Sydney Lounge feedback wanted regarding meeting rooms and kids area

Status
Not open for further replies.
These are EXACTLY the sorts of questions they should be consulting their customers about.

Fair enough. Perhaps I was brash with my comments but they are my thoughts. I did answer the question for them as well and I still argue VA know the details about numbers far better than any of us do.
 
As a general rule, in sight but out of earshot (well sound proofed but visible from at least part of the general area) is the best of all combinations. There's no need for it to be particularly near the F&B but where one parent can see in while sitting in the lounge is ideal.

Surely you could just let the Au pair look after the kids :p
 
Fair dinkum, if you're going to respond like that, perhaps you should have stuck to your earlier view on giving feedback to VA.

Actually, that's so correct. I should take my own advice more often! I foresaw the problem (my distain for VA spilling over into verbal abuse) and then forgot about the solution (just shutting up).

Thanks for the reminder! I appreciate it.
 
Actually, that's so correct. I should take my own advice more often! I foresaw the problem (my distain for VA spilling over into verbal abuse) and then forgot about the solution (just shutting up).

Thanks for the reminder! I appreciate it.

I could always start an ATR thread if you feel like venting, there will soon be 35 of them in the fleet ;)
 
I'd like to see a J lounge. I know it has been discussed to the death in other threads, but for work I'm back travelling QF and whilst the VA lounges I prefer to the QP, they are still not nearly as good as QF J lounge. The food offerings are far too "DIY", and the QF J lounge hot food offerings mean you can actually have a proper meal, not just a snack. The QF food offerings seem to also been a notch or two above in terms of the quality of the produce.
 
A kids area is a great idea.

The area only needs to be fairly small but should include a TV playing cartoons or similar. It should also have an area where parents can sit as well especially for the young kids.

Catering for kids should be looked at as well. A small kids pack is a great idea.

Further to the kids pack one for kids travelling in J would be fantastic.
 
I frequently travel with my very young kids.
Kids area away from main congregation points better than central in my books.
If you can't do glass doors, look also at BA's JFK lounge where there is a separate room, around the corner from the bar so sound doesn't travel so far.
Bowl of fruit and water fountain nearby would help.
My 3yo daughter prefers to fly QF because of the QF club kids area. I'd switch my family travel over if you had one.
 
Not a huge fan of the kids room. I understand people travel with children I have two of my own, but the lounge is a place where my children have felt it a privilege to be in not a place that is theirs and that they are encouraged to be in with a room of their own. I would imagine business travellers would rather more room in the lounge at peak times that a kids room?
 
The Frequent Flyer Concierge team takes the hard work out of finding reward seat availability. Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, they'll help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

I think a separate area for children is a great idea.

The kids area at T3 QF lounge is good and out of the way in one corner of the lounge. It is fairly open and parents can sit nearby.
 
While I don't have children, I am all for having an area for children also, I just think it needs to be in a place that is practical for the adults also that are travelling (and not completely at the other end of the earth). Just because people have children doesn't mean they should be shunned into a corner!
I've used the meeting rooms before in both Sydney and Melbourne...nothing to add there really
 
This is all touchy feely rubbish isn't it?

VFF, you lot know far more than us about how many use the meeting rooms. Surely you have data........or not :shock:.

You must know approx. how many kids enter the lounge, so on average, 99.9% of parents (bugger the kids) would love a sound proof, air-tight, locked abode for them. (BTW, I have three kids.....and they still live)

Please ask questions of us that you don't already know the answers.

Numbers are numbers, while actual verbatim from those who use the Lounge the most (ie our freq flyers) can provide more detailed insight. Hence why the question has been asked and not just a poll used.

Thanks for the feedback everyone, keep it coming!
Its interesting to hear of other Lounges you've used around the world that ticked the right boxes for you!
 
Sound proof kids area would be great..... a sugestion for now ..... as Sydney has 2 levels, can kids be banned from the upstairs area? Ok I know not all kids are the same .. but on the weekend .... 2 little " brats" were causing issues .... running around screaming etc while adults were trying to watch the footy .... The same brats thought it would be "fun" to play with the food on the counter as well .... was only 15-20 others upstairs , but they were all far from impressed.....
 
I definitely think a kids area is the way to go. But I wouldn't make it a huge playground or anything - thats not what airport lounges are about. Something similar to the No. 1 Traveller pay lounge at Heathrow which has a small glass enclosed kids room with bean bags and a tv showing cartoons. If they want to run around take them outside (my kids can be as feral as the next one when they feel like it). On the other hand - ALL airports in the world should have an indoor playground - better to burn off that energy there than when they get on the plane.
 
Sponsored Post

Struggling to use your Frequent Flyer Points?

Frequent Flyer Concierge takes the hard work out of finding award availability and redeeming your frequent flyer or credit card points for flights.

Using their expert knowledge and specialised tools, the Frequent Flyer Concierge team at Frequent Flyer Concierge will help you book a great trip that maximises the value for your points.

