What is the attraction of lounges?

[elemist]

Perhaps that, but also because everyone seems to have lounge access these days. Business class lounges are essentially economy class lounges, and first class, business. Very few lounges offer genuine restricted access to class of service, those that do - Thai F, Lufthansa F, SQ TPR, perhaps even the Concorde Room... still offer some glimpses of what lounges used to be like.

2

I guess it depends what you value in a lounge doesn't it. IE if you value a quiet space without a crowd then yeah the fact every man and their dog seem to have lounge access these days really does devalue it a bit. I guess you could also blame that for the general availability of food/drinks - IE the less people that have access, the less food/drink that would be consumed thus you could afford to put on a higher quality - whether that would actually happen though..

To me though - airports are now almost a destination in themselves - especially the larger ones like Changi where there's lots to see and do at the terminal itself. Gone are the days of sitting at a gate for hours with nothing but expensive duty free shops available to you.

 

[serfty]

Perhaps that, but also because everyone seems to have lounge access these days. Business class lounges are essentially economy class lounges, and first class, business. Very few lounges offer genuine restricted access to class of service, those that do - Thai F, Lufthansa F, SQ TPR, perhaps even the Concorde Room... still offer some glimpses of what lounges used to be like.

Even though not "restricted", Emirates First Lounges offer magnificent examples of said "glimpse".

 

[HockeyMonkey]

Even though not "restricted", Emirates First Lounges offer magnificent examples of said "glimpse".

And are big enough to accomodate the unrestricted crowd

 

[justinbrett]

I’m QF SG, haven’t paid for QC access in about 15 years.

Nowadays, I wouldn’t pay for QC access. I value my lounge access when I fly internationally, but for point to point travel in Australia, considering the drop in quality and variety of food in the QC, I don’t think I’d pay for it again.

If QC membership had the same lounge access rights as OWS, then I would.

That said, I’ll be LTG in 5 or so years so will probably never have to.

 

[bea-traveller]

I have to admit I'm the sort of person who likes getting to the airport early and pottering around and looking in the shops, but there are definitely times i prefer being able to head straight to the lounge to relax and have a wine before my flight!

 

[Forg]

Nowadays, I wouldn’t pay for QC access. I value my lounge access when I fly internationally, but for point to point travel in Australia, considering the drop in quality and variety of food in the QC, I don’t think I’d pay for it again.

Most airports I've been to in Australia have more interesting food/drink available for sale than what's in even the J domestic (if said airport even has a J lounge). I don't think this was necessarily the case even 10 years ago.

Internationally, however, if you travelled 3-4 times you could easily consume your membership's worth just in booze in the J lounge, even the lamer ones like the Skyteam one in Sydney.

 

[harvyk]

Most airports I've been to in Australia have more interesting food/drink available for sale than what's in even the J domestic (if said airport even has a J lounge). I don't think this was necessarily the case even 10 years ago.

Internationally, however, if you travelled 3-4 times you could easily consume your membership's worth just in booze in the J lounge, even the lamer ones like the Skyteam one in Sydney.

Back when I was paying for access, my simple rule was that I would need to access the lounge at a minimum of 10 times per year. They needed to be proper visits, not 10 minutes between connecting flights.

At 10 or more visits a year I considered I got value out of my membership, especially if there was some (International location)-SYD-CBR's / (International Location)-MEL-CBR's thrown in there, as the shower directly after a long flight is kinda nice.

 

[drron]

After a while you tend to get used to a lounge.Even Flounges.Internationally I probably have 1 glass of wine in the lounge and sometimes none at all.Besides a lot of our longhaul is award F flights so reasonably sure I will get at least the same standard of wine onboard.
Lucky with my LQP.Got it when ridiculously cheap especially with a professional discount.So I have well and truly got my value out of it even though they say I won't be needing it after 27/9/2044.

 

[ajd]

At 10 or more visits a year I considered I got value out of my membership, especially if there was some (International location)-SYD-CBR's / (International Location)-MEL-CBR's thrown in there, as the shower directly after a long flight is kinda nice.

I don't have any lounge membership/SG status, but being able to get a shower after long-haul when I'm transiting in SYD or MEL on my way home to CBR is enough reason for me to go out of my way to get a lounge pass, or sometimes even to spend points on a J upgrade for the domestic leg.

 

[kermatu]

It all depends on what you want or need. The other day I departed Perth very early morning. By instinct I went to the QF J lounge. After sitting for two minutes in a full (but not overcrowded) lounge I realised - I don’t want to eat anything, don’t need to use the bathroom, and don’t want a tea, coffee, juice or water. So why the heck am i sitting here. Left and went to an empty gate. Much quieter. Was able to shut my eyes in peace for 15 minutes.

