Within the miles & factors world, visiting the Qantas First Lounge LAX is form of a ceremony of passage, together with staying on the Park Hyatt Paris Vendome, visiting the Lufthansa First Class Terminal, and flying Qatar Airways Qsuites. 😉
The Qantas First Lounge LAX not too long ago reopened after being closed for greater than two years, so I used to be excited to have the ability to test it out. The lounge is each bit pretty much as good as I keep in mind it, and is among the finest airline lounges in america. Let’s get proper into the evaluate.
Qantas First Lounge LAX location & hours
The Qantas First Lounge LAX is positioned in Tom Bradley Worldwide Terminal (TBIT), which is the first worldwide terminal on the airport. TBIT is accessible airside by way of connectors from Terminals 4, 5, 6, 7, and eight. It’s a really brief stroll from Terminal 4, which is the place most American Airways flights departs from (and that’s helpful, as a result of some American Airways passengers could have entry to this lounge).
When you’re within the middle portion of TBIT, you’ll wish to take both the escalators or elevators up a degree (the terminal is on the fourth ground, whereas the lounge is on the fifth ground),
As soon as on the fifth ground, simply stroll previous the usual oneworld Lounge for enterprise class passengers, and then you definitely’ll see the doorway to the Qantas First Lounge on the left.
The Qantas First Lounge LAX is at the moment open each day from 6:30AM till 12AM, overlaying just about the entire oneworld departures out of the terminal.
Qantas First Lounge LAX entry necessities
The Qantas First Lounge LAX is a regular oneworld Emerald and oneworld top notch lounge. According to oneworld lounge entry insurance policies:
- The lounge could be accessed by oneworld Emerald members touring in any cabin — these incomes standing by way of Alaska Mileage Plan or American AAdvantage can solely use the lounge when touring outdoors of North America, whereas these incomes the standing by way of another oneworld program can use the lounge earlier than any oneworld flight, even when it’s home
- The lounge could be accessed by any identical day oneworld worldwide top notch passenger, together with on airways like American Airways, British Airways, Japan Airways, and many others.
Curiously I used to be in a position to entry the lounge as a oneworld Emerald member touring on Fiji Airways. I used to be stunned that labored since Fiji Airways is barely a oneworld Join member and never a full oneworld member. However the agent scanned my boarding go and entered my AAdvantage quantity, and that labored. Your mileage might fluctuate.
Qantas First Lounge LAX seating & format
The Qantas First Lounge LAX is big for a world top notch lounge — it’s roughly 17,500 sq. ft, with seating for over 220 individuals. Many of the day the lounge will get nowhere near full, although it’s often busiest within the evenings earlier than Qantas departures.
The lounge consists of 1 massive room, although it’s damaged up into a number of zones, with the primary half of the lounge being for stress-free and lounging, and the second half of the lounge being for eating.
Inside the doorway to the lounge are dozens of purple seats dealing with each other. There are two lengthy rows of seats, after which clusters of 4 seats subsequent to that.
Throughout from which are some cream coloured leather-based seats, in addition to chairs with ottomans dealing with the inside of the terminal.
Additionally close to the doorway is a small sitting space, the place there’s a printer. You’ll additionally see doorways to 2 rooms with frosted home windows.
Every of those is a personal room with a desk and a sitting space with 4 seats. Presumably these are reserved for VVIPs (celebs, and many others.), as they’re not in any other case made accessible to passengers.
Previous the sitting space with purple seats is yet one more sitting space with extra seats for lounging. Qantas actually does a terrific job with inside design, in my view, because the lounge has legitimately trendy and high-end furnishings, in contrast to what you’ll discover in so many different lounges.
There’s additionally a single row of seats alongside the inside wall by the eating space.
The final a part of the lounge is the huge eating space, which has dozens of tables that may seat as much as 74 friends at a time.
There’s additionally a 48-foot bar with some high-top seating.
Qantas First Lounge LAX meals & drinks
What actually units the Qantas First Lounge LAX aside is the eating. The lounge options desk service, with every kind of nice cocktails and wine, plus a menu impressed by Neil Perry. I made the Qantas First Lounge my base for the day (as I explored Tom Bradley Worldwide Terminal, together with the Midfield Satellite tv for pc Concourse), so I had each breakfast and lunch right here.
Under is the breakfast menu.
As you’d count on for a lounge belonging to an Australian airline, espresso is an enormous focus. All espresso drinks are barista made, and the flat whites are wonderful.
I additionally loved an iced espresso later within the morning.
