Were the Qantas First Class lounges better before 2007?

[dajop]

My experience with F lounges was from 2002 , and the upgrades in 2007 seemed better than previous 5 years.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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.

I’m with you on this.

Back then, too, it was more for F pax than status. And I think the lounges were a bit more social or collegiate.

Although the new QF F lounges were super impressive when they opened!

 

[arrow]

especially Beverages were generally of a much higher quality than these days.

Yes! Prior to the introduction of classic coughtails, I’d almost abstain from drinking the wine the F lounge and wait til I boarded before drinking

 

[SYD]

My experience with F lounges was from 2002 , and the upgrades in 2007 seemed better than previous 5 years.

There used to be multiple “First” Lounges at SYD.

QF for a while was just an inner sanctum of the J lounge (the space that’s the current temp J lounge). The current F lounge is light years (still) ahead of anything that was around prior.

UA had a seperate lounge with a tiny F section (that I used once or twice). Both now long gone.

MH had a lounge with a F section - both gone.

SQ maintains a F section - which I’ve never been to but I understand is pretty small.

EK has never had a F lounge in SYD, despite every flight having F.

 

[serfty]

QF for a while was just an inner sanctum of the J lounge (the space that’s the current temp J lounge). The current F lounge is light years (still) ahead of anything that was around prior.

From the mid 90's the SYD First lounge (sanctum?) was at the departure concourse level, the J lounge down escalators. This from around then through to 1999.

From around 2000 to 2006 the First lounge at SYD was at the southern end of what is now the being redeveloped business lounge. In 2006 it was rebuilt above that area. While that was happening, temporarily the First lounge was relocated to what is now the temporary J lounge space.

 

[SYD]

From the mid 90's the First lounge was upstairs, the J lounge downstairs.

From around 2000 and 2006 the First lounge at SYD was at the southern end of what is now the being redeveloped business lounge. In 2006 it was rebuilt above that area. While that was happening, temporarily the First lounge was relocated to what is now the temporary J lounge space.

We had a back ‘n fourth in another thread about lounges, but as late as the early ‘90s the SYD “First” lounge was a broom cupboard off the main QP (as it was known then).

 

[arrow]

SQ maintains a F section - which I’ve never been to but I understand is pretty small.

I’ve been to the SQ F lounge in Sydney it’s quite spacious, however it’s because the guest list is fairly tight. Al a carte plus buffet and the beverages are better than the QF F lounge.

 

[serfty]

We had a back ‘n fourth in another thread about lounges, but as late as the early ‘90s the SYD “First” lounge was a broom cupboard off the main QP (as it was known then).

Yea, that was before my time.

On another note, during the latter 90's both MEL and SYD had landside international lounges.

 

[kermatu]

and the beverages are better than the QF F lounge.

Not a very high bar....

 

[Mr H]

Also, don't knock the AA First lounge - they have champagne, a reasonable buffet and a seated dining area with table service (small menu).

I visited all the LHR J lounges on Christmas Day 2024 and the AA dragon let me into the F lounge as it was Christmas. Of all the lounges I tried, the AA F one was the most underwhelming - and the food in particular felt like a step down from the other airlines' J lounges. I think food is not something USians do particularly well. Much of their stuff comes from packets and if they do cook, they seem to be reluctant to combine ingredients - so you'll have meat cooked on its own, with various vegetables cooked on their own - and sauce on the side if you have hit the jackpot.

 

[serfty]

so you'll have meat cooked on its own, with various vegetables cooked on their own - and sauce on the side if you have hit the jackpot.

Each to their own ... that's exactly how I like it!

Yum!

 

[SYD]

Non QF related, but were there ever particularly good dedicated F lounges 20 or 30+ years ago? I mean on the scale we see now vs maybe a dedicated space with better bubbles and maybe caviar?

Certainly nothing spectacular at SYD before the current QF F lounge.

UA used have dedicated “F” lounges at key ports. I never got to the LAX lounge but the SFO F lounge was a decent sized space. Food was so so and there was decent booze from memory. What was strange was the one and only time I went there (award flight home), there was the two of us and then some random guy popped in momentarily. What happened to the other 10 F PAX on our flight (it was full) plus other F PAX on flights to Asia that night?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Non QF related, but were there ever particularly good dedicated F lounges 20 or 30+ years ago? I mean on the scale we see now vs maybe a dedicated space with better bubbles and maybe caviar?

Certainly nothing spectacular at SYD before the current QF F lounge.

UA used have dedicated “F” lounges at key ports. I never got to the LAX lounge but the SFO F lounge was a decent sized space. Food was so so and there was decent booze from memory. What was strange was the one and only time I went there (award flight home), there was the two of us and then some random guy popped in momentarily. What happened to the other 10 F PAX on our flight (it was full) plus other F PAX on flights to Asia that night?

That’s the thing… were lounges ‘better’? We dind’t know any different! So they were as good as they were gonna get at that moment in time!

I don’t recall, any standout F lounges from 40 years ago… that sort of came with the next generation ‘super’ lounges… QF’s flagship lounges in Australia, Thai’s F class lounge at BKK, Lufthansa’s FCT (which I don’t rate all that highly in terms of ambiance), AF’s LaPremiere lounge, the ME 3 flagship lounges, etc.

There are still some shockers out there… like the ANA Suites lounge at HND, the OZ/KE F lounges at ICN (although I think they’ve been recently renovated?). And lounges that have just ‘given up’ and reserve a tiny area for F within the business/economy lounge.

 

[serfty]

Non QF related, but were there ever particularly good dedicated F lounges 20 or 30+ years ago? I mean on the scale we see now vs maybe a dedicated space with better bubbles and maybe caviar?

Certainly nothing spectacular at SYD before the current QF F lounge.

UA used have dedicated “F” lounges at key ports. I never got to the LAX lounge but the SFO F lounge was a decent sized space. Food was so so and there was decent booze from memory. What was strange was the one and only time I went there (award flight home), there was the two of us and then some random guy popped in momentarily. What happened to the other 10 F PAX on our flight (it was full) plus other F PAX on flights to Asia that night?

In the 90's the Wing ar HKG was standout. In fact it was standalone.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In the 90's the Wing ar HKG was standout. In fact it was standalone.

That’s true! That might have been the first of its kind?