Oneworld F Class Lounges

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Jan 9, 2009 | 11:02 pm

#16

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For me, the view is almost more important than the amenities. Therefore DFW AA Terminal D lounge is high on the list, likewise LHR BA F T5 and of course SYD QF F T1 and NZ T1. There are others (of course). No view, no good.

Jan 10, 2009 | 1:07 am

#17

serfty

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Quote:

Originally Posted by og

... There are others (of course). No view, no good.

Great airport views from the MEL Flounge.

I guess you don't route via ORD much ...

Jan 10, 2009 | 2:06 am

#18

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Quote:

Originally Posted by serfty

Great airport views from the MEL Flounge.

I guess you don't route via ORD much ...

Would you choose to route via ORD at this time of the year?

Jan 10, 2009 | 2:41 am

#19

serfty

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Quote:

Originally Posted by og

Would you choose to route via ORD at this time of the year?

Routing is always a gamble; case in point ex LGA in Jun, NYC airports were closed for 5 hours due to lightning possibility. We had a flight to ORD to connect with one to SEA. Stayed at the week old Sheraton JFK and flew via DFW the next day - ORD was not the issue. Truth be told, I would have preferred to depart JFK, but was not possible due to "married segments" on the only usefulex JFK flight.

So yes, I do prefer to book via ORD (JFK, LAX & (Now) MIA) for their FL's if I can - "at this time of the year" would brook no difference.

Last edited by serfty; Jan 10, 2009 at 2:52 am

Jan 10, 2009 | 5:40 am

#20

QF Lad

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Quote:

Originally Posted by og

I'm with you on that og. Airline lounges can be quite uninteresting if you can't get up close and personal to those jets.

Some hotels, such as the top floor of the Melbourne Airport Hilton, can be good for the same reason.

Jan 10, 2009 | 5:12 pm

#21

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Quote:

Originally Posted by serfty

....So yes, I do prefer to book via ORD (JFK, LAX & (Now) MIA) for their FL's if I can - "at this time of the year" would brook no difference.

Actually, choosing an airport with an acknowledged bad weather likelihood (ie snow) may be sometimes better than one that rarely gets such weather. For example, the NE USA / SE Canadian airports seem to cope well with snow dumps - and have enough equipment to de-ice and plough, but places such as LAS (IIRC) get completely stuffed - as did happen a few weeks ago.

Jan 10, 2009 | 7:14 pm

#22

Kiwi Flyer

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Maybe, but what is worse?

an airport that gets bad weather say 50 days a year of which 10 result in closure or massive disruption

or

an airport that gets bad weather say 2 days a year and both days result in closure

Also just because an airport regularly gets bad weather doesn't necessarily mean it is better able to handle it. Case in point is Queenstown.

Jan 11, 2009 | 9:02 am

#23

Dan72

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Quote:

Originally Posted by number_6

Big disappointments: BA DXB,

Sadly there is no BA F lounge at DXB, but hopefully some day... Otherwise agree with most of your scoring.

On the value of this thread, I am still surprised at the lengths (miles) people on here will go to try a lounge/product.

Jan 11, 2009 | 8:07 pm

#24

AnonymousCoward

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Quote:

Originally Posted by number_6

F lounges (no status access): BA LHR T5, BA JFK T7.
F lounges (status access): CX HKG Wing/Pier, QF SYD, QF MEL (SYD is better).

What is the distinction here between "no status access" and "status access"?

I've been in both the BA LHR T5 F lounge and BA JFK T7 F lounge (I'm assuming T7 is where QF108 departs from) when flying in J. I don't think the BA JFK F lounge was anything to write home about - I'd put it on par with the SIN QF/BA F lounge (except for the spa - but that's in the J area)

Jan 11, 2009 | 8:14 pm

#25

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I think number_6 is referring to concorde room, which is only available to BA F pax, not OW emerald. As opposed to eg QF F lounges which are open to QF F pax, other OW F pax and OW emerald.

Jan 11, 2009 | 8:43 pm

#26

number_6

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Quote:

Originally Posted by AnonymousCoward

You are quite right -- really sub par. Which is why BA F pax don't use that lounge; they use the CCR which is much nicer. Status access gets you the "for everyone except our F pax" lounge. Luckily QF, CX and AA don't play this game with their F lounges (which actually are their best lounges). Oneworld forever (and BA keeps mumbling about pulling out from Oneworld if it buys IB).

