Review: Qantas’ temporary Sydney international business class lounge
Here’s what you can expect from the short-term international business class lounge at SYD T1.
By David Flynn, January 20 2026
After years of promises, several shifting timetables and one massive pandemic-induced pause, Qantas is finally building a new Sydney international business class lounge.
With everything from vastly improved dining to an outdoor terrace inspired by the Aussie patio, the space should be worthy of its role as the airline’s flagship business lounge.
A concept image of the new Qantas Sydney International Business Lounge.
That new lounge is slated to open in early 2027, ahead of the start of non-stop ‘Project Sunrise’ flights to London and New York later that year.
And with the lounge now boarded up while construction is underway, Qantas has opened a temporary lounge for the next 12 months.
Location
Qantas’ temporary Sydney international business class lounge is located next to Gate 24 (ironically, this is where the old first class lounge used to be, many many years ago).
Take a straight line through the terminal until you reach the food court.
Finding your way to Qantas' temporary Sydney international business class lounge.
Veer left, between Heinemann Duty Free and McDonalds, and you’ll spy the entry to the temporary Qantas lounge immediately on your right.
Finding your way to Qantas' temporary Sydney international business class lounge.
Access
Open from 5am to 10pm daily, the temporary Qantas business class lounge welcomes business class passengers on Qantas and partner airlines (including Oneworld members) along with Qantas Gold frequent flyers (and their Oneworld Sapphire equivalents) and Qantas Club members.
Qantas' temporary Sydney international business class lounge.
Frequent flyers can also bring eligible guests into the lounge, but due to space constraints, Qantas lounge passes aren’t being accepted.
In addition, to reduce the crush during peak periods, Qantas is sending some travellers to the Plaza Premium and Air New Zealand lounges.
What to expect
With seating for around 300 passengers, this lounge fills up fast (we managed to snap photos without many people only because we visited shortly after the lounge opened at 5am.)
Qantas' temporary Sydney international business class lounge.
And while the footprint is effectively split across two ‘wings’, the open design and poor acoustics means that noise easily carries from one end to the other.
Qantas' temporary Sydney international business class lounge.
There’s no dedicated and suitably-promoted ‘quiet space’ for working, reading or just winding down, where you can escape from the squeals of children or inconsiderate adults making speakerphone calls.
Qantas' temporary Sydney international business class lounge.
Our best advice: bring your noise-cancelling headphones.
Qantas' temporary Sydney international business class lounge.
One unique trait of this lounge is its outlook across the airfield – indeed, one corner is so close to Gate 31 that you could wave to the pilot of any plane parked there.
Qantas' temporary Sydney international business class lounge.
If you’re after a pre-flight bite, the spread seems as lack-lustre as before.
When we visited the lounge before a mid-morning flight, the breakfast buffet selection was sadly familiar.
Qantas' temporary Sydney international business class lounge.
The predictable bacon, eggs, sausages and beans...
Qantas' temporary Sydney international business class lounge.
... alongside cereal, muesli, fruit salad, pastries, DIY toasted sandwiches – you know the drill.
Qantas' temporary Sydney international business class lounge.
Qantas' temporary Sydney international business class lounge.
The barista still pulls a decent cuppa, and you can load cuts of fruit into the juicer.
Qantas' temporary Sydney international business class lounge.
Qantas' temporary Sydney international business class lounge.
And if you need to freshen up, there are four decent showers.
All in all, Qantas’ temporary Sydney international business class lounge is very much an interim solution delivered with obvious constraints, so that should be taken into account before passing judgement.
One thing on which we can all agree – and that includes Qantas and its lounge team – is that the new Sydney international business class can’t come soon enough, so bring on 2027!
Your temporary Qantas lounge alternatives
As mentioned earlier, there’s a chance Qantas may send you to either the Plaza Premium lounge – directly opposite Qantas’ temporary digs – or the Air New Zealand lounge, at the far end of the terminal.
Not that you’ll likely have a choice, but we’d rate the Air New Zealand lounge as the better of those options for the space (the Plaza Premium lounge is exceptionally small) and the superior choice of food and drinks.
You could also consider visiting the Emirates lounge, which is available to Qantas business class passengers, Qantas Gold frequent flyers and Qantas Club members on all QF flights except to North and South America.
This is tucked away in the same distant corner of T1 as the Air New Zealand lounge, but downstairs (across from the American Express Centurion lounge), and boasts a pleasing buffet, a great selection of spirits and the bonus of Champagne.
The catch is that the Emirates lounge is open only from around 4am-8:30am and then 5pm-9pm, making it unavailable for the bulk of Qantas’ flights.
But if those windows match the departure time of your international Qantas flight, the Emirates lounge is the place to be.
Also read: What’s next for Qantas’ 787 business class?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Mar 2013
Total posts 50
Taking into account the limitations of the space and the temporary nature of the lounge, it doesn't seem too awful really.
01 Dec 2012
Total posts 88
The temp lounge actually looks to be a bit sharper than the very tired old lounge - and hey, even the food!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Aug 2015
Total posts 74
We visited here two weeks ago and thought it was better than the old lounge.
5:30 got us a nice seat to watch the planes but the sun can get you later so the blinds are needed but you loose your view. The roaming cart with ham and cheese croissants was a nice touch.
The coffee lady can get real busy but there is a auto machine in the other "wing " with comfier chairs and nice A/C
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Mar 2017
Total posts 18
In regards to the Coffee, can you still use the Skip app?
19 Jun 2020
Total posts 4
Why do they mix Club and business
25 Oct 2010
Total posts 27
"it doesn't seem too awful really" should be Qantas' new brand slogan.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
28 Jun 2019
Total posts 81
I am still surprised QF didn't strike an arrangement with Emirates to open and use their lounge for the majority of the day it otherwise sits closed and empty. Maybe they did and were knocked back. Hard to imagine this multi-pronged approach would be a cheaper option, but it's all speculation and ultimately doesn't matter.
20 Dec 2017
Total posts 27
they did that last year in Auckland with Emirates....but at Sydney's T1 the Emirates' lounge is so far away from nearly all of Qantas's usual gates
QFF
03 Sep 2014
Total posts 16
this is meant to be one of the signature lounges however it is very uderwhelming with a basic offer and very low quality wines for lunch and dinner. Qantas really needs to improve to be on par with other alternatives.
22 Jan 2026
Total posts 1
No it’s not. It’s meant to be a temporary lounge while the “signature lounge” is renovated.
14 Feb 2026
Total posts 1
If you get a spot by the windows and a good view out to the tarmac this interim lounge is actually quite pleasant..... Unfortunately those seats are at a premium and your much more likely to be amongst the the RSL vibes of the rest of the space.
Food is the same as before......good if you like carbs, salads and fruit.
The lighting is horrendous in the section with out food. I'd hate to be in there at night. Think bright white cold flourecent hospital vibes! Such an easy fix fo change.
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