Qantas to permanently close QF HKG lounge

[pagingjoan]

Rather a pity, for many reasons.
One factor is that it was a non-standard lounge, which is always a plus.
And, most important, the staff were excellent on every occasion I visited.

Mind you, after decades of international travel multiple times a year, I can now barely remember an airport layout!
To recall the Lounges is akin to climbing Everest.... If it were within 5km of home. Sigh.

 

[ozflier]

QF press announcements today suggest destinations overseas from the end of 2021 and those starting april 2022.
HKG is not mentioned anywhere - is it being downsized ?

 

[AIRwin]

HKG is not mentioned anywhere - is it being downsized ?

• Flights to Hong Kong will restart in February and the rest of the Qantas and Jetstar international network is planned to open up from April 2022, with capacity increasing gradually.

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-group-outlines-strategy-for-restarting-international-flights/

 

[Ade]

The staff were lovely and went out of their way on my few visits.

This is what I will miss the most about the HKG QF Lounge. One of the managers (not sure what the right designation is), Grace was very friendly and she too extra care of some of my guests.

I gave a QF lounge pass as a birthday gift to a friend, who was enroute SYD to BLR via HKG. My friend was going to celebrate her bday with her family in BLR. I was able to call up Grace and ask if she'd be able to organise a small cake and give me a video call. She was very happy to help and it was amazing! My friend was COMPLETELY taken by surprise and she still doesn't believe that it happened the way it did and keeps talking all the time about it

There is so much more memories about the HKG lounge for me ;

1. Spent over 10 trips in total between 2018 and 2019 in the HKG lounge. Sometimes spending the whole day (due to flight delays/cancellations etc) or sometimes by choice, because I'm a contractor paid by the hour. So I try to get as much work done in transit so that I don't lose out on my pay.

2. Was able to escort an acquaintance of mine into the lounge. I ran into him onboard MAA-HKG when he was walking past my seat. I didn't remember his name, but I yelled out "hey, you are from St. Joseph's" and he was like "yea man!, I remember you, you were from IT, yea?" All the conversations were in Tamil btw. He was THRILLED by the QF HKG lounge. I don't think he has ever been in a lounge before and he really enjoyed it.

3. In addition to Grace, there were some other staff who were super friendly. I had my first Qantas specialty (?) coughtail in the HKG lounge .. It's the one served with a fresh bay leaf? The bar staff were very happy to keep me refilled every 20 mins or so.

4. I tried my first ever T'Gallant Pinot Noir in the HKG lounge .. loved it so much that I polished 2 bottles in my 6 hour layover at HKG ... Came home and ordered a case of it to enjoy with mates

So I guess, there are a few things that I will miss .. but, I look forward to spending more time in Pier First/Business.

The thing I love about Pier is the "Tea Room" and the "Tea Bombs" they have .. the tea leaf "balls" that ballon up when it comes in contact with hot water - simply amazing!

I once had a chickpea curry (south indian style) at the Pier First and hand to heart, the BEST chickpea curry I have had outside of India !! That was sensational, to say the least .. damn, I need to have chickpea curry for lunch now !! off to Uber Eats!

 

[sudoer]

I suppose the real impact of this is for those who want to use lounge passes or have QP membership.

Also QFF status holders traveling with kids or on Jetstar Asia flights.

I have to say it's surprising that this lounge got the axe before NRT.

 

[TonyHancock]

The staff were lovely and went out of their way on my few visits. Sure, Wing and Pier much "better" lounges - specially for Emeralds/F pax no doubt but for what it was the lounge was quite nice.. specially the bar

That was my take too. Some of the best staff members I have come across in a lounge.

 

[dairyfloss]

Also QFF status holders traveling with kids or on Jetstar Asia flights.

I have to say it's surprising that this lounge got the axe before NRT.

IMHO, I'd expect that once we're out of the worst of the pandemic, NRT (& HND) are likely to see more QF traffic in the near to mid term. Though there was a reasonable amount of leisure, HKG served more of the business segment, and between the anticipated fall in business travel, generally, the challenges that HKG now faces in retaining or attracting western businesses to operate or headquarter there, and even the resistance that some employees might have to travel there for the time being, I don't see it turning around until (or if) we're better mates with Beijing again.

