What is happening to the QF Domestic Business Lounges?

[MH_fan]

Is it my imagination or has the quality of the food offerings in the Domestic Business Lounges really gone downhill lately? I've been quite disappointed by my visits to the Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne lounges over the past 2 weeks. The dinners that I got in the Y cabin tasted better than what was in the lounges! It's been a few months since I've visited the Domestic Business Lounge and I don't remember it being like this previously. I'd even go as far as saying that the food offerings were really poor. Even the VA lounges have been providing better food lately in my opinion!

 

[opusman]

They had a nice looking salad in the MEL J lounge the other week. And toasted sandwiches of course. I always ignore the hot slop so no idea what that's like.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I had a nice chicken pot pie in bne a month ago. They were bringing them around to your seat. Quite delicious

 

[JohnK]

The food has been consistent the past few months.

Although I do miss the spinach and feta cheese triangles and party pies in SYD business lounge on a Sunday afternoon.

 

[OATEK]

Meatballs and pasta were ok, and they had a cheese tray out that was quite good in Sydney a week or so ago. But the little pies in the VA lounge a couple of days later were really scrummy.

 

[OzEire]

Yes. Im at a dom J lounge about 3-4 times a week and it has been trending downward, with the occasional nice surprise.

Other than the food, J lounges are really very overcrowded much of the time... If nice food comes out you have to be quick! Not a very J experience to join the seagulls leaping onto a new plate of cheese, quiches, etc.

While on topic, why no bacon at breakfast? Little chipolatas are fine occasionally, but are appearing instead of bacon a little too regularly.

How's that for a First Wold Problems DYKWIA WP rant

 

[GuiltyBoomerang]

They bring food out to you? As a first timer in the Business Lounge last week in Sydney, I was probably a bit intimidated and settled for a make-your-own beef sandwich. They did have a cook serving out some form of chicken curry though (along with rice.)

 

[kermatu]

Qantas revamped its menus for lounges a few months back. While not radically different, overall I think its fine.
It must be very hard to ensure food doesn't run out, when you have a queue several people deep shuffling past the benches. In general I think it is OK and a bit improved from before.
About 6-12 months ago I had a spate of J lounge visits in CBR, SYD and MEL where there'd be no hot items at breakfast (CBR in particular) for example. I haven't seen that of late.
I was reminded the other day of how good the lounges are generally when a travelling companion of the last few months, who is more familiar with 'premium' lounges in Europe and North America, said she couldn't believe how good the range of fruits, salads, pastries and the presence of a barista was (SYD J). Things I now take for granted...

Overcrowding is an issue, though I actually feel less so of late. I am a very frequent attendee at CBR and SYD J lounges, and quite frequent at MEL and BNE. Admittedly I don't have regular times to compare (my travel is quite random) but I just feel it is less crowded. That said, couldn't get a seat at 6am in MEL J lounge a couple of months ago (after I came off the Perth redeye, assuming lounge would have just opened and been empty). I wonder if more people are just going to the regular lounge (as I have done on occasion in BNE and CBR, but also MEL) when all you want is a seat for 10 minutes and maybe a drink?

 

[medhead]

I like the butter chicken/ red curry cross meal they have every so often. Breakfast bacon vs sausages seems to rotate on a weekly basis. Avoid the stew stuff with lots of little white things (some sort of grain) in it.

They bring food out to you? As a first timer in the Business Lounge last week in Sydney, I was probably a bit intimidated and settled for a make-your-own beef sandwich. They did have a cook serving out some form of chicken curry though (along with rice.)

There is a plate of the day that is served for limited time periods in the evenings. SYD J lounge seems to be trying to kill this service.

 

[yohy?!]

J lounge food offerings have been steadily enhanced over last few years, basically to match the VA lounge offering. shame really, they had really nice healthy/interesting offerings initially

 

[opusman]

Is there any real difference in the F&B offering in the J lounge vs the QP these days? Wasn't signature F&B originally the main distinguishing factor when the new lounges were first announced?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Yes, they do, they bring food and drinks to you now.
Not as a waiter service, like, you want this and that, and they bring it to you, not like that, but they bring odd and ends (unexpected) to you several times in a day/4 hour slot.
I only take/accept their coffees now, but they have brought out petite (quarter) sandwiches in the past.

 

[Groundhog]

I liked the pizza offering at PER last week. it made a nice change from the usual suspects. Would be nice to see this in all J lounges although not sure where it would go especially in some of the smaller lounges like BNE.
I have also noticed a loss in quality of wine recently, come on QF you can do better than Secret Stone.

 

[JohnK]

Lamb and rosemary pie in the BNE business lounge on Friday night.

I would have had one but the green salad with shredded chicken and feta cheese was really good.

 

[Deleted member]

Sounds like entree and main to me .

 

[Christoo]

I agree with the downward trend, PER being the exception.
It's the stews I don't like... Meat substance and gravy....

I prefer finger food and pastries, but yes a pizza oven in every J Lounge would make me happy... Or mix it up...
Pizza's in Perth, Kebabs in Melbourne, Dim Sum in Sydney... Why not..

 

[Ewing]

Certainly less than inspiring on my two (dinner time) flights over the past few days. Flying out of SYD on Friday (7:30pm) we ended up settling on a toasted sandwich (whatever slop was in the bain-marie was just sauce whenever we looked). Flying out of BNE (6:30pm) we didn't eat at all in the lounge.

My other half was seriously considering going and getting something from the food court (I think he would have if it wasn't my reaction when he asked if he could go get Hungry Jacks) but decided to wait for the flight.

Fortunately the catering in business on both the flights was excellent.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

My other half was seriously considering going and getting something from the food court (I think he would have if it wasn't my reaction when he asked if he could go get Hungry Jacks) but decided to wait for the flight.

Fortunately the catering in business on both the flights was excellent.

Doesn't he know it's easier to seek forgiveness than to ask permission? :sly:

 

[Ewing]

Doesn't he know it's easier to seek forgiveness than to ask permission? :sly:

I suggested Wok on Air.

I've done it before...

 

[kermatu]

Sadly once again no hot breakfast in Canberra J lounge the other day at a bit after 9.40 am. Maybe it stops at 9 or 9.30?? Seems poor to me for a J lounge.