Qantas New Domestic Business Lounges

[JohnK]

I have just witnessed the weirdest thing yet in an airline lounge. There were 3 people sitting together and 2 of them were eating Chinese takeaway from "Wok on Air" in tiny cardboard boxes and using chopsticks.

Talk about being picky on food intake....

 

[Chucksta]

I have just witnessed the weirdest thing yet in an airline lounge. There were 3 people sitting together and 2 of them were eating Chinese takeaway from "Wok on Air" in tiny cardboard boxes and using chopsticks.

Talk about being picky on food intake....

What's wrong with that? I brought Panda Express into the lounge when I was in the USA because the AA lounge food is cough (yes even the Flagship lounges).

By the way things are going, QP food is starting to become hopeless.

 

[Skyring]

By the way things are going, QP food is starting to become hopeless.

I'm not renowned as a picky eater, but I'm getting to the stage where I've got to be genuinely hungry before loading up a plate of QP tucker. Popped into the Canberra lounge while waiting for a passenger last night, and the hot food came out. You beaut! says I. But it was sausage rolls cut up in bites and done brown. Hmmmph.

Looking at it with a jaundiced eye, a fair amount of the food on offer is high in fat, sugar and salt - often all three at once. The serve yourself espresso machines are better than instant, but that's about it. Breakfast time in the lounge is probably best foodwise, and that's not saying much.

Then again, it's not the food that attracts me. It's having a haven where I can relax, check my emails, have a hot or cold drink, maybe a nibbly. Most of all the showers in between longhaul. They are pure gold!

The J lounges I've sampled aren't that special, but having a bit more peace and quiet is worth a bit, I guess.

Food in the Flounge in Sydney is a different plate entirely. It's a restaurant. And a good one.

 

[straitman]

I'm not renowned as a picky eater, but I'm getting to the stage where I've got to be genuinely hungry before loading up a plate of QP tucker. Popped into the Canberra lounge while waiting for a passenger last night, and the hot food came out. You beaut! says I. But it was sausage rolls cut up in bites and done brown. Hmmmph.

Looking at it with a jaundiced eye, a fair amount of the food on offer is high in fat, sugar and salt - often all three at once. The serve yourself espresso machines are better than instant, but that's about it. Breakfast time in the lounge is probably best foodwise, and that's not saying much.

Then again, it's not the food that attracts me. It's having a haven where I can relax, check my emails, have a hot or cold drink, maybe a nibbly. Most of all the showers in between longhaul. They are pure gold!

The J lounges I've sampled aren't that special, but having a bit more peace and quiet is worth a bit, I guess.

Food in the Flounge in Sydney is a different plate entirely. It's a restaurant. And a good one.

Skyring,

Thanks.

You have just summarised my thoughts extremely well.

 

[Chucksta]

Does the bar in the SYD domestic biz lounges open all day? Or similar operating times as the QP?

Can a WP pax bring in a guest to the domestic business lounges?

thanks

Chucksta

 

[comint]

Does the bar in the SYD domestic biz lounges open all day? Or similar operating times as the QP?

Bar opens high noon, same as regular QP.

Can a WP pax bring in a guest to the domestic business lounges?

2 guests, so long as the WP is flying on a Qantas Group or OneWorld airline/code.

 

[JohnK]

I actually don't mind the food in the lounges. Last night in BNE it was pizza and goulash soup.

By the way the goulash soup was fantastic....

 

[munitalP]

....Also to be selfish, keep out of my lounge!!...

Good call!


Mr!

 

[munitalP]

....
2 guests, so long as the WP is flying on a Qantas Group or OneWorld airline/code.

I put this to the test yesterday at QC-B in SYD. I entered with one guest (Gold) at about 0600. The QC-B was empty except that TV football caller and 3 others with him, I'm guessing his wife and a friend and wife...

About 0630, 2 others from our BNE office arrived at the door (both are Gold flyers). The lounge was still empty, Dragon #1 was happy to let the other 2 in with me, Dragon #2 wasn't. Another PAX happened to walk in at that moment and escorted my 3rd guest into the QC-B lounge.

On exit, I noticed 2 families of 4 - Mum, dad and 2 kids. I questioned the Dragons about the 4's - they said the rules are different for families - ?!!?

I mentioned that the PAX with me could have been family but this fell on deaf ears. Again, SYD Dragons are a breed of their own - rude and unfriendly (stereotype I know). In my humble opinion, families with kids should be directed to door #2 - the standard QC and leave the business lounges alone for the travellers and their immediate partner or guest.

This area is our sanctuary - if your family's on J's, I have no argument...:-|

Mr!

 

[Skyring]

By the way the goulash soup was fantastic....

Yeah. I forgot the soup. I've never had soup at the QP that wasn't excellent. Nice bowl of soup and a crusty roll.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

l thought that the bar opens at 1pm?

It does in PER

 

[simongr]

I think that changed relatively recently.

 

[Ikara]

Yeah. I forgot the soup. I've never had soup at the QP that wasn't excellent. Nice bowl of soup and a crusty roll.

Crusty roll......Crusty roll? What crusty roll? Which QP, where, when? Are you sure it was a crusty roll?

JB

 

[JohnK]

l thought that the bar opens at 1pm?

The bar opens at 12:00 noon. It has for a while.

It does in PER

I think they have it wrong....

 

[Mal]

Crusty roll......Crusty roll? What crusty roll? Which QP, where, when? Are you sure it was a crusty roll?

JB

Canberra I believe. Nice selection of rolls available - actually the best food spread available (IMHO) out of all QP's (Domestic) in Australia.

 

[Ikara]

Canberra? yeah, yeah! Do you really mean crusty? And I mean crusty, not one of those normal stodgy soggy things that they put out?

 

[Mal]

Canberra? yeah, yeah! Do you really mean crusty? And I mean crusty, not one of those normal stodgy soggy things that they put out?

IIRC, they have slices of turkish bread, fluffy damper type bread, and various types of rolls. I'm no expert on crusty bread rolls, but they definately have some decent ones there.

 

[shearsense]

Just found out the hard way today from one of the Dragons in MEL that one of the differences between access rules for the Business Lounges vs the Qantas Clubs for Plats is that no access to the former when not travelling. No change in this for the Qantas Clubs, though. Yes, I know its in the T & Cs, but bit of a pity for when I come in a Deathstar or Vermin flight and want to freshen up in relative comfort without so much crowding.

 

[pacblue]

Let's face in the QC's have become like giant barns. I think the new domestic business lounges are great. I am only QC gold, but my employer flies me business - and in the new lounges you get a bid more quiet & space. I also like the barista service in the mornings. You also find a better class of people there. The QC should smarten up its dress code as well, a guy last week in MEL in a singlet - and boardies ???.

 

[Shano]

.....The QC should smarten up its dress code as well, a guy last week in MEL in a singlet - and boardies ???.

They do have a dress code, just seems that it is not consistently enforced.

10.7 Smart, casual dress standards apply at all times. Individual Qantas Club lounge managers will have discretion to alter these standards if circumstances warrant.

Just as long as they don't ban hi-vis clothing I should be OK....