Following a lengthy yearlong overhaul, Qantas has completed its revamp of its Domestic Business Lounge and Qantas Club at Melbourne Airport giving the facilities a sizeable capacity boost and adding new unique features including an Asian spice bar.
The two lounge spaces are now able to accommodate up to 900 people combined – 130 more than they were previously able to, representing a size increase of 40 per cent to the Domestic Business Lounge and 10 per cent to the Qantas Club.
Speaking at the relaunch, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce noted that the airline has seen growth in the demand for premium travel, making this “the right time” to be investing in improvements to its lounge facilities.
“Our Frequent Flyers tell us that starting their journey in a comfortable and premium lounge is important to them, which is why they were front of mind when we embarked on this redesign,” said Joyce.
“Given it’s Melbourne, serving quality local food, wine and barista coffee is obviously a priority.”
So what can travellers expect from the revamped lounges?
Both have been designed by Australian architectural firm Woods Bagot, with the Domestic Business Lounge featuring a dark colour scheme reflecting Melbourne’s supper clubs and dining scene, and has windows across the length of the lounge offering views of the tarmac. Meanwhile the Qantas Club has a brighter turquoise and grey theme modelled after the Great Ocean Road.
The Domestic Business Lounge is the smaller of the two, now able to accommodate up to 350 people, and features communal work zones with tables as well as power sockets at all fixed seating locations. Shower suites with Aspar by Aurora skincare products are also available. The Qantas Club lounge, meanwhile, has capacity for 530 people overall, and even comes with a kids’ zone.
As with its lounges in Perth and Brisbane, which offer gourmet pizzas and Mexican cuisine, respectively, the Domestic Business Lounge will also feature a unique culinary offering in the form of the Spice Bar. This will serve Asian-inspired dishes including noodle soups, char siu pork with rice, Sichuan eggplant and stir-fried gai lan (Chinese broccoli) from midday onwards. There is also an Asian buffet with hot and cold dishes, a Quench drink station offering hydration-focused beverages, and a cocktail hour in the evening featuring signature drinks from Rockpool.
The culinary offerings at the Qantas Club lounge are less diverse, but still include a hot and cold buffet serving soups, salads, sandwiches and breakfast foods, and a Quench drinks station.
Both, however, will offer all-day barista coffee, a bar offering Australian wine and beer, as well as seasonal dining options. Printing facilities as well as wifi are also offered, while service will be managed by Accor in both facilities.
Qantas Club members, Gold Frequent Flyers and above, and passengers with equivalent Oneworld tier status are able to access to the Qantas Club, while business class passengers, Platinum Frequent Flyers and above, Emerald Oneworld tier members, Emirates Platinum Skyward Members and China Eastern Platinum Eastern Miles members can access the Domestic Business Lounge.
Qantas has been undergoing a substantial overhaul of its lounge facilities across its network, with 85 per cent of its 53 worldwide lounges having been built, upgraded or revamped over the past five years.
Recently, the airline announced it would be opening a new First Lounge in Singapore along with expanding its Business Lounge at Changi Airport. Enhancements are also in the pipeline for its lounges at Tokyo, Auckland, Sydney, Brisbane, Hobart and Tamworth.
More images of the lounges can be viewed here.
