Were the Qantas First Class lounges better before 2007?

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. Standard Gold with access to the coughpy First class lounge at the time

I’m curious, what was the first class lounge like back then? Was it better than the current lounge?

 

[SYD]

I’m curious, what was the first class lounge like back then? Was it better than the current lounge?

No

 

[serfty]

I’m curious, what was the first class lounge like back then? Was it better than the current lounge?

Think the wood panel style of the AKL Emerald Cupboard demolished in 2025 ... certainly a better level of F&B than the Business lounges

• MEL was near what is now Gate 3 - the Business lounge adjoined
• SYD entrance was at the departures level across from gate 24 overlooking gate 31 - One went right from reception - The Business lounge was to the left down an escalator from same entrance
• BNE was to the North End of the current lounge - now there's the main business lounge bar in that area, business lounge is same place (no upstairs)
• PER I am not sure believe there was a separate area from the Business lounge
• SIN Where the current BA lounge is
• BKK Not really sure

 

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Think the wood panel style of the AKL Emerald Cupboard demolished in 2025 ... certainly a better level of F&B than the Business lounges

• MEL was near what is now Gate 3 - the Business lounge adjoined
• SYD entrance was at the departures level across from gate 24 overlooking gate 31 - One went right from reception - The Business lounge was to the left down an escalator from same entrance
• BNE was to the North End of the current lounge - now there's the main business lounge bar in that area, business lounge is same place (no upstairs)
• PER I am not sure believe there was a separate area from the Business lounge
• SIN Where the current BA lounge is
• BKK Not really sure

Thanks! Hopefully with the AKL WP / P1 dining we’re going to see a revival of the separate F across the lounge network

 

[liveinsydney]

Unless QF reinstates SCs on CFRs under another mechanism - Matt said QF was still considering this.

My guess is they will allow at least Silver or Gold status to earn SC on CRs.

 

[sudoer]

Thanks! Hopefully with the AKL WP / P1 dining we’re going to see a revival of the separate F across the lounge network

I can see QF doing this in HKG and LHR (given the F lounge previously announced is nowhere in sight)

 

[SYD]

I can see QF doing this in HKG and LHR (given the F lounge previously announced is nowhere in sight)

Some reports suggest LHR is still in the works pending securing the space (which is very limited).

 

[sudoer]

Some reports suggest LHR is still in the works pending securing the space (which is very limited).

"Still in the works pending securing the space" is Qantas PR parlance for zero commitment.

Some of my favourite wishy-washy quotes from this article published just a few weeks ago.

“We have been in ongoing discussions with Heathrow about what options there are for us there... we’ve got a series of options, but we haven’t confirmed anything at this point.” [Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace tells Executive Traveller.]

But Wallace himself sounds cautious over the project. “We’d like to do something, (but) we’ve got to make sure it’s sustainable and economic for us, and make sure there is the space there.”

Either you have a series of options, or you need to make sure the space is there - pick one, Cam!

“We’re still searching for space in London because it’s a very constrained terminal,” Hudson confirmed [in early 2025]. “We haven’t yet been able to secure a space that enables us to start to build a first class lounge, so we are looking at options.”

My guess is they are waiting for another lounge operator to forfeit their space OR they are going to carve out part of the existing lounge for F dining like AKL.

LHR F was announced three years ago - to have still not secured a space despite having a 'series of options' is inexplicable.

 

[elanshin]

"Still in the works pending securing the space" is Qantas PR parlance for zero commitment.

Some of my favourite wishy-washy quotes from this article published just a few weeks ago.





Either you have a series of options, or you need to make sure the space is there - pick one, Cam!



My guess is they are waiting for another lounge operator to forfeit their space OR they are going to carve out part of the existing lounge for F dining like AKL.

LHR F was announced three years ago - to have still not secured a space despite having a 'series of options' is inexplicable.

I wonder how big of a space F needs to big inside. 14 seats onboard a 380 and maybe a dozen WP?

So something that caters for about 30 people?

Of course the difficulty is if they make F too good, you'll attract other OWE as well. I guess thats the problem at LHR.

I wonder how busy CX F gets during the morning.

 

[sudoer]

14 seats onboard a 380 and maybe a dozen WP?

QF LHR departures have far more WPs than that. I've watched Group 1 get called at LHR and have 60+ people in the queue.

Plenty of business travellers going to/from LHR regularly, and you only need 2 x return J flights OR 4 x return Flex Y / W to get WP.

Halve that if booked during DSC. Then don't forget BA OWEs going to SIN and onwards in Asia.

 

[elanshin]

QF LHR departures have far more WPs than that. I've watched Group 1 get called at LHR and have 60+ people in the queue.

Plenty of business travellers going to/from LHR regularly, and you only need 2 x return J flights OR 4 x return Flex Y / W to get WP.

Halve that if booked during DSC. Then don't forget BA OWEs going to SIN and onwards in Asia.

Isnt J also in group 1? Or does that not apply to the 380.

 

[serfty]

No

I disagree.

Aside from the current FLounges providing a la carte service, the Food and especially Beverages were generally of a much higher quality than these days.

Back then there was the Two Airline system and there was plenty of $$$ to fund decent tucker in the self service buffets.

Some of the current First lounges are little more than cafeteria's.

 

[SYD]

I wonder how big of a space F needs to big inside. 14 seats onboard a 380 and maybe a dozen WP?

So something that caters for about 30 people?

Of course the difficulty is if they make F too good, you'll attract other OWE as well. I guess thats the problem at LHR.

I wonder how busy CX F gets during the morning.

The SIN F lounge is a good indicator of crowds (a lot) plus at LHR, you’ll get a bunch of OWEs visiting if it’s better than the CX F lounge.

 

[oz_mark]

Aside from the current FLounges providing a la carte service, the Food and especially Beverages were generally of a much higher quality than these days. Back then there was the Two Airline system and there was plenty of $$$ to fund decent tucker in the self service buffets.

Happens when you compete on service. But nowadays the competition is on price (largely) so you get a different answer.

 

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Aside from the current FLounges providing a la carte service,

Wow. So à la carte was a new thing with the new F lounge!

 

[SYD]

Wow. So à la carte was a new thing with the new F lounge!

Yep. The old model for an F lounge was a smaller space exclusively for F PAX.

They had nicer sandwiches and better booze.

 

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Yep. The old model for an F lounge was a smaller space exclusively for F PAX.

They had nicer sandwiches and better booze.

I feel bad whining about the lounges now - it’s quite a step up with à la carte dining, spa and coughtails etc. from the experience pre-2007

 

[serfty]

I feel bad whining about the lounges now - it’s quite a step up with à la carte dining, spa and coughtails etc. from the experience pre-2007

Don't feel bad - I yearn for those days. You could make your own coughtails, spa's I don't do 'em (massage yuck!), à la carte dining - meh. You haven't lived until you have hit the LAX cafeteria 7pm before making a hasty escape to the AA F/L in T4.

Back then you could get a decent feed, with far better quality beverages than now.

The main negative back then was they often became overcrowded after the turn of the century, although that could be said now.