Seeking your opinion regarding lounge utilisation

[horseman]

So my partner and I are planning a lounge awaited week away, and am trying to work out the best time to make use of the qf lounge during our time at SYD.
I am only ps and my partner has no status, I have the single visit card I received with my last silver qff mail out pack, I bought off eBay a second card for my partner to use.
Outward have a domestic flight followed by a night at the new rydges at SYD then our int'l flight the following day I'm ticketed with a qf flight number, and she is on a FJ flight number due to her ticket being an awards booking. Same thing on return however our domestic flight is the same day (our itinerary is below anyway)
What I'm wondering is would it be best to use our passes in the intl lounge on our way out (and hope she can be let in since her flight that day is an FJ number and not QF)? Or do we use it on the way home and have a little more time in the domestic lounge?
Is the facilities in the int'l lounge better or worse than domestic?
Will she be not let in the int'l lounge anyway due to her flight number?

thanks for reading my long winded question, and thanks in advance for any advice.

Flight Out
-----------

Flight QF 2210
from Albury (ABX) on Sat 16 Nov 13 - 13:35
to Sydney (SYD) on Sat 16 Nov 13 - 14:40
Status : Confirmed

Flight FJ 910
from Sydney (SYD) on Sun 17 Nov 13 - 12:45
to Nadi (NAN) on Sun 17 Nov 13 - 18:40
Status : Confirmed

Flight Back
-----------

Flight FJ 911
from Nadi (NAN) on Sat 23 Nov 13 - 09:00
to Sydney (SYD) on Sat 23 Nov 13 - 11:35
Status : Confirmed

Flight QF 2213
from Sydney (SYD) on Sat 23 Nov 13 - 15:15
to Albury (ABX) on Sat 23 Nov 13 - 16:35
Status : Confirmed

 

[medhead]

Hard one. I'd say international lounge is better on the way out. You might only need to use one pass

Having said that a shower on the return in Sydney might be nice. I thought the t2 lounge was closing. Might be worth double checking the terminal for you domestic flight on return and make sure there is a lounge.

 

[horseman]

Oh I didn't think of the shower on the way back, we were thinking the extra time on the return would be better spent in the lounge.
And I'm pretty sure T2 will be closed by then and all in T3

 

[medhead]

Still I do think the international lounge when departing would be the best option.

 

[Hvr]

Well don't forget to post your flights in the meeting thread. You might be able to attend with an AFFer and save your pass.

Meetings and Social Events

 

[tuapekastar]

I'm thinking international lounge outbound, provided you can both access it. And if one of you can't then you can simply hang onto both passes and use them at T2 or 3 on the way home in the domestic lounge.

 

[horseman]

So what sort of differences are we looking at between the t1 j lounge and the t3 qp?

 

[horseman]

I'm thinking international lounge outbound, provided you can both access it. And if one of you can't then you can simply hang onto both passes and use them at T2 or 3 on the way home in the domestic lounge.

I'm liking your thinking

 

[tuapekastar]

So what sort of differences are we looking at between the t1 j lounge and the t3 qp?

Been a while since I've visited Int J lounges in Australia but main differences I recall between them and domestic QPs are self-serve bar (open whenever the lounge is open, QP's bar only open after midday, though given your flight times this may not be relevant), and better food offerings (finger food served to you at your chair). I'm sort of guessing (relying on memory, last visit nearly 10 years ago) but the SYD T1 J lounge may not have windows whereas the domestic QP does.

 

[Hvr]

<snip> I'm sort of guessing (relying on memory, last visit nearly 10 years ago) but the SYD T1 J lounge may not have windows whereas the domestic QP does.

MEL Int J lounge doesn't have windows either.

Don't think I've ever been to the SYD Int J Lounge so can't comment.

 

[JohnPhelan]

The SYD International J lounge most certainly has windows! It is directly beneath the First Lounge.

 

[eric2011]

The SYD International J lounge most certainly has windows! It is directly beneath the First Lounge.

I would go for the J lounge at International, as John above has said this is an excellent lounge for sitting at the windows and watching. Planes coming and going are in a good view, great food options, no where as busy as the T3 QP (when i've been there)