Everyone on this forum seems to be going a little nutty. I don't know why people are taking this so personally. My sentiments after a couple of visits:

1. Too many hard surfaces with very few textures that can absorb noise

2. Lighting - especially in the evenings - is not particularly good if you want to work

3. The Haven is a zoo. Great to have extra seating capacity, but it certainly comes at a cost. I concur with the cafeteria descriptions above. Fine dining it is not.

4. Wine selection is pedestrian. Perhaps many won't notice so CX isn't particularly concerned. I noticed.

5. Haven's a-la-carte menu leaves much to be desired. Certainly no competition for QF, TG, LH, LX or SQ's TPR. Seems to me that some major cost cutting was enforced while the menu was being developed pre-launch

6. Cabanas superb. Workmanship stellar. Just a pity there aren't more of them

7. Service is patchy and brusque. Not yet at QF/TG/LH/SQ TPR standard, though it's only early days so let us be fair and give them some time

8. Limited privacy. There's nowhere you can escape to for a bit of quiet time

9. No spa. I must have been deluded in expecting this to be part of the revamp.

10. Footprint seems too small for the demand

All in all, there's very little to suggest CX was aiming to set the standard here. It would seem they set out to refresh the dated decor of the previous lounge and have achieved just that.

I just think it's disappointing they didn't do anything to challenge the current class leaders. Is it disgraceful? No. Is it great? No. Could they have done better? Yes.