impressions of LAX First lounge, DFW Admirals club

[Myrna]

This month, we flew to DFW via LAX and went to the LAX First lounge while waiting for our DFW connection. It was quite a nice lounge (by US standards) - it had plenty of self-served food, drink, newspapers and magazines, as well as music listening with Bose headphones! We also had great showers - there are 3 shower cubicles.

When we flew out of DFW, we went to AA's Admirals club - apparently the First lounge area is only for pax on overseas flight. We were not impressed with the Admirals club in DFW as we were given a drink voucher each, so we opted for a water bottle each. There were free coffee & tea however.

PS - When we left SYD for LAX, we went to SYD First lounge and that was nice and we ordered cooked breakfasts. Hubby has been there a few times, first time for me.

 

[simongr]

When we flew out of DFW, we went to AA's Admirals club - apparently the First lounge area is only for pax on overseas flight. We were not impressed with the Admirals club in DFW as we were given a drink voucher each, so we opted for a water bottle each. There were free coffee & tea however.

I don't think that there is an F lounge at DFW. Domestic US F lounge access for their own Oneworld Emeralds is for pax with a same day international itinerary not just an international flight.

So something like LAX-ORD-LHR would give you F lounge access at LAX and ORD if you are AA EXP. If QF WP then you get access to the F lounge for any flights where there is an F lounge.

S

 

[Febs]

As simongr said - No F lounge @ DFW that I can recall (and I've been there enough! ).

Kind of weird actually, given it's their hub...though I guess there are more international flights from ORD and LAX.

The LAX F lounge is OK (at least they have serve-yourself drinks ) but compared to the SYD Flounge, it's a complete joke!

 

[MelUser]

What class were you travelling in SYD-LAX and what class were you in from LAX-DFW?

 

[alect]

As simongr said - No F lounge @ DFW that I can recall (and I've been there enough! ).

Kind of weird actually, given it's their hub...though I guess there are more international flights from ORD and LAX.

The LAX F lounge is OK (at least they have serve-yourself drinks ) but compared to the SYD Flounge, it's a complete joke!

There is indeed no FL in DFW - conjecture being that there is no competition to force them (AA) to have one and incur the costs - cf ORD, JFK, LAX, LHR (though some would argue LHR FL is a competitive disadvantage rather than an advantage).

 

[Myrna]

What class were you travelling in SYD-LAX and what class were you in from LAX-DFW?

We flew J class SYD - LAX - SYD, then Y class LAX - DFW - LAX. We got into First lounge because hubby is a platinum - otherwise I think they only allow first class pax into the First lounge. When we arrived at LAX from SYD, hubby showed his platinum card and they gave us the access key to the First lounge straightaway. However, when we arrived for our return LAX-SYD leg, they only gave us access to the Admirals club so hubby said to them that he is platinum and they gave us access to the First lounge instead.

On AA between LAX and DFW we were on Boeing 767s (a newish one from DFW to LAX) - good that we were not on the old MD-80s.

Agree that the LAX First lounge is no where near as good as the SYD First lounge, but I suspected it was far better than the Admirals club where only one drink was allowed and no food (food had to be purchased!) We did take advantage of the food & drink at LAX First lounge and took some water bottles and packets of chips for the LAX - DFW 3 hours flight (no food or drink was served for the duration of the flight). The showers at LAX First lounge were much appreciated.

 

[serfty]

... the Admirals club where only one drink was allowed and no food (food had to be purchased!) ...

They only give out one or two drink vouchers at a time. There is nothing to stop one going back for more - I have never been refused .

I believe this is to reduce the risk of people sharing them with other guests who may otherwise be ineligible for vouchers.

 

[JohnK]

I feel the AA Flagship Lounge at LAX is more than adequate as a First Lounge. The lounge is kept clean, relatively quiet except when you get a group of people in there, the shower facilities are comfortable, ample choices of self serve alcohol on offer and while the food is not great it serves its purpose to fill an empty stomach. The staff are also very friendly.

I spent 9-10 hours there in August waiting for a night flight to IAD. I had a light lunch, then slept for 2-3 hours, then a shower and dinner and drinks before the flight.

I really do not understand the comparison, or the expectation, that every lounge has to be similar to SYD. There is nothing special about the SYD F lounge apart from the views of the runway/taxiway and the city. The food is ordinary and this includes both breakfast and the all day menu.

 

[simongr]

The SYD/MEL food is some of teh best I have had in a lounge - delightful minute steak in MEL and eggs and bacon in SYD. I like the cook to order and with a long transit in SYD I would be very relaxed.

I agree we ccan't compare every F lounge to SYD - the LAX F lounge is fine, but I do think the food options could be enhanced.

 

[NM]

The reason LAX T4 has a Flagship Lounge is because Qantas paid a significant portion of the costs (both capita and operating). If it was not for Qantas' financial assistance, there would not be a Flagship Lounge at LAX T4.

 

[MelUser]

We flew J class SYD - LAX - SYD, then Y class LAX - DFW - LAX.