Did grab an express path card (for my international transit) from the lounge on the way out though. Not given on check-in.

 

[mrbraun]

i never really valued them until my first big stop over in dubai- having a quiet, comfortable space, bottomless refreshments, ability to charge my devices and most importantly for me....a clean bathroom- made all the difference

i used my amex lounge pass recently and the quality difference compared an airline lounge was noticeable. it was still nice enough, but crowded, noisy and the toilets were blocked/overflowing with waste.

 

[BAM1748]

Flight cancelled and a 3 hour delay. Lounge time.

 

[travelislife]

I think lounges are best on long haul connecting flights and when delays happen. I think the best thing about them is the ability to have a shower with everything provided. Otherwise they can be a zoo.

Until about 15 minutes ago there wasn’t a spare seat in the T3 SilverKris Business Lounge, people sitting on the side tables, an absolute zoo, would be better to have found a serene seat out in the terminal which Changi has plenty of.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Despite having lounge access, sometimes one just needs a really good coffee (at 5am)

(Duffy's POM Int)

 

[RooFlyer]

Have just been Lounge-less flying VA SYD-MEL-HBA this evening.

SYD was OK, but an extended transit in MEL due to a flight delay found filthy, noisy and expensive venues to get some food and drink.

 

[Natalie Z]

Have just been Lounge-less flying VA SYD-MEL-HBA this evening.

SYD was OK, but an extended transit in MEL due to a flight delay found filthy, noisy and expensive venues to get some food and drink.

I feel rather empty when I'm lounge-less too. One you've been behind those glass doors, sitting out in the terminal feels...disappointing.

 

[bertair]

Lounges in Australia for me, over time have become not the attraction they once were. Firstly for a number of reasons. School holidays; they get too many noisy kids in there, uncontrolled by their parents (in the main). People loading up the seating with their carry ons, (providing a seat for their bag !!) People filling up on the free booze, one drink after the other . Food and snack self service being treated unhygienically. Overseas lounges are usually much better (depending on the airline of course). But I will no longer pay Qantas Club membership when I cannot access their lounges on arrival (not in transit).
What is most important for me isn't accessing a lounge prior to departure or in transit, but on arrival from a long haul or red eye (usually early morning). I am unable to gain entry for a shower, some breakfast, or to make arrangements for meetings for the day ahead. I am sure that there would be many like me who wish that Qantas or Virgin would make lounges for arriving club members and J & F passengers available or actually have them after baggage claim.

 

[Natalie Z]

Lounges in Australia for me, over time have become not the attraction they once were. Firstly for a number of reasons. School holidays; they get too many noisy kids in there, uncontrolled by their parents (in the main). People loading up the seating with their carry ons, (providing a seat for their bag !!) People filling up on the free booze, one drink after the other . Food and snack self service being treated unhygienically. Overseas lounges are usually much better (depending on the airline of course). But I will no longer pay Qantas Club membership when I cannot access their lounges on arrival (not in transit).
What is most important for me isn't accessing a lounge prior to departure or in transit, but on arrival from a long haul or red eye (usually early morning). I am unable to gain entry for a shower, some breakfast, or to make arrangements for meetings for the day ahead. I am sure that there would be many like me who wish that Qantas or Virgin would make lounges for arriving club members and J & F passengers available or actually have them after baggage claim.

Absolutely. I'm relatively new to lounges, however I have been rather disappointed with some of then, particularly the VA lounge. I find that Qantas is generally filled with people travelling on business, and so the clientele is a little different. When flying VA, I generally find that there are more families..who so politely allow their children to run around the lounge and disturb the peace and tranquility that a lounge is meant to offer. Very disappointing. I share the wish of lounge access upon arrival. On many occasions I have needed to wait to be picked up, so a 30 minute wait in the lounge with a coffee would be very useful.

 

[jase05]

VA WP’s get lounge access on arrivals.
I don’t use it too often but every now and then I’ll pop in and grab a coffee if I’m waiting for a ride

 

[Forg]

International lounges have close-to-never been available on arrival due to security/immigration, haven’t they?
With the occasional arrival lounge that currently exists in the odd location around the world being a relatively new thing?

Domestic lounges are still available on arrival, generally, aren’t they? QF for example lets you in as long as you travel on the same day as you’re asking to go in?
Once Upon A Time they didn’t even care if you were flying or not, and they used to hand out guest entrance passes like lollies; many a free lunch was had in the late 80’s with mates at the QF domestic lounge at Sydney airport with passes given us by Lyle’s dad.