Qantas Sydney International Business Lounge Refresh

[sxc]

Even if the renovation starts this week, my estimation would be that it wouldn’t be finished by Christmas. And then it could be even worse - limited space and crowded during renovations.

 

[THR]

I take it from your comment that it hasn’t started then.

 

[sxc]

Definitely hasn’t started.

 

[THR]

Surprise, surprise:

Qantas pushes back new Sydney business class lounge to 2020 or later

Travellers are still waiting for the promised "multimillion dollar rebuild" for Qantas' flagship international business lounge.

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[Daver6]

Approached by Executive Traveller for comment, Qantas Head of Product Strategy and Development Philip Capps said the airline was "in ongoing discussions with Sydney Airport about the lounge redevelopment."

Wouldn't you expect those discussions to be COMPLETED prior to the original announcement and timeline being given 18+ months ago?

 

[levelnine]

Shows you how incompetent Qantas is at lounge refurbs. Not a single one has even run remotely according to schedule.

 

[Himeno]

Maybe not touching SYD Int J until new SIN F lounge is open?

 

[motef]

I was there on Friday afternoon and evening and it’s clearly being let to run down.

The lounge chairs were stained, the place was a mess, the food terrible, some toilets broken.

Thankfully the EKlounge was available

 

[moa999]

Qantas has a habit of announcing things earlier than others would (airline refurbs, additional Perth flights, Auckland refurb, multiple flight expansions etc).
Not all of them happen.

All the investments they make need a return, so in all likelihood a 10+ year life.
Possibly the Sydney Airport Master Plan comes back into thinking
(Which at one point was moving some international flights to where the current Qantas Maintenance sheds are)

 

[Himeno]

All the investments they make need a return, so in all likelihood a 10+ year life.
Possibly the Sydney Airport Master Plan comes back into thinking
(Which at one point was moving some international flights to where the current Qantas Maintenance sheds are)

Which again brings up the question of "Why?" with the LHR lounge when T3 is meant to be removed to allow expansion of the new T2 and the creation of the T2/T5 "toast rack" under the LHR master plan.

 

[moa999]

When do you see that occuring?

The latest Heathrow proposal, currently in consultation seems to focus on the 3rd runway first, then expansions to T5 and a new T5X closer to the 3rd runway

Homepage - Heathrow Expansion: Building for the future

www.heathrowexpansion.com

 

[stm1sydney]

Shows you how incompetent Qantas is at lounge refurbs. Not a single one has even run remotely according to schedule.

It's not incompetence, it is a deliberate strategy of announcing seemingly great initiatives out in the market, to be repeated by friendly reporters, so that long-suffering QF customers think: oh, the improvements are just around the corner, I'll stay loyal for a bit longer despite the current product being worse than its competitors. And so it goes on.

 

[DavidFlynn]

It's not incompetence, it is a deliberate strategy of announcing seemingly great initiatives out in the market, to be repeated by friendly reporters

Ah yes, because the media obviously shouldn't report on such announcements.

Qantas clearly pulled the trigger rather early on this announcement, back in Feb 2018. The SYD T1 loungescape has shifted quite significantly since then. There is a very different Plan B now in play – it's not one I can comment upon due to off-the-record conversations, but no doubt some here may speculate on what shape that would take.

 

[levelnine]

It's not incompetence,

Ever heard of the tale of the boy who cried wolf?

There's only so many times you can mislead the public before widespread cynicism takes hold, leading to an erosion of loyalty thus destroying your biggest cash cow (QFF).

Indeed, think about your average QF Gold using this lounge. They are probably taking a few work-related trips per year on Qantas, which is enough to get them to, or close to, Gold. They then decide to direct their discretionary spend to Qantas to reach/maintain Gold. If these people start to realise that one of the principal benefits of Gold is non-existent (ie a lounge that is no better than the airport terminal), they will begin to purchase airfares according to the best price of the day, which means they will no longer be flying Qantas.

 

[Altair]

Oh QF and their announcements and re-announcement then announcement of a change to plan. I fondly remember the much hyped plastic insert in the middle business class seat on the A330. Yep that took the cake and a panicked QF survey after that, which I am sure that respondents like me expressed our thoughts and comparisons to the VA A330 offerings, lead to another, better change of strategy to the J Suites.