Previous Qantas F Lounge in SYD/MEL

[Josh]

Hi all,

I was just reading a review of the current F Lounge in Sydney, and it got me thinking - what was the F Lounge experience like in SYD and MEL prior to these two lounges launching in 2007? I only became WP in 2008, so I never was able to access them. Does anyone have any good memories of it, or even better, and photos?

Cheers,

Josh

 

[serfty]

@Josh There were a couple of versions.

Until the late 1990's & early 2000's, the Sydney "First" lounge was across from Gate 24 overlooking gate 32. Turn left at the service desk for First Lounge; turn right and down the escalators for the Business lounge. The only "First" lounge remaining in that style is at AKL.

After that it was located in the same areas as the current First lounge lobby and the Southern end of the current Business lounge. While the construction for the current version was underway (during most of 2006 and into 2007) the First lounge was temporality relocated to the old Business lounge area, looking across (not over) gate 32.

Melbourne's in the 90's used to be between gates 1 and 3, again with the same style that only exists today in AKL.

In early 00's it moved to the end and down a level, taking up a triangular wedge of what is the current Business lounge. Again you turned left at entry/reception.

 

[kpro]

I have a vague, distant memory of the old Melbourne F lounge from back in 2002 when I was guested in by a family member. Maybe it wasn't like this at all, but I remember it being small, almost empty and very exclusive feeling.

On a similar, but slightly more recent note, what was the experience at the Sydney Qantas T2 Domestic QP? Given the T3 QP/J lounge hasn't been renovated in a long while, was it much worse? And the food/beverage offerings? Does anyone have any photos?

Only started flying QantasLink in 2015, by which time all flights had moved to T3.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

In the old days, SYD T2 was ANsett's domain.
When Ansett went belly up, it was then the independents, and the Virgin Blue/Rex/Jetstar.
Edit: as far as I know, QF never had a presence at SYD T2.

 

[Rangalad]

In the old days, SYD T2 was ANsett's domain.
When Ansett went belly up, it was then the independents, and the Virgin Blue/Rex/Jetstar.
Edit: as far as I know, QF never had a presence at SYD T2.

IIRC- Qantas Link operated from T2 before moving to T3.

 

[OATEK]

In the old days, SYD T2 was ANsett's domain.
When Ansett went belly up, it was then the independents, and the Virgin Blue/Rex/Jetstar.
Edit: as far as I know, QF never had a presence at SYD T2.

IIRC- Qantas Link operated from T2 before moving to T3.

QANTAS even had a Lounge in T2.

Still no one with pics of the old F Lounges?

 

[serfty]

Still no one with pics of the old F Lounges?

Hard to find - and I have looked.

Maybe it wasn't like this at all, but I remember it being small, almost empty and very exclusive feeling.

The one between Gates 1 and 3 was ¼ of a rectangular box hanging off the side of the concourse (possible a converted sate lounge),

was the experience at the Sydney Qantas T2 Domestic QP

It was a semi-circular section just north of gate 52 with the entrance across the concourse from gate 49 (circled in red).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

IIRC there was also a QF F lounge in SYD that was accessed by going down an escalator?

F lounges were much smaller in the late 90s, status entry wasn’t really a thing back then.

 

[serfty]

IIRC there was also a QF F lounge in SYD that was accessed by going down an escalator?

There was:

... across from Gate 24 overlooking gate 32 ... service desk ... turn right and down the escalators for the Business lounge.

While the construction for the current version was underway, during most of 2006 and into 2007 the First lounge was temporality relocated to the old Business lounge area, looking across (not over) gate 32.

 

[serfty]

There was:

Of reflection, there may have been a time when there was just the one 'downstairs' lounge ~1995 with no specific First lounge, but my memories of that actually being the case are quite hazy.

 

[SYD]

The bunker version of the SYD T1 lounges were tiny in comparison to todays. As stated previously, the F part was a small subset. I seem to recall ducking between them before a work trip in Feb 1993. For some reason, a colleague was directed to the F section. Must have been the daggy trackydaks he was wearing. Probably thought he was someone important returning to LA!

The old SYD T1 QF lounges we’re a bit like the old UA lounge. Main J lounge and small F section (only accessible by actual F PAX and possibly 1K).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Of reflection, there may have been a time when there was just the one 'downstairs' lounge ~1995 with no specific First lounge, but my memories of that actually being the case are quite hazy.

Yeah… I’m thinking about then, or perhaps a little earlier. It might have been a shared ‘captain’s club’ with first and business? Business and first were pretty small cabins back then, and there weren’t many flights!

 

[milehighclub]

The lounge that was opposite 24 is now the crew base and ground staff operations area. Whilst it has all be done up, the bathrooms are exactly the same and feels some what nostalgic.

 

[serfty]

FWIW, Qantas had a landside lounge upstairs at (what is now T2) MEL international in the latter 90's.

You needed an international boarding pass to use it.

I believe there was one Landside at SYD international as well, but I never used it.

 

[moa999]

Yep. Vaguely remember that downstairs International Sydney lounge from a couple of NZ trips in the early 2000s.

Very much like the current MEL J lounge in position but with decor more like the NZ lounge..

Had been to the SYD T3 lounge a few times when flying QFLink and JQ. Was a pretty open lounge and fairly limited food selections.