MY SAVVY TRAVELLER

Insider news, views & reviews

New Qantas LAX Lounge Includes Beach-side Fire pit

Los Angeles - Qantas - along with OneWorld partners Cathay Pacific Airways and Britih Airways - have opened a new business class lounge at Los Angeles International designed “to reflect the culture of California”. As well as regular lounge facilities such as showers and workstations, it features mid-century US furniture and, drawing on the city’s thriving “food-truck” scene, offers dishes such as cod tacos and chicken wings served from carts. Most eye-catching is the designers’ interpretation of a beachside fire pit – a large circular fireplace, with an artificial fire that emits vapour to mimic smoke, around which passengers can “relax and socialise”. 

Customers can also enjoy an enhanced buffet, faster WiFi, new workstations and nine shower suites with Aurora Spa amenities. From today the lounge will accommodate 400 customers. Upon completion of all phases in early 2015, it will offer seating for 600 customers. This combined with the new world-class Qantas First Lounge, will be more than double the size of the former space.

Renowned Qantas Chef Neil Perry has designed the new menus based on signature Qantas Lounge favourites, with influences of multicultural Los Angeles including Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Korean and US West Coast street food.

Qantas has partnered with Sofitel to offer a service experience consistent with the standards across its Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong and Singapore lounges. The service includes a hosted experience for customers travelling in First, Platinum Frequent Flyers and oneworld Emerald members with exclusive services including shirt pressing, shoe shining and priority access to showers.

Upon completion the Business Lounge will also include seven additional shower suites bringing the total to 16, a Family Zone and a dedicated dining area. Customers in the dining area will be offered a daily plate choice with matching premium wine or beer and able to enjoy Qantas signature dishes from an additional buffet area.

A new world class Qantas First Lounge accommodating over 200 customers will open in Los Angeles in line with the completion of the Los Angeles Business Lounge. While the new Qantas First Lounge refurbishment is in progress, Qantas, Cathay Pacific and British Airways First and premium tier Frequent Flyers will use the new Los Angeles Business Lounge.