Jan 11, 2009 | 8:47 pm

#27

number_6

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan72

Sadly there is no BA F lounge at DXB, but hopefully some day... Otherwise agree with most of your scoring....

BA does have an F lounge of sorts at DXB if you ask nicely, or they like you, or whatever. BA will pay for admission to the contract F lounge (a bit nicer than the Terraces plus with a full buffet and showers that are big enough to hold your camel as well as your entourage). They've always offered it to me unprompted, but others report no F lounge their so I suppose it varies, like all things BA.

Jan 11, 2009 | 8:48 pm

#28

fahrradman

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Quote:

Originally Posted by number_6

F lounges (no status access): BA LHR T5, BA JFK T7.
F lounges (status access): CX HKG Wing/Pier, QF SYD, QF MEL (SYD is better).
Big step down (not really worth a special trip): JL NRT, BA/QF SIN, BA/QF HKG, AA/QF LAX, AA MIA
Big disappointments: BA DXB, BA JNB, BA CPT, BA SFO

Non-OW: LH FRA, LH MUC, SQ SIN, VS LHR, MH KUL
Big step down: EK DXB, LX ZRH

Not an exhaustive list, but the OW list is pretty indicative. OW does have pretty good J lounges, though (and much better lounges overall compared to Star and Skyteam; however this is changing in the past year).
My point is that even the very best lounge is somewhat mediocre as a destination. At best it is a convenience and a refuge from the chaos at the airport. IB MAD illustrates this nicely (spacious and gorgeous architecture but not special). CX really had the right idea when designing their HKG lounges.

I suspect you haven't been in the new JL NRT F lounge, but no way I would call it a big step down from the BA LHR. Same with QF SYD. Frankly, I'd rather stop in the JL NRT F lounge over BA LHR and SYD for the following reasons:

1. Nicest showers in the Oneworld system.
2. Relax room
3. Massages, live and chairs.
4. Food spread isn't bad.
5. The beer machine.

BA LHR showers are nowhere near as nice. I haven't been in the QF SYD F lounge since 2006, but there was no way it belongs in the same class as CX HKG lounges.

AA ORD (my home F club) gets special mention for the food spread. Sure its crowded and very few facilities, but how many other F lounges have smoked salmon?

Jan 11, 2009 | 8:54 pm

#29

fahrradman

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Quote:

Originally Posted by nomoreiphone

I know most of us know this already, but I am thinking whether we should have a thread on all the F Class lounges available worldwide and any specific tricks etc.. we need to be aware of and which ones we need to avoid. On top of my mind:

Asia - Pac

HKG:
CX - Wing and Pier (F Class section)
QF/BA - The Hong Kong Lounge (F Class Section)
JL -?

SYD:
QF F Class Lounge

SIN:
QF/BA F Class Lounge

BKK:
QF/BA F Class Lounge
CX F Class Lounge

NRT:
JL F Class Lounge
CX F Class Lounge

North America

LAX
AA - Flagship Lounge
BA/CX/QF/JL - TBIT Oneworld Lounge (F Class section)

ORD
AA - Flagship Lounge
BA - F Class Lounge

JFK
AA - Flagship Lounge
BA/CX/QF - BA F Class lounge (Concorde Room = NOT Oneworld access)

MIA
AA - Flagship Lounge

SFO
BA - F Class Lounge

YVR
CX F Class Louinge

Europe

LHR
BA F Class lounge (Concord Room = Not Oneworld Access)
AA - Flagship Lounge
CX - F Class Lounge
JL - F Class Lounge

Add HEL AY F lounge. Nothing to right home about.

Jan 11, 2009 | 9:29 pm

#30

serfty

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Quote:

Originally Posted by fahrradman

... I haven't been in the QF SYD F lounge since 2006, but there was no way it belongs in the same class as CX HKG lounges. ...

I suspect you haven't been in the new QF SYD and MEL F lounges, but they certainly belong in the same class as the CX HKG lounges.

These opened in May 2007.

Here's a link to Qantas info: