Review: Qantas Airbus A380 . new lounge

Among the standout features of the Qantas A380 superjumbo are the two well-appointed lounges reserved for first class and business class passengers.

Located at the very front of the A380’s upper deck – on either side of the ‘grand staircase’ connecting the upper and main deck – they are quite different from the Emirates and Qatar Airways A380 lounges.

While still serving as a ‘second space’ to get away from your seat and mingle with fellow high-end passengers, the Qantas A380 lounge has a more cafe-style layout with bench seating for 10 people in both lounges.

One of the two top deck lounges of Qantas’ new A380.

With dark green leather sofas, laminated wood walls and soft lighting, the overall effect is a cozy and almost ‘speakeasy’ dinner club atmosphere above the clouds; Completing the picture is the ‘Premium Lounge Menu’ of bespoke cocktails and snacks.

The new lounge adds a social element to the superjumbo flying experience.

This stylish lounge is being installed on ten refurbished Qantas A380s – a multi-million dollar change that also includes premium business and economy class seats, along with refreshments for 14 first-class suites.

It’s a world away from the original Qantas A380 lounge: the uncomfortable long and low red banquet, which in this original concept image even includes a fantastic fish tank mounted on one wall!

This mock-up image includes a circular fish tank on the sidewall…

For Australian designer David Caon, who oversaw the Qantas A380 modernization programme, it was an immediate opportunity to transform a lounge from mere furnishings into a well-considered social space.

“Our lounge should be something where people can sit and face each other and discuss and talk,” said Caon Executive Traveler in the early days of lounge evolution, noted the original configuration saw “everyone sitting along a bench and facing one direction.”

Caon’s new lounge makes the most of the original lounge footprint.

“It’s supposed to be a social space, the kind of space where if two people are traveling together but don’t have to sit together, they can go (to the lounge) and spend time together.”

The upgraded Qantas A380 has one lounge on either side of the upper deck steps.

At work the small cabin crew in left side of the upper deck stairs, additional bench seating area is made…

The ‘secondary’ lounge is perfect for larger groups of travelers.

… flanked by self-contained minibars for drinks and snacks and large video screens for watching inflight movies or the simple pleasures of ‘moving maps’.

Drinks and snacks are available from the self-service corner.

Initial concept sketches explored how the original space footprint could be opened, including removing the magazine rack that used to sit under the video screen.

This initial draft shows the first hints of how the original cramped space can be reconfigured.

“It’s really unnecessary,” Caon explained. “The magazine rack doesn’t reinforce our concept, which is about trying to find a way that we can get people to face each other.”

The Caon team used virtual reality headsets and life-size mockups to bring the two lounges to life.

David Caon’s team used VR and real-world mockups to bring the lounge to life.

Most passengers are drawn to the waiting area to the right of the stairs, which offers two corner seating with a table topped with lamps with soft LED lighting.

The new A380 lounge has proven a success among business class passengers.

In addition, the desk and AC power plug provide a comfortable workspace, especially if you want to collaborate on a proposal or report with colleagues.

Even with the A380s equipped with Qantas Business Suite replacing the old Skybed II seats, it’s still nice to be able to leave your seat and change your personal view and surroundings, especially during long flights.

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