You can pay in to the Etihad lounge in Melbourne at the reception - it's A$99, credit card only. Well worth it if you are spending a couple of hours there and are happy to indulge in coughtails/wine in my opinion! If you haven't been, treat yourself. It's amazing. Same with Dublin lounge.. it's EUR69 [I think].
Etihad Introduce Pay-Per-Access Lounge Entry - Points From The Pacific
Wow, thanks! I didn't hear about that.
I got to use the Melbourne lounge last year when I still had Silver and they still allowed you in with Silver, and I had a fabulous meal and some nice wine. Possibly not $99 worth, but then again what price separation from the Hoi Polloi?
Might even think about it for Abu Dhabi, although Al Rheem is probably cheaper, and I only need/want a shower. The fare was so cheap, that I can justify spending a bit extra. I had it all researched, even had a window open with the flights chosen, but internet was being real slow so I was Facebooking at the same time, clicked on a story in The Independent, and got an advert for 10% off Etihad flights, which worked even on the low fare I'd already chosen in their current (and genuine) Sale! Total fare including taxes of $1271 (the bargain basement fare, with no upgrade possible). (Last year something similar happened but I think the discount was 30%. I wonder if there's any way to proactively tap into those offers...)
Connection in Melbourne on the way back to Oz is probably too short to justify it then. Likewise, Dublin probably not worth it, as making the most of a lounge on departure really means arriving early, and it will already be an early start for me with a 1.5 hours drive to the airport, needing to return a hire car, and check-in say 90 minutes before the 09:25 departure. .
