Qantas Club vs Domestic Business Lounge

[liebs]

Maybe the regulars can provide me with a reality check.

Over the past 2 weeks had two visits to the Sydney Domestic business lounge and 2 visits to the Qantas club
I may have just been in the lounge at bad times and in the BC Lounge at particularly good times but one felt like a run down pub and the other a very pleasant place to pass an hour or two while waiting for a flight.

Could be psychological or maybe bad timing but Im now really considering a bit of extra effort to reach platinum.
So....now for my reality check. Are the two lounges that different or did I just pick bad times to visit the Club?

Thanks !

 

[BAM1748]

Being a simple beer man, I find little difference. They don't call it Wp for nothing.:mrgreen:

Matt

 

[defurax]

Maybe the regulars can provide me with a reality check.

Over the past 2 weeks had two visits to the Sydney Domestic business lounge and 2 visits to the Qantas club
I may have just been in the lounge at bad times and in the BC Lounge at particularly good times but one felt like a run down pub and the other a very pleasant place to pass an hour or two while waiting for a flight.

Could be psychological or maybe bad timing but Im now really considering a bit of extra effort to reach platinum.
So....now for my reality check. Are the two lounges that different or did I just pick bad times to visit the Club?

Thanks !

At least in MEL we are lucky enough to experience the ambiance in the QP before entering the J lounge. Yesterday, I was in MEL J lounge and three obnoxious morons were harassing the barman about the taste of their bottled beers...it lasted for a good 15 minutes of intense arguing so I got out of the J lounge before becoming too aggravated myself just to realise that the QP was now a haven of relaxation

If you decide to go for WP, I feel the reward will be the F lounge more than any domestic J lounge

 

[Hvr]

Another difference is that the lounge angels in the J lounge are usually more accommodating when short notice changes need to be made to your booking.

 

[samh004]

Another difference is that the lounge angels in the J lounge are usually more accommodating when short notice changes need to be made to your booking.

In BNE I've found them to be about equal between the lounges, but save for very busy periods, the J lounge is a really nice haven for me. It certainly feels a lot more like home, though I know it wont be forever

 

[AirKat]

At breakfast there is a difference. Much nicer bread for toasting for a start.

I remember going from SG to WP, I was so expectant there would be better gin in the J lounge.... there's not

 

[Pushka]

Try out Adelaide's QP. The experience from one to the other is seamless. And non existent.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Try out Adelaide's QP. The experience from one to the other is seamless. And non existent.

I actually don't mind the ADL QP... but that's just me!

Parts of the SYD QP do feel quite depressing though (eg. near the barista and the ancient self-serve coffee machine), though the business area over in the corner is quite nice (IMO).

 

[samh004]

Try out Adelaide's QP. The experience from one to the other is seamless. And non existent.

I actually don't mind the ADL QP... but that's just me!

Likewise, though it's been a long time since I was last there... I think 2009/10!

 

[boomy]

For me, the benefits of J lounge over QP are: island dining, coffee served to you in the morning (no need to wait in the queue) and better variety of wines.

 

[Pushka]

Adelaide QP food offering is ordinary and usually don't even bother checking anymore. It's quite large but a few instances of people changing their babies nappy on the lounge, average behavior and bare feet on seats are a little tacky. So I think a separate lounge might be nice.

 

[sjd]

The SYD J Lounge seems to have more attentive staff than the MEL and BNE J lounges, which has made my experiences there very pleasant and a step up form the other two J lounges. Trying to remember what the QP was like... nup, nothing.

 

[Jabiru]

I was in the MEL J lounge this morning at 10.30am, a time which always seems barren in the food offerings. Too late for breakfast and too early for lunch, with just a few cups of yoghurt, toast, and a couple of dry croissants and pastries left over. I should have known better and not skipped breakfast at the hotel.

I went out to the QP where at least they had a pancake machine. I made some and bought them back into the J lounge to eat. We left at 11.30 and nothing had changed, but I could see that lunch was on its way.

I know it wont be forever and am enjoying my time as WP and the perks, including access to the J lounges. The ambience, drinks and food are generally a bit better than the QP and as mentioned above, the service desk seems more accommodating.

I just wish there was something a bit more substantial during the in-between times of the morning - even if it was a slice of tomato and cheese to go with the croissant. And then I am reminded of what WP stands for. I guess the pancakes were just fine

 

[boomy]

I went out to the QP where at least they had a pancake machine. I made some and bought them back into the J lounge to eat. We left at 11.30 and nothing had changed, but I could see that lunch was on its way.

There is a pancake machine in MEL J lounge right next to the Barista service.

 

[mikejr]

The SYD J Lounge seems to have more attentive staff than the MEL and BNE J lounges,

I agree with this - the service desk in J at MEL is great but the staff on food service never smile and seem completely disinterested. Every time I have been in BNE J, it has been over run and noisy - SYD island dinning is my pick. But all Domestic J lounges lack considerably over International J Lounges.

 

[lovestotravel]

I may have just been in the lounge at bad times and in the BC Lounge at particularly good times but one felt like a run down pub and the other a very pleasant place to pass an hour or two while waiting for a flight.

So....now for my reality check. Are the two lounges that different or did I just pick bad times to visit the Club?

Nope you are quite correct

Better wine
Better food
Spirits
Generally more quiet
Better service

The business/platinum lounges are one of the main reasons I continue to fly Qantas and pay extra to fly Qantas