Luxe make-over for Melbourne Airport's T2 international terminal

Would benefit more if they pull many of the lounges out of the basement.

In other international cities they build world class terminals designed to cater for the future; in Melbourne and Sydney they simply upgrade the shops.

Doesn't address the main issues with T2, such as landside is a zoo both in departures and arrivals, insufficient gates for peak times, dark lounges under concourse with no natural light and a terrible arrivals hall.  

So instead of going back to the grass roots reasoning for an airports existence, (you know: facilitating efficient passenger movement, coping with increasing traffic etc.) and continuing the growth and upgrades there; they've chosen to focus on trying to recreate Chadstone. For all those times I've though: 'I must get my mate a present, let's go hang out at the airport'.

Got to say I agree with most of the above. The last thing I think on my way through T2 is 'this needs more shops and duty free'. The eating areas alone make me endlessly grateful for lounge access. The seating is inadequate also. Give the boarding areas, gates and lounges the attention. People care more about that than stocking up on perfume that's usually cheaper online. 

I usually go as fast as I can past all those shops avoiding the perfume sprayers and head straight up to the new EK lounge, tranquility and luxury.

This really is rather depressing news. The terminal needs a complete and total rebuild, not just an extra bit of retail space to sell some more tat! If even Heathrow can make Melbourne looks really, really, bad... you know something has gone badly wrong. Pump some money into a new terminal building, and a rail line to the airport, and finally we might get a terminal to be proud of!

While any improvement is welcome, Reeve35's suggestion above does seem a very good one. Ifsydney is reaching capacity (until the mythical 2nd airport is built) it would seem from a good busines pov to grow melbourne, not just put a little more lipstick on the pig.

A little too late for the T2 Upgrade?  It is way overdue!!  Melbourne should be renamed from a moving city to backward city!

I don't mind the shops actually. A good way to train yourself to put the blinkers on as you make your way to the lounges. A little bit of brisk walking before a flight is always good. I'm not going to fall for the trap - I'll leave that for the sad tourist stocking up on instant formula/milk. 

I'm trying to imagine someone from Melbourne Airport Corp passing through Immigration & Customs at, say, Changi & thinking 'Well, this is great but our highest priority is to upgrade the shopping at MEL'

Will improve elements, but nothing on BNE's resent major upgrade and light years away from Changi.

Wonder if this will include the revamp that was announced back in October 2014 with new outdoor areas etc ??

As if walking through the shops after security wasn't enough already...

Like putting lipstick on a pig, it is. And it's all aimed at Chinese tourists. Rubbish.

All the above. Plus my bugbear and that is no train service into Melbourne.  I don't fly regularly from Melbourne international and the last few trips were on the late Qantas A380 service. The QF lounge is pretty dismal allied to the general tired look and feel. Sydney or Brisbane are streets ahead 

You mean, more shops.  That's all this is about.  What they do need is to start on a new international terminal..  The current one is just adequate, international air travel is going to continue to increase and Melbourne is growing.  

The bin-tang singlet set will love this! Any room for a casino?

This is disappointing that they decide to focus on more shopping options instead of realising the more crucial issue of the mess that is the landside area. From the pedestrian crossing mess (from both a pedestrian AND car perspective), to the mess that is the check-in area, where more and more temporary barriers seem to make any walking space thinner each time, this airport is getting more and more painful to use. There is nothing relaxing, nor pleasant about the experience at MEL.  

Be careful what you wish for with a Melbourne Terminal upgrade - look at T4, all that expense and no Aerobridges! Add in the very long walk with no travellators and it's a terminal to be avoided - particulalry in winter!

Yes, T4 is a disaster but arriving in the dated international T2 with its low ceilings is not much of a joy either.  So far behind Changi it isn't funny, but oh well, at least Melbourne has blaring announcements in Mandarin.