QF club lounge observations

[OzEire]

I want to post my observations from recent QF lounge visits. While the issue which has prompted this post is food, I didn't want to ressurect the 'slop' thread which I think is an unfair representation (the title that is, others might disagree).

I travel often enough to have a decent sample size for my observations, I travel on the most effective fare balancing price, timing and routing but I have plenty of discretion. My staff often travel with me and have noticed this as well.

Without targeting my travel to accrue status or point on any particular scheme I am now Plat on QF and fast approaching on VA AS well. I'm generally leaning toward QF so I can only guess that the VA status is a combination of reasons either pushing me away from QF or pulling me to VA.

Which brings me to the QF lounge food. Listen up QF, this is a push factor. For starters, it is always the same... flight after flight, month after month. I have often trotted off into the terminal to buy a bit of variety - but at booking time I could just pick VA for variety as well. And then there is the option(s) on offer, very limited and items which would appeal to a narrow range of tastes. Don't get me started on healthy options or the size of crockery or somewhere to sit down where the red sauce won't get on your suit...

Yes, all of these are #firstworldproblens, but I imagine QF wouldn't need to do or spend much to retain loyal fliers and wow new customers who are potential frequent fliers.

 

[QPProletarian]

I'd be happy if it just wasn't so goddam_ hard to make a ham cheese tomato lettuce sandwich with what they give you. I mean it's almost there.

 

[lovestotravel]

I never get bored of the food in the MEL/SYD/CBR J domestic lounges

 

[ozmille]

Me personally I wouldn't run to the VA lounge for better food though...

 

[harvyk]

I never get bored of the food in the MEL/SYD/CBR J domestic lounges

Spend some time with us plebs in the QP.......

 

[suparockin]

The thing I find infuriating in the J lounges is sometimes there is someone to make you a coffee and sometimes you just have to get the awful automatic machine stuff.

I would think that a decent coffee is a high priority with tired travelers?

By the way, I actually think the J Lounge food is pretty decent.

 

[lovestotravel]

Spend some time with us plebs in the QP.......

Will be next week in PER

 

[OzEire]

Spend some time with us plebs in the QP.......

I often do just that, same food (mostly) from the dame kitchen. The J DOM lounge really is only different because it is 'exclusive' and slightly different decor.

 

[ChasingDaylight]

I got potato wedges once in the DRW QP. Made my day that did.

 

[UP4014]

I've carried pizza into the lounge with me. If we all did it someone might say we need to look at the catering.

But, in reality I think it isn't that bad and we are complaining about nothing. I simply don't eat the things I don't like.

Matt

 

[eric2011]

For me, being in a J lounge, or even QP is a priveledge and I am happy just to be able to go there. I am sorry but I dont complain or moan about anything which I am given over and above my flight.

 

[UP4014]

For me, being in a J lounge, or even QP is a priveledge and I am happy just to be able to go there. I am sorry but I dont complain or moan about anything which I am given over and above my flight.

Agree.

I've been on jury duty now for 3 weeks, you should see what is served up for lunch. I would love to have been able to eat to eat QP food for three weeks straight.

Matt

 

[Pushka]

For me, being in a J lounge, or even QP is a priveledge and I am happy just to be able to go there. I am sorry but I dont complain or moan about anything which I am given over and above my flight.

I pay a few hundred dollars for QP membership in addition to paying for flights. I'm sure I'm not alone. In which case, any reasonable complaints are quite valid thanks.

Even on J or WP level there is no Business club in Adelaide. Not a lot of love there.

 

[opusman]

Even on J or WP level there is no Business club in Adelaide. Not a lot of love there.

To be fair when the QP opened at the new terminal in Adelaide it was far and away the best QP in Australia - it's only fallen behind slightly since the DOM J lounges opened.

 

[harvyk]

To be fair when the QP opened at the new terminal in Adelaide it was far and away the best QP in Australia - it's only fallen behind slightly since the DOM J lounges opened.

The ADL QP was the one that made me decide I wanted to join the QP... Had my first (and only) experience been SYD or MEL on a Friday afternoon I probably would have saved my money.
I still remember my first visit, I called up everyone I knew to rub it in that I was in the QP. (It was before I joined Facebook)...

 

[fersea]

Currently in the Canberra QP enjoying Bircher muesli and fruit bread. I don't come here often enough to get bored.

 

[vetrade]

I hate eating "hot" food that is tepid at best or food that has lost all appeal because it has dried out through sitting in the bain marie for far too long. I think the fact that the food is free (i.e. the "be grateful for what you get" brigade) is irrelevant. The bar should be set at the level of what would be expected of a servery whose commercial survival relied on serving up food that people are prepared to pay for. Aren't the lounges supposed to be primarily for business and "upmarket" travellers?

I say it's just as well lounge food IS free because I certainly wouldn't pay for it in any Australian lounge I have visited (never eaten in an F lounge so they might be different). Several times in J lounges I have been hungry enough to eat but have restricted myself to a bowl of nuts and what was on offer at the bar simply because I couldn't force myself to eat what was on offer. It's just not that hard to synchronise the food preparation better and tweak the menu occasionally to raise the standards.

 

[harvyk]

I say it's just as well lounge food IS free because I certainly wouldn't pay for it in any Australian lounge I have visited (never eaten in an F lounge so they might be different). Several times in J lounges I have been hungry enough to eat but have restricted myself to a bowl of nuts and what was on offer at the bar simply because I couldn't force myself to eat what was on offer. It's just not that hard to synchronise the food preparation better and tweak the menu occasionally to raise the standards.

Well I would happily pay for the food I've received in the F Lounge, it has certainly been of a high quality. Even the food in the J Lounge I'd probably pay a few dollars for it had I received the same down stairs (things like a pastry an a cappuccino of the JLounge quality I'd probably be prepared to pay $5 or $6 for). It's in the QP itself that the food offerings need to be reviewed. The pancakes and "comfort food" are certainly a good start, but the food offerings outside of that can be pretty dismal. Not everyone likes rabbit food and cheese, which is pretty much the limit of the food offerings outside breakfast / dinner time.

 

[vertisol]

I go through ADL about 4 times per year and I can't remember when I had a hot choice that wasn't pea and mint soup or Harissa Chicken.

They thing I struggle with most is the hard crusted Spanish/ Mexican thing in the MEL J lounge. It looks like it should be delicious but it's too much effort to crunch through it.

That said though as someone who does lots of short haul domestic I'm generally happy for a cold beer and ham sandwich at the end of the day.

 

[boomy]

I go through ADL about 4 times per year and I can't remember when I had a hot choice that wasn't pea and mint soup or Harissa Chicken.

Lately they serve spinach pasta, it's not bad.
The honeycomb pie is nice too