Inside Sydney Airport’s new-look SkyTeam lounge
The pre-flight sanctuary returns with a live-cooking kitchen, private booths and a quiet zone.
By Chris Ashton, September 15 2022
Nature is returning to Sydney Airport, with yet another frequent flyer haven – this time the SkyTeam Lounge near Gate 24 – unlocking its doors for international travellers keen to kick off their trip in style. However, it looks a little different than you might remember…
Fully refurbished while global travel was suspended, the lounge has been redesigned from the ground up to offer an all-new space in the same place.
Following a ‘soft reopening’ on August 25, it’s now ready for all SkyTeam Elite Plus, first and business class passengers.
Blue, mustard and emerald tones add some life to the once-dated space.
Flooded with natural light, Sydney Airport’s new SkyTeam lounge now features a softer palette of blues, greens and neutral timber tones, with a revamped dining area, dedicated ‘quiet zone’ and private work booths (essentially glass phone booths with a chair) among the notable enhancements.
An impressive circular lounge hugged by Japanese-style screens is also destined to be a popular hangout.
Fresh noodles and dumplings are available from the live-cooking station.
It’s a marked improvement on the previous space, swapping the outdated decor in favour of a more contemporary, spa-like design.
Christian Oberlé, SkyTeam’s Chief Experience Officer, says the alliance is excited to welcome travellers back to the refurbished lounge which also now features a number of sustainably-minded enhancements.
Water dispensers and glassware keep customers hydrated while reducing plastic waste.
“How better to welcome international travelers back to our Sydney Lounge than with a brand-new, high-quality experience that not only cares for them today but helps look after tomorrow’s travellers,” says Oberlé.
“It’s exciting to unveil a fresh look for SkyTeam Lounges that embodies our alliance’s commitment to greater sustainability on the ground and in the air.”
Hungry guests can enjoy freshly-prepared noodles and dumplings from the live-cooking station, plus a mix of hot and cold dishes from the self-service buffet.
A VIP room is available for guests in need for additional privacy.
A bartender is on hand to serve up a selection of Australian red, white and sparkling wines, spirits and barista coffee, while water dispensers and glassware located around the lounge keep customers hydrated and reduce plastic waste.
Sydney’s SkyTeam Lounge rolls out the red carpet for business class and first class passengers on alliance members – a roster which includes Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, Taiwan’s China Airlines and Vietnam Airlines – along with travellers holding SkyTeam Elite Plus status who are flying premium economy or economy class.
Private booth lounges are on hand for when you want to get into 'the zone'.
That status is easily available through SkyTeam member Delta’s 2022 Medallion Status Match Challenge, which targets top-tier frequent flyers of Qantas, Virgin Australia and a dozen other competitors.
SkyTeam’s Sydney Lounge is located airside near Gate 24 at Pier B in the International Terminal. It’s open for eligible customers from two hours prior to the first flight until the final departure of the day.
It’s not the only lounge enhancement to be unveiled at Sydney Airport recently. In addition to its own departures lounge at Sydney T1, Plaza Premium recently opened a new arrivals lounge attached to the airport’s new Aerotel short-stay transit hotel.
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
12 Sep 2011
Total posts 335
Looks Nice! Luckily many of us Status Matched with ITA aka Italy Airways (before Lufthansa Gruppe takes takes ITA aka Lufthansa Italia , over soon ) for SkyTeam Platinum till 2023 IF AND WHEN SOME OF US TRAVEL OS, we might use this lounge at SYD INTERNATIONAL if we arent in the Amex or Piority Pass of SQ/NZ Lounges....
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1224
It turns out Lufthansa/MSC was not the successful bidder and the Italian Government are in exclusive negotiations with AirFrance/KLM for the trade sale which will mean ITA remains in Skyteam.
China Airlines - Dynasty Flyer
22 Sep 2012
Total posts 73
Now I hope the skyteam lounge in Hong Kong will have been revamped and reopened by the end of this year.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
12 Feb 2021
Total posts 21
Maybe the skyteam lounge can be reopened in HKG but doubt if there is an upgrade. As a regular user when living in HK, the lounge was quite good and rarely full but when KE vacated the old lounge , did not include a F section in the new lounge. If a KE F pax ( very few) , they did rope off a section if asksing and was a quiet area but not a F area.) I recall this lounge when older QF J lounge before their newer one above and recall flyng DL J using the QF lounge. Before this , we had to use the CI lounge near gate 1, KE lounge (only for KE) or the Air China lounge above gate 16 (OZ used that too with GA and MU) Good old days
03 Jun 2019
Total posts 29
Yep I remember when KE operates a 747 to HKG, they sell F class, but it's very rare. IIRC, KE used to have their own lounge in HKG?
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