QANTAS: International Sydney Business Lounge to finally get major upgrade

I hope you haven’t been holding your breath for seven years, when the first announcement that International Sydney Business Lounge would be refurbished was made back in 2018! According to AFF, the current lounge is to close completely in the second half of 2025, with a temporary lounge being set up below Gate 31 that is currently used as a crew briefing room.

Background

The current Qantas International Sydney Business Lounge is located up escalators in Terminal 1, adjacent to gates 9 and 10. Its current capacity is around 350, which will increase to 600 once the renovations are completed in a year’s time.

Although first announced in 2018, the redevelopment was suspended during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Qantas lounge refurbishment program was re-announced via media release in February 2023.

Back then, now largely disgraced ex CEO, Alan Joyce said:

“Millions of people a year visit our lounges and they are typically our frequent flyers who travel with us the most, so anything we do to improve them is a way of saying thank you to our most loyal customers.

“We have three new and upgraded lounge spaces due to open this year and the pipeline we’re announcing today will take us through to 2025.”

Alan Joyce then Qantas CEO

Unfortunately, that promised deadline is about to pass.

So, what’s the plan, Stan? Or in this case, Vanessa?

AFF is reporting that the Qantas International Business Lounge will close in July, with the actual renovation not starting until October. With an expected 12-month construction period planned, that would mean that the lounge would not reopen until, say, September 2026.

We know what the end result of the refurbishments will look like, but there is not much detail currently on how Qantas will get there.

Qantas will end up with an expanded lounge for about 600 loyal flyers, about 40% larger than the current lounge. We know where the temporary lounge will be and that it probably has a capacity for about 150 guests. But where will the other 450 guests go?

Here we have to live in a world of speculation. First, I am surprised that Qantas has decided to close down the whole lounge shebang. I would have expected more of a staged refurbishment. They sort of did that with the Adelaide Lounge precinct by using the lounge to Club members, but repurposing the existing Chairman’s lounge for Business and Premium frequent flyers. I think it was Gold and above. Then they re-opened the new Qantas Club Lounge, and finally the new Business and Chairman’s lounge

What are the options?

It’s likely that OneWorld Sapphire and Emerald status earned from another airline will be precluded from the interim lounge for a start. Then, the following restrictions during the construction period may apply:

• Qantas Lounge invitation acceptance will be suspended
• Travellers on Qantas Partner airlines that are not members of OneWorld are precluded
• Send eligible travellers to other lounges. Emirates comes to mind since Qantas is doing that while the Auckland lounge is being redone.
• Giving Meal Vouchers to some less premium passengers who are normally eligible to visit the Business Lounge
• Suspend Qantas Club members’ access to the lounge for the renovation period

Less optimal options involve access to the Qantas First Lounge. One thought is to make use of the first level of the lounge that is currently underutilised. The problem with this I can see is there is no current food and beverage outliet in that area.

This could severely affect the lounge experience for those currently eligible to use it, such as Qantas Platinum members (like me!).

It’s possible that access to the First Lounge could be more nuanced, for instance, only ticketed Business Class Qantas passengers, plus First and Platinum, are admitted. That still might result in overcrowding.

What will the refurbished lounge look like?

Qantas is pursuing a new locally inspired theme for each of its new lounges. The Adelaide Lounge Precinct draws its inspiration from Adelaide, with stone used from South Australia, and a food and beverage selection inspired by the wine districts and the Adelaide Markets.

NSW and Sydney have a lot to choose from. There is everything from the Paragon Cafe in Katoomba, Bondi Beach and Manley for a bit of surf and turf, to the multiculturalism of the Western suburbs.

As far as how it will look, see the images from the new Adelaide Business Lounge

2PAXfly Takeout

I think my loathing of the current Sydney International Business Lounge is what spurred me on to getting Platinum status with Qantas, so I didn’t have to go there anymore. Putting the Domestic Business Lounge to one side, it is my least favourite Qantas lounge in the whole world.

All the physical innovations that Qantas has introduced in its recently opened lounges, like Adelaide, will be well-received. That’s cordless charging of devices, more seating options, and better food and beverage services.

Next, Qantas, could you do something about the Sydney Domestic Business Lounge? The bathrooms are pealing and appalling.