Auckland QF J lounge is disgustingly filthy, worn out, and with s*^t food. Get it remodelled now Qantas!

[justinbrett]

I can confirm there is one serviceable shower in the first class lounge and three in the business lounge.

My god, these lounges are terrible. I thought this thread was a bit dramatic but it’s completey apt. The Darwin Qantas Club has more right to call itself a first class lounge than this (I wish I was there now)

There’s no control of the shower queue. I’m here queuing in front of the shower just to ensure I get in.

Also, they’re not remaining opening for the delayed LA flight.

Avoid AKL at all costs...

 

[Christoo]

I am a constant frequenter of the AKL First cupboard.
Most of the time if you have an evening flight it is completely full, I mean completely every last seat.
Staff are always friendly and attentive, but the food offering is below average.
I am a simple man, if there are sausage rolls or mini-quiches I am happy.
Many of the times there are no dessert type offerings at all, not even their very average carrot cake.

 

[Berlin]

Just as an aside, and I will post a very detailed report on this at a later time, but I am currently in the process of showing my beloved red Roo the middle finger by trying out the competition.

And having been at Air New Zealand’s so called “flagship” lounge last night, I now know why Qantas thinks they can get away with delaying the investment into their AKL lounge a little longer: The competition is also sh#t. Looked all fancy and new but gosh, what a zoo! Cramped full to the brim and zero hot food: All hot food stations get closed and cleaned right in time for the big storm of business travellers returning to Australia from Friday afternoon onwards. Which is about as idiotic as J class seats that make you stare at you fellow passengers’ dirty feet/socks rather than out the window but I digress.

So, if I look at all the lounges in AKL, I’d say EK is by far the best (if you’re lucky enough to be granted access), probably followed by the Strata lounge even though the latter is also a total zoo in peak hours. Qantas at least offers some sort of hot food and the Flounge has champagne again while Air NZ has a decent modern hard product but their choice of food and drinks is appealing. So both- meh.

 

[Andyc]

I've given up asking that. Might start suggesting I pay for the shower repair instead.

I wonder if it was a fellow AFFer who helped update the First Lounge shower Out Of Order sign.

 

[Berlin]

I wonder if it was a fellow AFFer who helped update the First Lounge shower Out Of Order sign.
View attachment 168675

Haha- that scribble has been on there for weeks now. Are they really not even able to print off a fresh A4 paper? If I did a job like this in my work, I’d have been kicked out within the first week.

 

[justinbrett]

For the sale of those who don’t know, there is another servicable shower at the other end of that corridor in the first class Lounge.

 

[kermatu]

Haha- that scribble has been on there for weeks now. Are they really not even able to print off a fresh A4 paper? If I did a job like this in my work, I’d have been kicked out within the first week.

Methinks the staff agree....

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Many of the times there are no dessert type offerings at all, not even their very average carrot cake.

There is a freezer full of yummy Kapiti ice cream.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

There is a freezer full of yummy Kapiti ice cream.

By far the saving grace of the lounge.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I'm back in a week and a bit, haven't been since April. Too early for EK so party pies and Lanson it will be. Looks like I'll have to have a shower before I get there

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

By far the saving grace of the lounge.

Agreed.

 

[Berlin]

By far the saving grace of the lounge.

Totally agree. Too bad that on the following J class flight, instead of a proper desert offering, you just get a tub of exactly the same I’ve cream thrown on a desert plate. Classy, Qantas, classy..

 

[NZ_Flyer]

I just go to the Strata Lounge with a PP card now and the food and decor is much better

 

[Berlin]

I just go to the Strata Lounge with a PP card now and the food and decor is much better

Food is the second best after EK, agree. But unfortunately, in peak hours, I find this lounge to be such a zoo- noisy, overcrowded and annoying.

They’re all not that great in Auckland I must say. Even the generic airport lounge in Christchurch (whatever the name is) is better in my view. And of course on the return from Sydney or Melbourne, pretty much anything is better than what huh get out of AKL.

 

[kermatu]

Well perhaps I got lucky but had a fine experience in the F lounge the other day. This was the scene at 2:30pm.



Only 2 other people came into my section of the lounge in the next half hour.

Food was fine. Nice salamis and cheese, decent salads, and some pretty nice habanero style chicken thighs with savoury rice.

Back again in a few days so will see what it’s like then.

 

[eagleflyer]

I will have the pleasure of sitting here in a couple of days. I think the ek lounge opens at 430pm. Might also try the pp lounge as well if I get time.

 

[kermatu]

Two more visits this week. First (Sunday arvo) was also fine, though got full just as the 15:45 SYD flight was called. The second on Friday arvo was an absolute zoo in the F section. I got one of the last seats. Many folk after didn’t. Not going to happen but I for one would be ok if the lounge access conditions for the ‘F’ section was more restricted (eg, CLs and P1’s; or WPs and above flying J).

 

[pjm99au]

I for one would be ok if the lounge access conditions for the ‘F’ section was more restricted (eg, CLs and P1’s; or WPs and above flying J).

Not sure that would fix it. I was on QF 148 on Friday and the CSM mentioned the status of each passenger when greeting them and pretty much everyone in J was WP or above

 

[justinbrett]

Not sure that would fix it. I was on QF 148 on Friday and the CSM mentioned the status of each passenger when greeting them and pretty much everyone in J was WP or above

And why would you make something even more exclusive than the SYD FLounge for something that’s inferior to the SYD DOM QP?

 

[kermatu]

And why would you make something even more exclusive than the SYD FLounge for something that’s inferior to the SYD DOM QP?

So at least some people can get a guaranteed seat.