Sorry if this is a newbie question, but I'm flying from Portland to Auckland next week alli n F, and I have long layovers in LAX, MEL, and SYD. I want to make sure I know what lounges to use.

We are flying first on alaska, then 2 segments on QF, then from SYD to AKL on JetConnect

In LAX, is the OW lounge my only choice? I hear it's pretty crowded, so if there's a better one that we can get in the domestic terminal, that might work. We have a 10 hour layover.

In sydney, can we use the Qantas business class lounge if our next onward flight in on Jetconnect?

Thanks!

So you're flying PDX-LAX-MEL-SYD-AKL? in F for LAX-MEL and J for MEL-SYD-AKL?

Do you have any oneworld status?

With a QF F boarding pass, you can use the AA lounge in T4 at LAX, but will need to take buses between T6, T4 and TBIT.

In MEL, you can use the QF J lounge. Entry is through the Qantas Club to the right after security.

Jetconnect is a 100% QF owned NZ based company. It is branded as QF and operates as/for QF. Jetconnect operates most of the QF trans Tasman flights. You can use the SYD QF J lounge for the flight to AKL. If it is the same day as the F flight or you have OW EMB, you can use the F lounge.

10 hours in any lounge is not what I would ever think of as a good option, especially if I was going to spend that many hours confined in a metal tube hurtling through the air.
May I suggest you leave the airport and spend some time around LAX? I am sure there are many here who could suggest something that would be appropriate for a few hours.

I was under the impression that if your flight leaves from TBIT (which QF LAX-MEL does) then they won't let you on the T6-T4 shuttle bus. Is that not true?

If you can make your way into T4, the AA Flagship (F) lounge is nicer than the OW F lounge in TBIT (imo). But 10hrs is a long, long time to spend there.

QF F lounges at MEL and SYD are amongst the finest lounges in the world, far better than any F lounge at LAX. Unfortunately for you, admission is based on the class flown for the departing QF flight (which is J). You can ask to have the rules stretched, showing your F arrival BP, and have a good chance to get into the SYD F lounge (you can't get into the MEL F lounge as you aren't departing internationally, but the domestic J lounge is nice enough, putting the AS Boardroom to shame). Your routing significantly devalues F, fwiw, and flying J LAX-SYD-AKL would probably have been a superior experience to F LAX-MEL and then J MEL-SYD-AKL (too bad MEL-AKL wasn't available).

At LAX I normally rent a car and drive to Manhattan Beach -- much nicer than any lounge. Another alternative is a day room at a hotel near LAX (more useful if you need sleep). Another great outing is to drive up PCH (Pacific Coast Hwy) to the Ghetty Villa if you want culture, a nice view plus some OK food.