Article: Amex Reopens Australian Airport Lounges

[AFF Editor]

Amex Reopens Australian Airport Lounges is an article written by AFF editorial staff:

Amex Reopens Australian Airport Lounges

Many Australian American Express credit cards come with two annual complimentary Amex lounge passes for use in Sydney or Melbourne.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[Amanad78]

How does the Melbourne Amex lounge compare to the Qantas Business lounge? (International)?

 

[jamdav93]

How does the Melbourne Amex lounge compare to the Qantas Business lounge? (International)?

Both are very underwhelming. Both don't have any natural light, the QF Business Lounge is larger, possibly better food options, although I haven't been to the AMEX lounge since re-opening and re-branding as Centurion, so the food might be a bit better now.

If I was flying QF and had lounge access, I wouldn't use the AMEX lounge. But if I was flying on a carrier with no lounge access, I'd probably use the AMEX lounge.

 

[Amanad78]

Both are very underwhelming. Both don't have any natural light, the QF Business Lounge is larger, possibly better food options, although I haven't been to the AMEX lounge since re-opening and re-branding as Centurion, so the food might be a bit better now.

If I was flying QF and had lounge access, I wouldn't use the AMEX lounge. But if I was flying on a carrier with no lounge access, I'd probably use the AMEX lounge.

Thanks for your advice

 

[justinbrett]

How does the Melbourne Amex lounge compare to the Qantas Business lounge? (International)?

You don't need to choose.

The MEL QFi J lounge is the worst in the fleet. Hands down.

AMEX isn't great either.

Fly out of SYD.

 

[burmans]

SYD Amex lounge nothing to write home about!

 

[Notyourbag]

Sydney Amex lounge was very underwhelming. Mushy scrambled eggs, cold Weiner sausages, baked beans and mushrooms as far as hot food goes. They also kept running out of forks which was annoying.

 

[bam71]

I’ve had the opposite experience, QF J lounge warm champagne, soggy food etc, Amex lounge chilled champagne and regular food turnaround. Guess it depends on the day?

 

[2for1]

Firstly, apologies if this sounds like a silly question.

I'll be visiting the Amex lounge in Sydney next month, and I'll be entering using my 2 complimentary entries that come with my Amex card. Can anyone who has gained access this way please tell me how the lounge staff go about in checking how many free entries you have left on your card? Do they just charge the card for me to get a reimbursement from Amex later on?

Also, I have 2 unused entries from last year that were due to expire at the end of last year that have been automatically extended until 30 June 2022. I'm guessing that I've already received another 2 entries at the beginning of this year, considering Amex says 2 entries allocated every calendar year. Can someone please confirm if that means that I now have a total of 4 entries that I can use until the end of 30 June 2022?

I've tried asking this question to Amex CS agents and they have no clue, which I find absurd. I've tried calling the lounge but I can't get through to anyone.

 

[Doctore1003]

Firstly, apologies if this sounds like a silly question.

I'll be visiting the Amex lounge in Sydney next month, and I'll be entering using my 2 complimentary entries that come with my Amex card. Can anyone who has gained access this way please tell me how the lounge staff go about in checking how many free entries you have left on your card? Do they just charge the card for me to get a reimbursement from Amex later on?

Also, I have 2 unused entries from last year that were due to expire at the end of last year that have been automatically extended until 30 June 2022. I'm guessing that I've already received another 2 entries at the beginning of this year, considering Amex says 2 entries allocated every calendar year. Can someone please confirm if that means that I now have a total of 4 entries that I can use until the end of 30 June 2022?

I've tried asking this question to Amex CS agents and they have no clue, which I find absurd. I've tried calling the lounge but I can't get through to anyone.

The staff will swipe your card at entry. They don't put a charge on it. I assume their system just checks if you have valid entries to use.

Yes you should have 4 entries.

A reminder that kids under 17 get in for free.

 

[Astroboi82]

I was actually wondering about that too since I will be flying internationally in a couple of weeks out of MEL. I always use the QF lounge but was wondering if AMEX is a better choice ?

 

[TomVexille]

I was actually wondering about that too since I will be flying internationally in a couple of weeks out of MEL. I always use the QF lounge but was wondering if AMEX is a better choice ?

You can try asking at the door if they'll let you have a quick look to decide if it's worth using your passes.

 

[shamolly]

Sorry for asking a naive question but I'm not an experienced traveller. I need to be sitting down somewhere quietish to take a somewhat important Zoom call at 9am. It might go for an hour or hour and a half, and then I have a 12pm international flight. The Melbourne AMEX lounge is the only one I have free access to and though I don't think it's ideal for this purpose, from my past experience of it (in pre-COVID times) it'd be OK to take a call.

Problem is, given check-in + bag drop for my flight only opens at 9am, it seems like I wouldn't get there in time.

I'm trying to think of a way around this. Would it work if I did online check-in, left my bag with my husband, and then tried to get airside before 9am?

Is there some better solution I'm not thinking of here?

 

[dylarr]

Sorry for asking a naive question but I'm not an experienced traveller. I need to be sitting down somewhere quietish to take a somewhat important Zoom call at 9am. It might go for an hour or hour and a half, and then I have a 12pm international flight. The Melbourne AMEX lounge is the only one I have free access to and though I don't think it's ideal for this purpose, from my past experience of it (in pre-COVID times) it'd be OK to take a call.

Problem is, given check-in + bag drop for my flight only opens at 9am, it seems like I wouldn't get there in time.

I'm trying to think of a way around this. Would it work if I did online check-in, left my bag with my husband, and then tried to get airside before 9am?

Is there some better solution I'm not thinking of here?

You are right in that check-in opens for 3 hours prior to departure for international flights departing MEL (and possibly an extra 30 mins if operated by an A380).

Is your husband also travelling with you? If so, if you do online check in and have him check the bag in as his own without you there whilst you proceed through to the lounge. That should work. If he isn't travelling, I very much doubt an agent would allow him to drop a bag for somebody else.

 

[aus_flyer]

Went into the MEL lounge on earlier this week and couldn't believe how bad it was.

 

[Mattg]

Went into the MEL lounge on earlier this week and couldn't believe how bad it was.

What was bad about it?

(Genuine question - I haven't been in there lately)

 

[aus_flyer]

What was bad about it?

(Genuine question - I haven't been in there lately)

The food selection was very minimal. The drinks were the cheapest they could find. Not much space. I walked in and walked out. Sydney is MUCH nicer.

 

[am0985]

Anyone flying internationally over the next few days who can check out the conversion to Centurion Lounges?

 

[Peasant]

Anyone flying internationally over the next few days who can check out the conversion to Centurion Lounges?

I took myself on a brief tour yesterday from the SQ SKL next door. I honestly couldn’t tell the difference and the food looks fairly miserable I must say.

 

[Doctore1003]

According to some reports the new food collab with chef Khanh Ong launches in "early 2023".