Sep 8, 2016, 6:42 am
Last edit by: serfty
For access to the Qantas First Lounge at TBIT just one of the following needs to be true:
- Non US (not AAdvantage and not Mileage Plan) oneworld Emerald departing on a oneworld Marketed and operated flight.
- AAdvantage or Mileage Plan Emerald departing on a oneworld Marketed and Operated flight NOT solely on a "North American* Itinerary".
- First Class passengers departing on a oneworld Marketed and Operated flight not solely on a "North American* Itinerary".
- Passengers in First Class on a flight longer than five hours connecting to/from an international or domestic short haul (five hours or less) oneworld Marketed and Operated flight and not solely on a "North American* Itinerary".
- First and Business Class passengers^ travelling on a non stop transcontinental American Airlines Marketed and Operated flight on a designated route (i.e. between Los Angeles & New York or San Francisco & New York).
Connecting the same day or before 6am the following day. Such Lounge access is based on the class of services of the long haul flight (First or Business) regardless of the class of travel on the short haul flight.
^ Regarding AA EXP in any cabin. This is a "Class of Service" based access, so status should not be relevant. Rules indicate NO ACCESS unless in First or Business on a designated non stop transcontinental route, but there had been some contradictory experiences about this. Early on EXP based access had sometimes been granted; not so much these days. Presumably this related to confusion about the rules on behalf of some agents.
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Lounge access rules
All non-AA and Non-AS Oneworld Emerald members have access to this lounge on any oneworld itinerary regardless of cabin or final destination.
AA EXP have access when traveling to all destinations outside North America, Canada, Mexico (except Mexico City), the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean. Includes if pax is flying LAX-DFW-LHR because you are flying internationally that day.
No Class of Service access for domestic F without non AA and non AS Emerald status unless on designated (generally 3-class) flights to JFK and MIA.
Passengers on any 3-cabin AA flight to JFK, BOS or MIA in First Class.
Emirates pax do not have access except for Qantas Platinum One. EDIT: Appears to be that Qantas removed that access criteria from their lounge access page so I wouldn't count on this working.
No access if connecting to a non-Oneworld airline or partner.
Separate tickets within oneworld do not matter other than it has to be same day . E.g. QF F to AA Y on the same day.
To walk from T4 to TBIT will take approximately 10 minutes one way so plan accordingly if visiting this lounge.
More detail here: Lounge Access | oneworld.com
Qantas.com Access Rules, with specific carve-out for transcon markets.
Los Angeles / LAX Qantas First Class Lounge [Master Thread]
Oct 3, 2025 | 8:12 pm
#1561
Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: QF WP, AA EXP
Posts: 3,648
Usually when the last scheduled QF flight departs. They don't stay open for the late CX flights anymore. You may get lucky with a QF A380 going tech and causing the lounge to stay open later though. And that's a pretty good possibility these days.
Oct 4, 2025 | 11:02 pm
#1562
Join Date: Jul 2018
Programs: Mucci, Untappd 9000+
Posts: 384
Has anyone else been denied their rare (bloody, blue, al sangue, vuelta a vuelta) minute steak lately?
"Is it because of health and safety regulations?"
"The chef says he cannot make it rare anymore." The steak was ordered bloody blue and came out, alas, well-done.
"Is it because of health and safety regulations?"
"The chef says he cannot make it rare anymore." The steak was ordered bloody blue and came out, alas, well-done.
Oct 4, 2025 | 11:17 pm
#1563
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: DL Gold, AA Gold, EK Silver
Posts: 3,963
QF 94 will change to 1150pm soon and then they will take last call pretty late anyways.
Oct 5, 2025 | 4:46 pm
#1564
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 24,516
I ordered it the last time that I was there, at the end of April. It was so thin, perhaps 1/8", that I can't image how it can be cooked less than medium-well; by the time that the outside is seared, the inside is fully cooked. I will not be ordering it again when I am back there later this month.
Oct 6, 2025 | 1:26 am
#1565
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 81
very sub-par
I visited the lounge twice last week. I have to say the quality of the lounge has dramatically gone down. I was flying QF94, the lounge was quite busy. I got a sofa and got seated but no one arrived to take the order or offer drinks. I then went up to the Restuarant and there was a queue of 5 mins for the attendant to find a table. I feel the whole lounge is very thinly staffed and there are just not enough people in the busy evening period.
