Current Qantas First Lounge Menu (SYD/MEL) and relevant topics

[Stanley Lambchop]

No decanter offering when I was there yesterday. The hot smoke margarita was a hit though.

 

[serfty]

For those who travel internationally more often than me, is the "decanter wine" still a thing at all? On my last few visits to the F lounge in the pm, there has been nothing on offer but the frankly pedestrian reds in the normal menu (along with Lallier being the only product of the Reims/Epernay area). I have being opting for a couple of shots of the Lark whisky instead of wine because of this!

On Saturday in MEL (as per post #2294) the decanter contained a Penfolds Cellar reserve shiraz 2021 - it was quite palatable.

 

[NSun]

Some photos from my visit last week prior to an evening flight to Auckland. I did find the portions disappointingly small - only one 'piece' of buffalo mozzarella for starters. Lamb for mains and then the dessert which was a kind of warm ice cream sandwich (I forget the name off the top of my head).

Edit: Vanilla ice cream profiterole with warm dark chocolate sauce (thanks @AIRwin for jogging my memory).

 

[AIRwin]

the dessert which was a kind of warm ice cream sandwich (I forget the name off the top of my head)

Vanilla ice cream profiterole with warm dark chocolate sauce?

 

[jamesatfish]

Certainly with the 'special' wines opened in the SYD and SIN lounges there is a limit, they'll only open a fixed number per day and once gone, that's it.



I don't get upset if WPs are getting things that technically only F pax are entitled to. I've used the F lounge plenty of times on routes with no F cabin and I'd be happy to enjoy the premium wines and the special menu if they were offered to me, so I hold no grudges against anyone else who finds themselves in the same situation.

I do get upset if, as one of those people who actually pay $$$ to fly F, I don't get the benefits of that ticket in the lounge because there was a process failure between entering the lounge with an F boarding pass and being offered the F experience.

If I'm being forced by an accusatory lounge attendant with a loud voice to dig out my boarding pass in the middle of a crowded dining area in order to justify why I should be graced with a serving of the minute steak and a glass of red nicer than Penfolds Max then I'm not confident that Qantas are delivering on that alleged F experience.

To one-up my own experience, I’m in the SYD F lounge right now with 2 other family members, all of us on paid F fares.

I was just told the special menu and wines are for P1 and CL only, F no longer qualifies.

 

[RooFlyer]

I was just told the special menu and wines are for P1 and CL only, F no longer qualifies.

In the First lounge. Really. $10's K of fares and you don't get any special stuff.

Pathetic, but unsurprising.

 

[SYD]

To one-up my own experience, I’m in the SYD F lounge right now with 2 other family members, all of us on paid F fares.

I was just told the special menu and wines are for P1 and CL only, F no longer qualifies.

Were they QF F fares or another OW carrier?

Did they at least seat you in the roped off F section? Seems strange given what others have said.

 

[jamesatfish]

Were they QF F fares or another OW carrier?

Did they at least seat you in the roped off F section? Seems strange given what others have said.

Nope, we’re on QF1.

Came in late morning, we were seated in the regular section. Didn’t ask about specials as it was still breakfast menu.

Moved to the lounge area, asked for lunch menus a few hours later and asked about specials. Were told the specials were only for VIPs, so I asked to confirm if that meant F pax. Attendant went away, spoke to her manager and confirmed that only P1 and CL are VIPs.

 

[DejaBrew]

Nope, we’re on QF1.

But just to be clear, was it an F fare sold by Qantas (vs sold by another OW carrier)?

 

[jamesatfish]

But just to be clear, was it an F fare sold by Qantas (vs sold by another OW carrier)?

Sorry I missed the question. The flights are Qantas sold and ticketed, on QF metal, in full fare (non-sale) F.

 

[CMA222]

Sorry I missed the question. The flights are Qantas sold and ticketed, on QF metal, in full fare (non-sale) F.

QF continues to demonstrate how highly it regards (not at all) its premium passengers paying full-fare, particularly in "F". They are regarded about the same as a WP travelling 'discount economy' on points. QF no longer shocks me at how inept they really are. If there is a next time for you choose Emirates or another airline that values your business.

 

[jamesatfish]

QF continues to demonstrate how highly it regards (not at all) its premium passengers paying full-fare, particularly in "F". They are regarded about the same as a WP travelling 'discount economy' on points. QF no longer shocks me at how inept they really are. If there is a next time for you choose Emirates or another airline that values your business.

QF is certainly not my first choice any more.

This time around though I was booking 4 tickets with about a month’s lead time. SQ (our preference) had no availability for us all to be on the same flights, nor did BA.

I’m travelling home separately to my wife and daughters and they had reservations about flying back through one of the Middle East nations by themselves, which ruled out Emirates or Etihad.