On AA between LAX and DFW we were on Boeing 767s (a newish one from DFW to LAX) - good that we were not on the old MD-80s.

We had a similar trip a few months ago ex Mel. J to LAX and then Y on AA. Y on AA in 767 to DFW is acceptable. Y on return trip from DFW to LAX on MD-80 was frightful!

 

[simongr]

I know it's F rather than Y but I have not seen significant difference between the F on MD80 and the 757. There is a big difference between the 757/MD80 and the 767 though. I always hear people complain about the MD80 but aside from choosing the wrong side of the AC to get more overhead space I have had no problems.

 

[Febs]

I really do not understand the comparison, or the expectation, that every lounge has to be similar to SYD.

No expectation, but if both are F lounges from OneWorld airlines, why not compare them? People have been comparing the MEL/SYD Flounges to SIN, HKG, LHR...so it's only fair.

There is nothing special about the SYD F lounge apart from the views of the runway/taxiway and the city.

Personally I think there's a lot more than just the view that makes the SYD Flounge special. Sit-down table service (rather than help yourself), an excellent menu (rather than sandwiches and carrot sticks), a day spa (not just a bathroom), impeccable service, a library (not just a magazine rack) and extra touches ("gimmicks" if you like) such as the flight notification boards and greenery. All adds up to an excellent Flounge experience IMO.

Don't get me wrong - there's absolutely nothing wrong with the LAX Flounge, but it feels more like a Qantas Club than an Flounge IMO.

I know it's F rather than Y but I have not seen significant difference between the F on MD80 and the 757. There is a big difference between the 757/MD80 and the 767 though.

Not sure that I've been on a 757 before (definitely several MD80's though), but I take it the 767 is the one with the new Skybed-esque seat?

I had that seat DFW-LAX back in December...not quite a Skybed (actually felt quite flimsy), but much nicer than the MD80 F product, which I'd compare to QF domestic J.

Are those seats fairly common the LAX-DFW-LAX route now? Taking it again in two weeks, and would like to score that seat again if I can.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Myrna]

We were supposed to be on B-757 from LAX to DFW, but there was some mechanical problem. They tried to fix it, but could not, so called for a replacement aircraft 3 hours later - which was a 767. Since it was a different configuration, all the seats had to be re-allocated, and we ended up at the back of the plane. I thought I was going to be sick, but the flight was relatively smooth so I was OK. This 767 was an older aircraft, but had 2 cabins for business class (which they called first class).

When we booked the DFW-LAX flight, it was scheduled with an MD-80. I was not happy but there were not much choice, then a few weeks before the flight I checked the AA website and discovered that it was changed to a 767 so I was happy. When we boarded, it turned to be a relatively new aircraft with only one cabin for business class - seats looked smaller than the first aircraft. The screens were very clear. Hubby said they were like the ones on Singapore Airlines' A380. The Y seats were as tight, and the pax in front of us put their seats right back for most of the trip. I was joking to hubby that the person in front of him was sitting on his lap! :mrgreen:

 

[ejb]

Slightly OT but..

The flight notification boards at Syd F Lounge were fantastic and one of my favourite features.

I know it seems weird with the food/drink and all the other great aspects but the retro board really gave the lounge a great look.

 

[NM]

This 767 was an older aircraft, but had 2 cabins for business class (which they called first class).

if it had two cabins up front, then it was a 767-200 as used by AA for 3-class trans-continental services. When used for a 2-class service such as LAX-DFW, they would combine the F and J cabins for domestic F.

 

[simongr]

Not sure that I've been on a 757 before (definitely several MD80's though), but I take it the 767 is the one with the new Skybed-esque seat?

I had that seat DFW-LAX back in December...not quite a Skybed (actually felt quite flimsy), but much nicer than the MD80 F product, which I'd compare to QF domestic J.

Are those seats fairly common the LAX-DFW-LAX route now? Taking it again in two weeks, and would like to score that seat again if I can.

Cheers,
- Febs.

My understanding of the fleet is that you have about 6 options of J/F product on board - per this link

777 Flagship Suites - a proper lie flat suite style seat
777 F Coffins - lie flat but in a box basically
763 NGBC - Lie flat new business class
763 OBC - Old business class - like a QF Dreamtime seat but in leather with a massive amount of legroom
757 F - A bit like the Qf millenium seat but in leather - generally beige
MD80 F - For me very similar to the 757 F but in dark blue/black

Now in relation to myrna's 2 cabin business class, I have flown on a 763 that had OBC and bigger seats in front of the J cabin that was an F seat. I was not aware of a 2 cabin J layout.

 

[NM]

777 F Coffins - lie flat but in a box basically

I believe all the coffins have now been replaced with suites

Now in relation to myrna's 2 cabin business class, I have flown on a 763 that had OBC and bigger seats in front of the J cabin that was an F seat. I was not aware of a 2 cabin J layout.

You are forgetting the 762 used on 3-class trans-continental services.

 

[simongr]

I was forgetting that - the thing is that I can't recall what the F seat was like.

 

[NM]

I was forgetting that - the thing is that I can't recall what the F seat was like.

Think Captain Kirk .