SYD J lounge first time...How long?

[Must...Fly!]

Hi everyone.

I'm in the process of booking a trip PER-xSYD-WLG in J. This will be the first time I'll be able to get into a J lounge and first J trip in a very very long time.

Question is how much time should I set aside to enjoy the lounge in Sydney? I have numerous flight options and the following stopover times in Sydney. Keep in mind the terminal transfer too.

5 hours (0545 departure)
3 hours 40 minutes (0705 departure)
2 hours 40 minutes (0805 departure)
1 hours 40 minutes (0905 departure)

No matter what I'll be on the 1800 SYD-WLG flight (QF117).

I'm certainly leaning towards taking the 0545 or 0705 departure out of Perth to Sydney. The thoughts of others?

 

[Grooba]

J lounge is not so special but if you haven't travelled for a long while then it may be a novelty so I'd say an hour would suffice.

 

[samh004]

I assume you meant an international J lounge, well you can only checkin 3 hours before (if not connecting, as you are), so I’d go for the 3 hour 40 minute connection (and I’d still go for this option).

 

[chanteuse]

I think it's special and would allow 3 hours as suggested for food, drinks, and a shower

 

[serfty]

I assume you meant an international J lounge, well you can only checkin 3 hours before, so I’d go for the 3 hour 40 minute connection.

No, the OP would check-in luggage at PER as well as getting BP's for their flight to WLG.

Personally, I'd hang out the Domestic J lounge in SYD T3 as (aside from the showers) it's been somewhat better than the International one in T1. (Although I have not been there for a year or so, so it may have improved).

Head across to T1 using the "seamless Transfer" bus at 4pm, 4:20pm or 4:40pm (it departs every 20 minutes, leave the lounge 5 minutes beforehand).

Your WLG flight should commence boarding around 5:30pm.

 

[tuapekastar]

Notwithstanding unforeseen major flight delays...

Option 1 is definite overkill.
Option 2 will allow plenty of time, a leisurely pace, and for a bit of inbound flight delay
Option 3 will give reasonable time if inbound is on time
Option 4 is tight, with little slack

Sounds like Option 2 would probably suit you best...enjoy

 

[thewinchester]

From your post & profile, you're not a frequent lounge lizard so SYD T1 makes a nice change. I'd happily allow 2-3hrs at this location if you can spare it.

SYD T1 is very comfortable, and window seating is available along the full length of the lounge (about ~300m+).

The food is good here no matter what time of the day. Mornings, you can expect the full morning barista service (and they'll even bring it to your table, no waiting for them at the machine), freshly baked pastries which they're wandering around offering and legendary pancake machine - in addition to the usual QP fare.

Lunches & Dinner is similar to the other flagship J lounges, and you may be in on a day where a special menu is being served at the grand bar.

I'll be swinging thru there early next month, and I'm hoping to do a TR for that trip which will cover the lounge if you've not left by then.

If you're an aviation buff, you do get good views of the apron from almost anywhere. Glare from the glass combined with the overhang from the F Lounge upstairs limits photography opportunities.

If you'd like to take some snaps of the airport - skip seamless transfer and take the AirportLink terminal transfer (AUD5) instead. This will allow you to visit the landside observation deck before crossing security and going to the lounge.

SYD T1's observation deck is one of the best in the country IMHO, being fully outdoors and very high up to give commanding views of the facility. There's also no obstructions getting in the way of good shots from even your most basic of point and shoot cameras.

There's some photos of the lounge, as well as night shots from the observation deck available in my flickr collection if you'd like to see the place in all it's early morning glory:
Flickr: thewinchester's stuff tagged with syd

Hope this info helps you in deciding how long a connection you want

 

[Ewing]

If you'd like to take some snaps of the airport - skip seamless transfer and take the AirportLink terminal transfer (AUD5) instead. This will allow you to visit the landside observation deck before crossing security and going to the lounge.

Just on this note, The transfer bus now deposits you landside near the checkin counters so you can easily go to the observation deck. The bus is also more interesting than the train IMHO

 

[straitman]

Notwithstanding unforeseen major flight delays...

Option 1 is definite overkill.
Option 2 will allow plenty of time, a leisurely pace, and for a bit of inbound flight delay
Option 3 will give reasonable time if inbound is on time
Option 4 is tight, with little slack

Sounds like Option 2 would probably suit you best...enjoy

I agree that options 2 or 3 are appropriate for your circumstances.

 

[JetLagged]

Glare from the glass combined with the overhang from the F Lounge upstairs limits photography opportunities.

That's the light glistening off our champagne glasses - not to forget the fresh sheen of relaxation after time spent on the massage table in the Spa!

 

[hollydavid69]

If in doubt, always give yourself more time, not less.

 

[thewinchester]

Just on this note, The transfer bus now deposits you landside near the checkin counters so you can easily go to the observation deck. The bus is also more interesting than the train IMHO

Thanks for that info, good to know.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Thanks for the help!

This trip isn't til January but I'm using AA Miles to redeem for J, so booking now to avoid disappointment.

The 0705 departure certainly seems like the best choice. I prefer to take my time rather than rushing around, especially on holiday! Serfty's advice is also interesting - I might go to T3 J lounge when I land for a few minutes to look around then head over to T1 J lounge.

As always, solid advice from AFF. Thanks again.

 

[Happy Trails]

And if you're travelling on a weekday, Perth is horrendous for an 0545 departure.
++ on option 2.

 

[Must...Fly!]

It is a weekday (Thursday).

Thanks for all the help, all booked and ticketed on the 0705 departure.