The food was also very sub-par. The menu hasn't changed a lot. The US highlights such as Cheeseburger should be amazing, but it felt like a cheap $10 burger you will get at a fast food place. I felt the food quality was very low and the service poor. The lounge look is still alright but you can see some wear and tear in the bathrooms etc starting to creep in. I personally think is this the worst of all the Qantas F lounges
The food was also very sub-par. The menu hasn't changed a lot. The US highlights such as Cheeseburger should be amazing, but it felt like a cheap $10 burger you will get at a fast food place. I felt the food quality was very low and the service poor. The lounge look is still alright but you can see some wear and tear in the bathrooms etc starting to creep in. I personally think is this the worst of all the Qantas F lounges
Oct 6, 2025 | 2:03 pm
#1566
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: DL Gold, AA Gold, EK Silver
Posts: 3,963
I visited the lounge twice last week. I have to say the quality of the lounge has dramatically gone down. I was flying QF94, the lounge was quite busy. I got a sofa and got seated but no one arrived to take the order or offer drinks. I then went up to the Restuarant and there was a queue of 5 mins for the attendant to find a table. I feel the whole lounge is very thinly staffed and there are just not enough people in the busy evening period.
The food was also very sub-par. The menu hasn't changed a lot. The US highlights such as Cheeseburger should be amazing, but it felt like a cheap $10 burger you will get at a fast food place. I felt the food quality was very low and the service poor. The lounge look is still alright but you can see some wear and tear in the bathrooms etc starting to creep in. I personally think is this the worst of all the Qantas F lounges
The food was also very sub-par. The menu hasn't changed a lot. The US highlights such as Cheeseburger should be amazing, but it felt like a cheap $10 burger you will get at a fast food place. I felt the food quality was very low and the service poor. The lounge look is still alright but you can see some wear and tear in the bathrooms etc starting to creep in. I personally think is this the worst of all the Qantas F lounges
Oct 7, 2025 | 2:33 pm
#1567
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 8,561
I visit about once a month and am here today.
In my opinion, the food and service has never been better. It's early afternoon and not very busy. I've had the hamachi crudo, the buffalo mozzarella with figs, and the chicken with polenta. All restaurant quality and served quickly with a smile.
Bartender is friendly and started us with espresso martinis, then moved on to a smoky margarita. I cut myself off from cocktails after 2 and am now working my way through a nice wine selection. Plan to finish our visit with a cheeseburger and a glass or 2 of the Mollydooker.
Admittedly, if it's crowded, the experience isn't the same.
In my opinion, the food and service has never been better. It's early afternoon and not very busy. I've had the hamachi crudo, the buffalo mozzarella with figs, and the chicken with polenta. All restaurant quality and served quickly with a smile.
Bartender is friendly and started us with espresso martinis, then moved on to a smoky margarita. I cut myself off from cocktails after 2 and am now working my way through a nice wine selection. Plan to finish our visit with a cheeseburger and a glass or 2 of the Mollydooker.
Admittedly, if it's crowded, the experience isn't the same.
Oct 11, 2025 | 10:54 am
#1568
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA LT PLT+2MM, BA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,374
I ordered it the last time that I was there, at the end of April. It was so thin, perhaps 1/8", that I can't image how it can be cooked less than medium-well; by the time that the outside is seared, the inside is fully cooked. I will not be ordering it again when I am back there later this month.
Oct 19, 2025 | 7:42 pm
#1569
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS Titanium, BA Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 466
At the lounge and theyre out of Champagne and the steak. The AA lounge not very far away is serving Bollinger at least. Its busy, not the busiest Ive seen this place. Getting a table was very quick
Otherwise, pleasant as always.
Otherwise, pleasant as always.
Oct 19, 2025 | 8:51 pm
#1570
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: SYD, GOT
Programs: BA GGL/GfL; SK EBG; QF LTG; Hilton LTD, A-Club Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,454
Nov 1, 2025 | 2:09 pm
#1571
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 7,663
Lounge is definitely going a bit downhill.
Yesterdays visit I ordered the Broccolini which was hard and inedible; such a bizarre mix of flavors in it. Thanks Neil Perry?
The egg white omelette, my staple, was perfect.
Mains
Breakfast
Much better wines/drinks at the AA FL these days.
Yesterdays visit I ordered the Broccolini which was hard and inedible; such a bizarre mix of flavors in it. Thanks Neil Perry?
The egg white omelette, my staple, was perfect.
Mains
Breakfast
Much better wines/drinks at the AA FL these days.
Nov 6, 2025 | 7:51 pm
#1573
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: DL Gold, AA Gold, EK Silver
Posts: 3,963
Nov 6, 2025 | 9:22 pm
#1574
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: FLL
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 7,663
Out of champagne 12:30pm today too. Entrance friendly on domestic AA. Go to AA FL for bubbles.
That said, food was very good. AA FL for drinks much better although the current Chardonnay & Syrah in QF are pretty good.
That said, food was very good. AA FL for drinks much better although the current Chardonnay & Syrah in QF are pretty good.
Nov 7, 2025 | 12:59 am
#1575
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: So Cal
Programs: DL Gold, AA Gold, EK Silver
Posts: 3,963
The burrata and peppers was fine but the burrata needed some seasoning. However peppers were insane salty. It was fine but not special.
Really basic pasta w nothing special pumpkin pure.
Tart was nice.
Its my same experience every time here- never bad but not special.
I forgot to ask if they had bubbles or not as I went for Bollinger first (and a way hotter shower) @ the FL.