How good is the Qantas First Class lounge in Sydney?

[Traveller1955]

I have been fortunate enough this year while holding Qantas Platinum to get in this lounge twice, once with my wife and the other solo. Will be using it again in November 13. The meal was super, the service exceptional and the massage.(very very good....). So how do I rate it? Possibly much better than Hong Kong. Clearly better than Heathrow, LAX and JFK. Am I one eyed or am I about to lose access to something which makes me want to depart Sydney? Oh to hold Platinum for another year!!!

 

[scheps]

I agree its nice. the sakura lounge was pretty good too though.

 

[amaroo]

Best lounge I've seen within the OW alliance.......including BA CCR.

LH FRA FCT looks pretty bloody impressive......need to plan a visit there at some stage.

 

[boomy]

Agree with scheps and amaroo.
Best lounge within OW with JAL F not far behind.

The new AY premium lounge that will open next year looks very interesting.
I never had a drink in a sauna in an airport lounge before

 

[zainman]

waiting for an opportunity to try it! from what I've read and seen in pictures it looks amazing.

and yes also the LH F experience looks the best. Especially the beed alongside the seat on the 748 F!

 

[zachary.august]

It's a great place to spend an hour or so before a flight, but the mentality of some here on AFF of arriving hours and hours before to eat everything in sight and drink everything in sight isn't founded really. Personally (and I think most sane people) I wouldn't book a 'lounge run' flight just to eat some lounge food and drink some wine...

 

[TonyHancock]

It is a good lounge, but personally I prefer the F lounge at DXB......maybe the novelty hasn't worn off yet.

Personally (and I think most sane people) I wouldn't book a 'lounge run' flight just to eat some lounge food and drink some wine...

I can't speak for others but there is nothing better than a lounge run......but it is to do with the company rather than the Lounge. The lounge just provides the right setting. i have thoroughly enjoyed meeting fellow travellers whether they be from AFF or FFA, TFF or FT, it is what it is really about.

 

[boomy]

It's a great place to spend an hour or so before a flight, but the mentality of some here on AFF of arriving hours and hours before to eat everything in sight and drink everything in sight isn't founded really. Personally (and I think most sane people) I wouldn't book a 'lounge run' flight just to eat some lounge food and drink some wine...

It depends how often you fly overseas and the class you are flying.
When flying economy it's a good idea to eat and drink well in the Flounge so you won't have to touch the usually bad food and drinks on board.
When flying only a few times a year it's nice to arrive early to get the full Flounge experience: a massage, a meal with some good wines and a relaxing time sitting and watching the planes outside (in SYD).

I totally agree that binge eating and drinking is just stupid, specially before a long flight. I believe that most pax who visit the Flounge know how to behave.

 

[Deleted member 33742]

Personally I think it depends on what you like and need. I do not necessarily think its the best OW lounge. I think most of them have some good points.

If I was to compare it against the LHR T5 lounge for instance:
Food is better is Sydney.
Look and layout in Sydney is better.
Service is completely better in Sydney over LHR
Massage I haven't had one in LHR do no idea.

Alcohol offering in LHR is far superior in my opinion. For example Sydney offers Chivas regal 12 year scotch, whereas the LHR offers Johnnie walker blue label.
There is a much larger range and a lot more premium offerings.

Whether or not you like jw or not its a far more expensive drink than Chivas. I was extra impressed as the first lounge is only a platinum lounge really as all first class passengers would use the CCR. If Qantas platinum lounges I.e Brisbane were this good it would be awesome.

The wine and champagne offered are also above base level non vintage champagne.

LHR has a family room that is fantastic, grabbed 2 glasses of scotch couple of glasses of wine for misses and went inside shut the door. The video games, computer and everything inside kept our daughter happy without having to disturb anyone else.

Most articles seem to rate the LHR CCR above Sydney. I imagine the use of beds is highly useful. I have no idea as I have never been in it.

I guess in my opinion they all have good points. At the end of the day depends on what your doing. LHR was definitely a much more pleasant experience traveling with the kid.

If I am traveling alone and need to eat Sydney wins if I've just eaten and I only want to drink LHR wins for me.

 

[Mal]

The lounge is much better than most other OW lounges.

And regarding alcohol, t5 F is hit and miss. Sure they have an impressive spirit collection but Qantas has better champagnes and wines IMHO. And Qantas has a better beer range too.

Food wise Syd F is a 1000x better then BA LHR T5 F.

Plus the chance of getting food poisoning in the Qantas F lounge is significantly less than the BA catering horror.

 

[straitman]

I personally prefer the Melbourne F lounge.

 

[kpc]

I personally prefer the Melbourne F lounge.

...assuming it is open in the evening!

 

[Simo]

IMHO,

SYd Flounge is the best lounge I have been to.

I have not been to LHR or any US lounges.

 

[amaroo]

Most articles seem to rate the LHR CCR above Sydney. I imagine the use of beds is highly useful. I have no idea as I have never been in it.

The cabanas are not that flash - small, depressing with noisy showers. To get a picture......drag a couch into your bathroom.

Overrun with Eastern European ex-gulag employees.

 

[PLC]

It's good, but like Straitman I prefer the QF Melbourne F lounge. I also prefer the Pier to the Wing in HKG (which most people would not agree with), so perhaps I just prefer more of an enclosed, private club type atmosphere.

 

[pauly7]

I personally prefer the Melbourne F lounge.

Interested in your thinking behind your preference Straitman?

 

[infinity]

Current menu. Best in a couple of years

 

[Kangol]

Current menu. Best in a couple of years

I've tried every menu in the last ~1.5 years and must say that the current one (Spring all day 2013) has impressed me the least. The redeeming feature has been the espresso martini - which wasn't on the MEL menu and the staff weren't too sure how to make it. They pulled through in the end (yay).

 

[TonyHancock]

The chips in the SYD Lounge are not as good as the MEL ones.

 

[Princess Fiona]

The lounge is much better than most other OW lounges.

And regarding alcohol, t5 F is hit and miss. Sure they have an impressive spirit collection but Qantas has better champagnes and wines IMHO. And Qantas has a better beer range too..

A couple of weeks ago LHR T3 had atrocious food but on the upside a plentiful supply of Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle, never seen anything like this in the SYD F Lounge (QF F on-board was Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill)
I decided to stick with the bubbly