[Kiwi Flyer]

Yesterday was the first day this lounge was open. It looks and smells brand new. By sheer coincidence I happened to be flying out of TBIT yesterday.

There is a shuttle bus to & from gate 118 (very close to the right hand screening point) every 5 to 10 minutes in the evening (not sure of frequency at other times of day), and it takes about 5 minutes to reach the lounge depending on aircraft movements. So if have less than 30 minutes before boarding don't bother with a lounge visit - it isnt worthwhile. You need an invitation card to access the shuttle - no card no access regardless of what your boarding pass says. This also means you can't do multiple visits, since the invite card is removed before you board the shuttle.

Looks like about 400 chairs, all laid out closely in a big open plan with one corner partly screened off from the rest. There are 4 or 5 computer terminals with an outrageous internet charge of $0.25 per minute, minimum $3.

All plates, utensils and cups are plastic - yuk. Food is low quality - chips, cheese and crackers, mini sandwiches (mostly grilled vege flavour), small selection of fruit. Drink quality is low - eg cheap local sparkling wine in 187ml bottle instead of champagne, Johnnie Walker Red, etc. No drink chits needed and all self serve (so no tips needed either).

While it wasn't too busy when I was there (for one of the earliest evening departures) with maybe 150 people, I could imagine it getting claustrophobically busy in peak travel periods.

There are toilets but no shower and no bathroom amenities (other than paper towels).

There is only 1 rubbish bin in the public area of the lounge, but staff wander around clearing away the rubbish.

There is no tv or even a monitor showing flight status. Instead when it is time to board someone wanders the lounge with a small blackboard and flight number is written on it, ringing a bell to attract attention! I suggest you don't go to the loo at the wrong time or you'd easily miss it.

Some airlines have ground staff circulating in the lounge. They say expect at least 12 to 18 months, and confirmed that top tier elites who would normally have access to first lounge when not flying first will indeed have to slum it in this interim lounge.

There are no magazines and only a very limited selection and quantity of newspapers.

I hope this info helps. Please ask if I haven't mentioned something you want to know.

[NM]

Where is the lounge located? Is it in another terminal, a hanger, an out-building, or off-airport?

Is there a different lounge facility for those travelling in F?

Will need to remember to stop by the check-in counter at TBI even if you already have your boarding pass issued. Otherwise there won't be any way to collect the invitation.

I suspect if you wanted multiple visits you could come back land-side and ask for another invitation at the check-in counter. I wonder if the airlines are charged by the number of invitations collected at the shuttle b*s?

[dajop]

Originally Posted by NM

Will need to remember to stop by the check-in counter at TBI even if you already have your boarding pass issued. Otherwise there won't be any way to collect the invitation.

Depends on where your boarding pass was issued originally. If flying QF, and got the BP when you checked in for your domestic AA flight to LAX - you'd surely just stay in T4 lounge until time to cross to TBIT? I guess though if connecting from intl flight or a domestic interline partner other than AA you would have to stop at the check in counter.

[Kiwi Flyer]

Originally Posted by NM

Where is the lounge located? Is it in another terminal, a hanger, an out-building, or off-airport?

Is there a different lounge facility for those travelling in F?

Will need to remember to stop by the check-in counter at TBI even if you already have your boarding pass issued. Otherwise there won't be any way to collect the invitation.

I suspect if you wanted multiple visits you could come back land-side and ask for another invitation at the check-in counter. I wonder if the airlines are charged by the number of invitations collected at the shuttle b*s?

Its a new building over by the AA hangars across the taxiway from TBIT. F has different arrangements (someone on FT posted they have shut up one of the landside shops and converted it into a little lounge) - I didn't see it and forgot to ask about it.

Yes they probably charge for each visit.

[NM]

Originally Posted by dajop

Depends on where your boarding pass was issued originally. If flying QF, and got the BP when you checked in for your domestic AA flight to LAX - you'd surely just stay in T4 lounge until time to cross to TBIT? I guess though if connecting from intl flight or a domestic interline partner other than AA you would have to stop at the check in counter.

Indeed I would be planning on using the T4 lounge if the connection came into that terminal. But its also possible that I may head over to TBIT around 30 mins prior to scheduled boarding only to find the flight delayed. But I guess that is unlikely for the evening QF departures to MEL, BNE and AKL since the aircraft have been waiting at LAX for most of the day. Its mainly QF10LATE that is a schedule problem and it leaves from T4 anyway.

[Shano]

I also used the "new" J class lounge at TBIT yesterday.

I checked in at Denver for QF94 and was issued with an AA branded BP which clearly displayed "EMERALD". At TBIT I went to the QF check-in area to inquire about the location of the interim lounge and they issued me with a new BP and lounge invitation. As mentioned previously in this thread it appears that an EMERALD or BUSINESS BP will not gaurantee entry.

I got to the lounge at about 9:45pm and there would have been no more than about 80 people in the lounge at that time.

I was "interviewed" by a QF staff member in the airbridge while boarding flight QF94 about the standard of the lounge. My main comments where that as a temporary lounge it was OK, although considering the trouble they have gone to with the interim building that shower facilities would have been nice. It certainly is a lot bigger than the "old" shared business class lounge at TBIT. Food and drink quality (or lack of) as mentioned by Kiwi Flyer are on par with the old terminal lounge. Hopefully this will be improved upon when the new lounge opens.

[Kiwi Flyer]

For some reason shano I thought you were flying on the same day as me (albeit later flight). I did look out for any FT tags but didn't see any. The lounge layout is not conducive to checking bag tags though.

[Shano]

Kiwi Flyer, I have confused myself with travel dates. My flight departed on the 10th, so that is not actually yesterday.

I got caught up in the bar in the check-in hall prior to my flight with an old friend that was arriving into LAX and then transferring to a domestic flight, so I did not get to the lounge until quite late. you are right, it is not an easy lounge to try and find someone, especially if you are looking specifically for luggage tags.

[Kiwi Flyer]

I was probably gone by then

[Shano]

I suspected you might have so it was not a very thorough search of the lounge