The Qantas Business Lounges at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra airports open their doors again today, having been closed for "routine cleaning and maintenance" since Christmas Eve.
Qantas says that business class travellers and its top-tier Platinum-grade frequent flyers will find the lounges refreshed and ready for another busy year.
For example, the Qantas Business Lounge at Sydney Airport's domestic T3 terminal has seen its walls and ceilings repainted, while the benchtops and floors were rebuffed and polished and the bathrooms given a spruce-up.
A Qantas spokesperson said the Christmas period "is one of the quietest times for our Domestic Business Lounges", making it the best time for more intensive work which can't be carried out when the lounges close for the evening.
"Services to Domestic Business Lounges across the network included bathroom restoration and deep cleaning, floor polishing, furniture cleaning and repairs, equipment servicing and maintenance, deep steam cleaning of carpets and paint refreshes" the spokesperson explained.
Similar "deep cleans and maintenance" in the larger but more crowded Qantas Clubs are "handled differently" to the business lounges, the spokesperson said, being scheduled over a number of evenings and where required can cordoned off temporarily."
Perhaps the most noticeable change for travellers who've not visited a Qantas lounge since December will be that all staff are now wearing the airline's new-look uniforms, while behind the scenes Accor has taken over management of the domestic lounges.
Accor already manages Qantas' international lounges in Australia, along with the Qantas Singapore Lounge, and will also bring the new Qantas Hong Kong Lounge under its wing when that opens in March this year.
Follow Australian Business Traveller on twitter: we're @AusBT
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.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Apr 2013
Total posts 146
To be honest I don't see any difference between Qantas Business lounge and Qantas Club, I normally use the business lounges but on Saturday I was at Qantas Club at both Sydney and Brisbane and I think they are both excellent.
It will be interesting to see the business lounges at Sydney and Melbourne airports this week after they reopen.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
I just had a realisation. Over the Christmas break, why not 'reward' customers in the 'Christmas spirit' (or whatever) and close the Qantas Club and marshal everyone into the Business Lounge?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 May 2012
Total posts 580
watson374, I don't think that'd be entirely practical in terms of the Brisbane or Melbourne domestic business lounges. The Brisbane business lounge is about a third the size of its Qantas Club equivalent on the other side of the wall. In Melbourne, you have to walk through the Qantas Club to reach the business lounge (which is about half the size.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Sep 2013
Total posts 462
How about Qantas expand both the domestic terminal business and Qantas club lounges in SYD/BNE/MEL.The business lounges are only a seperate area partitioned within the existing lounge,they never increased the actual space.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
Agree with Peter, went through the SYD Qantas Club once and BNE Qantas Club twice and both were 75%+ full at all times, at one point at BNE there was hardly a spare seat.
The J Lounges, unfortunately, would not be able to cope. Over the holiday periods while I suspect a lot less members/elites, there are a lot more guests and children
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
I live in Sydney, you see, so I was thinking only within a Sydney context.
I won't ask about closing them both...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
12 Jan 2014
Total posts 15
The main difference is in the level of service and food availability.
QC now seems to boast toasted sandwich makers and a wider variety of food options.
19 Jan 2012
Total posts 427
Seriously (and at risk of further personal attack on this issue, previously unmoderated by the good folk at AusBT)...can anybody seriously think that the works described would take 18 days.
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
I'll bite, PLATY. Yes, the Qantas Business Lounges were closed for 18 days, from Dec 25 to Jan 12. Subtract three non-working weekdays - Dec 26, 26, Jan 1 - and we are down to 15 days. Allow for the fact that most tradies like most other Aussie businesses don't work over this Christmas and New Year period so that's Dec 27, 28 29, 30 and 31, also Jan 2 and 3 and now we are down to 8 days even allowing for some weekends, which I think is about right, for example painting takes a few days for a few coats.
19 Jan 2012
Total posts 427
Yep, sounds just like the sort of thinking that would get a once proud and profitable business into the sort of finanical hole it wallows in at the moment.
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
I don't understand your argument there PLATY. Clearly the work could not have taken place on those public holidays and the other downtime, have you ever tried to get a tradie for that period? That's when they are on holidays mainly.
Or should Qantas be paying massive penalty rates to tradies to have them work during this period for the sake of an extra few days of the business lounge being open during the year's quetest period for business travel? Clearly they can save money by paying standard rates for standard days and also keeping the lounge closed. Really is it such a big deal?
I honestly think this stuff is more complicated than some people realise and it's easy to sit on the sidelines and be an 'armchair CEO' but if it was that easy then anybody could do it and Qantas would be doing it.
19 Jan 2012
Total posts 427
Your points are well made and much appeciated, Al, but the airline only has to piss off a handful of the 1000s of inconvenienced customers and thereby suffer lost revenue for the maths not to stack.
Goodness, the lost business from myself alone in BNE ($5000) would pay the cleaners and workers for a good number of hours, even on overtime rates.
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
PS PLATY, I have not seen any deeply personal attacks on you, sure some people disagree with you but when was the last time anybody really did a strong personal attack on you here of the sort which needs 'moderation'?
19 Jan 2012
Total posts 427
I really don't have a problem with people disagreeing with me, Al.
And I respect you responded with a point of view and a reasoned case on the topic at hand. I thin that's great.
On the personal stuff, that's surely up to the folk at AusBT to decide what level is appropriate.
It's not that I really give two hoots about what others think about me on a web forum, just makes me less likely to contribute and share opinions and try to offer advice to genuine questions.
I'd like to see more analysis too in the articles (for example what is the seat pitch on the 717s now flying to HBA compared with say a 737), but respect that may not interest others.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
12 Jan 2014
Total posts 15
"while behind the scenes Accor has taken over management of the domestic lounges."
In the last 10 days I've done 10 sectors and 6 different QC lounges. Have been asked by a roving waiter whether I wanted a coffee was a new, and pleasant, experience.
11 Jan 2012
Total posts 11
Friday night in ADL the staff were taking drink orders for the bar.
Sitting here in Melb business lounge can't see any changes, in fact the carpet is very worn and tired.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 May 2012
Total posts 120
Agreed, looks like the recent Dec/Jan lounge refurb/refresh has already 'worn out' too.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Qantas business lounges re-open for 2014