Qantas New Domestic Business Lounges

[Keith009]

Sitting in MEL dom J now... I don't see what's all the song and dance about...

Sure it's got nicer furniture (identical to the international QP and the SIN and BKK QF/BA lounges) and is a fair bit emptier, but other than that I couldn't discern any difference from the QP in terms of food options, quality of coffee, drink or service.

Oh and they've done a DJ with their boarding passes now...

 

[simongr]

I guess the main thing must be the fact that it is quieter...

 

[JohnK]

It is not always quieter. The majority of people in there are business travellers and they don't neccessarily respect the people around them any more than a person in the Qantas Lounge.

Not happy when I see someone has removed the power to the desktops to charge a laptop, phone or some other silly gadget, and when they are finished not bothering to connect the power the desktop back up again.

The desktops are there for people to use the internet not to charge gadgets. Should have thought about doing that back in the office. Oh, I forgot they have been too busy all day but now have plenty of time in the lounge to annoy someone else.

 

[possumoz]

........... I couldn't discern any difference from the QP in terms of food options, quality of coffee, drink or service.

Oh and they've done a DJ with their boarding passes now...

I couldn't see any major difference in food either, I mean meatball soup..sheesh...they really pushed the boat out on that one. BNE J lounge has a big problem with powerpoints. Last time I was there there were several lost souls wandering about despondently seeking a powerpoint for their lappies ( thought fleetingly about auctioning the one I had off).

When I checked in at the Jlounge service desk I got the proper cardboard boarding passes...so am wondering...Whats "done a DJ mean? (the mere thought makes me shiver)

 

[NM]

Sydney BLounge yesterday evening certainly had an enhanced food selection compared with the regular Qantas Club fair.

 

[serfty]

Whats "done a DJ mean? (the mere thought makes me shiver)

Boarding info printed in Heat Sensitive paper I presume. (sort of like supermarket dockets ... )

These have been around domestically for several months.

(FWIW, i've never used one, these days mine are mainly stored in my USB key drive then printed on A4 paper).

 

[ozscot]

there were several lost souls wandering about despondently seeking a powerpoint for their lappies

We're in software development so a lot of my guys spend all day working on a computer but this and the crackberry guys always makes me smile. I mean, nobody's that important, no reply is that urgent and I'd hate to think you'd be so busy, harried or disorganised as to need every moment on your laptop. Have a beer, relax and contemplate your next moves on your current project / deal / issue or whatever.

Cheers,
Steve.

 

[serfty]

This is where my laptop's 6hr battery comes in handy.

 

[NM]

We're in software development so a lot of my guys spend all day working on a computer but this and the crackberry guys always makes me smile. I mean, nobody's that important, no reply is that urgent and I'd hate to think you'd be so busy, harried or disorganised as to need every moment on your laptop. Have a beer, relax and contemplate your next moves on your current project / deal / issue or whatever.

Cheers,
Steve.

Sometimes it can be important to get something done or sent out. I have had situations where I need to complete a timesheet or send some information to others so they can meet a deadline. This does not make me important, just a pawn in the critical path of a workflow that affects other people. But my preference is always to follow your recommendation .

 

[simongr]

We're in software development so a lot of my guys spend all day working on a computer but this and the crackberry guys always makes me smile. I mean, nobody's that important, no reply is that urgent and I'd hate to think you'd be so busy, harried or disorganised as to need every moment on your laptop. Have a beer, relax and contemplate your next moves on your current project / deal / issue or whatever.

Cheers,
Steve.

It's not being about disorganised or self important. I can multi task in the lounge - drink a cold beer AND send an email. Sometimes it is nice to be able to clear the inbox if you have been out of contact all day. If I have a flying visit interstate then I generally will be in meetings all day. I can get to the QP, download the emails and clear the ones that I need to and download any large attachments that I might want to read on the aircraft.

One other thing is that with a 14 hour time difference to my boss, if I dont get emails away in the evening today I might not get a responses for two business days -which is a not inconsiderable gap.

