Qantas opens new-look Melbourne Qantas Club, business class lounge
By David Flynn, October 29 2018
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce will officially cut the ribbon on the airlines' new Melbourne domestic lounges this Thursday, November 1, marking the end of a year-long upgrade for both the Qantas Club and the Qantas Business Lounge.
That multi-million dollar makeover saw an all-new Qantas Club open at the end of May, with the neighbouring business class lounge debuting in late August – although both remained to some extent a 'work in progress' until this past weekend, when the lounges assumed their final form.
What's new at Melbourne's Qantas Business Lounge
The business class lounge now sports an additional 'wing' next to the bar which effectively mirrors the layout of the lounge on the opposite side of the bar, with an extra two of those circular orange-cushioned lounge pods currently seen in the lounge...
... plus additional banquette seating...
... and more stand-alone seating stretching along the windows facing the tarmac.
This represents an overall boost of some 100 seats – around 20 percent more than the current count – and lifts the Qantas Business Lounge's total capacity to 350, which the airline says is 40% more than the old lounge.
But for business class passengers and Platinum-grade frequent flyers the highlight is be the Asian Spice Bar.
Located beyond the self-serve buffet, the Asian Spice Bar will serve up freshly-made Asian soups, noodles and street food from noon each day, and we're told typical dishes will include
- beef brisket noodle soup with salted chili and bok choy
- char sui pork with rice and stir fried choy sum
- sichuan eggplant with rice and stir fried gai lan
- chicken laksa
- vegetarian wonton noodle soup
The Asian Spice Bar will be Melbourne's take on the 'signature dining concept' of its sibling new-look lounges, with Perth now famous for its pizzas while Brisbane is host to a Mexican Cantina.
What's new at Melbourne's Qantas Club
The crowded Qantas Club gains some respite by expanding into part of the business lounge's former footprint, with an L-shaped extension wrapping along past the Qantas Club bar and up to the old business lounge's servery.
This will add almost 200 extra seats to Melbourne's Qantas Club for a total capacity of around 530 passengers, or 10% over the previous Qantas Club.
As a result, Qantas has lifted the longstanding guest restrictions during peak hours for Gold-grade frequent flyers and Qantas Club members.
A series of windows into the terminal are also being opened up at a new extension just past the bar in an effort to address what has been a common complaint of Qantas Club members: that the lounge's relocation has seen the views and natural light handed over to the Qantas Business Lounge.
Those windows into the terminal won’t do much for a view but at least they’ll bring some light into the rear section of the Qantas Club.
Up next on Qantas' lounge to-do list is a Cinderella-like transformation of its Sydney International Business Lounge stretching through to late 2019, which will be designed by David Caon and feature a Rockpool 'dining concept'.
Read more: What do you want from Qantas' new Sydney business class lounge?
This will run concurrently with the construction of an all-new Qantas first class lounge at Singapore, which is due to open in late 2019 and take its cues from the Sydney, Melbourne and Los Angeles first class lounges with a cocktail bar, dining room, open kitchen and private shower suites.
Read more: Qantas to open new Singapore first class lounge in 2019
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.
31 Jul 2018
Total posts 24
Great article and love the pics. I particularly like the window seats pic :)
03 May 2013
Total posts 679
Unfortunately the business lounge is just as crowded as the old one. I've wondered several minutes before I've found a seat at peak times. Its all too open now and no more separated areas really. Its a much nicer space and updated beautifully however. Food is exactly the same.
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1251
But isn't that the point... It wasn't completely finished.
24 Dec 2013
Total posts 97
No pics of the Qantas Club extension?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2560
Only when we get down there on Thursday for the official opening etc.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Mar 2014
Total posts 219
Asian Spice Bar not a sausage sizzle....
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Sep 2017
Total posts 162
I was in the J lounge the other day so perhaps slightly short of improvements being fully operational. Fairly busy and noisy. Buffet had two bowls of butter chicken minus much chicken. Espresso coffees were pretty good.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Jun 2018
Total posts 2
Agree re Sydney domestic J.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
20 Nov 2017
Total posts 113
Haha, yes, great idea feeding lentils to airline passengers just prior to boarding! Thanks Neil.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
The Asian dishes sound delicious.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Mar 2018
Total posts 15
It looks great, but i'm still confused on the layout change. Is there a floor plan available?
American Airlines - AAdvantage
13 Jul 2015
Total posts 276
Looks good - Now onto Melbourne's International Business Lounge :)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 May 2017
Total posts 77
Well done Qantas. This clearly demonstrates how you value you top tier FF. Virgin Australia lounges are a disgrace.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
20 Nov 2017
Total posts 113
You forgot the /sarc tag.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
12 Sep 2014
Total posts 5
The Qantas Club lounge is awful with zero views and crowded desks. And why can't they ever put in more powerpoint. Horrible.
31 Oct 2018
Total posts 1
The colour scheme is horrible. I feel if i enter i will age 40 years. Never seen so many bland colours in one place before...... o.0
24 Mar 2016
Total posts 5
Would find it difficult to eat a bowl of Wonton noodle soup in this type of sunken seats with small table in front! Why not have some proper tables and seats for the tall and big guys?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2560
There's a 'proper' dining area at the buffet and noodle bar, as shown in the pic from before the noodle bar opened.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Aug 2014
Total posts 213
01 Aug 2018
Total posts 3
+1 on Qantas club being grim and crappy for doing any sort of work - For the lack of better word, it looks like a glorified food court.
03 May 2017
Total posts 5
The new J Lounge is ordinary compared to say Brisbane or Perth. A big open, noisy space with furniture strewn around, it is as welcoming as an empty hangar.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Aug 2014
Total posts 19
I am in this lounge once a week. To those criticising the staff... perhaps you are those i see treating them like servants. Are you the same ones with your feet on seats?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Aug 2015
Total posts 1
I've been into the new business lounge twice recently, both times ordered my coffee on the Skip app ahead of arriving in the lounge. In both examples I was left waiting for the coffee for about 10 mins beyond the pickup time specified on the App. I don't know why they bother offering the service because both times I would've had the coffee in my hands faster if I had just joined the queue which was about 7 people deep, one staffer making coffee at peak time.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 May 2019
Total posts 32
This lounge is fabulous but is let down by the awful SYD business lounge at the other end of the pairing.
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