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.