Anyone in the know heard when the SYD QFi F lounge is going to reopen

[AustraliaPoochie]

EK F flights starting their liaison with QFi again, and I have the itch to fly F again, SYD - CHC, assuming our int borders will open to those flying across the ditch in July next year.
Did have a quick look around Google, but no listing of QFi lounges in Aust int airports opening.
Ta.

 

[oz_mark]

Can't imagine they will open until Qantas starts operating international itself, and even then, it may not be straight away.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

A lot can happen by July 2021. I imagine EK's lounge would be open unless prevented by the rules, so you wouldn't be loungeless.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Indeed, we wouldn't be loungeless, ((love the EK int lounges, the salmon is "die" for)).

 

[levelnine]

No announcement from Qantas yet.

Given it is haemorrhaging cash and will not be flying internationally in any large capacity for some time (ie it is not profitable to open the F lounge if it is merely running a 737 between Australia & NZ), my guess would be some time in 2022, probably second half of 2022. The Christmas flying season of 2021 would be the very best scenario one could hope for, but I think that is overly optimistic.

As with the domestic situation, the lower tier lounge will open first (ie the J lounge) and the upper tier lounge will only open when passenger numbers make it necessary.

 

[DC3]

I have the itch to fly F again. ...

Maybe international flights from mid-2021, and F Lounge following, but only once things pick up. However, we are all just making wild guesses. No-one here would be “in the know“.

Patience Poochie.

 

[ajw373]

No announcement from Qantas yet.

Given it is haemorrhaging cash and will not be flying internationally in any large capacity for some time (ie it is not profitable to open the F lounge if it is merely running a 737 between Australia & NZ), my guess would be some time in 2022, probably second half of 2022. The Christmas flying season of 2021 would be the very best scenario one could hope for, but I think that is overly optimistic.

As with the domestic situation, the lower tier lounge will open first (ie the J lounge) and the upper tier lounge will only open when passenger numbers make it necessary.

It's probably not that simple as they do make money off being a contract lounge supplier to other airlines. So they may open if there is demand from other airlines to open even if they are not fully running themselves.

PS domestically the upper tier lounges where they had one were the ones that opened first not the lower. Not that I would draw any comparison to what may or may not happen internationally.

 

[sudoer]

It's probably not that simple as they do make money off being a contract lounge supplier to other airlines. So they may open if there is demand from other airlines to open even if they are not fully running themselves.

Maybe the J lounge would open in those circumstances, but very few carriers will be flying an F cabin into Australia for the foreseeable future.

IIRC the F lounge only generates direct revenue from F pax on partner airlines or non QF OWEs. Suspect there will be very few of either in the short term - there will be far more QFF WPs flying Y/J on partners, which Qantas foots the lounge entry bill for if entering above class of travel eligibility.

 

[ajw373]

I don’t think the F lounge would open in a hurry either. Though they may use it as a J lounge as it is smaller and would be easier to operate. Especially as buffets are out and the F lounge is setup for table service.
But all speculation really. Doubt anyone here would have the real answer.

 

[DC3]

According to the banner at the top of the page, the question “Anyone in the know heard when the SYD QFi F lounge is going to reopen“ has been answered.

 

[ajw373]

Where is the answer?

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Where is the answer?

The answer is there is no-one in the know.

 

[ANstar]

Given they aren't planning on any international flying until July 2021 and A380's with F are out till 2023 I'd say it will bea while.

 

[DC3]

The answer is there is no-one in the know.

Yes. It seems that you are correct. None of us is in the know.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I just thought, mused, imagined, that someone on here, due to their postings, might be in the ear of someone high up in QF, no, not AJ, but who might be able to let a bit of a snippet out.
And yes, I know we dont have a redroo on here anymore.
They are still selling QFF flights Au to NZ though, for what ever dates in 2021.

 

[DC3]

...They are still selling QFF flights Au to NZ though, for what ever dates in 2021.

Yes. QF has been very slow at cancelling flights. Possible a strategy to hang on to money paid for existing, and future bookings. I wouldn’t assume that current flight availability means too much.

 

[ajw373]

Given they aren't planning on any international flying until July 2021 and A380's with F are out till 2023 I'd say it will bea while.

True. But that alone does mean F lounge won’t come back earlier. Refer to conversation above.

 

[RichardMEL]

It's not even worth contemplating anytime soon IMHO.

1. NZ is not allowing inbound.
2. AU is not allowing outbound
3. There is no timetable (at this hour anyway) for when those will happen and THEN for flights to be scheduled to resume specially on a tag like SYD-CHC which EK may feel does not warrant running in the short-medium term.

Worry about this when there's a fight to book and open borders to actually make use of imo.

and at the end of the day when that time happens and you can book a flight with fair certainty it will operate and you will be allowed out of AU and into NZ then it is likely at least ONE lounge - QF J, EK maybe QF F will be available to use prior to the flight.

and honestly AP you never seem to get a lot out of the F lounge anyway from previous posts.. seems like a bit of a First (class) world problem to me. When people can travel at more than a trickle the facilities will be provided.

imo

 

[DC3]

EK F flights starting their liaison with QFi again ...

You are more an EK-type, rather than QF?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

EK type, maybe so, the food in their own lounges are better.
Exc contracted ones, ie Manaia at CHC.
Got YouTube to sate my non flying ability (for the time being), at the least.