Worst Domestic Qantas Lounges & What Can be Done About It?

[mviy]

If you thought SYD INT J lounge is bad, check out the MEL, DRW or CBR international lounge!

I've been to MEL and SYD. Compared to MEL, I think the SYD International J Lounge is very good. Natural light, and a view. Sure once you've experienced the FLounge it's terrible in comparison, but that's by design.

I do think though that what you get at MEL and SYD Int J lounges is not a good look for say paid J travellers to LHR when QANTAS Club members on the cheapest economy fares get a lot better at LHR ahead of the flight back to Australia.

As for the domestic lounges the HBA lounge is the worst I've been too by a country mile. Too small a lounge, not enough staff, very poor drink and food offerings, always at capacity when I've been there. It's a capital city and there are airports that aren't even capitals such as OOL and CNS with much better lounges.

 

[RooFlyer]

I reckon a big reason she blew up at QF a while back was exactly because she had to deal with the disgrace of a lounge that is HBA. Imagine being an Australian Senator and not having a Chairman's lounge at your home airport and instead what is easily one of the worst lounges in the developed world. About half the time you fly on government business you have to walk past that disgrace of a lounge.

Lambie lives in the north of the state and would use DPO mostly, I expect, or LST#. BUT we have Canberra-bound pollies to thank for the fact that we have QF service to HBA at all. When JetStar was launched, Hobart was on the list to be Jetstar-ised and lose its QF service but the story goes that the pollies complained against it, and won a reprive.

# I like Launceston airport. A nice feel about it.

 

[Vic]

Some time, maybe about 5 to 7 years ago, one of the school dad's was an artist. He used to do that artist's impressions for major developments, you know the ones stylised people walking around the lovely surrounds for the next skyscraper on George St Sydney.

Anyway, he was telling me about one job at Sydney T3 on an upper level at the western end where there is an open bit of roof. Apparently, that included an outdoor area.

Entirely hearsay and rumour. And, of course, nothing came of it.
However, it seems that in terms of a development perhaps some thinking has already gone into managing demand.

 

[justinbrett]

HBA is the ninth busiest domestic airport in terms of passenger volume per BITRE, yet it has a Qantas lounge objectively worse than airports that handle less passengers like DRW. Let that sink in!

-RooFlyer88

Probably more J pax on the DRW routes, and overall much higher yield. DRW is a much more important port to QF.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Lambie lives in the north of the state and would use DPO mostly, I expect, or LST#. BUT we have Canberra-bound pollies to thank for the fact that we have QF service to HBA at all. When JetStar was launched, Hobart was on the list to be Jetstar-ised and lose its QF service but the story goes that the pollies complained against it, and won a deprive.

Perhaps this is why QF has put next to no effort into the lounge? HBA is the cough child they have to keep running to keep the politicians happy?

# I like Launceston airport. A nice feel about it.

LST isn't much to write home about either. Then again, I didn't visit the QF Club so can't make a comparison of the lounge at LST versus that at HBA

Probably more J pax on the DRW routes, and overall much higher yield. DRW is a much more important port to QF.

The only other reasons I could think that DRW might be treated better in the eyes of QF lounges is the simple fact that flying to DRW necessarily means a long flight which consequently means QF can charge more for Y and J fares. At the same time, a lot of flights out of DRW operate at crazy hours of the night (both arrival and departure) so having a lounge where you can freshen up before/after-hand could be beneficial.

-RooFlyer88

 

[Lynda2475]

It's a real quandry tbh - everyone wants it, but how to actually deal with the disruption in a way to attempt to placate as many as possible).

Which is why it should have been done during the 2 years where there was virtually no travel. Construction work was allowed during lockdowns and even when NSW was open we were blocked form flying anywhere else could have all been done ahead of last Christmas reopening.

 

[oz_mark]

Which is why it should have been done during the 2 years where there was virtually no travel. Construction work was allowed during lockdowns and even when NSW was open we were blocked form flying anywhere else could have all been done ahead of last Christmas reopening.

Qantas shut down pretty much any capital expenditure during the pandemic.

