Review: Qantas First Class Lounge LAX

Introduction
Planning & Booking
Qantas First Class Lounge LAX
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After a quick (and totally acceptable) overnight at the Sheraton Gateway LAX, we woke up around 6AM for our 9:40 AM departure.  We showered, packed, and headed downstairs to find the hotel shuttle bus waiting for us.  We arrived at the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) around 6:45 which was perfect timing since Cathay's check in desk opens 3 hours prior to departure.  Check in was efficient and the agent was extremely friendly.  She was able to move our seats so that we had a window and an aisle (vs. two aisles).

The airport was absolutely dead and even without pre-check we were both airside within 5 minutes.  This was my first time departing from TBIT and I was blown away.  The airport is gorgeous.  Great to see in the US.

TBIT Departure Hall

More TBIT Departures

We headed up the elevator to the lounges and approached the Qantas First Class Lounge which opened at the end of 2014.  The lounge is supposed to open at 6AM given that the Brisbane flight arrives around that time.  At 7AM the lounge was still not open.  So we waited and waited.  Passengers off the Brisbane flight started to arrive and were hungry, tired, and in need of a shower.  Finally a lounge employee arrived but he could not open the doors.  WTF?  He sent us over to the business class lounge which was just down the hall.  No worries except they weren't setup either.  15 minutes later someone grabbed us and said the first lounge was open.  We grabbed our things and made our way down the hall again.  Except the lounge was still closed!  By this time, passengers off the Brisbane flight were pissed.  Finally, around 7:30AM the lounge opened.  Apparently the (only) check-in agent was late to work.  Not that big of a deal for us but if I was paying $10,000+ for a first class ticket, I would be pretty upset.

The lounge is really pretty.  Tons of natural light (although no tarmac views) and seating areas to choose from.  

Sweet Qantas logo

Entrance to the Qantas First Class Lounge LAX

There is an open kitchen, sit-down restaurant, substantial bar area, and showers.

Tons of seating

More seating options

Qantas red seating

Long bar

Dining

More dining seating

No tarmac views but lots of natural light

We each had a couple of glasses of Champagne to get the morning going while we caught up on email.  A little before 9AM we headed for the gate for our ride to Hong Kong.   While we didn't have a ton of time to enjoy the space, I could see why some are calling this the best lounge in the US.  Hopefully we'll have more time to enjoy the lounge on our next trip!