Should Qantas open an exclusive first class lounge in Sydney?

I'd probably never get to use a first-only lounge but I can see where the author is coming from.

I'm sure Chairman's Lounge members would also be allowed in but I don't think it should include Platinum Ones at all, or maybe it might include them only if they are in business class, the last thing you want to do is create this new first-only lounge and then have P1s doing Jetstar SYD-MEL runs or economy flights crowding into it. If you're going to have an exclusive lounge then keep it exclusive.

Good one Gary!

With the number of actual First Class seats on Qantas it wouldn't make any commercial sense whatsoever to have a dedicated lounge. The existing lounge works perfectly fine and yes, it does get busy but it is really not that bad.

Considering their entire fleet offers a total of 132 first seats, with say no more than 28 departing Sydney at any one time, I can't see it being feasible.

I dont think this idea has much merit. Qantas has three daily flights out of syd with first class offerings, a380's with 14 suites in first. Even with ek f pax gaining access the case is poor. its weak to compare the qf situation to sq, cx or lh as they have multiple first class services out of their hubs every day. 

Im all for raising the qualification requirements for platinum, but I don't see what amenities this new lounge could offer which the first lounge doesnt already. A lounge for perhaps 60 pax a day is pretty silly. When I fly qf first im happy with a pre-booked spa appt and restaurant reservation. 

Sorry in advance for spelling and punctuation I'm hammering this out on my phone. Have a good weekend everyone. 

It's a nice idea, but I can't see it being viable given the limited amount of seats in F that Qantas actually operate. It makes sense for CX/BA seeing as though they have much bigger fleet of aircraft with F.

In SYD you'd get the max 8 people from QF1 QF7 QF11 and the occasional QF128, but the rest of the day it would be empty.

It'd be even more grim in Melbourne with max. 8 people in the morning QF93 and then nothing until QF9 later in the evening. 

Perhaps some special perks for F travellers using the lounge instead?

I assume QF also gets compensated by other airline PAX that use the First Lounge? A dedicated lounge would not get this revenue.

I don't think it needs to be a physically separate lounge. As Gary suggests it could be a zone within the F lounge. Maybe they should take the library and the 'business zone' which are both chronically underused, put up a wall and turn this into a first-only space. Food would still be served from the restaurant but you could have a dozen tables in there plus plenty of casual seating. Alleviates crowding in the main lounge and also gives F passengers their own tables and space, which they're paying for much more than a Platinum in economy.

More likely, they'd keep the existing first class lounge as a first class lounge, and kick all the oneworld emeralds to a little "exclusive" corner of the Qantas Club. 

Be careful what you wish for.

The Sydney First class lounge is certainly top 10 in the world. The size of it is grandiose and its view definitely a plane spotters haven with the city in its background on a clear day. I doubt a smaller exclusive First class lounge will provide similar feel.

With few First seats in Qantas fleet, perhaps it is a matter of 'allocation of resources'. A reservation for a table at the First lounge can be made when First class passengers are at check in. I'm sure one would feel welcomed when the staff at the front desk of the lounge is expecting one's arrival with a table reserved. 

If it is too busy maybe there could be some restrictions as to eligibility entry starting at closing perceived 'loophole' entry. Also partner airlines could have restrictions imposed to mirror how they treat QF flyers in their lounges.

I can see the merits of treating those paying the highest margin fares (Airlines make more revenue off First paying pax than any other class) with special benefits, but it doesn't make sense to do this and then confuse the issue by adding certain non-First paying pax to the mix (P1, CL, etc).

As a concept, it works better as priority over all services (and additional benefits) in the existing lounge rather than walling off a lounge within a lounge or making a new lounge. This is, after all, how P1s and CLs are recognised now in Qantas International (combined J/F) lounges overseas.

Basically, these people go to front of the queue for seating at restaurant, for a shower, or spa appointment (much like they do in certain ways now), and maybe have a reserved seating area during peak lounge occupancy. Top that off with personal boarding call/escort, maybe a special drink/meal treat just for them. Lots of personal small touches without requiring extensive expenditure or mucking around. There is an argument/choice that this only applies for paid F fares, not point or op-upgrade pax, because then we are only talking about a very small number of people (especially if you take short haul New Zealand flights in EK F off the list). Small number of people with these special benefits means less disruption to the other elite FFs and others not on paid F fare (and less chance of putting noses out of joint).

While such an arrangement will have some people complaining of lack of egalitarianism, that cat is already out of the bag with segmented lounges, and for arguments about affronts to elite FFers - well you can get to P1 flying Discount Economy if you are prepared to grind the year out and while you fly lots, you add little to Qantas' profit line because discount economy margins are so thin they are anorexic (not that should mean you shouldn't make P1, just that you aren't a huge source of profit for Qantas, compared even to someone who took just one long haul F flight that year). The only reason for these types to be given anything more than the other lounge users is because they are fat profit contributors.

Sounds awesome, but the by-product is a lounge for QFF Platinum members only who aren't paying top dollar for their fair. I can imagine the airline would find that hard to justify. 

I have to agree with most comments, the idea of a dedicated F lounge is a wonderful idea, but the reality is that QF just doesn't have the F network to support it. I also note a comment made about what extra benefit would it offer? I think the current QF F lounge is excellent and if there was a change to be made I'd extend the restaurant area with more seating that can get busy at times. Offering the current F lounge to P & P1 is possibly one of the key reasons I love to fly (and keep flying) on QF and value it as a P member.

I think QF should consider offering the Chairman's Lounge to P1 members when flying domestic, now that would be a real benefit.

