United Airlines has permanently shut the doors to its sole Australian United Club lounge in Melbourne Airport’s international terminal, in favour of using the lounges of Star Alliance partners Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand.
UA's BusinessFirst (business class) passengers, Star Alliance Gold cardholders and paid-up United Club lounge members on the airline's Melbourne-Los Angeles flights can make use of SQ's SilverKris lounge Sundays through Fridays and Air NZ's Koru lounge on Saturdays.
That's because United's Saturday flight, UA99, departs early in the afternoon – rather than mid-morning as it does throughout the week – at which time the Singapore Airlines lounge will have closed.
A spokesperson for United Airlines confirmed the changes to Australian Business Traveller, adding that "(United Club) members and eligible customers will continue to receive premium service and amenities provided via our Star Alliance members."
The Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand lounges both offers travellers shower facilities and free WiFi, with SQ's facility often providing a wider variety of hot food and Air NZ's lounge boasting a pool table, a TV 'sports area' and tarmac views:
The Kiwi carrier’s lounge is also second in line for planned refurbishments following Brisbane, and under the Star Alliance lounge rules can too be used by United passengers throughout the week if desired.
There are no changes for passengers flying with United from Sydney to Los Angeles and San Francisco, who have access to Air NZ’s superb new Sydney Airport lounge.
Also read: United Airlines shutters worldwide Priority Pass lounge access
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Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
06 May 2013
Total posts 10
No... Another lounge for priority pass disappeared. Looks like CNS to be the only airport that offer lounge access to PP card.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2441
All of United's lounges were removed from the Priority Pass program in mid-May (see the linked article at the bottom of the copy for more information), but yes, Cairns is all that's left for the time being!
Air China - Phoenix Miles
20 Dec 2012
Total posts 105
It has been removed from Priority Pass list since last month.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Sep 2014
Total posts 84
Can't believe this didn't happen sooner. Keeping a lounge open for one flight a day (especially when you have alliance partners with far better lounges) always seemed odd.
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1251
Yep, makes sense.
24 Oct 2011
Total posts 160
The question is, which airline will take up the vacated space to launch their own lounge? EY?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Sep 2014
Total posts 84
Talk is that EY will be moving into the new lounge space that will be opening soon.
"New airline lounges, bussing and transit facilities are being constructed within the international terminal."
https://melbourneairport.com.au/news-events/news-events-archive/2015/melbourne-airport-projects-update-issue-16-march-2015-1677.html
14 Apr 2014
Total posts 46
I think some of the space will be taken up by Air New Zealand with its new upgraded lounge in Melbourne later this year.
I also think this space will be used as the temporary lounge for Air New Zealand while its own lounge is in refurbishment.
QF
11 Sep 2012
Total posts 20
Can I get some advice from the regular internation travellers out of Meloburne- which loungs is better; SQ or NZ? I'm on the United flight in August and I've not used either lounge before, so which is worth using? I'm on Friday flight, so both would be available by my understanding.
VA Platinum
26 Mar 2014
Total posts 117
I'd say the SQ lounge is better than the NZ lounge for hot food. NZ lounge does have some nice little sandwiches I'm a fan of. I prefer the NZ lounge for the views out the window to see whats happening underneath all the A380's usually parked there. (Depending on time of day) The SQ lounge feels a little claustrophobic and dark in that way as there is no windows to "outside."
Why not try both if you have the time?
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 735
The NZ lounge is better in my opinion. It's larger, a wider variety of seating, much better view, more light, better coffee (a real killer for me -- SQ lounge only has a Nespresso machine while NZ at least has a reasonable push-button espresso machine -- still no barista service though), and I just think it's generally got a much better atmosphere.
Does SQ have better food? I've only been to the SQ lounge at breakfast time when it's a fairly uninspiring array of bacon and dumplings. The NZ lounge has a pretty decent selection any time of day though.
Also the NZ lounge has a pool table. I've never actually played pool with anyone there, but it's nice to know it exists.
Seriously though, given the choice I'd take the NZ lounge 100% of the time.
QF
11 Sep 2012
Total posts 20
Thanks Gian & Hugo, I appreciate your comments. As someone who loves to walk about the terminal looking for a good view of the tarmac, I might park myself in the NZ lounge, unless it's too busy.
Also, can't get over all my own spelling mistakes in my first post. Whoops...
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
04 Sep 2012
Total posts 136
Ugh great; now the NZ lounge is going to get even busier.
But I'm not surprised as having a lounge for only 1 daily flight seemed rather silly.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
Makes perfect sense. I don't know why airlines double up. It's not cost effective, inefficient and wasteful. Personally I think airlines in an alliance should act together when negotiating with airports to ensure better cost outcomes and keep airports on their toes. Far too any airports have it easy, particularly privatised ones, when initial capital outlay has already been borne by the state.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1518
Especially so in Melbourne where international transit almost absent. So I cannot agree more - for that quick max 30min booze before flight generic lounge is good enough. YMMV.
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 466
Just be lucky they have the use of a Lounge of their partners.Back in the day with my family I flew Continental to the USA so make it about the late eighties and we had to make do with the facilities of Qantas which was no bad thing but it would have been nice to have had a Presidents Club at Melbourne.
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