Emirates reopens Sydney, Melbourne, Perth lounges

The Gulf carrier is finally unlocking the doors of most – but not all – of its airport lounges in Australia.

By David Flynn, July 21 2022
Emirates reopens Sydney, Melbourne, Perth lounges

Emirates reopens its airport lounges in Sydney and Melbourne this week, with Perth to follow next week, in the wake of a ramp-up of flights to Australia in recent months and reflecting the carrier’s confidence in the upwards trajectory of overseas travel.

Emirates looks forward to reopening our own lounges in line with the continued growing demand for international travel,” a spokesperson for the Gulf carrier has told Executive Traveller.

  • Emirates’ Sydney lounge opened on Tuesday July 19; operating hours are 4am to 6am (to accommodate the early morning departure of the EK415 superjumbo) and then from 5.10pm to 9pm
  • Emirates’ Melbourne lounge reopens today, Thursday July 21, from 2.15am to 5am (ahead of the EK409 superjumbo service to Dubai) and then from 5.15pm to 9pm
  • Emirates’ Perth lounge will reopen on Thursday July 28 from 7.20pm to 10.20pm

However, Emirates’ Brisbane lounge will remain closed, with the airline continuing to direct all eligible passengers to the Brisbane Plaza Premium lounge.

Emirates’ timing is in line with an airline spokesperson’s predictions to Executive Traveller in March that  “we expect to re-open our lounges in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in the third quarter of 2022.”

“The re-opening date of our lounge in Brisbane will be confirmed in due course,” the spokesperson added 

All Emirates lounges are open to Emirates business class and first class travellers on the airline, along with Emirates Skywards Gold and Platinum members and – by dint of the Qantas-Emirates partnership – business and first class passengers on Qantas flights, plus Qantas Gold, Platinum and Platinum One members. 

While Qantas first class and Platinum-grade flyers would gravitate towards Qantas’ own first class lounges in Sydney and Melbourne, along with the Perth International Transit Lounge – as all Qantas international flight leave from the same terminal as the trains lounge – Emirates’ Sydney and Melbourne lounges are a solid alternative for Qantas business class and Gold frequent flyers, in comparison to the less-impressive Qantas Business Lounges at both airports.

As previously reported, Emirates will also begin flying its new premium economy class between Sydney and Dubai, along with London and Paris, from August 1.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

09 Feb 2015

Total posts 361

I take it no confirmation that the Emirates Brisbane lounge is undergoing an upgrade David?

20 Oct 2015

Total posts 233

Here's my take on which lounge Qantas flyers should visit in Sydney or Melbourne

* First class, Platinums: Qantas First Lounge, no contest!

* Business class, Golds: Emirates lounges, they have far better f&b than the Qantas business class lounges and are generally less like a 'pub' at peak times.

But as noted in this article the opening times of the EK lounges must match the timing of QF flight, and right now that's not likely as most QF international flights are in the morning through to late afternoon and these EK lounges are only open in the very very early morning and the evening right now.

I definitely agree, except it seems most Qantas passengers have no idea about the reciprocal lounge access arrangement with Emirates. So it's good for articles like this to get the word out. There's absolutely no contest between the QF business class lounges and the EK lounges.

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

12 Apr 2017

Total posts 212

The difference between the Emirates and Qantas business lounge in Melbourne is massive. The Emirates lounge is better in my view compared to the Qantas first in Melbourne. Surely the Melbourne Qantas business lounge will get its long overdue upgrade soon?

XWu
XWu

09 May 2020

Total posts 548

Some poor soul need to come in to open up for just 2 hrs (4-6am) in Sydney lounge?

Hope it’s worth 4 hours pay.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

06 Oct 2016

Total posts 156

They will be dnata employees, so will probably get a full shift across a couple of locations

Still a crap overnight shift in either Sydney or Melbourne


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