 

[mviy]

Which is why it should have been done during the 2 years where there was virtually no travel. Construction work was allowed during lockdowns and even when NSW was open we were blocked form flying anywhere else could have all been done ahead of last Christmas reopening.

Imagine the outcry: why are you spending millions on lounges when you have stood down most of your workforce?

 

[JohnK]

Probably a combination of two factors:

1. Many people haven't been to every lounge in Australia, so their judgement is based on the ones that have been to. So if you've only visited - say - Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, then Sydney might understandably rank last.
2. People could define "worst" not so much in absolute terms, but in terms of "how does it compare to expectations?" You'd expect that Sydney would have a lounge that offers a flagship experience (an expectation you wouldn't have for Hobart), but as it's a relatively ordinary lounge it drops down the rankings in comparative terms.

By the same token if SYD F lounge was the only F lounge I visited and I don't find it up to expectations I can vote it as the worst F lounge?

Makes no sense and if this was a serious vote the vote would not count.

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

By the same token if SYD F lounge was the only F lounge I visited and I don't find it up to expectations I can vote it as the worst F lounge?

Makes no sense and if this was a serious vote the vote would not count.

Were you under the impression this was a statistically rigorous poll?

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Which is why it should have been done during the 2 years where there was virtually no travel. Construction work was allowed during lockdowns and even when NSW was open we were blocked form flying anywhere else could have all been done ahead of last Christmas reopening.

In hindsight you are absolutely correct. This was the most ideal time to revamp airports since they were largely empty. However, that is all with the benefit of hindsight. No one knew how long these restrictions would last (remember just 2 more weeks to flatten the curve?). We also had no clue how rapidly travel would recover, either. I remember flying out of SYD and MEL many times from November of last year through January and quite frankly the airports were deserted. Terminal 3 was empty, I could grab an entire seating section of the QF Pub for myself. I thought to myself, would air travel ever recover? Fortunately by April things really started to pick up, and now we are at a point where the domestic airports are as busy as ever!

Qantas shut down pretty much any capital expenditure during the pandemic.

Including axing most of the workforce! And now they're surprised when passenger volume is through the roof and they can barely struggle to get flights out on time, never mind keep stranded passengers in the loop?

Imagine the outcry: why are you spending millions on lounges when you have stood down most of your workforce?

If people, "cared" about stuff like that they would've gone after the salary and bonuses uncle Alan received during the pandemic. Frankly, if there is any outcry it should come from our elected members of parliament whose parliamentary staffers and civil servants must deal with the horrendous conditions at these domestic lounges. Remember, not everyone has a key to the Chairman's lounge!

Were you under the impression this was a statistically rigorous poll?

Update: After careful analysis of the polling, an anomaly has been found. Hobart, which just a few hours ago was far trailing Sydney as the top contender for the worst domestic lounge in Australia has now started to catch up with it. There is clearly some ballot stuffing going on here or other election abnormalities. Should such branch stacking occur, I will have no choice but to call on the Australian Electoral Commission to investigate further:

 

[Sprucegoose]

Quite bizarre; many peeps obviously have not been to HBA !!

 

[JohnK]

Were you under the impression this was a statistically rigorous poll?

Not at all but having SYD at the top and visiting that lounge 100's of times doesn't add much meaning to the poll.

And I was the only one to vote for ASP.

 

[exmc]

Qantas can fix SYD overnight - just upgrade the food. Just slam a Spice Bar like offering in the middle like MEL and mission accomplished. If they're feeling generous they can spruce up the flooring and furniture.

The worst lounge is definitely HBA but that can't be fixed short of demolishing the whole terminal and starting again.

 

[RooFlyer]

The worst lounge is definitely HBA but that can't be fixed short of demolishing the whole terminal and starting again.

Which is just what we've been trying to get them to do!!

 

[jpp42]

Ah! That explains a lot. You are thinking of another airport. There are no pubs landside in the terminal and when I was there this morning, no cafes either. Just a row of hire car desks.

