Qantas announced the launch of all-new Qantas First Lounge in Los Angeles with seats for more than 200 customers

Sydney, Australia, 2014-12-19 — /Travel PR News/ — Qantas customers travelling from Los Angeles are set to experience a new standard of luxury from this holiday season, following the unveiling of an all-new Qantas First Lounge.

The new spacious and luxurious lounge is based on the flagship multi-award winning Qantas First Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne, providing seating for more than 200 customers and different zones to dine, relax, work and socialise.

It is the first overseas Qantas First lounge to be designed by renowned Australian industrial designer, Marc Newson.

Speaking at a launch event in Los Angeles, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the newest Qantas First Lounge offers what the airline believes is the best on-ground First class experience in North America.

“The new lounge is more than triple the size of the previous space, and the design and service is equal to the world’s best five star hotels and restaurants,” said Mr Joyce.

“Lounges are important to our international customers’ journey, which is why we have drawn on the knowledge of world leading experts like Marc Newson and Qantas Chef Neil Perry to deliver the most luxurious experience before people even step on board.

“This new lounge is symbolic of our continued investment in our customers and commitment to the US market. We are the only airline to operate non-stop A380 services between Australia and the United States, we’ve recently introduced the A380 on services between Sydney and Dallas/Fort Worth and opened a new Business Lounge in LA in June,” added Mr Joyce.

Qantas Creative Designer Marc Newson said he was proud to design Qantas’ First Lounge in Los Angeles.

“The new Qantas First Lounge will give Qantas travellers a beautiful, calm oasis to rest, work or dine, prior to their flight,” said Mr Newson.

Features of the lounge include Californian Knoll furniture selected by Marc Newson, with superior lounge finishes including American oak walls, Tuscan Carrara marbled floors and 48 foot-long bar, and Tai Ping wool carpets from Hong Kong featuring the renowned Qantas First Lounge hex design.

Similar to the flagship First Lounge in Sydney, the new Qantas First Lounge in Los Angeles features a new 74-seat restaurant and bar where customers can dine from a Neil Perry Rockpool designed a la carte menu while enjoying a view of the open-style kitchen.

“We are proud to bring the first Neil Perry restaurant to LA and offer our customers some of their favourite dishes from Neil’s impressive repertoire,” said Mr Joyce.

The new menu will be updated seasonally to take advantage of the best available produce and will offer a mix of signature Rockpool Bar and Grill dishes including Black Angus minute steak with chipotle butter and lime, local LA-inspired cuisine including Mexican, Korean and Italian, and favourites from the First Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne such as the Salt and Pepper Squid.

Customers can also enjoy signature cocktails, such as the Mezcal Margarita available at launch, premium Australian and Californian wines, champagne, ice teas and a full barista service. Lounge hosts will offer a selection of individually prepared small plates in the lounge and bar area.

Qantas has partnered with Sofitel to offer a service experience consistent with the standards across its First Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne. Qantas First Hosts will also provide a personalised service for customers traveling in First, which includes dedicated check-in, fast-track immigration and dedicated boarding.

The new Qantas First Lounge also offers: faster WiFi, wireless printing, cable television, two private work suites and seven shower suites featuring Aurora Spa ASPAR products.

Qantas is the only carrier to operate A380 services between Australia and the US. Qantas will boost services between Sydney and Los Angeles to cater for increased demand over the holiday period, operating an extra B747 service on 18, 19 and 20 December in addition to the scheduled daily B747 and A380 service. From today, Qantas will increase its Melbourne to Los Angeles service from a daily service to ten per week. B747s on the Pacific route are reconfigured, with similar interiors and inflight entertainment found in the airline’s flagship A380 fleet.

Qantas ‘Early Bird Part 2’ fares are available to Los Angeles starting at $1303 return from Sydney and Brisbane to Los Angeles and $1304 from Melbourne to Los Angeles, on sale until 23 December for travel in 2015*. *Visit Qantas.com for travel dates.

About Marc Newson
Marc Newson is an Australian industrial designer and Qantas’ Creative Designer. He has been described as the most influential designer of his generation. He has worked across a wide range of disciplines, creating everything from furniture and household objects to bicycles and cars, private and commercial aircraft, yachts, various architectural commissions, and signature sculptural pieces for clients across the globe.

Marc Newson’s work with Qantas began in 2003 when he designed the first International Business Skybed on the B747 and International A330 fleet. He’s since designed the Qantas A380 seats and interiors, First, Business and Chairmans Lounges, Noritake tableware inflight, and Qantas’ Domestic Faster Smarter Check-in including the bag drop facility and Q Bag Tag.

About Neil Perry
Neil Perry is one of Australia’s leading and most influential chefs.Today he concentrates on his seven restaurants in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth and the newly opened Burger Project in Sydney. He is proud to lead Australia’s most awarded restaurant group with 15 Good Food Guide Chefs Hats across seven dining experiences, and all are in Gourmet Traveller’s Top 50 Restaurant list.

Neil Perry has been consulting to Qantas for 17 years. Qantas’ relationship with Rockpool commenced with the development of First Class in 1997 which led to a new way of cooking and serving Qantas passengers.

Neil heads a team of seven consultants to Qantas Airways. Menus in Qantas’ First and Business Lounges and in flight are developed quarterly, with the team overseeing the implementation and introduction to catering centres at key ports. The Rockpool Consulting team is integral to the food and wine training for all Business and First cabin crew.

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