Qantas First Lounge in Singapore

[BD1959]

Oh dear ... the Lallier continues to infect the network ...

Regards,

BD

 

[JessicaTam]

Oh dear ... the Lallier continues to infect the network ...

Regards,

BD

If you ask nicely, there is Taittinger as well.

 

[iamsuperandrew]

If you ask nicely, there is Taittinger as well.

and you can also ask for the 'off menu' wine

 

[Kangol]

and you can also ask for the 'off menu' wine

That's only for F/P1/CL

 

[iamsuperandrew]

That's only for F/P1/CL

I was in the F Lounge flying J, asked and received 2018 Penfolds St Henri which was the days off menu wine

 

[Kangol]

I was in the F Lounge flying J, asked and received 2018 Penfolds St Henri which was the days off menu wine

Never heard of that before. I hope it doesn't erode the benefits for F/P1/CL - those bottles tend to be very limited.

 

[QFFHntrGthr]

IMO, the Signature Laksa was too firm:

View attachment 451874
.

Agree, ever since the QF SIN J and F lounges started using the short thick rice noodles (called 'low shoo fun') for the laksa, I stopped ordering it but instead if flying MH save some space for the T2 SATS premier lounge offering. Tastes the same (Sing style laksa) but using proper long strand rice noodle as they in Singapore hawker and food courts use.

Truth is, I still prefer the KL and Aust versions for taste and the type of vermicelli used with the bonus of adding yellow noodles for a mixed noodle sensation if desired. The thin rice noodles absorb the broth for the immersive taste that those thicker rice noodles don't.

 

[AIRwin]

'low shoo fun'

Rat tail

 

[iamsuperandrew]

Never heard of that before. I hope it doesn't erode the benefits for F/P1/CL - those bottles tend to be very limited.

Thou shall not ask, thou shall not receive

 

[Kangol]

Thou shall not ask, thou shall not receive

Get your point about asking, but it would be a terrible look on QF's end if a lower priority person (in their eyes) got a benefit above and beyond someone with a higher priority - only because this person asked.
It could be due to no fault of the passenger, ie. an F pax transiting SYD-LHR.
If someone travelling SIN-LHR arrived before the incoming flight landed and drank the wine that wasn't for them, no one in their right mind would see this as a good thing.
I take it you were not in the travelling party of a CL/P1/F pax and are using this platform to announce that this is available to everyone who asks, username checking out and all.

 

[Daver6]

Get your point about asking, but it would be a terrible look on QF's end if a lower priority person (in their eyes) got a benefit above and beyond someone with a higher priority - only because this person asked.
It could be due to no fault of the passenger, ie. an F pax transiting SYD-LHR.
If someone travelling SIN-LHR arrived before the incoming flight landed and drank the wine that wasn't for them, no one in their right mind would see this as a good thing.
I take it you were not in the travelling party of a CL/P1/F pax and are using this platform to announce that this is available to everyone who asks, username checking out and all.

I feel this is a problem of QF's own making though. Once upon a time it was an F lounge where OWE and F pax could go in. For numerous reasons, mainly cost cutting, QF got cheaper and cheaper with the offerings. To get around this they come up with secret menus, special handshakes etc. If this is how they plan to manage it, then it's on them to figure it out, instead of having all these unwritten rules and need to know to ask for something if you're in F.

There have been plenty of F/P1 stories on here where they weren't ushered into the secret/special section and didn't know to ask.

 

[Kangol]

I feel this is a problem of QF's own making though. Once upon a time it was an F lounge where OWE and F pax could go in. For numerous reasons, mainly cost cutting, QF got cheaper and cheaper with the offerings. To get around this they come up with secret menus, special handshakes etc. If this is how they plan to manage it, then it's on them to figure it out, instead of having all these unwritten rules and need to know to ask for something if you're in F.

There have been plenty of F/P1 stories on here where they weren't ushered into the secret/special section and didn't know to ask.

It's all QF's problem, because it happened in their lounge.
The issue is their service and staff standards slipped to the point where they fulfilled the literal English definition of begging.
Clearly no one is saying that the OP is not a beggar; to offer high level benefits to low level people (in QF's own eyes) not entitled to it, is a huge own goal from the business' point of view. They don't offer F wine onboard to low level pax "just because they asked". Can you tell me of a premium F carrier that does this?
SQ's TPR vs F lounge in the same airport is the best example of this. If you don't have access to TPR, and can only get into the F lounge, asking for something from the TPR menu will get you nowhere.

High level passengers not being proactively offered what QF deems their entitlements is one thing.
Low level passengers begging and getting what they are not entitled to is another.
How you do one thing is how you do everything. Very few people in business/life truly understand this.

 

[Warragul]

I feel this is a problem of QF's own making though. Once upon a time it was an F lounge where OWE and F pax could go in. For numerous reasons, mainly cost cutting, QF got cheaper and cheaper with the offerings. To get around this they come up with secret menus, special handshakes etc. If this is how they plan to manage it, then it's on them to figure it out, instead of having all these unwritten rules and need to know to ask for something if you're in F.

