British Airways changes Sydney lounge from Qantas to The House
By David Flynn, February 27 2019
British Airways is now directing its Sydney business class and first class passengers to The House lounge – formerly the den of Etihad Airways – rather than the Qantas lounges which have been BA's longstanding choice.
Lounge-worthy travellers checking in at Sydney airport for the daily BA16 flight to London via Singapore are being handed invitations to The House.
This includes Silver and Gold frequent flyers in the British Airways Executive Club loyalty scheme, along with equivalent Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald card-holders.
However, as savvy travellers would know, the Qantas lounges remain available to BA flyers under the common lounge access rules of the Oneworld alliance to which both BA and Qantas belong.
This is especially the case with the Qantas first class lounge, which is easily the lounge of choice not only for BA's first class flyers but top-tier BAEC Gold, Qantas Platinum and other Oneworld Emerald members.
That said, some travellers will still prefer The House to the Qantas business class lounge due to its a la carte menu.
No1 Traveller, the London-based operator of The House, has been working to improve the lounge since taking over from Etihad Airways, and is keen to woo other airlines, alongside relaunch partners Etihad and Virgin Australian, to make The House their preflight home.
Plans are underway to increase total lounge capacity by 50 percent, with a spokesman for No1 Traveller telling Australian Business Traveller that the lounge's 662m² footprint contains many under-utilised areas, including 'back office' areas such as the kitchen and staff room, although several of these are small stand-alone pockets rather than swathes of contiguous space.
The prayer rooms will remain as a specific requirement of Etihad, but could be relocated – along with the showers – while the usually-empty 'business centre' nook near the front of the lounge may be converted into a private room.
Read more: House renovations as Sydney's Etihad, Virgin lounge seeks room to grow
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
What an intriguing move by BA.
25 May 2017
Total posts 4
Makes sense. Qantas lounge is an old and tacky and should have been refurbished years ago. Surly being the hub of the national airline you would think it would be something they'd want pretty smick
07 Feb 2018
Total posts 20
Qantas lounges in Sydney are exc
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
01 Mar 2019
Total posts 1
That braised brisket burger IS WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF! It is by far the best food item I have consumed in any business lounge world wide! The house is phenomenal and one of my favourite lounges :)
09 Mar 2015
Total posts 32
Hahaha, I was flying out on BA16 on Monday and noticed this too. I decided to try The House because I know the Qantas business class lounge pretty well, and was pleasantly surprised by The House. Nice menu and drinks selection including French champagne, and wasn't anywhere near as crowded as the Qantas lounge. All up it was a more 'refined' experience.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
08 Jun 2018
Total posts 91
I know it’s slightly off topic, and I know I’m going to get shot down in flames, but hey. Describing a sparkling wine as ‘French Champagne’ is unnecessary, amongst other criteria, it can only be called Champagne if it is made in the Champagne region of France. But it’s good to know they serve it. On BA 16 next week to and look froward to trying it out.
12 Feb 2015
Total posts 89
Devaux is usually pretty good.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Nov 2018
Total posts 104
Must have gone in significantly cheaper per pax for BA to make the move.
24 Dec 2013
Total posts 97
Is this really price driven? People can now go to both The House and the QF lounge which actually makes it more expensive for BA.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Nov 2018
Total posts 104
Most people only visit one lounge, hence one charge.
26 Jul 2017
Total posts 13
Sad to see Qantas and British Airways "split up".
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1205
Calling it a split up is a bit strong. Sure, they are not in the same relationship as when BA held equity but that is a number of years ago and BA sold because, correctly, it decided AU is not its core business. BA's core businesses are short-haul travel into Europe and medium haul travel across the Atlantic.
07 Feb 2018
Total posts 20
BA needed the money and at that time Qantas was in a position to buy BA just btw
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jan 2017
Total posts 51
they split when QF hooked up with EK.
26 Jul 2017
Total posts 13
They're still had a lot of joint ventures until now. Its been a long divorce.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 May 2013
Total posts 380
The recent terminal change for Qantas in New York also means that QF passengers no longer use the British Airways lounge at JFK.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 467
Price will have been a factor, as well as convenience - BA flights generally depart from the western pier, which is where The House is. It's a long walk from the QF lounge to the gates normally used by BA.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jun 2011
Total posts 88
Are you sure about the western pier? BA have departed from the eastern pier everyday for the past week. Used to 'always' be gate 24 but it varies more these days.
12 Sep 2017
Total posts 17
The House and the Qantas Club in Sydney are like chalk and cheese. The QF club is pretty average in my opinion, although I don't think that was the reason for the move.
21 Jul 2011
Total posts 89
They have a QF JV in LAX which intrigues me.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1205
It is possible that the signage on the door will change to also include the BA logo very soon.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Aug 2011
Total posts 165
Worth a go next time I do it, although QF First is still likely to beat it, until the QF business lounge is upgraded this is an improvement for those not in First or with Emerald status. When QF opens its First lounge at SIN, I'll bet that quite a few Emeralds on BA will choose that over the BA lounge.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
06 Jul 2015
Total posts 15
The House is a better lounge, but there are space issues. Last time I was there for a VA flight it was standing room only, I saw the comment on expanding the space, but at the moment if you are on a flight that's sharing a time slot with other carriers it isn't a good move. $ talks though obviously.
07 Nov 2018
Total posts 4
I thought BA split up with Qantas because the latter set up a low cost carrier.
04 Dec 2017
Total posts 69
I was in Beirut recently and BA directs it’s pax to the the tiny North American style basic LAT lounge. Modern but basic! RJ uses the beautifull large MEA lounge and Qatar has a plush dedicated lounge in BEY for its F class pax only( No BA or RJ pax allowed regardless of class of travel or OW status). BA are misers. I guess this lounge change in Sydney and BEY lounge choice iare both in keeping with its pathetic in-flight experience.
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