Qantas trials iPhone, Android app to order coffee at airport lounges
By David Flynn, November 12 2013
Tired of lining up for your hit of barista-pulled coffee at the Qantas Club?
Qantas is trialling a new queue-busting app at its Sydney Qantas Club which lets travellers order their coffee in advance on their iPhone or Android smartphone.
The aptly-named Beat the Q app isn't affiliated with Qantas – it's an independent app created by two Sydney developers which already has some 160 cafes participating in the advance-order system. Of course, unlike those cafes, the dark brew is served free at the Qantas Club.
Just launch the app and search for the Qantas Club on Beat The Q's cafe search screen to place your order. You can order your coffee on arrival at Sydney Airport's T3 terminal or while you're sitting in the Qantas Club lounge.
The trial is currently limited to the Sydney Qantas Club, and unfortunately doesn't include the very busy barista station at the Qantas Business Lounge.
Beat The Q is a free download at Apple's iTunes App Store and Google Play.
Qantas is pushing to improve the Qantas Club experience, with other innovations including the recent launch of pop-up dining featuring gourmet meat pies at the Sydney lounge and, in December, handmade arancini from Neil Perry's Rosetta Ristorante at the Melbourne Qantas Club.
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.
19 Jan 2012
Total posts 427
If the queue is a problem, perhaps the simple solution is to staff the operation properly.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
Staffing an espresso station is no easy juggle. Good baristas are not cheap. Demand starts to tail off after the morning rush hour; you can get away with two baristas or so for most of the day, but during peak you'd want at least three; the trick is to figure out how to create shifts so that there is an heavy overlap over the AM peak.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 780
Hire bartenders that can make coffee. Accor or whoever does the VA lounges manage this well.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
It works and it doesn't. I've found that having coffee at places where the bartenders double as baristas usually disappoints.
I think it's possible to juggle shifts to match. Does the QP barista station shut down after 11am still?
19 Jan 2012
Total posts 427
I've known the bar tenders make the coffee around lunchtime in BNE business lounge and the problem then becomes a holdup in the line up for drinks since it takes quite some time to make one coffee!
Not a huge problem, but it seems so strange that QF would go to the effort of introducing a new system ( which can't actually improve the rate of coffee making - the core issue) rather than just simply resource their operation properly...
...and yes, put that in the same basket called cheapskate stupidity along with the over crowding of lounges, having one person answer the PlatinumOne phone line out of hours, under stocking those lovely little bottles of chapmpagne in domestic business class, serve snacks not meals out of strict meal times on domestic business class, donwgrade business class catering during the christmas/new year period and close the business lounges during christas/new year period, etc.
...and perhaps ironic QF will dabble with these pop up gourmet pies and arancini balls from the hallowed pony-tailed one, which must be at great expense and only reach a very small fraction of lounge users...but all good PR!
..it's only me, but I'd rather they get the basics right than have the occasional pop up pastry!
23 Aug 2013
Total posts 8
Another entry for the book 'First World Problems Solved'
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Nov 2012
Total posts 5
Agreed PLATY.....or make the lounge bigger!!!
13 Nov 2013
Total posts 5
I like it. For me, it's not so much about beating the queue, but more about being able to order a coffee after checking in and having it ready for me as I rush into the club. I'll give it a shot when I fly next week, shame I can't grab the coffee and take it on board with me though!
QF
27 Jan 2015
Total posts 2
Sadly it's no longer running any more. I normally order my coffee before going through security screening. Then straight up to the lounge & perfect timing to pick up your coffee.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Qantas trials iPhone, Android app to order coffee at airport lounges