EMIRATES: Australian lounges re-open – Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, not Brisbane

This week sees the reopening of Emirates lounges in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, but not Brisbane. For Brisbane passengers, it’s the Plaza Premium lounge for you, at least for the moment. Indications are that Brisbane will re-open, just not sure when.

Sydney lounge from Tuesday 19 July – 4 to 6 am for EK415 superjumbo, and from 5.10 to 9 pm
Melbourne lounge from Thursday 21 July – 2.15 to 5 am for EK409 superjumbo, and from 5.15 to 9 pm
Perth lounge from Thursday 28 July – 7.20 to 10.20 pm

This re-opening reflects the continued return of Emirates services to Australia

Who gets in

Naturally, it’s Business and First Class passengers who have access to the lounges along with Emirates Skywards Gold and Platinum status frequent flyers. Qantas frequent flyers with equivalent status or above, whether travelling on Emirates or Qantas flights, are also eligible. However, if you have access to the Qantas First lounges in Sydney and Melbourne, that is where I would be heading. If you don’t have access to those, then the Emirates lounges are arguably better than Qantas’ ageing Business class international lounges. And anyway, in the Sydney Emirates lounge, you get to see that weird fake rock water feature.

Emirates Premium Economy is coming

Premium Economy is coming somewhat late to Emirates, but it will be available on services between Sydney and Dubai and between Dubai and London and Paris, commencing 1 August 2022.

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

It’s always good to have lounge options, so while I will head to the Qantas First lounges as long as I have access, the Emirates lounges are a good alternative, especially if your only alternative is the ageing Qantas international business lounges – especially in Sydney.