The House - Melbourne International

[Lat3rz]

Hi Guys,

Have an upcoming MEL - SGN trip coming up at the end of this month
Was wondering if anyone has used the house lounge recently and whether it was worth stopping by?

 

[MJHoops]

I haven’t been since covid
This is a good review 'The House' Melbourne Lounge overview

 

[motlking]

Do you have to fly with Ethiad or Virgin? or can you get in with a Priority Pass flying Qantas?

 

[GDale]

Do you have to fly with Ethiad or Virgin? or can you get in with a Priority Pass flying Qantas?

Yep Priority Pass is accepted with any airline, but just check the lounge hours to make sure it aligns with your departure time. There are some funny rules using Dragonpass and Priority Pass at this lounge- you have to pay a $20 surcharge if you want premium alcohol, anything off the a la carte menu, or use of the shower facilities

 

[knagelli]

Yep Priority Pass is accepted with any airline, but just check the lounge hours to make sure it aligns with your departure time. There are some funny rules using Dragonpass and Priority Pass at this lounge- you have to pay a $20 surcharge if you want premium alcohol, anything off the a la carte menu, or use of the shower facilities

Pardon my ignorance can I please ask if I were to access the lounge in-lieu of my Amex Plat charge card , do I have to pay any fee assuming I am not interested in the premium alcohol and a la carte menu. I am happy with the food counter and views of the tarmac. ta

 

[jase05]

Mrs Jase’s boss flew out to HKG last night on CX and was directed to the House and said it was pretty average but better than nothing

 

[Genji88]

Yep Priority Pass is accepted with any airline, but just check the lounge hours to make sure it aligns with your departure time. There are some funny rules using Dragonpass and Priority Pass at this lounge- you have to pay a $20 surcharge if you want premium alcohol, anything off the a la carte menu, or use of the shower facilities

Fair enough if you want premium alcohol but paying $20 for a la carte food & a shower makes you think "what's the point" especially on a short layover.

 

[lovestotravel]

Anyone been here recently ? Sick of the poor Amex dungeon lounge

I have PP as does the +1 so 4 of us can get it

Worth paying the $20 per person for "a la cate" food and "premium" drinks ?

 

[clifford]

Anyone been here recently ? Sick of the poor Amex dungeon lounge

I have PP as does the +1 so 4 of us can get it

Worth paying the $20 per person for "a la cate" food and "premium" drinks ?

Why not have a look at the Marhaba, it gets quite good reviews. I wasn't terribly impressed with The House at SYD, if that's in any way relevant.

 

[lovestotravel]

They both have "OK" reviews, but I take reviews outside of AFF, of these lounges with a big grain of salt from the once a decade visitor.

I will end up trying both either this week or on the next trip in November I guess

 

[GDale]

Marhaba had a terrible selection of food and drinks the last time I visited (a few months back)! Very very low quality stuff. Having said that, quality sometimes varies by time of day at these contract lounges, as I believe some airlines pay for better food during certain hours.

 

[lovestotravel]

Marhaba had a terrible selection of food and drinks the last time I visited (a few months back)! Very very low quality stuff. Having said that, quality sometimes varies by time of day at these contract lounges, as I believe some airlines pay for better food during certain hours.

Yes seems to be the case reading more reviews that I could fine

I think the house will be slightly better.. The Amex lounge is a very low bar anyways, filthy toilets being my biggest gripe

 

[mustkill]

Anyone been here recently ? Sick of the poor Amex dungeon lounge

I have PP as does the +1 so 4 of us can get it

Worth paying the $20 per person for "a la cate" food and "premium" drinks ?

The House is not great. Food offering VERY limited. Dragon lady very rude.
The only thing it's got going for it is the bar (diluted drinks) and somewhat of a view.

Give Marhaba a miss. Flies flying around. Place is dirty. Poor quality food (think worse than food court). There is arguably more choice than The House but it's all cough quality.

Plaza Premium was the best for food. Staff were nice, but a bit cramped.

 

[lovestotravel]

The House is not great. Food offering VERY limited. Dragon lady very rude.
The only thing it's got going for it is the bar (diluted drinks) and somewhat of a view.

