Qantas First Class Los Angeles Lounge
The Qantas LAX lounge is the best lounge in LAX, and indeed one of the best lounges on the Qantas network. Indeed, it should be on the list of vital First stopovers, anywhere. It is a oneworld lounge, and as such it is also the new British Airways and Cathay Pacific First Class lounge Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Qantas First Class lounge review
The Los Angeles Qantas First Class lounge is one of the best lounges you can find. What a lounge. There is an 80 seat restaurant and bar with an theatre style kitchen and a la carte dining options from a Neil Perry designed menu - yes, him of Sydney's Rockpool restaurant fame. The lounge itself was the first lounge designed by Marc Newson and it has an updated, very contemporary look which more than triples its previous space.
Light, bright, and welcoming, the Qantas First Class LAX lounge includes a very 'local' influence, with Newson selected Californian Knoll furniture, walls made of American oak, a vast marbled floor with Tuscan Carrara, a bar that is nearly 50 feet long and Tai Ping wool carpets from Hong Kong featuring the Qantas First Lounge hexagonal design, which also features in the new Hong Kong and Singapore lounges.
The main body of the lounge has Qantas large white leather armchairs, on a wooden floor, while opposite the vast floor to ceiling windows are large deep red chairs, perfect for a slumber while watching the people go by. Alas, you can't watch planes, as the lounge is enclosed, but it comes closed.
On the inner part of the Qantas Los Angeles First Lounge there is an eye-popping hexagonal carpet, with similar arm chairs but this time in deeper orange.
The bar is on the inner wall of the lounge, and as you might expect it is one long piece of marble - 48 feet long no less - with racks of spirits behind, and the classic smaller bar stools, which are pretty high off the ground. If you are short, you need to use one to climb into another.
The bar is open all day, as is the restaurant, which has classic signature dishes similar to those on offer in the Sydney lounge, including Black Angus steak with chipotle lime butter and lime. There is also a good selection of dishes inspired by the city of Angels; in effect Italian and Mexican dishes.
However if you wish to dine at the seats around the lounge, you can also eat from smaller plates either at the bar or at your seat.
Business facilities are kept pretty low key, with just two private work suites, although you can book these free of charge, plus seven shower suites featuring Australian Aurora Spa products.
Passengers travelling in first class have Qantas hosts meet that at the check-in desk, fast-track them through security and also see them off at a dedicated first class boarding lane.
Food
The Qantas Los Angeles First Lounge includes a 74-seat restaurant with a view to the open-style kitchen.In addition to seasonal updates the menu will include signature dishes including Black Angus minute steak with chipotle butter and lime; LA-inspired cuisine including Mexican, Korean and Italian dishes; and favourites from the First Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne, such as the Salt and Pepper Squid.
Passengers will also be offered a selection of individually prepared small plates in the lounge and bar area, while enjoying a view of the open-style kitchen. This however is a bit of a pain: the noise from the kitchen can be considerable!
Bar
A stand-out feature of the Los Angeles Qantas First Lounge is the dining room's 48 foot-long bar for dining and enjoying cocktails.
These include Mezcal Margaritas! And just look at the rack of spirits. There is a special cocktail list - just ask.
The bar offers almost as good a wine selection as the Qantas First Class lounge in Sydney, but with some Californian wines for good measure, as well as ones from New South Wales and Victoria.
There are also premium Australian and Californian wines and champagne. Ask at the bar, and they often have a bottle of 'something special' for their most premium of passengers.
Beer, by contrast, is pretty pedestrian. Heineken is on draft. VB is in cans.
Bathrooms
In the Los Angeles Qantas First Lounge there are seven shower suites featuring Australian Aurora Spa products.The shower suite is in the far corner of the dining area, around the corner, and around again.
The shower staff hand out towels - amenities are in the showers themselves.
Business Facilities
There are surprisingly no computers in the lounge.However the Los Angeles Qantas First Lounge also sports fast and free WiFi with wireless printing plus two private work suites which travellers can book free of charge.
Access
To access the Qantas Los Angeles First Lounge eou'll need to be booked into first class on Qantas, British Airways and Cathay Pacific flights, or be a top-tier Emerald member of any Oneworld airline's frequent flyer program, including Qantas Platinum and Platinum One, BA Executive Club Gold and CX Marco Polo Diamond.Thanks to the brand new airside connection between the international TBIT terminal, and the domestic Terminals 3 and 4, you can also access the Qantas First LAX Lounge on domestic American Airlines itineraries, and also on the American Airlines international flights, so long as you have oneworld Emerald status.
There is no pay-in access, no access to Qantas Club (who can use the Business lounge next door), and no access if you don't have a First Class ticket or oneworld emerald status.
Video: Qantas First Class Lounge
