Brisbane’s Plaza Premium Lounge to close
Travellers without frequent flyer status will soon need to find an alternate pre-flight retreat.
By Chris Ashton, April 29 2024
Brisbane International Airport’s independent loungescape is slipping to a single option from May 31, when the hub’s Plaza Premium Lounge shutters its doors for good.
Perched on the mezzanine alongside the Air New Zealand lounge, the space has been the de facto hangout for business class passengers on the likes of Fiji Airways, Korean Air and Vietjet, with travellers gifted with single-use entry pass.
It also unlocked its glass doors to Priority Pass and Lounge Key members, with the intimate pre-flight retreat providing a quiet space to escape the crowds downstairs.
Executive Traveller understands airlines currently using the Plaza Premium Lounge are discussing potential guest arrangements with other lounges.
Reviews of the lounge have been rather hit and miss in recent times.
Plaza Premium’s departure leaves the pay-per-use Aspire Lounge – formerly used by Virgin Australia and enjoying a window-side location near Gate 77 – the sole independent.
And in Executive Traveller’s experience, the lounge is a worthwhile option, featuring a hot and cold buffet plus a broad selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as barista coffee, all for just $63 for three hours.
Brisbane Airport's Aspire Lounge.
Alternatively, the recently-reopened Emirates lounge also welcomes paid entry, though it is considerably more expensive at USD$155 (~AUD$237) for non-Skywards members and USD$125 (~AUD$191) for Skywards members.
However, the good news is the Plaza Premium Lounge won’t stay empty for long, with the space to undergo renovations and re-open under another operator. No fixed timeline has been set.
“While it is sad to see the closure of the lounge in this current format, we are excited the area is about to undergo renovation,” confirms Brisbane Airport spokesperson Peter Doherty.
“With its prime location and view of the tarmac, we’re confident that it will remain a cherished spot for travellers once it returns.”
Plaza Premium’s imminent departure leaves Brisbane with a total of five international lounges, namely Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Emirates and Aspire.
09 Sep 2023
Total posts 5
Whole airport is dreadful: avoid.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 382
Why do you say that? Luckily for you a significant upgrade is due to commence.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 May 2013
Total posts 139
Compared to Sydney, Brisbane airport is a breeze to transit or clear security or immigration. It is far more spacious too.
09 May 2020
Total posts 570
Only because of the low volume of international flights even pre COVID compared to Sydney and Melbourne, and even lower post COVID (30% of pre pandemic, compared to Sydney which is 50%, according to 2022 stats), which explains faster processing. Once the traffic gets anywhere near 2019 levels, the inadequacies and lack of planning in their design and location of these areas really shows.
I remember a time pre COVID when the security screening is so slow that the queue is backlogged to the descending escalator.
25 Sep 2019
Total posts 4
back on topic: i wonder where china airlines business class passengers will get to go once this lounge is closed.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 May 2019
Total posts 5
It’s an awful lounge to visit as seats are not comfortable and limited food options. I also wonder what will happen to CX customers for their midnight departure since Qantas lounge were shut around 10pm too.
08 Nov 2020
Total posts 2
Any intel on whether VA will take this space and open a new lounge for their own ops + Qatar / Air Canada etc?
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