bibbju

I'm flying ADL-DOH-LHR on Fri 7 April, leaving ADL at 9.20pm. I'm in Business and I also have OWE status. Can anyone with recent experience flying QR out of ADL to DOH tell me which lounge (if any!) I can use at Adelaide, and if I will be allowed to guest 1 person (travelling on the same flight in Economy)??

Looking online, it seems that post-Covid the Qantas International Club lounge in Adelaide is closed in the evenings (as the only Qantas flights are domestic). There are reports that QR have done a deal to use the Virgin (domestic) lounge instead but also reports that people have been turned away and given a $40 voucher to use at the Penfolds bar instead.

I can't see anything current so I'm hoping someone might have travelled from ADL recently and can share their experience please?

Partly I want to know for my own sanity as I don't want to arrive at the airport 3 hours early and there be no lounge access and very little open (it will already have been a long day and ideally I would have been hoping for a pre-flight meal and a glass of bubbles), especially with some uncertainty over what will be available in the DOH lounges as it will be Ramadan when I transit there.

Also because I know of someone travelling on the same flight as me but in Economy and it will be her first ever international flight (she's quite nervous about it) and I was hoping I could guest her into the Adelaide lounge to start her trip off nicely. If it's the Virgin lounge, will I be allowed a guest or will it be QR's 'unique' lounge rules that only Business (or First) passengers get access and no guests allowed? If there's no lounge at all, will they give her a $40 voucher too as my aspirational lounge guest? I'm assuming not.

Thanks in advance to anyone who has experience they can share please.

babyg_wc

Short answer NONE.
There is a new lounge just opened (plaza premium) - i entered as a Amex Plat card holder (was Flying QR-J but couldnt access that way).
They are in talks with QR about making this lounge available to QR passengers, unsure of timeframes

Palle

You have access to Virgin Australia and Qantas lounges if they are open. VA should be open since they have departurees at that time. I am unsure,about Qantas because they close,after their last flight. Qantas allows you to bring a guest if you are at least OW Sapphire.
On my boarding pass a few days ago there,was printed an invitation to VA lounge but I don”t know if they allow guests since they are not a member of OW. I chose the QF lounge since it has a few more food options. I was on the 12.40 QR flight so I cannot say if QF is open when you leave.

bibbju

Thanks for this. It looks like the PP lounge closes at 12 noon at present anyway? Although I've read that they find out on 28th March if they have a liquor licence so maybe that will change things, who knows.

Looks like I'll be spending some quality time at the Penfolds Bar and my Y travelling friend won't get to experience a lounge.

bibbju

Thanks!! Looks like QF will be closed as my QR flight is later (9.20pm) than any of their domestic flights. Doesn't bode well for guest access to VA. I suspect QR will understandably only pay for QR Business travellers to access VA's lounge (which is understandable). My Skyteam status would have given us access to VA's lounge (if we were on Skyteam flights - which we're obviously not) but it ran out 4 days ago. Typical!

babyg_wc

it was open in the evening when i was on the AKL-ADL-DOH flight a few days ago till i left at 10pm ish, but yeah there was no booze, and the food offerings werent great either.. i ordered hot wings.. and im pretty sure they were microwaved (and not the well)... the lounge itself is actually really nice, shame about the food and beverage options

Firemansam

Virgin don't allow their own business class flyers to bring in a guest unless they have status so I would say there is little hope for you to bring one unfortunately.
On a side note the Penfolds bar isn't a bad place to spend some time.

bibbju

This is my (slight) frustration with QR. I'm flying Business with QR but I'm also One World Emerald so I should be able to take a guest (travelling on the same flight as me) into a lounge. Instead it seems there's probably no lounge for me, let alone the guest. Grrr QR.

I will console myself at the Penfolds bar (and am already booked for a tour and tastings at Penfolds Magill earlier in the day). Just sad to disappoint my guest as I wanted to make her first ever international flight (as a 40 something!) a bit of an occasion.

Funky Spike

I'm in the VA lounge in ADL right now, about to fly ADL-MEL-DOH on QR989.

Printed on the boarding card it says "VA Lounge Access +1 Guest"

Spike

Mwenenzi

How? Virgin Australia VA is not a member of Skyteam. But VA is a freq flyer partner of some ST airlines. But now not a ffp of DL.

The QF & VA lounges are air side in the domestic area after security
From that area you process AU exit emigration and to the international air side part of the airport. So takes a little more time than just walking.
https://www.adelaideairport.com.au/
https://www.adelaideairport.com.au/travellers-guide/

bibbju

Spike, you are a complete superstar! Thank you so much for sharing this. This is great news. You've made my morning (it's 9am here in London). Have a good flight and thank you again!

Funky Spike

I tried the Qantas Club and VA lounge.
Both are typical Australian domestic lounges. Not a huge selection of food in either but the Qantas Club felt a nicer place to be. Both are before passport control.

There is a Plaza Premium Lounge after passport control but I didn't bother looking. I believe it closes at 2200.

Spike

spizzy

Funky Spike- OT- If possible can you post the Menus on your flight please (ADL-MEL, then MEL-DOH). Also how you fare with the MEL bit when you get off the plane what happens until your re-board? Have booked the same flight myself for later in the year. Thanks.

Funky Spike

Sorry, didn't take any menu pics. I was the only one in business ADL-MEL, and only 24 pax in total, and didn't eat, apparently there was a fruit platter from memory. I was too busy finishing the bottle of champagne they opened just for me and it really needed finishing on the short hop.

On arrival in MEL we had to leave the aircraft and came out directly in to the departure area, so no transit security just straight to the lounge.

Spike