Interestingly, the Qantas International First Lounge Los Angeles (LAX) is one of the most divisive lounges in the USA. Some love it. Some call it extremely overrated. After my recent visit, I can understand both sides, though I give the lounge high marks overall.
Qantas International First Lounge LAX Review
Ask some about this lounge and they will wax eloquent about the a la carte dining, great coffee, and posh space. Ask others and they will bemoan the lack of buffet, weak showers, and the sterile feeling of the lounge. Let’s unpack the enigma of this lounge.
Hours + Access + Location
This lounge is located on Level 5 of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) at LAX. If you are entering the secure side of the terminal via the Bradley Terminal, head upstairs one level once you clear security and you will find the lounge down the hall on the left. If you are walking over from Terminal 4, as you cross into TBIT do not take the escalator downstairs. Instead, stay left, walk past the pet relief area, and once you turn, you will be there.
It is open daily from 6:30 am until about boarding time for the last Qantas flight departure of the day, currently about 9:30 pm.
Access is reserved for:
- oneworld international first class customers
- oneworld Emerald members
- Alaska Airlines and American Airlines Emeralds can only access when flying on an intercontinental itinerary (Mexico City flights used to be exempt, but this does not appear to be the case any longer)
- Other oneworld Emerald members can access the lounge when traveling on any oneworld flight in any cabin of service (for example, even on domestic American Airlines flights in economy class)
- Air France First Class guests departing from Los Angeles (this because the SkyTeam-affiliated Korean Air lounge is so dismal)
All with eligible access can take in one guest (Qantas frequent flyers are allowed to take in their immediate family members), except for Air France First Class guests.
Design + Seating
Unique features of this lounge include:
- Californian Knoll furniture
- American oak walls
- Tuscan Carrara marbled floors and 48-foot-long bar
- Tai Ping wool carpets from Hong Kong featuring the signature Qantas hexagonal design
The seating area is not very private, with rows of chairs facing each other with limited space between them. In all my years visiting this lounge, though, I have never seen the lounge crowded. Proceed back further for a huge dining area and that’s really the extent of the lounge.
There are no tarmac views and while natural light proceeds indirectly through a glass wall that look up to skylights in the terminal outside, the lounge does have a bit of dark feel.
For VIPs, there are two private rooms toward the front of the lounge.
Food + Drink
You will not find a buffet in the lounge. Instead, a Neil Perry-inspired menu a la carte menu is offered in a restaurant area that comprises a substantial portion of the lounge.
Seating is self-serve and once seated, a Sofitel-trained waiter or waitress will approach you to present a menu and eventually take your order. The menu includes a number of appetizers, main courses, and desserts as well as a cocktail and wine list. It changes quarterly, though changes were minimal in 2022 and certain signature items like the Black Angus steak or salt and pepper squid will always be on the menu.
I ordered a “Pimms Cup No. 78” cocktail to start dinner (Pimms No. 1, rose vermouth, gin, lemon, mint, ginger ale, and cucumber).
Everyone seems to love the salt and pepper squid, but not me – I’m not going to order it for the sake of ordering it or because every other blogger does. I generally try to avoid fried food and I am not a squid fan, but thankfully there are many options on the menu.
To start dinner, I ordered jalapeño and avocado humus with pico de gallo off the “plant-based dining” sub-menu. It was very nice.
Next, I ordered a bowl of cauliflower soup, which was delicious (with almond dukkah, a spice blend that originated in the Middle East, and parsley oil).
Next, I ordered a wild rocket (arugula) salad topped with parmesan cheese.
For my main course, I chose the “Black Angus minute steak” with chipotle butter and French Fries. Here, I was disappointed. Granted, this was not a steakhouse, but the steak was cooked too long (I did not send it back) and it did not taste like a high-quality cut.
I was still hungry and ordered the Adobo chicken, served with a freekeh salad on the side (a green grain made from young durum wheat which is roasted or smoked then polished to remove the shells).
This was a much better dish.
Next, I enjoyed a delicious seasonal fruit plate. The fruit was ripe and sweet…you remember those days when you could only get fruit when locally in season?
Finally, I ordered the “Burnt Basque cheesecake” with strawberry salsa and pistachios for dessert a long with a flat white.
I cannot tell you how good or bad the cheesecake was, however, because it was frozen so solid I could not eat it…
Do ask your waiter or waitress to thaw out the cheesecake when you arrive, though…
A note on the coffee: it is AMAZING and easily the best feature of this lounge. With a beautiful coffee machine and coffee from Vittoria of Australia, you can always count on a nice cup of coffee in this lounge.
Restrooms + Showers
Restrooms are available in both the front and rear of the lounge. In the rear, showers are also available. I did not take a shower during my visit, but others have complained the pressure is not great (this is already difficult in California, where pressure is regulated due to water conservation efforts). The shower suites have white tiles and are spartan in design.
