Qantas / One World Lounge - Orlando & LAX

[richardl]

Flying Syd - DFW - MCO (Orlando) in July.
Returning MCO (Orlando) - LAX - Syd

Wondering what are the best lounges to use in:
a) Orlando
b) LAX

I am QFF Platinum / OW Emerald

Thanks!

 

[pagingjoan]

Flying Syd - DFW - MCO (Orlando) in July.
Returning MCO (Orlando) - LAX - Syd

Wondering what are the best lounges to use in:
a) Orlando
b) LAX

I am QFF Platinum / OW Emerald

Thanks!

My memory could be hazy, at the end of a long week, but I don't recall there being a OW Lounge at MCO.
Hopefully, someone else will provide a more welcome response....

 

[Downwind]

There are no AA lounges in MCO, so you'll have to enjoy terminal A, gates 1-29.

As for LAX, that is also below average. the joint BA/QF/CX lounge is woefully inadequate. Its crowded, wifi is slow and the food on offer is barely edible.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news......

 

[Princess Fiona]

As stated above , no lounge in MCO. The less time in the AA dep gate area the better

 

[Mal]

As stated above , no lounge in MCO. The less time in the AA dep gate area the better

Indeed. The shops are tacky, and the food places pretty dire IMHO.

 

[pagingjoan]

Another word of warning about MCO, now that the memory tapes of several visits are clearing:
Depending on time of day, security queues can be a nightmare. There is a priority lane but sometimes difficult to see and to access, depending on the direction from which you approach. Ask directions and persevere, if there is a crush.

(We are not giving you a rosy picture of MCO, I'm afraid. Fear not. You will survive. )

 

[Kefci2000]

There are no AA lounges in MCO, so you'll have to enjoy terminal A, gates 1-29.

As for LAX, that is also below average. the joint BA/QF/CX lounge is woefully inadequate. Its crowded, wifi is slow and the food on offer is barely edible.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news......

given you are WP, if flying AA MCO-LAX, stay in terminal 4 and use the flagship lounge until you need to transfer to TBIT

 

[kempvet]

given you are WP, if flying AA MCO-LAX, stay in terminal 4 and use the flagship lounge until you need to transfer to TBIT

100% correct, T4 Flagship lounge will be less crowded and better quality and better food in my experience, make sure that you don't leave T4 for any reason as THEY WILL NOT LET YOU BACK IN with a boarding pass for a flight leaving from TBIT no matter what you say.

 

[Paddy55]

Enjoyed (?) MCO in Dec... 4 times.

Didn't find it too bad - train ride to terminals is a bit of a novelty

Security queues are bad news, though. If at all possible use the AA Priority Queue or be prepared for a wait and a half!

 

[horseman]

The security is a bit of a wait, but not bad, similar to syd intl departures through customs on a busy day I reckon, and there's nothing at the gates, make the most of what you've got and enjoy the fish tank before venturing off on the train

 

[bosox76]

My experience last December was similar to those above.
1. No lounge in MCO and just a few (coffee) shops once you take the shuttle train so you'll have to make yourself comfy with the masses.
2. The security is a shambles. Even in the AA priority line. People come from all directions. The priority line can be easy to miss so look for it. It's on the left iirc.
3. When you back to LAX definitely stay in T4 Flagship lounge until you need to go to TBIT for your flight. The lounge at TBIT is a zoo. The shuttles to TBIT run every 30min. Just be careful to time it properly.

Have a good trip

 

[Newk]

I know it doesn't help, and is slightly OT but after having been there recently, I cannot help putting my two bobs worth:
The Delta lounge is pretty average too.
Oh, and a hint for Orlando just in case you haven't worked it out: you will NEED a car (and most likely a GPS). The city is a series of hotels, attractions, residential areas, theme parks and restaurants strung out over a vast area and joined by an enormous road network. And when you take the car back allow a bit of time.
Visit the space centre if you have time and even the smallest interest. It's a pretty easy drive

 

[Paddy55]

My experience last December was similar to those above.
1. No lounge in MCO and just a few (coffee) shops once you take the shuttle train so you'll have to make yourself comfy with the masses.
2. The security is a shambles. Even in the AA priority line. People come from all directions. The priority line can be easy to miss so look for it. It's on the left iirc.
3. When you back to LAX definitely stay in T4 Flagship lounge until you need to go to TBIT for your flight. The lounge at TBIT is a zoo. The shuttles to TBIT run every 30min. Just be careful to time it properly.

Have a good trip

Yep, AA Priority v easy to miss, and is on the left

 

[richardl]

Thanks for all the replies.
When you sat T4 and TBIT is that in LAX or Orlando?

given you are WP, if flying AA MCO-LAX, stay in terminal 4 and use the flagship lounge until you need to transfer to TBIT

 

[Newk]

Thanks for all the replies.
When you sat T4 and TBIT is that in LAX or Orlando?

That's LA
The Qantas lounge in TBIT (That's Tom Bradley International Terminal in insider speak) is often pretty crowded and is slated to be "enhanced" in the real meaning of the word.
I recently spent some time in the AA lounge in T4 and it was much less crowded. if it's the same as the others are suggesting if you have the status or correct class of travel remember that the "special" area is off to the left when you hit the flowers, as it was recently described to me

Edit to say: i see your are indeed WP. So make sure you get in the WP bit of the AA lounge. Much better

 

[Downwind]

Thanks for all the replies.
When you sat T4 and TBIT is that in LAX or Orlando?

Given we have all stated there are no AA lounges in MCO, my bet would be on LAX. A bit of googling would also reveal that TBIT refers to Tom Bradley International Terminal, at LAX.

 

[Newk]

Given we have all stated there are no AA lounges in MCO, my bet would be on LAX. A bit of googling would also reveal that TBIT refers to Tom Bradley International Terminal, at LAX.

ooooh, there's a thread for that. Here's an example

Let me google that for you


edit to add: an awful lot of stuff that we-who-have-been-here-a-while use is jargon, so I am happy to cut a newbie some slack. Have a great trip. Let us know how it goes

 

[Kangol]

Edit to say: i see your are indeed WP. So make sure you get in the WP bit of the AA lounge. Much better

Not to mention upon entering the lounge, the staff will see your OWE status, tell you about the F/L, give you a keycard and directions in case you've never been there before.

 

[Newk]

Not to mention upon entering the lounge, the staff will see your OWE status, tell you about the F/L, give you a keycard and directions in case you've never been there before.

trust me it's easy to be muddled by this process if you've just spent half the day flying across the USA. I made a point of giving the directions because I almost walked into the normal lounge, this recent trip being my first to that lounge as a WP. The only thing from the directions that stuck in my mind, and that saved me, was the "turn left at the flowers" bit

 

[Flying mermaid]

trust me it's easy to be muddled by this process if you've just spent half the day flying across the USA. I made a point of giving the directions because I almost walked into the normal lounge, this recent trip being my first to that lounge as a WP. The only thing from the directions that stuck in my mind, and that saved me, was the "turn left at the flowers" bit

I agree we were given directions and totally failed to find the FL although did feel we were the incompetent ones once we got there. As far as other comments in the thread go, While I agree that T 4 is much quieter and more comfortable I preferred both food and drink at TBIT. T4 had a fairly indifferent sparkling wine,while TBIT had a Tattinger. I guess it depends what you like and if it makes up for the zoo atmosphere.

We flew out of Orlando in July and I agree about security - even with priority access it was a nightmare - much worse than anything I have experienced in Sydney. There were huge numbers of South American tour groups in Orlando at the time, so maybe a very crowded time of year.