Having dropped into the First Lounge across a range of times/days, the only time I've seen it beyond capacity is during school holidays (where it seems guest limits go out the window, I'm guessing it's not worth the drama of refusing a family member). It's the only time I've seen a snaking line for restaurant seating and almost no seats left (was a bit of a shock, as it's normally rather calm in the Lounge, but stress was clearly visible this day).

Before stopping QFF Platinum members (and 1 guest only) they should stop a Platinum members with his wife (okay) and five (5) children (not okay) into the first class lounge at Sydney, who were flying economy to South Africa.  They also need to get rid of the play/chidren area by the PC's in the First class lounge.  IF children want to travel I have no ssue, but go to the business class lounge.  Qantas have very few First class routes now, II was going to Singapore, no QF first class. 

Qantas lounge? It would be nice to see some Qantas international flights! But this is Perth, which is definitely off their radar and increasingly well served by foreign carriers.

I don't think it's a bad idea per se.

I use the BA First Class lounge (as opposed to the Concorde Room) regularly at LHR as I am a OW Emerald but rarely travel First.  The lounge is not a patch on the QF F lounge.  

But the reality of the BA F lounge is - noone in there is actually travelling F!  The 'bonda fida' F passengers are in the far superior Concorde Room.  So in reality, the BA First Class lounge is really a 'Oneworld Emerald lounge for those not travelling in F' and the venue is vastly inferior to the Concorde Room.

So I guess that would be the negative aspect of QF launching a F lounge just for F passengers.  You can guarantee that the current F facility which I guess would still exist for OWE would see a very significant downgrade.

So as a genuine First Class passenger that wants peace and tranquility - great idea!

But as a guy that usually flies J yet gets the perk of the F lounges via frequent flyer status - keep it as it is! :-)

Just one small correction to the story as well re the BA arrivals lounge - BA Gold card holders can use it regardless of class traveller (though it has to be a long haul flight). 

:-)

The crowding in the Flounges in both SYD and MEL is largely because most of QF's international flights depart between 8 and 10am. In SYD I think there are something like 8 flights in an hour.

I've been in both lounges early afternoon and it is much quieter. If you want a quiet Flounge, fly out when there's less flights departing. Its pretty simple.

I must say i agree with most above here, QF doesnt have enough flights with P/C to make it viable.  

Agree with most of the above - just not the number of F seats to justify it.

And actual F pax already get benefits

- called the day before so they can get the massage booking

- chauffer drive

- during busy times generally the host will reserve a table so they can sit down immediately after having a masage

Can see the reason for a separate lounge, but a hybrid concept seems a little contrived - was in the BA first lounge in PHL and the LH senator lounge in EWR recently and both had dining areas which were for actual first class travellers only.  It didn't really add any amenity for first class travellers, and just looked like a bit of a snub to the rest of the lounge guests.

I find it interesting that Qantas would entertain prioritising first class passengers who may pay $10K-$15K for a single ticket during the course of a year above Platinum and P1 passengers spending many tens to possibly hundreds of thousands with Qantas in a year.

As a regular user - often on JQ to MEL, once in F with BA and never with anything more glamorous than cattle class on QF - the key lies in an extra level of service for true Fs.

Yes it gets busy but hey.

Definitely needs a limit on children.  A while back a table of children were left unsupervised by any adults in the MEL lounge and were loud and intrusive for most other guests.  The adults sat at a separate table - not even the next one!  And it was school holidays shoulder.

I was miffed a couple of weeks ago when flying out of LAX with three mates all on my booking and we were all denied access to the F lounge but diverted to the One World J Lounge.  I would suggest that this is the solution to overcrowding during school holidays. Send non F pax with children beyond plus one and/or over 12 years of age to the Qantas Club.

Ive been Platinum for 2 years and only ever book cheap cattle class seats ie I fly a lot. Regardless of who I'm flying with or what I've paid for the ticket I see the F lounges as a treat for spending days of my life flying in the blunt end with QF.  I would hope that QF has the same view of non Fs when looking at lounge access.

Building an entire new lounge for so few wouldn't make a lot of sense.  Sure offer exclusive booking and even maybe a seperate roped off section (where the diners could look down their noses at the peasants) but upgrading the existing lounges around the country should take priority.  

Just a side note: BA's Concorde Room is open to Gold Plus members, i.e. those that clock up approx. 3500 tier points a year, somewhat similar to QF's Plat One. 

However a part of the lounge concept is to treat loyal customers to something special: Hardly any platinum flyer got his card for commuting between SYD and MEL on a 787 for $79... So they've spent a lot as well, on other flights may be.

Lufthansa's concept is quite odd: Booked on a say TG flight via BKK to SYD in first class on an LH flight number would not get you into the FCT / FCL, since it's a code share not op'ed by LH. To me this is misleading customers on services since code shares are sold as LH First, seemingly including all the benefits. 

This is what I liked about Qantas: They sell what they advertised, if on a codeshare flight, you'd earn points according to the flight number, not worrying about whose metall it is, you'd get lounge access according to status / class of travel, not matter who one is actually flying with etc. 

As I customer I expect simple, easy to understand rules. And I got used to be treated well for my loyality. That's why I am a loyal customer. 

Therefore I suggest rather than adding some extra inside walls move those outer walls further out, increase the lounge space and accomodate all. It's probably as expensive for the airline. 

Especially since the new lounge patrons aren't coming from nowhere but were invited by decision of the airline: New OneWorld partners were introduced, lately US Airways, with much cheering by the airlines. Or other partners, such as Emirates added. When doing so, the airline should not pretend to be surprised by seeing more visitors to their lounges.

So accomodate them: It was Qantas seeking new customers. Not the customers flocking in in bigger groups.