The QF F lounge in SYD is an exceptional space for an airline lounge - even on the 1hr SYD/CHC stop I trek from the EK gate down to it - the size is great for the demand mainly, lots of natural light with direct tarmac views, a design that delineates what could be a long boring cavern with natural feeling partition and great F&B offerings. I agree I would rather be waiting in the QF F lounge than the EK F lounge at DXB, although the spa offerings at DXB are superior imho.

In fact, I think the beverage offerings specifically are superior at QF F in SYD, apart from red wine (a barista with a decent coffee machine, three types of champagne, a longer wine list). Food quality I think is generally the same when ordering from the kitchen.

However, when it comes to the partnership, one has to remember that the number of QF elites is much greater than the number of EK elites and that distorts the feeling of being "overrun" in various lounges. e.g. there are only a couple of hundred iOs, but a few thousand CL members: all you have to be is the spouse of some minor state public figure to be CL with QF, but for iO there is a smaller pool of members. Similarly to be QF Plat, there is a wider range of earning potential for that status, rather than flying exclusively on EK.

FWIW certain stations see this more than others - given EKs lounge range is greater than QFs offerings, and in general, an EK operated lounge at an outstation is above average for that station.

The thing that is infamous amongst front-line EK staff is that QF elites do complain rather vociferously about "entitlements" a lot more than EK elites (as well as champagne offerings: c.f., BKK when EK closed their lounge - QF pax complained to EK about being sent to a lounge with only sparkling wine. When it was the QF lounge) And they generally prefer to use EK facilities when not in Australia where they can (the data from lounge billing suggests).