There have been plenty of F/P1 stories on here where they weren't ushered into the secret/special section and didn't know to ask.

That's the boat I'm in, having being in the F lounge thinking its all rather lovely. Flying F for the first (probably only) time in a couple of months, I might need to write down a list of what I can get by asking or uttering a secret code word. The extras might be lost on me - very rarely drink wine, Minister for War,Finance and Travel Partnerships is a different matter.

 

[serfty]

That's the boat I'm in, having being in the F lounge thinking its all rather lovely. Flying F for the first (probably only) time in a couple of months, I might need to write down a list of what I can get by asking or uttering a secret code word. The extras might be lost on me - very rarely drink wine, Minister for War,Finance and Travel Partnerships is a different matter.

Make sure the staff know you are in First. Enter using your First Boarding Passes - often someone will then escort you through to the reserved area further along towards the kitchen. If that does not happen, walk through and keep walking until someone approaches. Show your First Boarding passes again, telling them you are in First on your flight.

Once they know you are First PAX and are seated, they should offer special menus and wine lists. Don't be afraid to ask as indicated earlier.

 

[iamsuperandrew]

Get your point about asking, but it would be a terrible look on QF's end if a lower priority person (in their eyes) got a benefit above and beyond someone with a higher priority - only because this person asked.
It could be due to no fault of the passenger, ie. an F pax transiting SYD-LHR.
If someone travelling SIN-LHR arrived before the incoming flight landed and drank the wine that wasn't for them, no one in their right mind would see this as a good thing.
I take it you were not in the travelling party of a CL/P1/F pax and are using this platform to announce that this is available to everyone who asks, username checking out and all.

I personally don't see anything wrong this this approach at all, QF should make a entirely separate area for their F/CL/ P1 members like the TPR.

I saw the bottle on the counter next to the champagnes and other wines and ask for a glass and was poured a glass without any questions and the waiter topped me up without asking.

 

[iamsuperandrew]

That's the boat I'm in, having being in the F lounge thinking its all rather lovely. Flying F for the first (probably only) time in a couple of months, I might need to write down a list of what I can get by asking or uttering a secret code word. The extras might be lost on me - very rarely drink wine, Minister for War,Finance and Travel Partnerships is a different matter

I find that QF has alot of this 'secret, if you know', I just prefer the TPR concept where as if you arent flying F you are not coming in

 

[Daver6]

It's all QF's problem, because it happened in their lounge.
The issue is their service and staff standards slipped to the point where they fulfilled the literal English definition of begging.
Clearly no one is saying that the OP is not a beggar; to offer high level benefits to low level people (in QF's own eyes) not entitled to it, is a huge own goal from the business' point of view. They don't offer F wine onboard to low level pax "just because they asked". Can you tell me of a premium F carrier that does this?
SQ's TPR vs F lounge in the same airport is the best example of this. If you don't have access to TPR, and can only get into the F lounge, asking for something from the TPR menu will get you nowhere.

High level passengers not being proactively offered what QF deems their entitlements is one thing.
Low level passengers begging and getting what they are not entitled to is another.
How you do one thing is how you do everything. Very few people in business/life truly understand this.

I don't think there has been any begging though. Just been reports of people asking.

QF constantly offer higher level benefits to lower level pax. On flights they'll often bring J drinks or amenities to status pax in whY. IF they do that on one flight where it's offered, that same pax is going to think it's ok to ask on their next flight.

 

[jamesatfish]

I find that QF has alot of this 'secret, if you know', I just prefer the TPR concept where as if you arent flying F you are not coming in

I'd love to see this.

TPR (and similarly Concorde Room) are the perfect way to provide premium service to F passengers. Do the entry checking at the door, and once your guests are inside you can offer everything equally to anyone in the lounge.

I've experienced the frustration of flying QF F but being directed to sit in the non-F area and subsequently having to fight for menu items that are restricted to F passengers, not being offered the special drinks menu etc etc. It's nothing but a surefire way to undermine the "premium" part of Qantas' premium cabin.

 

[moa999]

Yes but that requires dividing areas and doors which cuts into the normally limited natural light and flexibility.
Eg. The pokey little Concorde Bar at BA SIN (albeit much improved versus it's initial creation).

At QF First SIN during busy periods I've sometimes seen single pax put in the so called F area at the bar seats which is obviously more efficient.

 

[jamesatfish]

Yes but that requires dividing areas and doors which cuts into the normally limited natural light and flexibility.
Eg. The pokey little Concorde Bar at BA SIN (albeit much improved versus it's initial creation).

At QF First SIN during busy periods I've sometimes seen single pax put in the so called F area at the bar seats which is obviously more efficient.

I wouldn't have such an issue with the QF approach if they actually implemented it correctly and consistently.

If you want to have special roped-off dining areas, extra menus and secret decanters of wine for F or P1 pax then actually do a proper job of identifying and welcoming the passengers you've set all that aside for. If your staff can't identify an F boarding pass at the lounge entry and hand that information to the dining attendant standing a few meters to the right then the system is never going to work.