Unfortunately it was only Qantas that still had seats available for the dates we needed.

 

[serfty]

Sorry I missed the question. The flights are Qantas sold and ticketed, on QF metal, in full fare (non-sale) F.

It is really unfortunate - either Qantas have indeed given First the @rse or there was a miscommunication/miscomprehension among staff.

This is what I have found may be needed as a First passenger on upon arriving into the First lounge at SYD.

1. Head up escalator
2. Approach reception and 'check in'
3. To the right of reception as you approach the dining areas a small dais has been set up, head to this and show them my Boarding Passes and make it pleasantly clear I am in First. (If no-one in attendance, wait patiently)
4. They then provide a courteous escort to the "Special Area".

If step 3 is missed then there is the risk of not being seated in the reserved section and such issues may occur.

I'm assuming you are going though to LHR - at SIN you also need to ensure the staff are aware you are in First. (Although, that is moot as QF1 has departed and you would not see this until arrival into SIN.)

 

[Princess Fiona]

It is really unfortunate - either Qantas have indeed given First the @rse or there was a miscommunication/miscomprehension among staff.

This is what I have found may be needed as a First passenger on upon arriving into the First lounge at SYD.

1. Head up escalator
2. Approach reception and 'check in'
3. To the right of reception as you approach the dining areas a small dais has been set up, head to this and show them my Boarding Passes and make it pleasantly clear I am in First. (If no-one in attendance, wait patiently)
4. They then provide a courteous escort to the "Special Area".

If step 3 is missed then there is the risk of not being seated in the reserved section.

I'm assuming you are going though to LHR - at SIN you also need to ensure the staff are aware you are in First. (Although, that is moot as QF1 has departed and you would not see this until arrival into SIN.)

Exactly this.
Shouldn’t be required to announce yourself but sadly you do more often than not.
The roped off area is where you get the special menu. I suspect that it is not served anywhere else as other Pax would be asking for it.
I think there has been a miscommunication between the staff at the lounge. @jamesatfish and family should have been escorted there by the First host or delegate when they asked about it.

Not good enough by the lounge and I would be complaining to QF via email.

 

[lovestotravel]

Simpler and fairer

 

[kpc]

I personally would have gone back to front desk and asked re roped area as F pax rather than believing the waiter!

 

[Princess Fiona]

I personally would have gone back to front desk and asked re roped area as F pax rather than believing the waiter!

Yep. Or alternatively go to the roped off area and show the staff your BP.
I have done this in the past when there was no F host and the desk was super busy.

 

[aus_flyer]

Even as a P1 flying F and sitting in the roped off area, I’ve never seen any of the mythical special wines. Do they exist?

 

[QFFHntrGthr]

Exactly this.
Shouldn’t be required to announce yourself but sadly you do more often than not.
The roped off area is where you get the special menu. I suspect that it is not served anywhere else as other Pax would be asking for it.
I think there has been a miscommunication between the staff at the lounge. @jamesatfish and family should have been escorted there by the First host or delegate when they asked about it.

Not good enough by the lounge and I would be complaining to QF via email.

Hear hear, First pax are the only ones to get a first host contact the day before for a spa appointment so why would they not be top of the pecking order for VIP status. Definite miscommunication.

@jamesatfish should definitely make a very firm complaint. Do it before your return flight and stress what you expect of Qantas for the mistreatment you received in the SYD 1st lounge. It is peculiar you weren't escorted to the roped off area. As a 2nd tier VIP to First pax, myself as a P1 has nearly always been escorted to the roped off area. The very few times when not, if there are no staff at the dining reception, I just walk myself to the roped off area, show them my boarding pass (voice Plat1) and just walk on in (yes like an entitled so and so).

Don't ever feel too embarrassed to get what you're entitled to. Boldly go forth like Captain Kirk declared.

I just thought of something; next time if no 1st lounge reception staff get up off their backside to escort me to the P1 dining, I might declare with indignation (raised perplexed eyebrow look) "are you not going to escort me to the P1 dining" (that's what they announce if handing me over part way to a dining receptionist (with 1st pax, I would expect the declaration to be 1st dining). Let's see what the reaction to that would be (I would expect a smile [to my face] but probably expect uncomplimentary comment after.) Let's see.

 

[jamesatfish]

Just arrived in Singapore, we’re overnighting here before QF1 tomorrow so will be interesting to see what plays out at the SIN lounge when we come back.

Regardless of whether it’s actually a new QF policy or misinformation from the lounge staff it’s clear that Qantas don’t care that First is supposed to be a premium offering.

The fact that regular F travellers in this thread are sharing tips for ensuring that Qantas actually deliver the service they’re supposed to provide shows how badly broken the process is.