Melbourne Airport's international terminal will see its first pay-to-enter lounge with the opening of the new Marhaba lounge on September 12, 2017.
Part of the Marhaba lounge network operated by the Emirates-owned Dnata air services group, passengers who lack access to an airline-specific lounge – most likely because they're not travelling in business or first class, or don't have appropriate frequent flyer status – can pay their way into the lounge for A$65 for up to four hours.
Some airlines will offer access to selected travellers who hold membership in that airline's lounge program but not the appropriately lofty frequent flyer status, and Australian Business Traveller understands the lounge could be added to the Priority Pass network in the future.
With room for 200 travellers, features of the lounge include a buffet, shower suites and a quiet zone.
The wine list boasts "a selection of Australia’s finest wines', according to Dnata, or a shot of Hudson Coffee fro the barista bar for that morning wake-up.
The Marhaba Lounge is open daily from 6am to midnight.
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.
04 May 2015
Total posts 261
Fingers crossed Virgin Australia can sort out access to this lounge for premium passengers flying to Fiji. It's a bit ordinary having to use the VA domestic lounge here in MEL before these flights, compared to the Etihad lounge for those flying to LA and HK!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
Where exactly is this located to be able to have windows? I thought that only available space was being taken by the new AMEX lounge in the old MH lounge space. It's also interesting how Melbourne is going from no priority pass lounge to having 2 of them in a matter of months.
Qantas - QFF Platinum
20 Mar 2012
Total posts 211
It's the old EK lounge, upstairs next to QF F lounge
05 Jan 2012
Total posts 7
There's a relatively unhelpful map at https://www.jal.co.jp/en/inter/service/lounge/mel/ which points to the access escalator!
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
Congratulations Marhaba for setting this up in Melbourne, I'm sure it will do well.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
The hours of operation are also amazing.
05 Oct 2015
Total posts 12
This would appear to be the lounge that JAL is directing passengers to for their Melbourne -> Tokyo flight.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
Is this documented anywhere? I assumed they would've used the QF lounge like in SYD. JAL J pax can still use the QF lounge under OW rules but I guess JAL W pax will be restricted to this lounge.
05 Oct 2015
Total posts 12
Yes, the JAL website. Given the summer departure time of 00:45, and the Qantas lounge closing at 23:30, Qantas may not work. The Cathay lounge probably also isn't ideal as it would be full at this time.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
Thanks, I recently booked premium economy on the new route back in July and I couldn't find it anywhere when I looked back then.
03 Sep 2017
Total posts 49
Looks like this concept is being rolled out progressively by airlines. Great to see this happening and to have this option.
18 Mar 2015
Total posts 4
Great location compared to poor old QC in the bowels of the building. For the infrequent overseas traveller it takes away to need to remain loyal to any particular airline/lounge.
07 Dec 2016
Total posts 8
My question is where is the "new" Emirates lounge or are they sharing with Qantas?
29 Aug 2017
Total posts 18
$75 sounds quite reasonable for 4hours if you don't have the appropriate lounge access with the airlines...at least it has windows that allow direct sunlight and a view of the runway, something the Qantas lounge doesn't offer.
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 174
Good to an independent lounge option for MEL, but will reserve judgement until we've got actual photos of the food plus a hands-on review.
20 Jun 2014
Total posts 59
Nice to have a Priority Pass lounge in Melbourne! Between this and the free meals in Sydney, PP is actually useful domestically now.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Nov 2014
Total posts 357
This lounge is in the international terminal right? Mightn't be that useful for domestic flights.
18 Aug 2015
Total posts 55
Just need a MEL DOM option now
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Dec 2012
Total posts 16
Great idea but really looks ordinary.......
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jul 2014
Total posts 143
But it has windows!
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
Highly unlikely you will be mugged at the Melbourne Marhaba, not so sure about the Greyhound Atlanta bus depot though. The food and drinks on the news last night looked magnificent, likewise with all the brand new facilities and the very attentive staff, seems like money well spent for the flying public not eligible for Airline lounges.
10 Sep 2017
Total posts 1
Bear in mind that check-in normally opens 3hrs before departure. Reduce time to make your way through the maze that is MEL T2, and also 20min or so that you need to leave the lounge for boarding. Might leave you with just over 2hrs of lounge time for $75. That is unless you're in transit or have no baggage to check in and have done online check-in to allow you to pass through immigration with a boarding pass before check-in has opened.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
26 Feb 2016
Total posts 96
I used to spend > $10,000 extra a year to maintain the access to lounges, until I realized that I can buy booze at a much lower price.
30 Jan 2015
Total posts 25
Anyone know whether this might be accessible with Diners Club? The Marhaba Lounges in DXB and DWC are.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
According to Channel 7 news last night it's only $65 to get in, and seems to be swarming with cashed up back packers. The old EK lounge was a great size and heaps of windows, so they have a great location.
05 Jan 2012
Total posts 7
The question is was the 7News footage an official opening with staged 'users' for media? Or was the footage of actual paying users? It will be "interesting" to see who the clientele is.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2431
That's a question you'd have to ask Channel 7. The pricing information we've published in the article is as quoted on the Marhaba website, where access can be pre-purchased in Emirati Dirhams (AED), which we converted into AUD at the XE.com exchange rate as of Friday September 8. :)
It's possible that rates for walk-up customers may differ, so last week, we asked the lounge's PR team to advise if that was the case, and if so, what those rates would be: but for whatever reason, they weren't able to provide that information.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 729
Herald Sun also reporting a $65 entrance charge.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2017
Total posts 84
Good to see a priority pass lounge in Melbourne. Now we need an AMEX one too.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
there's an amex lounge coming and will also be available for priority pass access
11 Sep 2017
Total posts 3
The amex lounge is not available to priority pass in Sydney so doubtful they would do this in Melbourne
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
I could've sworn I read somewhere that it was but now I can't find it anywhere. Oh well not a problem since I expect this lounge to be better than the AMEX anyway and can just use my AMEX if I was really bothered to check it out
11 Sep 2017
Total posts 3
The offical statement from Priority pass says this is not a PP lounge
06 Aug 2017
Total posts 5
Nah, got turned away with my Priority Pass tonight.
16 Sep 2017
Total posts 6
I tried to enter on Priority Pass this morning and was denied. The friendly woman behind the counter suggested I wasn't the first to turn up with a PP card. I was offered $65 entry but declined.
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 371
If one doesn't have lounge access with an airline, A$65 for two hours' access is not great value even though it offers a respite from the boring general waiting areas..
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