Adelaide’s Plaza Premium Lounge now open for pre-flight relaxation

Adelaide’s all-new Plaza Premium Lounge has been welcoming lounge-worthy travellers jetting overseas on any airline or class since mid-February. However, it’s now out of its soft-launch phase and has officially opened its doors.

While not tied to any specific airline or alliance, it’s likely to be adopted as the default business class and frequent flyer lounge for many airlines, given it now holds the illustrious honour of being Adelaide Airport’s only international lounge.

The Adelaide Plaza Premium Lounge reception.

This is despite the presence of global carriers such as Air New Zealand, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines. Vietjet has signalled it may be bound for Adelaide too, though says its focus for the rest of the year is boosting its presence in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Located in the international wing of T1, the lounge – described by Plaza Premium as “inspired by the Australian way of life” – is now open seven days a week for the morning rush from 7am to 10am. It’s a very brief window.

Artworks by South Australian artists can be seen throughout the lounge.

Inside, the 532 sqm space seats up to 137 and is divided into dining, lounge and work zones.

Guests enter via a ‘wine corridor’ opening into the main lounge and bar area, where natural finishes of granite, marble and travertine are contrasted by dark timber and gold accents.

Those who’ve purchased one hour entry online for $39, or two hours for $71, can swing by the cocktail bar and barista coffee station, as well as peruse a mix of local and international dishes (vegan and vegetarian options are included) over at the mint-coloured buffet.

A selection of hot and cold dishes are available at the buffet.

As is the case at Plaza Premium lounges in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, American Express Platinum card-holders enjoy complimentary entry to the new pre-flight hangout.

The lounge features a 'resting area' fitted with six cosy booths.

High-speed WiFi and power outlets are supplied for those needing to do work or spool up a few movies before their trip, while a quick shower can also be arranged for an additional fee (with the relevant amenities provided, of course).

Sweet treats, snacks and drinks are available at the self-service buffet.

Other notable changes to Adelaide Airport’s loungescape included the opening of Virgin Australia’s first new-look lounge in early 2021, with work on a new Qantas Business Lounge and invite-only Chairman’s Lounge slated to begin in the second half of 2023.

Plaza Premium Group, which also manages Sydney’s new-look SkyTeam lounge and the American Express Centurion lounges in Sydney and Melbourne, is the world’s first and largest independent airport lounge network, with a footprint spanning over 70 international airports around the world.