QF vs. EK - review of experience on SYD-BKK flights

[Pahf70]

That must be unique to BKK, then. No problem at SIN entering the EK Lounge - you just hand them your QF boarding pass and your WP card and they are most welcoming.

My experience at BKK a couple weeks ago was simple and similar to SIN EK lounge. I only showed QF boarding pass and QF WP card. Very quick and painless.

 

[chrisishere]

I've just done the QF23/34 in Y, with the early flight out of SYD, this required a 6.15am departure from MEL and just to get enough time in the SYD J lounge. The J lounge was packed, just found a table in the back corner. First time in the SYD int. J lounge, the food was good!

The flight wasn't too bad, it's a daytime flight so sleep really wasn't on my mind. Arriving into BKK at that time, the longest part at the airport was walking from the gate to immigration, there was no line and a quick exit to grab bags and into the waiting car.

I did leave my jumper on the plane and gave QF a call, they couldn't locate it but I received a call later that night saying that it had been located and ready for me to pick up. I was able to pick it up on my return flight and a few weeks later.

Leaving BKK, the QF check in opens 3 hours before the flight is scheduled to leave so the plan of spending a few hours lounge hopping didn't go too plan. When I checked in, they mentioned that I was able to pick up my jumper from the lounge and it'll waiting for me!

We went straight to the EK lounge, being Gold I knew I'd be able to get in but the front desk did question it and even mentioned I should go to the QF lounge. Well I insisted that I was allowed and she caved in and took my booking number (yep had to dig out the itinerary for that one) boarding pass, frequent flyer number and then we were allowed in.

We were the only ones in the lounge and opted for the Moet champagne and the selection of food. The food and drink in the EK lounge was fantastic, very impressive! I have some pictures of the lounge too. The power points were handy since they took the Aussie style plugs.

We went to the QF lounge and as soon as I showed my boarding pass, they grabbed my jumper from the desk which was really handy (didn't have to carry it around 30+ degree Thailand for three weeks) since the weather in SYD was going to be cold!

The lounge wasn't too bad, not too crowded either and the food selection was good. I was able to grab a toothbrush and toothpaste from the lounge staff, and the evian bottle of water I still have from the EK lounge to use for water.

The return flight, the service just wasn't the greatest. Being a night flight didn't help I guess. Took a while to clear trays and they missed the first few rows of Y when clearing.

Wasn't a fan of the retimed flight since it meant a much earlier wake up from Melbourne and less time on the last day in BKK.

 

[gypsyinabigtown]

[...]
We went straight to the EK lounge, being Gold I knew I'd be able to get in but the front desk did question it and even mentioned I should go to the QF lounge. Well I insisted that I was allowed and she caved in and took my booking number (yep had to dig out the itinerary for that one) boarding pass, frequent flyer number and then we were allowed in.
[...]

Wasn't a fan of the retimed flight since it meant a much earlier wake up from Melbourne and less time on the last day in BKK.

Exactly the same experience with me. In fact, their tone was like "do you like to use EK lounge instead of QF lounge?" almost implying that if I entered to EK lounge I would not be able to enter the QF lounge afterwards. Based on your description it is not true, but I guess try every deterrent to get QF passengers away from their lounges.

For those who haven't experienced this treatment in BKK EK lounge, were you flying QF 24 or the EK-operated flight? Was your flight a QF number or EK number?

Btw, being a SYD resident I am happy with the retimed flights as the evening flights arrives into SYD really early to allow for a quick exit from airport. =)

 

[timster]

I've just done the QF23/34 in Y, with the early flight out of SYD, this required a 6.15am departure from MEL and just to get enough time in the SYD J lounge. The J lounge was packed, just found a table in the back corner. First time in the SYD int. J lounge, the food was good!
...
Wasn't a fan of the retimed flight since it meant a much earlier wake up from Melbourne and less time on the last day in BKK.

Yep, the outbound "enhanced" timing is dreadful. QF allows booking the 0800 out of MEL to connect with QF23, but that's still way too early, and allows no time in the QP in MEL or SYD.

I have been connecting to BKK in SYD ever since the Rome flights via BKK from MEL ended, and when going on to LHR I always flew via BKK or SIN with QF and/or BA. But all that is no more. Looking at TG, SQ, MH from now on.

 

[chrisishere]

Yep, the outbound "enhanced" timing is dreadful. QF allows booking the 0800 out of MEL to connect with QF23, but that's still way too early, and allows no time in the QP in MEL or SYD.

I have been connecting to BKK in SYD ever since the Rome flights via BKK from MEL ended, and when going on to LHR I always flew via BKK or SIN with QF and/or BA. But all that is no more. Looking at TG, SQ, MH from now on.

The only upside of the timing of the SYD flight was that when getting to MEL airport, there was little traffic at 5am on city link and drop off at MEL.