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

[Beano]

With Qantas flying WLG-BNE, I wont be seeing much of the lounge in the future. Oh well, WLG lounge here I come, for what it's worth!

 

[kpro]

AKL

That's more of a 'legacy' lounge though, which is being replaced by a business only lounge and really should have been many years ago.

There are cities that had an F lounge, but were taken away when service stopped (EG BKK, SIN). Though it does beg the question, did QF ever have an F service to Auckland?

 

[serfty]

That's more of a 'legacy' lounge though, which is being replaced by a business only lounge and really should have been many years ago.

There are cities that had an F lounge, but were taken away when service stopped (EG BKK, SIN). Though it does beg the question, did QF ever have an F service to Auckland?

Yes, when this lounge was built, Qantas indeed had First Class AKL services.

At one stage in the 00ties, LAN was the only oneworld service to/from/via AKL with F.

 

[Lynda2475]

Yes, when this lounge was built, Qantas indeed had First Class AKL services.

My first visit to AKL First Lounge today, it is the poor cousin of SYD, MEL, LAX and SIN. Tiny, no barista coffee, no ala carte dining, no bacon at breakfast.

Felt like a HBA sized SYD J lounge (although SYD J and even qpubs have barista coffee). If that was F Lounge, was is the AKL J like?

 

[RichardMEL]

My first visit to AKL First Lounge today, it is the poor cousin of SYD, MEL, LAX and SIN. Tiny, no barista coffee, no ala carte dining, no bacon at breakfast.

Poor cousin is high praise indeed. Perhaps on par with the HBA QP? Although there is - or used to be - the ice cream lol

 

[Lynda2475]

Yes the icecream was still there (also have it in the WLG J lounge) but not so appealing at 4:30am.

 

[serfty]

My first visit to AKL First Lounge today, it is the poor cousin of SYD, MEL, LAX and SIN. Tiny, no barista coffee, no ala carte dining, no bacon at breakfast.

Felt like a HBA sized SYD J lounge (although SYD J and even qpubs have barista coffee). If that was F Lounge, was is the AKL J like?

You are being a bit harsh considering it was built in the 90's; all the Qantas First Class lounges of that era had the same fit out. Certainly a la carte dining was not the philosophy back then. FWIW, I have had bacon there in the past.

If that was F Lounge, was is the AKL J like?

The J lounge at least has a Barista.

I am in the F Lounge as I type after being in the USA for a week. There is a sign up at the coffee machine - it was there when I came through last Saturday as well:

 

[serfty]

Hmm, the fact they've put a sign out probably indicates it's just a temporary thing?

Yeah, plenty there the four times I have been there this year.

 

[Berlin]

Still no sign of actual renovation work I assume? Last time, a few months ago, I asked the friendly ladies at the front if they knew anything more recent, and they sarcastically told me that at least now, they’ve got “a wall”.

I at first didn’t get it but realised later that they were referring to that giant generic photo wall at the back of the J lounge which advertises “sparking new lounge coming soon”

 

[muppet]

Still no sign of actual renovation work I assume?

How did you guess? As of this morning, nothing happening.

 

[serfty]

As of this morning, nothing happening.

And long may that be ... I detest the "International Lounge Concept" with special "Secret Squirrel" catering for F.O.Q.'s.*

FOQ's = "Friends of Qantas", aka media, CL, WP1 etc.

 

[jase05]

And long may that be ... I detest the "International Lounge Concept" with special "Secret Squirrel" catering for F.O.Q.'s.*

FOQ's = "Friends of Qantas", aka media, CL, WP1 etc.

Whilst that may be tru the lounge is a dump and needs a dozer through it.

 

[henrus]

I am in the F Lounge as I type after being in the USA for a week

The term ask our friendly team is common (and often not true at businesses) but I’ve got to give it to them, the Auckland F lounge staff are all really friendly and genuinely want to help.

 

[Lynda2475]

There is a sign up at the coffee machine

Unfortunately that sign wasn't there at 4:30am this morning.

Hopefully after renovation they will have room for bacon everyday. I found the food selection at WLG J better than AKL F.

 

[Beano]

Unfortunately that sign wasn't there at 4:30am this morning.

Hopefully after renovation they will have room for bacon everyday. I found the food selection at WLG J better than AKL F.

You must have been there on a good day. Evening service has gone downhill since new manager arrived; poorer choice of drinks, though they have Panhead, poorer food selection with no more sushi.

 

[cavemanzk]

What is the holdup with starting the building work? assuming that is on AIAL not QF, as they would need the additional space built first? so they can shift the lounge partly over to the new space then re do the current space?

QF should really just tee up a deal with EK to fully use there lounge for a couple of months, and get this refurb complete asap. The EK lounge just gets used for a daily A388 flight into AKL these days, gone are the days when AKL used to have 4x daily A388s from EK.

 

[kpro]

Unfortunately that sign wasn't there at 4:30am this morning.

It was there at 6am when I was there late last year. I've never tried the service though.

 

[elanshin]

My first visit to AKL First Lounge today, it is the poor cousin of SYD, MEL, LAX and SIN. Tiny, no barista coffee, no ala carte dining, no bacon at breakfast.

Felt like a HBA sized SYD J lounge (although SYD J and even qpubs have barista coffee). If that was F Lounge, was is the AKL J like?

Just a small area. Barista off in the corner, didn't have the same variety of milk that Aus does (but I think that's a NZ thing).

Breakfast was small sausage, eggs and hash brown. Some pastry, yoghurt and pudding and cold meats.

We didn't spend too long there mainly to check it out, get a coffee as our gate was a 18min trek from the lounge.

 

[stm1sydney]

Well, that article that started this thread didn't age well! Written in 2022, and still waiting for action from Qantas.

 

[RichardMEL]

You have to imagine the hold up is out of QF's control tbh.