Shower suites include Aurora Spa amenities.
This lounge does not have a spa.
Service
Staff are lovely here (I find this to the case in all Qantas lounges). Front desk staff wear Qantas uniforms while the dining staff are from Sofitel. I appreciate that you can come in here and be consistently warmly greeted at the door, then promptly assisted in the restaurant. I find this an ideal lounge experience versus getting up and down to eat from a buffet.
CONCLUSION
The Qantas First Class Lounge remains one of my favorites in the USA. Compared to the American Airlines Flagship lounge or the next-door oneworld business lounge, I think this lounge wins because of the combination of a la carte dining and great coffee. That said, I understand that some appreciate buffets and that the seating offers little privacy. Still, this is a lounge I always look forward to returning to.
Pimm’s cup! Sounds yummy without the alcohol, which I guess make it your Prims cup! And I think you meant wild rocket (arugula) salad. Food looks great
“ I was still hungry and ordered the Adobo chicken, served with a freekeh salad on the side ” Holy s..t!!!! What an appetite!!!
Wait till you see the JAL F review…
LOL!!! Everything that goes in, has to come out.
Typical american pig, stuffs themselves as long as they arent paying
Lol. Usually people making statements like this are the porkers who cannot control themselves. Seek help James. I know a good nutritionist in Sydney if you could use a referral. We appreciate your bigotry almost as much as we appreciate your clicks. Ha ha ha.
@James: do you mind sharing your nationality? I think the pig here is you that is probably sitting in your basement insulting people just because you are protected by your monitor and keyboard. Get out and seek psychiatric help.
His IP address is coming from Australia. Let’s hope he gets the help that he needs.
James, remember: visualize yourself as a healthy person rather than tell yourself that you need to limit your food consumption. That tends to work better.
This lounge is an example of why Oneworld is the best airline alliance for elite travelers
I’m definitely on the “this lounge is average and overrated”. Food is usually on the meh side (seems like your meal was so so at best?)
No planes to look at, old decor and locker room style shower suites. Thumbs down in my opinion. Those photos of yours DO it justice. Fascinates me why people love it so much but each to their own!
Although I do think there’s some emperors clothes sentiment here (ditto with the Frankfurt first class lounge).
100% agreed. It’s a meh restaurant with lounge-style seating. The bar is good, but everything else is mediocre. Heck, I think the taco bar at the OW Biz lounge is a better offering than most of what’s on the menu at the QF F lounge. And I always giggle when people rave about the fried squid – if it’s even still on the menu. It’s CALAMARI, people. It’s no better than some terrible Italian restaurant in LA. Greasy, lacking in flavor, and basically a vessel for some sort of sauce. Just because it’s free and at the airport doesn’t mean it tastes better. I also dislike that there’s few places to sit and work. I end up taking up a 4-top and getting (marginal quality) dinner while I work on my laptop. The other seating is primary couches and lounge chairs – absolutely not conducive to accomplishing anything.
“I was still hungry”
Diet? What’s that?
I’m not necessarily saying it’s right or wrong but is there any concern that ordering 7 courses (and I assume not eating everything) is taking advantage a bit? It’s a little different when you’re spending $10K+ for a first class ticket on Qantas but at some point when the math doesn’t add up for them they will draw back some of the benefits.
You’ll be happy (or perhaps shocked) to know I ate everything, with the exception of the frozen cheesecake.
Usually I don’t come in to eat seven courses – this was an exception more for the review. Typically, I will have three courses plus coffee.
Of course, this pig is your typical gluttonous american, anything if its free
Visited many times and never heard anyone call it overrated, probably just your snobby mates
I think it’s overrated.
The staff at the entrance seem to delight in denying entry. Even if you are entitled to entry and the lounge is empty. It detracts from the experience to have this entry experience.
It’s overrated but still a very nice lounge. I don’t like the hypnotic carpets especially while weary eyed off a long flight.
Do you have a current list of their champagne offerings? Last time I visited (November 2022), they were out of almost everything and only managed to find one last Nicolas Feuillatte Brut in the back of the cooler.
Thanks for the reviews!
I believe they had Nicolas Feuillatte still. Will find out exactly the extent of options next time I am there.
That’s a really disappointing offering, and certainly a cutback from the three types they used to offer. The Piper they’re serving in the Flag is better than NF!
I do not see how this can be considered “overrated.” It delivers on everything it is marketed to be. It is a calm oasis ahead of one’s flight where one can comfortably relax while ordering a wide-variety of restaurant-quality food and drinks. If one prefers a taco stand then the good news is that if one can enter the Qantas First lounge one can also enter the Qantas Business lounge.