SYD Flounge named among world's 'fanciest'

[Katie]

However the Brisbane First Lounge isn't feeling very loved...

I have used the Platinum/Emerald Lounge (as a lounge angel referred to it one morning as I was waiting to board QF8 BNE-SYD before QF107 or 11 to LAX) a few times, all without my family. The food seems to be the same as what would be in the Domestic J lounge, but there is a distinct up side in the bottle of Taittinger in the fridge. And normally an attendant who offers to bring over coffees from the QP/J Lounge.
Last time I flew out of there (in May), it was quite crowded, and I ended up sitting in a group of four by the windows (with such lovely car park views). I noticed a few people come in and leave the lounge. I then proactively caught the eye of the next people I saw who were looking for seats, to let them know the seat across from me were free. Maybe everyone wants a bit of space and all the 4 seat groups don't help. Or not enough people have experienced busy hawker centres in SIN.

 

[lovestotravel]

MEL lounge you feel special as it's rarely busy and the staff know you very fast
SYD lounge you are just another customer/number

I love both and they are up there with some of the best lounges in the World

 

[JohnK]

Agree with the article that SYD First Lounge is one of the fanciest.

Everyone rates lounges differently so ranking does not really mean much.

Spa? Is not on my todo list so wouldnt care if a lounge had it or not.

 

[NM]

However the Brisbane First Lounge isn't feeling very loved...

Neither do passengers who qualify to use the QF BNE First Lounge

 

[MEL_Traveller]

with the caveat that the qantas lounges in SYD/MEL belong in the top 10, the rest of the article is mostly rubbish. no Lufthansa FCL or FCT? no TG first lounge in bkk? no cx wing (which does have bling!).

there is absolutely nothing fancy about the sq gold lounge. I think the author might have got them mixed up.

 

[Mr_Orange]

I would like to imagine an eventual increase in BNE services would warrant investment and using that (vacant?) upstairs area above the lounge. But realistically the numbers may never work out.

I've always wondered about the use of the upstairs bit. Maybe they could turn that into the new FLounge and incorporate the current FLounge into the J Lounge to increase space.

 

[ReLoad]

Note they say 'fanciest'. Not best. Not 'good'. Nothing is really assessed apart from a small subset of aesthetics.

HEL wouldn't even rank in my top 20 lounges I've been in...

Bang on there! The HEL lounge is average at best. Very very Scandinavian in looks which are great. But service, meals and amenities..... Raincheck.

Give me a cabana at the Wing any day.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

The Brisbane First Lounge is great for direct flights to Singapore and LAX, although the SYD and MEL lounges are superior, nothing beats a direct flight. I'd prefer to spend my time on the ground in SG and LA than re-route via Sydney or Melbourne.

Door to door, I go from my house in Brisbane to my beach hangout (a '81 VW combi) north of LA in 17 hours...which means waking in Brisbane and surfing the Rincon Point in the same morning! And squeezing in an afternoon of golf at Ojai Valley Inn, then crashing for 12 hours!

I think you're opening a can of worms there.

Personally, without F services the BNE and AKL F lounges are adequate. I have a soft spot for their quaintness. However I understand the BNE one particularly can get easily crowded but have yet to witness it myself. Maybe now with EK lounge access this will be less of an issue.

I would like to imagine an eventual increase in BNE services would warrant investment and using that (vacant?) upstairs area above the lounge. But realistically the numbers may never work out.

In the short term improving the soft product (e.g. food options) and maybe adding a staff member to 'run' the F lounge areas would increase their perceived quality significantly.

 

[gypsyinabigtown]

I fully agree with Sydney F lounge being one of the world's fanciest.
This is especially true if you're a status pax. flying Y:
In Sydney F lounge you can get a sit-down meal, and even a spa treatment (space-available).
In Emirates F lounge, you can only get a sit-down meal, the spa treatment is for F pax. only.
In BA F lounge in London, both full sit-down meal and spa treatment is for F pax. only (last I checked this was 2 years ago, may have changed).

 

[JohnPhelan]

In BA F lounge in London, both full sit-down meal and spa treatment is for F pax. only (last I checked this was 2 years ago, may have changed).

Still correct - and The Concord Room at T5 is for F pax only. BA holds the view (obviously) that there still needs to be some point of differentiation, lounge-wise, for F pax over and above OWE status holders.

 

[TonyHancock]

Still correct - and The Concord Room at T5 is for F pax only. BA holds the view (obviously) that there still needs to be some point of differentiation, lounge-wise, for F pax over and above OWE status holders.

Don't the BA 5000SC brigade get Concorde room access?

 

[anat0l]

Don't the BA 5000SC brigade get Concorde room access?

Yes they do, with the Concorde Room Card.

 

[Mal]

Yes they do, with the Concorde Room Card.

CL did (or still do.. Who knows how frosty the whole QF/BA relationship saga is) get access too.

 

[Rallygirl]

However the Brisbane First Lounge isn't feeling very loved...

It made me laugh today when I noticed that this page on the Qantas site only mentions Sydney and Melbourne First class lounges. Looks like Qantas isn't loving the Brisbane lounge either Red Roo.

Qantas International First Lounges | Qantas

 

[JessicaTam]

Another vote for the MEL F lounge here.

Ditto from me.

 

[Mr_Orange]

It made me laugh today when I noticed that this page on the Qantas site only mentions Sydney and Melbourne First class lounges. Looks like Qantas isn't loving the Brisbane lounge either Red Roo.

Qantas International First Lounges | Qantas

Except: Airport Lounges at Brisbane International Airport | Qantas

 

[nlagalle]

Thanks Bill. I have referenced comments from both threads in my ongoing feedback to the relevant teams.

However the Brisbane First Lounge isn't feeling very loved...

Perhaps Qantas need to update the Brisbane lounge to bring it in line with MEL and SYD.. then we might rave about it too.. Having been there before I am in no rush to go there again.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Don't the BA 5000SC brigade get Concorde room access?

Quite true, you get a special Concord Room card and everything!

 

[RooFlyer]

The original story named the Finnair non Schengen lounge at HEL as in the world's top 10 'fanciest'. Was there a couple of weeks ago.

Not confusing 'fancy' with 'best', then maybe it deserves a high raking (dunno about in top 10 though).

Quite stylish and well laid out. Interestingly, the spirits and Champagne (Joseph Perrier Brut) are only available behind a serviced bar, accessible by showing the bar-tender an Emerald status boarding pass (and presumably other criteria).

Maybe Qantas can instigate this at their SIN lounge, to close the Champagne gap there for Plats (and up) and F pax?

 

[Isochronous]

That's just made me want to fly AY to Europe next time!