Visiting the new Aspire Lounge at Perth Airport Terminal 2

Perth Airport is now home to Australia's first independently-operated lounge for domestic travellers, with the Aspire Lounge in Terminal 2 welcoming its first guests this week.

The space is unrecognisable from its previous days as a Virgin Australia regional lounge, taking on a new look, new feel, and being under new ownership.

Open to passengers flying with any airline (and from any terminal), here's what the new Aspire Lounge at Perth Airport T2 has to offer.

Where is the Aspire Lounge at Perth Airport?

Situated in Terminal 2, you'll find the Aspire Lounge on the left-hand side after security screening.

Just walk past, around and then behind the Relay shop, past the Alliance Airlines lounge, and Aspire will be on your right:

As for which airlines fly from Terminal 2 in Perth, it's home to some Virgin Australia regional flights, along with Alliance Airlines and Regional Express (Rex).

Seasoned travellers may recognise the space as being formerly home to a Virgin Australia lounge, which the airline shuttered here in 2020.

(The Virgin Australia lounge over in the adjacent Perth Terminal 1 remains.)

When does the Aspire Lounge at Perth Airport open?

As the flights from Terminal 2 cater primarily to fly-in, fly-out routes, the Aspire Lounge follows a similar FIFO schedule.

Its doors currently open at 4am Monday to Friday, closing at 4pm.

The lounge doesn't open on weekends.

Who can access the Aspire Lounge at Perth Airport?

Right now, the Aspire Lounge welcomes paying guests travelling on any airline, at a discounted cost of $22 per person for up to three hours.

From September, the entry price stabilises at $44 per person for visits of up to three hours, when booked online. Paying on arrival is possible too, but may attract a higher price. Priority Pass lounge membership cards are also accepted. 

Although its location makes it most convenient for those departing Terminal 2, guests don't have to be flying from T2 for access – it's open to anyone, but if flying from another terminal, allow enough time to get over there and through security.

Executive Traveller understands that the lounge plans to accept lounge membership cards such as Priority Pass for entry, but at the time of writing, this access hadn't yet been finalised. 

What's inside the Aspire Lounge at Perth Airport?

Given the lounge's target positioning and location – being aimed primarily at FIFO flyers – there's less of a 'corporate' feel as in some other lounges, instead adopting more of a relaxed atmosphere instead.

This sees most chairs cater to enjoying a refreshment or socialising, less so any serious laptop work.

Power outlets can be found near selected seats – some of which come with great exposure to natural light, which can be helpful when energising for the day ahead. 

Wireless charging facilities are also available, but via an unattended counter, rather than at each seat.

A selection of complimentary reading material can be accessed via the PressReader app when connected to the lounge's WiFi network, although bathroom facilities are not available within the lounge – for these, you'd need to exit the lounge, and then return.

Eating and drinking at Perth Airport's Aspire Lounge

Once inside the lounge, all food and beverage is complimentary – and most is available via self-serve stations, with buffets long having been back in Western Australia.

For a light morning bite, expect to find a range of pastries at the ready.

Coffee isn't far away, either.

Your preferred barista brew can be ordered via the staff, with Six Seasons Coffee – specifically, the Dambart Blend – the bean of choice.

Dambart infuses chocolate notes with the coffee and is smooth with milk, making it the perfect bean for a cappuccino: and leaving flat white and latte drinkers with more of a sweet, jam-like finish.

There's more to breakfast than just pastries, of course, with hot items like scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, baked tomatoes and other hearty picks at the ready.

Poached eggs with spinach and freshly-made sandwich rolls are just some of the other morning bites.

From 10am, the tended bar opens, with complimentary beer, wine and spirits.

Hot food continues over lunch, with pizza expected to become a staple – as has already proven popular with WA travellers at Qantas' Business Lounge in Perth.

Aspire also plans to open a lounge for international flyers from Perth Airport as travel volumes increase, while also taking over The House lounges in Sydney and Melbourne, and My Lounge in Brisbane.

Read: No1 Lounges exits Australia as Aspire takes over

Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.