. As a QF Gold, I would ordinarily visit the QF J lounge at SYD but decided to give the EK lounge at SYD a try and was absolutely blown away.

Staying OT, access to the SYD EK lounge for QFF is limited to flights covered by the QF/EK agreement (eg nothing to the Americas). As a QF WP/OWE, I personally would stick to the QF F Lounge when eligible.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

So ET reports that the upgrade is set to be completed by June (in time for AKL-JFK) and they are expanding the footprint with total space for 342 pax.

Just thought I'd share the Executive Traveller article published on Thursday discussing this:

Qantas’ lounge upgrade roadmap for 2023

All-new lounges and overdue refreshes are on the way…

www.executivetraveller.com

From the article:

The upgrade work will be done in stages so that some part of the lounges can remain open throughout the redevelopment; we’re expecting the new lounge will fully emerge from its constriction zone cocoon in early June.

Hopefully I am lucky and get to visit this UNESCO World Heritage site on January 15 when I fly out of AKL for MEL.

-RooFlyer88