Give Marhaba a miss. Flies flying around. Place is dirty. Poor quality food (think worse than food court). There is arguably more choice than The House but it's all cough quality.

Plaza Premium was the best for food. Staff were nice, but a bit cramped.

Thanks - Maybe the Amex lounge isn't too bad then, they share the kitchen for Plaza Premium....

 

[Austman]

Anyone been here recently ? Sick of the poor Amex dungeon lounge

Me.

Really, by most business class lounge standards, the Marhaba in MEL T2 is OK.

It's far from the best lounge in the world. But far from the worst.

A rather generic type of lounge with reasonable offerings and accommodation.

 

[Rebus]

Has anyone visited The House recently? I am VA Gold and have an upcoming mid afternoon EY flight in Y with Mrs Rebus + two children. I have two options for lounge access on this trip:

The House - guest Mrs Rebus and pay $25 x 2 for the kids via Luxury Escapes.
Amex Lounge - I have two passes linked to my Velocity Amex and the kids go free.

Worth paying $50 for The House? If the flight departs on time we will have 1.5 hours max to kill.

 

[Neil64]

Has anyone visited The House recently? I am VA Gold and have an upcoming mid afternoon EY flight in Y with Mrs Rebus + two children. I have two options for lounge access on this trip:

The House - guest Mrs Rebus and pay $25 x 2 for the kids via Luxury Escapes.
Amex Lounge - I have two passes linked to my Velocity Amex and the kids go free.

Worth paying $50 for The House? If the flight departs on time we will have 1.5 hours max to kill.

I have used The House lounge a few times in the last year. The lounge itself is okay (but a shadow of its former self) and the views across the tarmac are very good but the food is average at best and very limited. I get a few free entries a year through my Priority Pass card but I won't be using them again for The House at Melbourne airport unless they're due to expire. Given your choice and having already tried The House, I would go for the AMEX lounge just out of curiosity.

Post automatically merged: May 13, 2024

I have used The House lounge a few times in the last year. The lounge itself is okay (but a shadow of its former self) and the views across the tarmac are very good but the food is average at best and very limited. I get a few free entries a year through my Priority Pass card but I won't be using them again for The House at Melbourne airport unless they're due to expire. Given your choice and having already tried The House, I would go for the AMEX lounge just out of curiosity.

 

[Rebus]

I have used The House lounge a few times in the last year. The lounge itself is okay (but a shadow of its former self) and the views across the tarmac are very good but the food is average at best and very limited. I get a few free entries a year through my Priority Pass card but I won't be using them again for The House at Melbourne airport unless they're due to expire. Given your choice and having already tried The House, I would go for the AMEX lounge just out of curiosity.

Post automatically merged: May 13, 2024

Thanks @Neil64 . I had some great experiences in The House back in 2016 and am aware that it is no longer providing the same offering as back then. One of my friends is due to use the Amex Lounge later this months so will see what he makes of it.

 

[Human]

I have the same issue next month before an 8am flight. As an AmEx Platinum cardholder I'll have the choice between the Centurion Lounge, The House or the Marhaba Lounge (Plaza Premium doesn't open until 8:30am).

I know that the food in the Marhaba lounge is lacklustre so I was going to choose The House (without paying the extra $20pp for a-la-carte) for its increased space and better views compared with the AmEx lounge. Anyone got any recent experience of the breakfast buffets that they offer?

 

[clifford]

I know that the food in the Marhaba lounge is lacklustre so I was going to choose The House (without paying the extra $20pp for a-la-carte) for its increased space and better views compared with the AmEx lounge. Anyone got any recent experience of the breakfast buffets that they offer?

All I can say is that I was in the Marhaba lounge a couple of weeks ago and found the breakfast (and everything else) to be fine. It's what you would expexct in Australia. Eggs, Sausages, etc, plus the usual alternatives. Not sure what you had in mind.

Also, self pour sparkling white (essential for a good lounge breakfast) and nice staff and a great view of the tarmac and beyond.

If I had to go to a PP (or AMEX) lounge at MEL again, that's where I'd go.

And, digressing hugely, if I was to comment on other lounges at MEL, I definitely prefer the SQ lounge to the NZ lounge. More comfortable, better food and drink (by a long way) and just more sophisticated generally.

But YMMV.