Emirates opens new Melbourne Airport business, first class lounge
By David Flynn, January 12 2016
Qantas partner Emirates has opened a new lounge at Melbourne Airport for the airline's first class, business class and top-tier Skywards frequent flyers.
Located adjacent to the 'old' Emirates lounge, atop the escalators near Gate 10 on Level 3, it's substantially larger – with room for up to 241 passengers – and sports a refreshed design, along with views across the airfield.
Qantas Frequent Flyers holding either a Gold and Platinum card can also use the new Emirates lounge, provided they're booked onto an Emirates or Qantas flight. The same goes if you're flying in first class or business class with Qantas.
While the Qantas First Lounge remains Melbourne's best airport lounge it'll be interesting to see how the new Emirates lounge stacks up against the rather more staid Qantas Business Lounge for Qantas business class passengers and Gold frequent flyers.
The 'gourmet buffet' offers a selection of hot and cold dishes including waffles and French toast for breakfast; teriyaki salmon, chicken satay and fish and chips for snacks; and lamb cutlets, prawn salads, curries and chicken Schnitzel for dinner.
The lounge's bigger footprint will alleviate crowding when Emirates upgrades its Melbourne-Singapore-Dubai service from a Boeing 777-300ER to an Airbus A380 in March.
Emirates runs three daily Melbourne-Dubai flights, including one direct daily A380 service plus flights to Dubai via Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, as well as a daily Melbourne-Auckland leg its flagship A380.
Melbourne Airport is likely to see two more new lounges this year, with Etihad Airways opening a new premium lounge as part of expansion plans which include the debut of its Airbus A380 on the Melbourne-Abu Dhabi route, plus a slick new facility from Air New Zealand.
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
18 Nov 2015
Total posts 117
I was actually underwhelmed by the Melbourne First Lounge. I'll try the Emirates lounge on my next trip if I tore through Melbourne. Nothing beats the Emirates First Lounge at Dubai. The food is true restaurant high quality. Even the Qantas Sydney First Lounge food isn't that amazing. It's really just good cafe type food IMO.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
14 Feb 2014
Total posts 33
well said @traveller99
03 May 2013
Total posts 684
I'd strongly disagree. The Emirates lounges can be come zoo's as they are not exclusive enough allowing Gold Plat J and F class pax. Other than Duba,i EK lounges are average in terms of atmosphere & seating. Food is above average but I'd personally prefer the QF SIN HKG lounge experiences at that level. Needless to say the exclusivity, serene atmosphere, food, service and spa of the MEL F lounge are unbeatable. SYD is great too but looses a little atmosphere wise due to size and greater volume of pax.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
Where exactly is this new lounge? As you go up the escalators, on the right is the EK lounge and on the left is the QF lounge. There is no more space for a new lounge adjacent is there? Unless the new lounge is within the old lounge? i.e. QF Domestic Business Lounge.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
I was in the Emirates lounge last month and there was no sign of a lounge being redeveloped within, is this a whole new lounge, different location perhaps. Only know the 2 lounges up those escalators, Qantas left, Emirates right.
17 Feb 2012
Total posts 121
What an odious little remark from you traveller99. The Sydney and Melbourne Qantas First lounges are some of the best globally and whilst don't contain the garish chintz of their Emirates partners and the all-you-can-eat-until-you-vomit buffet stations, they do have one very important element - class.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
@whipper, the negative tally speaks for itself. There is no need to go there. If anything, the free publicity will mean a less crowded experience for the rest of us!
18 Nov 2015
Total posts 117
An "odious" remark? Definition: "extremely unpleasant; repulsive". A measured quick review of the Qantas First Lounge at Sydney and Melbourne airport is "repulsive" to you? Anyway, I stand by my comment. There is some class to the Qantas First Lounge at Sydney and Melbourne airport, but no more so than the same class of a restaurant or bar in a decent 5 star hotel. Perhaps I am a bit spoilt now having been able to use the Sydney lounge a number of times (as I am Platinum) but I find the food offering not equal to the service and atmosphere. As I said, the service and atmosphere is akin to a good 5 star hotel, but I find the food relatively average. It is definitely not comparable to a good restaurant. It is akin to a good suburban cafe in my opinion. If I was paying for First Class, I would be expecting the Emirates Dubai First Class Lounge.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Aug 2014
Total posts 13
We must be visiting a different Dubai. The food in the Emirates First Lounge is average and the fawning but again average service matches it. That leaves aside the bathrooms which must be most underwhelming for first lounges i have ever been in. Lots of granite very squeezy and no functionality.
The real reason for visiting the Dubai First Lounge is the excellent wine they serve. Best to spend your time there and leave the food to Qantas!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Jun 2014
Total posts 34
I agree with all you comments magpie
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 Feb 2015
Total posts 124
The only major pleasure of the EK F lounge in DXB is the smoking lounge. No glass cupboard just a lounge chair and an ash tray
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
What a sad state of affairs when a lounge ten times the size of Qantas Sydney Lounge has as it's saving grace an area you can smoke in.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 May 2017
Total posts 4
Great lounge, I'm flying QF J at the end of the month will I have access to the Emirates lounge?
06 Dec 2014
Total posts 27
I tried both the J and F lounges at Dubai and was also underwhelmed. J in T3 concourse B was overcrowded, the food was bland and the long queue for the toilets was solved by me going down into the main concourse.
27 Jul 2017
Total posts 17
Tried accessing this lounge the other day when booked on Qantas in J to Narita. The guy at the front desk denied me access as he said that I wasn't on an EK codeshare flight. Couldn't really argue my case as I don't know what the official rules are. Are they anywhere on the EK or QF websites?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2019
Total posts 11
Travellers99 I respect your opinion & I dont claim to an expert and haven’t been to that many lounges I have a different view. I flew on an Emerites flight Melb to Singapore 1st Class on a QF Flight number . this was pre COVID 2019. I was amazed by all aspects of the Melbourne Qantas First Class lounge ,, Service , Food & wine ,,,Massage etc. As I checked in early I also checked what was then the Emirates Buiness Lounge and while it was excellent and possibly in the top 3 of the next best lounges. I also liked the now defunct Hong Kong Lounge … anyway safe travels and enjoy what ever lounge you are in ,cheers
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