To eat, I first had the bircher muesli with apple, cranberry, and nuts.
Then I had the avocado on seeded toast with smoked salmon, boiled egg, and jalapeño salsa.
Under is the lunch and dinner menu, which is accessible beginning at 12PM.
I made a decision to begin off with a glass of champagne. Whereas champagne isn’t listed on the menu (in contrast to different wine), the lounge serves Taittinger in addition to Moet Rose.
Afterward I made a decision to order the “Rose & Mary,” with rosemary tequila, pineapple, agave, and lime.
To eat I after all needed to have the signature salt and pepper squid with inexperienced chili dipping sauce and aioli.
Within the curiosity of attempting as a lot as doable for you, expensive readers, I additionally ordered the carrot and miso soup with sesame tofu.
For the principle course I chosen the seared Baja bass with herb salad.
For dessert I had the ice cream sundae with peach, strawberry salad, and pistachios. At the very least it wasn’t too indulgent so far as ice cream sundaes go.
Lastly, later within the day I had a scrumptious latte.
The meals and drinks within the Qantas First Lounge are very, superb. They’re restaurant high quality, and it’s not usually you’ll discover that at airports.
The lounge doesn’t have a lot in the way in which of self-serve meals and drinks. Within the space for lounging there’s one station that has a espresso machine, a tea choice, and a few cookies. Bear in mind you may get a barista-made espresso on the bar, so please don’t get espresso right here. 😉
Then there’s one other station with some self-serve wine and snack combine.
Qantas First Lounge LAX showers & loos
The Qantas First Lounge has loos close to the principle lounging space. There are just a few separate gender impartial bogs, every of which is non-public, which is a pleasant function.
Then within the very again of the lounge previous the eating space are the bathe suites. These are very good, and every incorporates a bathe, a sink, and a rest room.
There are additionally quite a lot of important toiletries accessible. On high of that, there’s somebody available to assist with go well with steaming, shirt urgent, and shoe shining.
Qantas First Lounge LAX service
The workers within the Qantas First Lounge LAX are skilled by Sofitel, and all put on trendy uniforms and Sofitel title tags. Service may be very pleasant and nicely intentioned throughout the board.
That being stated, I’d say service ranges from superb to a bit of sloppy, relying on the time of day or who finally ends up serving you. When this lounge is busy, it doesn’t seem to be there are fairly sufficient workers. However sadly with the present labor state of affairs, I feel that’s to be anticipated.
I also needs to point out that whereas service is often fairly attentive within the eating space, the servers don’t make fairly as many passes in different elements of the lounge, though presumably many individuals there would get pleasure from a espresso or cocktail. So if you happen to don’t sit within the eating space, you could have to flag somebody down.
What could possibly be improved concerning the Qantas First Lounge LAX
The Qantas First Lounge LAX is pretty much as good as lounges get in america. Nevertheless, simply to be balanced, let me share the place I feel there’s room for enchancment:
- There aren’t sufficient shops, each across the eating tables, and even across the lounge seating; I get it may be powerful so as to add these after the very fact, however entry to shops comes at a premium right here
- I’d like to see some kind of a setup within the lounge that’s good for working, with workplace desks or cubicles; the lounge is big and the overall seating not often fills up, so it looks as if that could possibly be executed fairly simply
- The lounge has no actual views, and lacks pure gentle; sadly that is the case at many lounges at TBIT (it’s not Qantas’ fault), although the oneworld and Qantas Lounges are the 2 within the terminal which have the least pure gentle
- I get it’s probably not a part of the Qantas First Lounge “idea,” however it might be good if there have been a barely extra substantial collection of self-serve meals & drinks, for many who may need one thing to nibble on, with out having a full meal; alternatively, it might be good if there have been a a lot shorter snack menu, for individuals who is probably not taken with a meal
I’m actually nitpicking right here, as a result of I feel this can be a incredible lounge, however these are the issues that I’d enhance if I have been in cost.
Backside line
The Qantas First Lounge LAX is as spectacular as lounges in america get, and visiting is such a deal with. The lounge affords trendy and fashionable decor, pleasant service, and a restaurant-style eating expertise, with wonderful meals and drinks.
The wonderful lounge entry perks supplied to oneworld Emerald members are one of many predominant issues that make me wish to preserve some loyalty to American, since these are superior experiences.
Whereas there are some minor areas for enchancment, within the grand scheme of issues this can be a phenomenal lounge, and it’s nonetheless simply pretty much as good because the day it opened.
In case you’ve visited the Qantas First Lounge LAX, what was your expertise like?