I'm a little late here, but last time I was in Hobart in June there was a licensed cafe near the baggage claim. I hung out here for a while and had a few bottled beers, as I arrived three hours before my flight (not advised, but was circumstances due to transport). I could tell that the airside area was going to be a massive zoo with about 5 flights leaving in an hour's time and rather impressive security lines (this was a peak travel period at the end of a winter art festival of some sort). The cafe I'm thinking of is hardly luxurious, but it was much preferable to waiting in the security queue (I went airside later once the crowds were gone). I checked Hobart Airport's web site and it does show a "food/drink" icon in the bottom left which is the cafe I'm talking about, although I suppose it's possible it's closed now.

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

Sydney based flyer who's had the honour of visiting the Hobart lounge on 4 occasions this year...
Trip 1 - Coffee machine out of service, no food whatsoever except a couple of brownies
Trip 2 - Coffee machine still out of order, sandwich press also removed?
Trip 3 - No seats as JQ and QF had simultaneous departures
Trip 4 - Both toilets out of order (And when I say both i mean the SINGLE mens, and SINGLE ladies stalls in the lounge)

At least in Sydney there is always coffee, some level of food and a toilet for gods sake...
Hobart is an absolute joke for an airport of its size and as bad as Sydney is for a 'flagship' port it shouldn't be a contest.

(Honourable mention to the Kalgoorlie Qantas club that requires a pin to access which can only be retrieved from a check in agent. Super helpful when you online check in and breeze through security only to met by a locked door)

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Qantas can fix SYD overnight - just upgrade the food. Just slam a Spice Bar like offering in the middle like MEL and mission accomplished. If they're feeling generous they can spruce up the flooring and furniture.

The worst lounge is definitely HBA but that can't be fixed short of demolishing the whole terminal and starting again.

I think a similar argument could be made for HBA, no? If they upgraded the food and drink even up to Rex lounge standards I think there would be a little less complaining from us on the forum. After all, there isn't much QF can do if the airport authorities are either unwilling or unable to provide them with additional space.

Sydney based flyer who's had the honour of visiting the Hobart lounge on 4 occasions this year...
Trip 1 - Coffee machine out of service, no food whatsoever except a couple of brownies
Trip 2 - Coffee machine still out of order, sandwich press also removed?
Trip 3 - No seats as JQ and QF had simultaneous departures
Trip 4 - Both toilets out of order (And when I say both i mean the SINGLE mens, and SINGLE ladies stalls in the lounge)

And I think that's the major rub against the HBA lounge. It has always being dealing with a deck stacked against it due to its limited space. If Qantas took every effort to ensure at a minimum that all available facilities in the lounge were working (and perhaps even be a bit more judicious at who is allowed into the lounge), it would help in making the lounge experience that much better. For instance, QF is known to not allow those with a lounge pass into the lounge during school holidays and other busy periods. Perhaps they can just flat out deny lounge pass holders trying to visit the HBA lounge.

At least in Sydney there is always coffee, some level of food and a toilet for gods sake...

Respectfully disagree on the first point. A few weeks ago when I was there all the self-service coffee machines were down and there was a long queue at the bar which made any effort of ordering coffee from the barista there in vain. Ended up settling for a Coke Zero from the fountain!

(Honourable mention to the Kalgoorlie Qantas club that requires a pin to access which can only be retrieved from a check in agent. Super helpful when you online check in and breeze through security only to met by a locked door)

Sort of reminds me of the Rex lounges where the lounge is behind a departure gate, you show the Rex agent your priority pass card and after it is scanned they enter a code to make the door slide open! Then again, it's not fair to compare the executive quality lounges of Rex against the pedestrian offerings from QF

-RooFlyer88

 

[jrfsp]

(Honourable mention to the Kalgoorlie Qantas club that requires a pin to access which can only be retrieved from a check in agent. Super helpful when you online check in and breeze through security only to met by a locked door)

Similar to BME.

Surprised no one has mentioned PHE, makes HBA look wonderful.

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

Similar to BME.

Surprised no one has mentioned PHE, makes HBA look wonderful.

Likely because when I was last in PHE it was a steel frame with no walls.

Has been under construction as part of the airports re-development/expansion.