F Lounge - Syd or Mel?

[ChrisCunard]

Any advice on how to access F lounge now I am a platinum when returning from Syd / Mel to Perth (or indeed going there)?

I do the east-west run often.

 

[RooFlyer]

Just the domestic Business lounge I'm afraid. F only for international runs.

 

[elbarto]

No F Lounge without an international journey or the domestic leg of an international journey (which appear to be drying up)

 

[ChrisCunard]

So would it be worth it to fly JQ Syd-Mel on an international tag service and then QF home to try out the F lounge in Syd?

 

[flyingfan]

Well... worth is a relative thing. For that money you could eat very well at Rockpool Bar & Grlll Sydney. Couldn't you time an overseas trip to use the F lounge for 'real'? To Bali or NZ or something like that?

 

[JohnK]

So would it be worth it to fly JQ Syd-Mel on an international tag service and then QF home to try out the F lounge in Syd?

If you have never visited the SYD F lounge then I would say definitely worth it. Whether you continue to route your trips that way will depend on how quickly you get bored of it.

When I first acquired Platinum status in 2007, 3 AFFers went on a double F lounge run a couple of weeks later on QF74/QF73. Still remember the trip quite well and 3 of us sitting in exit row on 747 with CSM opposite having a great discussion.

I find the novelty wears off and these days I am happy to spend ~45 minutes to taste 2-3 champagnes and have some squid and chips. In saying that I am planning on spending a bit longer in SYD F lounge next week as I am meeting another AFFer on an unofficial AFF get together.

 

[Hvr]

So would it be worth it to fly JQ Syd-Mel on an international tag service and then QF home to try out the F lounge in Syd?

Well the final QF81 (SYD-ADL-SIN) departs on Saturday 13 April. If you took the SYD-ADL leg you might find a couple of AFFers on board. It could be a good chance to enjoy the SYD F lounge in the company of like minded people.

 

[Kangol]

I find the novelty wears off

As much as I hate to say this, I tend to agree - I don't do it too often so there is still some excitement when I go, even if the menu changes every 3 months.

In saying that, I just booked a JQ35/36 run (for legitimate travel) mainly to give a friend the experience (a non frequent flier and only knows about the F lounge from my glowing reviews ).

I also have a potentially 7 or 8 hour F lounge visit next month where I plan to eat everything on the menu

The food is great but not what you get at a fine dining restaurant - my perception of it is more of a "upmarket bistro". A fair few of the items are fried or deep fried which I guess tends to help with quicker cooking times.

 

[tuapekastar]

IMHO if you have no international travel planned but can squeeze in a JQ tag flight without any significant expense or inconvenience then I would do so to check out the F lounge at either (or both) SYD or MEL. I don't have a lot of F lounge experience elsewhere but am led to believe that these two lounges really do rate. Nice champers and excellent food, massages (if you're into them, and subject to availability) and comfy seats with great tarmac views. The comments re the novelty wearing off are probably correct, but it takes a while for this to happen, and is obviously dependent upon how often you do it. I look forward to all my F lounge experiences but a couple of hours (time for a relaxed meal and a few quiet beverages - not into massages) is normally enough to sate me. That said, when I was a guest of serfty at the MEL Flounge one time our flight to AKL was delayed ~3 hours - the French fizz sure took a hammering that night. I half expected to be denied boarding.

MEL is my preferred lounge, I have found SYD to be really busy and noisy at times, especially in the dining area - the noise from the kitchen sounds like Coles Cafeteria! That said, MEL was as busy as I've ever seen it a couple of weeks ago.

 

[ReLoad]

Well... worth is a relative thing. For that money you could eat very well at Rockpool Bar & Grlll Sydney. Couldn't you time an overseas trip to use the F lounge for 'real'? To Bali or NZ or something like that?

JQ35/36 on a tiger price match costs virtually nothing.
In fact should I ever become a homeless hobo this will become my main way to get fed and cleaned up every day.

Drinking the finest champagne, eating good food, getting a massage, I'd suggest that I would be the classiest hobo in town.

 

[vbap]

Drinking the finest champagne, eating good food, getting a massage, I'd suggest that I would be the classiest hobo in town.

....but only until your next Status review!

 

[markis10]

JQ35/36 on a tiger price match costs virtually nothing.
In fact should I ever become a homeless hobo this will become my main way to get fed and cleaned up every day.

Drinking the finest champagne, eating good food, getting a massage, I'd suggest that I would be the classiest hobo in town.

Jetstar domestic legs of international flights SYD MEL are all but gone now!

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I generally route my ADL to NZ trips through MEL as I like the quieter lounge and availability of spa treatments once QF93 boards. The seating area at the far left by the private rooms generally stays peaceful.

 

[lovestotravel]

Jetstar domestic legs of international flights SYD MEL are all but gone now!

MEL-SYD appears to be gone but SYD-MEL still appears to be around

 

[gogo419]

MEL-SYD appears to be gone but SYD-MEL still appears to be around

?????

 

[RickyT84]

MEL-SYD appears to be gone but SYD-MEL still appears to be around

There are still a few of them around from MEL to SYD going forward. For example, next week, there is JQ 3 on Monday, JQ 36 and JQ 2 on Wednesday. In July, JQ is gone but JQ 36 runs on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (JQ 3 continues to run on Mondays).

 

[lovestotravel]

Thanks

I generally have only looked for weekend flights to maximize F lounge time.

I'll have to do a weekday flight to take advantage of the remaining MEL-SYD before they are gone

 

[jmphoto]

Quick question. Mate is flying ADL-SYD-SIN next week, haven't seen him for a while. Thought about booking JQ29, heading out to the F lounge for a few hours to catch up. What's the story with NOT flying though? As in, how to leave airside? Big problem, or just say had to cancel my plans?

 

[gogo419]

As long as he is WP as well? I think it should be fine? You wouldn't be the first person to cancel a flight from international terminal after you have gone through security.. Probably best to give J* a bit of notice before the flight however..

Im sure someone else can provide more info about cancelling?

gogo

Edit: Are you only VA plat? or QF too? Doubt you will get in if just relying on your friend?

 

[jmphoto]

As long as he is WP as well?

Sorry, pertinent info, he's QF WP, I'm not.

Edit. I'm non QF Plat. Have I interpreted the rules incorrectly, that he can guest, or does that guest need to be travelling internationally?