italdesign

Hello. I may be flying to KUL ex-BNE, MEL, or SYD. BNE is a direct flight while the others would require a connection, so BNE is the default choice, unless one of the other lounges is exceptional (I might fly out of the way to check out such a lounge). This thread from a few years ago suggests ADL is the best; unfortunately that is not an option ATM. So, is SYD or MEL J lounge significantly better than BNE?

Mwenenzi

On what basis do you expect to get J lounge access? Domestic or International?
The main city domestic lounges are about the same. Not worth a detour just to visit.
SYD & MEL have good F international lounges, but you need a first class ticket or top status to access.

serfty

I presume a Business fare is to be purchased.

Both MEL and SYD J QF international lounges are better than the one in BNE but I am not certain it would be worth the effort. SYD J somewhat better than MEL IMHO.

serfty

I presume a Business fare is to be purchased.

Both MEL and SYD J QF international lounges are better than the one in BNE but I am not certain it would be worth the effort. SYD J somewhat better than MEL IMHO.

italdesign

Yes, it will be an international J ticket: (BNE|MEL|SYD)-KUL. Thanks for your feedback. Sounds like I'll stick with ex-BNE.

Offshore171

Hard to see how it's worthwhile diverting to another city just to visit a lounge.

Surely the direct flight is the way to go?

italdesign

Depends on the lounge.

number_6

Then fly EK to KUL, their J lounges in Oz are also their F lounges so nicer than most J lounges.

bensyd

I agree. Even more so when it's a J lounge.

VH-RMD

even more so the EK lounge in BNE.

BadgerBoi

Um, this is FT, nothing hard to see about it at all

soorox

EK only flies MEL-KUL, but I think the OP should just stick with the non-stop option from BNE.

But lets see the OW lounges at the 3 airports for future reference:

Melbourne
- Qantas Business Class Lounge
- Qantas First Class Lounge (F or OWE only)
- Cathay Pacific First & Business Class Lounge
- Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge

In MEL you have the most choices, but without a doubt, the QF lounges are the best, I wouldn't even waste my time in the MH & CX lounges as these are in need of refurbishments. Would be great if CX can do something like "The Pier" or "The Cabin" lounges in MEL.

Sydney
- Qantas Business Class Lounge
- Qantas First Class Lounge (F or OWE only)

SYD's QF J lounge is slightly better than MEL's and is much larger and has more offerings IMHO. It is also the only OW J Lounge option in SYD.

Brisbane
- Qantas Business Class Lounge

I haven't been so I can't comment, you can't really go wrong as QF's J lounges are pretty much identical. It is also the only OW J Lounge option in SYD.

m0hamed

BNE has a QF F Lounge, but by all reports it's a shoe cupboard...

italdesign

Due to schedule change, one of us is going to fly out of SYD and the other MEL. Going to KUL on MH. Would we be allowed to use the QF international J lounge in SYD and MEL with our MH J BP? I think the answer is yes, but just to double check.

sxc

Yes you can.

Actually in SYD the QF lounge is the designated MH J lounge. Not sure about MEL.