Malaysia Airlines will close its Golden Lounge at Sydney International Airport this week, with passengers being redirected to Qantas' first class and business class lounges.
A spokesperson for Malaysian Airlines confirmed this week's closure to Australian Business Traveller, but was unable to advise if the Golden Lounges at Melbourne and Perth airports might also close in the future.
The decision to shutter the Sydney lounge from March 15th comes less than six weeks after MAS added a third daily flight between Sydney and Kuala Lumpur on February 3rd.
The move is believed to be part of a cost-saving drive at MAS, as it's cheaper for the airline to pay Qantas a 'lounge access' fee on a per-passenger basis than to run a dedicated lounge to support its own flights.
Malaysia Airlines passengers have in fact been entitled to use the Qantas lounges since February last year, following MAS' entry into the Oneworld alliance to which Qantas also belongs.
MAS has long been weighing up the viability of operating its own lounges in airports where Oneworld partner airlines already have a strong lounge presence.
MAS Enrich Platinum members will enjoy entry to the Qantas First lounge, while Enrich Gold and business class passengers will find the welcome mat rolled out at the Qantas Business lounge.
The airline says that its Enrich Golden Lounge Access vouchers can also be redeemed at the Qantas Business lounge.
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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.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 May 2012
Total posts 580
I suspect they'll keep the Perth lounge open (or possibly use the Emirates lounge as a contract lounge instead) since Qantas will probably close their lounge after pulling the Perth to Singapore flight.
I doubt Qantas would continue to operate it for those Jetstar passengers with status, and for their seasonal flights to Auckland I'd expect to see passengers directed towards the Emirates lounge.
12 Feb 2013
Total posts 47
Wouldn't it be ideal if Cathay Pacific took over that space and converted it to one of their own lounges given there are 4 flights from Sydney each day? Like other outports where Cathay Pacific has its own lounges in London, San Francisco and Vancouver. But this is probably wishful thinking given rent at Sydney Airport isn't cheap and the fact there already is a Qantas one.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2011
Total posts 732
David: Is EY taking over the space for their lounge or have they secured another spot already?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2563
KG: I believe Etihad's lounge is in a different location, see https://www.executivetraveller.com/etihad-to-open-sydney-airport-lounge-in-may.
30 Aug 2013
Total posts 438
Why would any airline want to run their own lounge when there's already a partners flagship lounges operating? Do they think they can do better?
19 Jun 2012
Total posts 30
Perth is a weird case as there is no home airline there with a bulk of the flights.
I believe the QF lounge still hosts Air NZ, Cathay, Qatar, Air Mauritius, Thai, Garuda, South African and maybe China Southern, so while it will soon host no QF flights it can still be a busy lounge.
Not sure if some of these airlines can/will move to the Virgin Lounge in their pier once it opens later in the year?
EK have their own lounge and with the A380 gate coming on line presumably they'll want to integrate with that. Perhaps the way forward would be a combined EK & QF lounge? They're already adjacent to each other...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Nov 2011
Total posts 243
I say closing the Sydney Lounge is better since there hasn't been any significant upgrade on it for a long time. Also, with QF flogging superior product, no need to compete since MAS lounge caters for their flights mostly that runs 3 times a day and probably closed outside their departure times out of SYD. It won't be fully utilised throughout the day.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
I'm just curious. What arrangement would MH have with QF to ensure the dietry needs of MH customers are considered?
While this is a fantastic move, I know of some people who would be somewhat put off.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Nov 2011
Total posts 243
You would like some Malaysian delicacies served e.g. satays and rotis?
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3006
Hi Sagidec,
I'm talking about halal dietary needs.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
Typo
"The move is believed to be part of a cost-saving drive at MAS, as it's cheaper for the airline to pay Qantas a 'lounge access' free on a per-passenger basis than to run a dedicated lounge to support its own flights."
QFF Gold QC gold
26 Nov 2012
Total posts 56
I purchased lifetime Qantas Club membership in 2002. Me thinks I got ripped off. Lounges are becoming less exclusive and crowded. Where is the MH Lounge? It's not next door to QF is it? If so, time to expand QANTAS!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Jan 2014
Total posts 10
flying MH business class later this week ex-Melbourne - Does this mean I can access the Qantas Business Class lounge there as well?
30 Aug 2013
Total posts 438
Yes, you've been able to do this since MH joined OW last year (why don't people know this?!)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Sep 2012
Total posts 131
I'm wondering, are they also changing the Gate Numbers that MAS use at SYD? The Golden Lounge was / is right next to the 50something gate numbers that I have flown out of SYD with MAS previously.
Or are premium travellers now going to have to walk the 15 miles across Sydney airport from the Qantas BLounge or FLounge when their flight is called?
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
I reckon you're in for that long walk.
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
No great loss, this was a very average lounge if it even made that grade, QF Business lounge is far better. Surprised MAS even waited this long to close it.
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