What I don't understand is the level of negativity/condescension towards people who work in the lounges. I personally don't care what other people do in the lounge to pass the time - one might laugh at the people reading Dan Brown novels or Who magazine.

@JohnK - So it's only business people that would unplug the desktops? Just a slight assumption there?

 

[Keith009]

When I checked in at the Jlounge service desk I got the proper cardboard boarding passes...so am wondering...Whats "done a DJ mean? (the mere thought makes me shiver)

I got my bp from SSCI and got a filmsy paper bp (no not heat sensitive, just filmsy paper with a barcode). I noticed that everyone who checked in over the counter got the regular cardboard ones though.

 

[ozscot]

Sometimes it can be important to get something done or sent out.

Sure that does happen. I had a team of guys stuck at Long Beach airport last month in a flap as there was no internet available to reset some servers at the data centre but it's surely got to be the exception to the rule.

Cheers,
Steve.

 

[possumoz]

If the bars open I have beer (or a gin n tonic). I use my laptop to chat online to friends. I actually found my brother (who lives OS) on msn once round the corner from where i was sitting. Theres only so many times you can watch qantaslink out the window of the BNE lounge and my Mum said it was rude to stare at other people.

Cheers

 

[simongr]

Sure that does happen. I had a team of guys stuck at Long Beach airport last month in a flap as there was no internet available to reset some servers at the data centre but it's surely got to be the exception to the rule.

Cheers,
Steve.

Interestingly I would be more concerned about an organisation that was dependent on a small number of people all travelling together to be able to reset a server with no other options... that is poor organisation

 

[ozscot]

Actually it was more than a small group of people, a customer who insists only a handful of support crew have credentials to access the machines their data resides on and no real drama - access is always available over 3G or GPRS but slower and not so convenient. I get your wink but things aren't always as straightforward as they appear.

Cheers,
Steve.

 

[QF WP]

...and I suggest now we go back to the original topic. Personal comments not related to the topic can always be sent by PM

 

[amc]

Don't get too excited about the lounges, the marginally better food and wine is not worth the crowds. I thought it was meant to be quieter, but last night in the Brisbane 'J' lounge, there was standing room only, and that has been my experience on every visit. If they are intending to provide a more quiet space for business and Platinum members then they certainly haven't achieved it. I went back to the Qantas club which was much less crowded.

 

[comint]

Don't get too excited about the lounges, the marginally better food and wine is not worth the crowds.

I’ve found pikelets in the morning and Thai Chicken Pies, Pizza & Chicken Cacciatore in the evening. (All very nice.)

However, I asked my lounge(s) guest to compare the Cacciatore with the Pumpkin & Pistachio Risotto (Virgin's Lounge) and the resounding winner was the Risotto. A perfect lounge accoutrement, soaking up any excess alcohol in the system and giving you a warm full feeling just before you get on your flight. (Setting you up well for one more drink on board.)

I thought it was meant to be quieter, but last night in the Brisbane 'J' lounge, there was standing room only… I went back to the Qantas club which was much less crowded.

In BNE I walked out of the QF crazy zone, and headed down to the other end of the domestic terminal, to Virgin's lounge. Wow... mood lighting, great background music* plus a relaxing/chic atmosphere, it's getting more like a trendy urban coughtail bar (well, minus the coughtails), with equivalent superior service from the wait staff. *I think the kids in the kitchen had tuned in a music station?

 

[JohnK]

@JohnK - So it's only business people that would unplug the desktops? Just a slight assumption there?

Absolutely Simon. Witnessed with my own eyes while there was 3 of us hovering around the desktops trying to find a vacant desktop. In fact one of them even had the cheek to be sitting at another of the desktops using the internet while he was charging his gadgets on another desktops powerpoints. Very clever and totally rude....

 

[Mal]

RE Powerpoints in BNE J Lounge...

There definately aren't enough. Especially on the "benches" in the middle.

Feedback to Qantas may see more power points added - not wondering *what type of traveler* is using power points.