 

[sudoer]

IMHO, I'd expect that once we're out of the worst of the pandemic, NRT (& HND) are likely to see more QF traffic in the near to mid term.

Disagree with you on NRT - I think QF will have a very limited presence at NRT in the short-medium term.

Without VA contending for slots I would expect QF will prefer HND, and JQ operate out of NRT T4 which doesn't have an airside connection so those pax can't use the QF lounge either.

The latest schedules have QF25 SYD-HND only operating four times weekly so I doubt we will see the demand to justify NRT routes for a while.

 

[jakeseven7]

IMHO, I'd expect that once we're out of the worst of the pandemic, NRT (& HND) are likely to see more QF traffic in the near to mid term. Though there was a reasonable amount of leisure, HKG served more of the business segment, and between the anticipated fall in business travel, generally, the challenges that HKG now faces in retaining or attracting western businesses to operate or headquarter there, and even the resistance that some employees might have to travel there for the time being, I don't see it turning around until (or if) we're better mates with Beijing again.

It doesn’t even matter if they do patch up relations the premium business traffic to Hong Kong is all but gone now and this was before Covid. Makes you wonder about long term plans for Cathay.

 

[dairyfloss]

Disagree with you on NRT - I think QF will have a very limited presence at NRT in the short-medium term.

Without VA contending for slots I would expect QF will prefer HND, and JQ operate out of NRT T4 which doesn't have an airside connection so those pax can't use the QF lounge either.

The latest schedules have QF25 SYD-HND only operating four times weekly so I doubt we will see the demand to justify NRT routes for a while.

No doubt HND is certainly the preferred & more convenient option for TYO. I guess my comments are more around HK vs TYO in general

 

[sudoer]

I guess my comments are more around HK vs TYO in general

HND will definitely see more tourism demand than HKG, but QF only has a lounge at NRT...

 

[dairyfloss]

HND will definitely see more tourism demand than HKG, but QF only has a lounge at NRT...

Ahh - now that I didn't know. Maybe a shift in time from A to B, and after HKG exit is complete

 

[ozflier]

• Flights to Hong Kong will restart in February and the rest of the Qantas and Jetstar international network is planned to open up from April 2022, with capacity increasing gradually.

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-group-outlines-strategy-for-restarting-international-flights/

Ta for that - I was relying on a shortened version of the press release in the Australian.

 

[ANstar]

Does it really make sense to have your own lounge at a Oneworld members home hub where they have their own flagship lounges?

 

[justinbrett]

Does it really make sense to have your own lounge at a Oneworld members home hub where they have their own flagship lounges?

Have you been to the Flounge in LAX?

 

[BD1959]

No loss for me. If I have to go via HKG again, CX First Pier for me. Pier business lounge very good too, if they close the First.

Could not agree more. The Pier First is an exceptional lounge and preferential to the QF Lounge, although I do think it could benefit from more light. I also agree with others on the likely impact to QC Members (and voucher holders) though I think QF probably have higher priorities than regarding those whose cash they are already holding. I'm thinking other losers would be status pax flying any of the JQ flights not that I would be considering such any time soon!!

Regards,

BD

 

[Matt_01]

HND will definitely see more tourism demand than HKG, but QF only has a lounge at NRT...

And the NRT lounge is not flash, I have only been there once and that was enough. In both NRT and HND JF F are the best options.

 

[TonyHancock]

Have you been to the Flounge in LAX?

Or the Concorde Room Bar at SIN. It may be dark, dingy, very cold, windowless and small but at least the riff riff can't get in.

 

[Matt_01]

Or the Concorde Room Bar at SIN. It may be dark, dingy, very cold, windowless and small but at least the riff riff can't get in.

I am the riff raff however @JessicaTam was able to get me in there for a look around and it didn't take long.

 

[TonyHancock]

I am the riff raff however @JessicaTam was able to get me in there for a look around and it didn't take long.

If both of you went in it would have been full