Lounge Review: Qantas International Business Lounge - Brisbane Airport (BNE)
Having lived in Brisbane for four years, I was really excited to spend a couple of hours at the Brisbane Airport (albeit just a short layover) when I had to travel to Auckland for work. Qantas was comparatively cheaper than Singapore Airlines for a Business Class ticket from Singapore to Auckland (even though the latter flies direct) but I was happy to 'waste' a few hours to save close S$2,000.
Qantas Business Class
QF52 (SIN-BNE)
My redeye flight from Singapore to Brisbane on Qantas Business Class was eventful - while the flight was generally quite enjoyable, the faulty Business Class seat (which could not recline even half of what it was designed to do) made it impossible for me to sleep on the plane. The cabin crew onboard tried their best to fix it but since it was a full flight, there was no available resolution on the flight so I reached out to the Qantas Customer Care team after that for compensation. Their response? 5,000 Qantas Points as compensation for the broken Business Class seat (which I paid S$4,000 for) 'as a gesture of goodwill'. Now, to redeem a flight from Singapore to Brisbane (one-way) will require 60,000 Qantas Points (before applicable taxes) so 5,000 Qantas Points was ridiculous. They eventually offered 7,000 Qantas Points as compensation after 'having considered all the circumstances carefully' but obviously, that was still unreasonable. I did not accept any compensation from Qantas and simply decided to move all my future trips to Australia and New Zealand to Singapore Airlines instead.
Dining Area
Qantas International Business Lounge - Brisbane Airport (BNE)
I really like the A330 Business Class product on Qantas - while the presentation of food and inflight services could be improved, the actual hard product is excellent (when it works). Since I took an overnight flight in to Brisbane and did not manage to get much sleep, I decided to drop by the Qantas International Business Lounge for a quick shower and some much-needed coffee before hopping over to Auckland. Located on Levels 3 and 4 of the Brisbane International Terminal, the Qantas International Business Lounge is a stunning airport lounge that is typically opens from 5:30 AM to 12:00 AM daily. Unfortunately, I did not manage to take any photos with my camera when I was there so all of the photos were taken with my iPhone X then.
Dining Area
Qantas International Business Lounge - Brisbane Airport (BNE)
The first thing that you will probably notice about the Qantas International Business Lounge at Brisbane Airport (BNE) is how much natural light it actually enjoys. Interestingly, the bar (where you can get drinks and coffee) is located out front so it really is the first point of contact you have here at the lounge. Fortunately for me, this meant that I could get a small cup of espresso before heading in to the rest of the lounge. Some snacks like lamingtons were also available here at the bar but nothing else to get too excited about.
Bathroom and Shower
Qantas International Business Lounge - Brisbane Airport (BNE)
After getting an espresso shot, I decided to check out the shower facilities and also to freshen up - while it is not absolutely necessary after a 6-7 hour flight, I had plenty of time to kill and nothing freshens you up like a hot shower. The bathrooms are rather cramped so if you might want to leave your cabin baggage elsewhere if possible. I was traveling alone for work so unfortunately, I did not have the luxury of leaving it with a friend or a colleague this time.
Bath Amenities from ASPAR
Qantas International Business Lounge - Brisbane Airport (BNE)
Similar to what is offered in their Business Class amenity kits, bath amenities here in the Qantas International Business Lounge are provided by ASPAR. Honestly, with Aesop being born in Australia, you would think that it would have been a better (and more internationally-known) brand to leverage on. I can't say I like or dislike the ASPAR products - they are adequate but do not stand out personally for me.
Since I got there in the morning, a number of breakfast items were out there on the buffet spread - think fresh cut fruits, pastries and danishes. There was also some yoghurt and basic continental breakfast items there for those who prefer something comparatively healthier.
Syrups and Water
Qantas International Business Lounge - Brisbane Airport (BNE)
Apart from the usual coffee and tea that you can order from the bar, there was also a good selection of juices and beverages (including syrups) at the Qantas International Business Lounge. I am personally not a fan of cordials or syrups but if artisanal soda is something that you appreciate, you might be interested in some of what they have to offer here.
Lounge Area
Qantas International Business Lounge - Brisbane Airport (BNE)
Towards the back of the lounge is where you will find the lounge area - this is designed for travellers wanting to catch up on work or simply wish to zone out before their next flight. Unlike the main dining area, this lounge area features warmer colour tones and it looks out to the transit area of the terminal. USB charging ports as well as power outlets (which were not universal, unfortunately) can be found here so you can keep your devices fully-charged before you board your flight.
Dining Area
Qantas International Business Lounge - Brisbane Airport (BNE)
While the coffee was great here at the Qantas International Business Lounge, I did find the food and beverage offering to be slightly underwhelming. Aesthetically though, the lounge is beautiful and I love the abundance of natural daylight throughout. The dining area in particular is a huge standout and I really appreciate the quality of coffee here (which was really needed after that flight). The shower area was adequate but nothing stood out personally for me. With all that being said, the Qantas International Business Lounge at Brisbane Airport (BNE) is light years ahead of what the ones in Melbourne and Auckland look like and I will definitely revisit if I ever make the decision to fly with Qantas again.
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