There is no dislike button unfortunately. Yes some people do not take control of their kids in these situations but it would be a rare occurrence when this happens and a kids section will help however maybe just make it a PLAT lounge upstairs and you can't get it and wouldn't have to worry!

Sound proof kids area would be great..... a sugestion for now ..... as Sydney has 2 levels, can kids be banned from the upstairs area? Ok I know not all kids are the same .. but on the weekend .... 2 little " brats" were causing issues .... running around screaming etc while adults were trying to watch the footy .... The same brats thought it would be "fun" to play with the food on the counter as well .... was only 15-20 others upstairs , but they were all far from impressed.....
 
There is no dislike button unfortunately. Yes some people do not take control of their kids in these situations but it would be a rare occurrence when this happens and a kids section will help however maybe just make it a PLAT lounge upstairs and you can't get it and wouldn't have to worry!

Both my kids are PLAT :) mind you they are never out of control.
 
Like most here, I think the idea of a childrens area is great - so long as the noise doesn't escape and the parents are requested to either sit in visual range of the "area", or even one parent per family to "supervise" their offspring.

Haven't used (or even had really looked for) the meeting rooms - but not high on my priority list. A pod area or similar for telephone calls/computers is fine, I find the BNE area near the F&B great, but haven't really explored the other Lounges for their areas.
 
Both my kids are PLAT :) mind you they are never out of control.

I know some here have reported to the contrary, but to be honest, I have never felt inconvenienced by kids in a lounge. I've never experienced rowdy behaviour (well not from the kids anyway) and without a single exception (that I can recall), the kids have been your everyday, garden variety Brady Bunch epitome of perfection.

Planes are a bit different......but understandable with ears vrs pressure issues. Personally, I only support the play area concept in the lounge for the kids sake......let's be real, if you're under 10, who'd want to be associated with all those geriatrics who frequent a lounge ;).
 
A kids area targeted at ages 2-10 is certainly a great feature. I'd vote for away from the food area for a few reasons, mostly that it tends to reduce the kids "playing" with the food, and allows travellers without kids better access to food. A few basic toys, a "cubby house" (not elevated just a little house - there's lots around that are made of plastic - so easy to clean!) - that sort of thing. Older kids thAt use computers etc unaided these days tend to have their own. The trick also with the kids space is not to make it too small so they have room to run - making everyone's life easier both on the ground and in the air.

You also want to encourage the kids to be supervised, so tucking it too hidden, whilst advantageous for noise for the rest of the lounge, risks (when it's busy) kids being inadequately supervised. Ideally you want an area with seating around so the parents / older kids can sit and relax whilst the toddler age kids can play (with "distant" supervision). I hope that makes sense.


When you use kerbside entry in sydney, you go through security and then enter to the right - there is the area immediately to the left when you enter - that would be a good space IMO.

Re: rooms. Multi purpose is best. As Princess Fiona comments, she tends to use them for family space / privacy. So segmenting areas off for "private use" as opposed to purely branding as "meeting room" would be better. Ideally the ability to reconfigure the room would be useful.
 
What kids go and play with the food in the lounge at the food area?


A kids area targeted at ages 2-10 is certainly a great feature. I'd vote for away from the food area for a few reasons, mostly that it tends to reduce the kids "playing" with the food, and allows travellers without kids better access to food. A few basic toys, a "cubby house" (not elevated just a little house - there's lots around that are made of plastic - so easy to clean!) - that sort of thing. Older kids thAt use computers etc unaided these days tend to have their own. The trick also with the kids space is not to make it too small so they have room to run - making everyone's life easier both on the ground and in the air.

You also want to encourage the kids to be supervised, so tucking it too hidden, whilst advantageous for noise for the rest of the lounge, risks (when it's busy) kids being inadequately supervised. Ideally you want an area with seating around so the parents / older kids can sit and relax whilst the toddler age kids can play (with "distant" supervision). I hope that makes sense.


When you use kerbside entry in sydney, you go through security and then enter to the right - there is the area immediately to the left when you enter - that would be a good space IMO.

Re: rooms. Multi purpose is best. As Princess Fiona comments, she tends to use them for family space / privacy. So segmenting areas off for "private use" as opposed to purely branding as "meeting room" would be better. Ideally the ability to reconfigure the room would be useful.
 
Like most here, I think the idea of a childrens area is great - so long as the noise doesn't escape and the parents are requested to either sit in visual range of the "area", or even one parent per family to "supervise" their offspring.
I think the SYD Qantas Club has done a great job with the childrens area.

Perhaps Velocity Frequent Flyer needs to have a look and I am quite happy to guest them when I am around assuming they do not already have guesting rights.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Enhance your AFF viewing experience!!

From just $6 we'll remove all advertisements so that you can enjoy a cleaner and uninterupted viewing experience.

And you'll be supporting us so that we can continue to provide this valuable resource :)


Sample AFF with no advertisements? More..
Back
Top