Lounge musings...

[justcallmeryan]

So as I sit here in the SYD T2 VA lounge waiting for a mid week, early arvo flight to PER, I can't help but observing a few things. Keen to see what everyone here thinks..

• I'm genuinely surprised by how busy this lounge is, particularly given it's the middle of the day. 6 - 9am and 4 - 7pm I get it, but at 1.30 on a Thursday? Who are these people? Where are they going? I know, random given I'm here but still..
• In the area behind the barista where the red lounges are, there's a guy lying down, snoozing with his feet (in shoes admittedly) up on the lounge seat. I mean, really? Surely that violates some form of lounge - not to mention non lounge - etiquette?
• The same guy smells. And I mean smells really bad... I hate to generalise but he looks like he got an overnight flight from DPS or HKT and is suffering the consequences of a good time. I get this, I've done it myself but the beauty of the lounges are that they have showers! You'd think someone would pass the feedback on?
• The staff here are really good. They manage to be pretty discreet and quiet without being stuffy. This, I like.
• As I was ordering my coffee someone's young child was running around my legs and bumped into me a few times. Not the end of the world I guess, but really??
• When I fly J or am going to access the lounge I try and dress for it. Trousers, a shirt (yes, with a collar) or if not at least something very smart casual. I find I get better service and in general enjoy the experience more when I do it this way. Lately, and in particular on a flight back from LAX recently in J, there were guys in trackies and t-shirts with the dreaded (for my anyway) bare feet.....

I really like the lounge and J experience, it makes travel so much nicer and something to actually look forward to. But sometimes, it seems like the glamour is fading further every day. Whilst I know it's not in VA's culture to do so, I would even applaud a similar move to QF's by enforcing a dress code. Would make the whole thing just that little bit better....

Am I old fashioned?

 

[snabbu]

Interesting post and I'm sure there will be some interesting points put forward.

However this stands out to me

But sometimes, it seems like the glamour is fading further every day.

Personally I haven't thought of travel as glamorous for quite some years now. When associating glamour with flying I can only think of the bygone era of the Concorde.

 

[cory]

Interesting points, the VA lounge in Perth can be that busy in early/mid arvo to the point there is no seats. Mostly fifo workers though.

When I'm travelling long haul I have been guilty of wearing trackies into the lounge(s), mainly due to wanting some sort of comfort when travelling Y though ...

 

[Denali]

I wonder why more lounges don't have those snooze/rest couches out of sight/off to the side a bit that you see around - people can put their feet on them without being judged because that's what they are made for.

 

[harvyk]

I wonder why more lounges don't have those snooze/rest couches out of sight/off to the side a bit that you see around - people can put their feet on them without being judged because that's what they are made for.

I've wondered the exact same thing. I know that I myself have had a little kip on the couches, typically after a long flight over the night before when connecting with the final hop to CBR. A proper rest area off to the side would be ideal.


My general feeling towards lounges is that they are effectively a waiting room, nothing more nothing less. A persons behavior is more important to me than factors such as what they are wearing. That said, the only time I've really though a persons (in the case a group of people's) behavior has really been out of line was at the PER QP, and some FIFO's where obviously having their first drinks in a couple of weeks. Wasn't too impressed they where swearing loudly with my kids in earshot.

Re: The smelly guy - yes the lounges have showers, but that does take time. Depending on how long before his next flight it might not have been possible. Furthermore a shower only goes so far if you then have to put on the same dirty clothes. Just be thankful you are (hopefully) not sitting next to him on your flight.

 

[Milboo]

I had to laugh at your first observation as I thought the same myself today! My return leg is usually during the usual rush hour but today I was on a 2pm flight and I was really surprised how busy the MEL lounge was at 1pm when I arrived.

 

[justcallmeryan]

My general feeling towards lounges is that they are effectively a waiting room, nothing more nothing less. A persons behavior is more important to me than factors such as what they are wearing. That said, the only time I've really though a persons (in the case a group of people's) behavior has really been out of line was at the PER QP, and some FIFO's where obviously having their first drinks in a couple of weeks. Wasn't too impressed they where swearing loudly with my kids in earshot.

I guess in my mind lounges still have somewhat of a prestige attached to them, even though intellectually I know that time has long passed.

 

[DGTravels]

So as I sit here in the SYD T2 VA lounge waiting for a mid week, early arvo flight to PER, I can't help but observing a few things. Keen to see what everyone here thinks..

• I'm genuinely surprised by how busy this lounge is, particularly given it's the middle of the day. 6 - 9am and 4 - 7pm I get it, but at 1.30 on a Thursday? Who are these people? Where are they going? I know, random given I'm here but still.

Agreed I am in BNE VA lounge at 2:45pm and it's packed! Hollywood flight for me today as I also normally super early or after 5pm