Qantas First And Business Class Lounges at Sydney Airport. 54 Hours In Sydney

Thanks for stopping by to read about my quick trip to Sydney.  It was a whirlwind.  Here’s what I’ve covered so far and what I expect to cover:

• Which Lounge At SFO International Terminal?
• Qantas Business Class Review
• Public Transportation In Sydney
• Park Hyatt Sydney
• A Look Inside The Luxurious Suites At Park Hyatt Sydney
• Bridge Climb!  Bucket List Item
• The Old Clare Hotel, Chippendale, A Member of Design Hotels (SPG Redemption)
• Qantas First And Business Class Lounges at Sydney Airport
• Qantas First Class On the A380 to DFW

Qantas First Class Lounge At Sydney Airport

There’s plenty of debate about what the best airport lounge is in the world.  That’s a pretty nuanced question.  Different people like different things.  While some might not rank the Qantas First lounge in Sydney at the top of the list, I imagine most everyone would place it in the top 10.

I got to the airport a bit on the early side to spend some time in the lounge.  Security was crowded but went quickly due to the priority access I received by flying first class.  I thought the automated passport control systems were pretty cool.  There was still a human element at the end of the process.

I took a quick stroll through duty free.  While I was tempted to buy a big container of this, I took the short walk to the main terminal.

Once there, I saw a sign near an escalator that guided me upstairs to the Qantas First and Business Class lounges.  There was a brief boarding pass check at the entrance to the Qantas First lounge, then a walk around a long live wall and up an escalator into the lounge.

It’s a beautiful lounge.  I’ve seen this image in many of my fellow travel bloggers posts after visiting the lounge, so I couldn’t resist snapping one, though with a slight variation.

I decided to grab a bite to eat before boarding my flight.  That might have been a mistake given the unending tasting menu they serve on the plane.  There are some items on a buffet but there’s also a full menu to order from.

I ordered a plate of eggs benedict, setting aside the hollandaise in a small attempt to wage a minor war against my increased cholesterol level.  A glass of pineapple juice and some champagne finished off the meal nicely.  The service was quick, efficient and friendly.

If you’ve got a bit more time on our hands, there’s a 10-pack of spa treatments that would likely make a stopover on a long trip much more tolerable.  I’m not a spa guy, but I’ll be sure to bring my wife next time to evaluate.  If you’re traveling with young children, there’s a kid’s play area.

I was a bit surprised at the number of people in the Qantas First lounge.  It wasn’t crowded, but there were more people than I would have expected.  If you’re an American Airlines Executive Platinum member, this is the lounge you can access under certain conditions.  But, don’t expect to bring guest in with you unless you’re flying near the pointy end of the plane.

I spent some time walking around the lounge and found a comfortable chair to recline in and watch the airplanes come and go.  I debated grabbing a shower to check out that part of the lounge.  Turns out, I was perfectly happy hanging out in the chair letting some time go by.

Qantas Business Class Lounge

The business class lounge is located underneath the first class lounge.  It’s accessed with the same escalator, but you hang a left-hand turn once you get to the top and proceed a couple hundred feet down the hallway to the entrance.

This is a nice lounge but much more typical of what I see traveling internationally.  There were a lot of people here.  I sometimes wonder if that makes for a better experience than hanging out in the terminal, especially when every seat is full.

But, the food and amenities like showers certainly make it worth a stop by.  There were a few beer choices on tap and a handful of food stations plus a soda station.  There were also a few snack stops throughout the lounge.

Even though the lounge was full it was much quieter than similar lounges in the United States.

Final Lounge Thoughts Before Heading To The Plane

Both lounges are nice, understated.  The service is efficient, the lounges clean and in good repair.  It felt like a different experience than a typical lounge.  The restaurant played a central role, with smaller quiet areas at the far ends of the lounge.

I’d certainly return when I’m back in Sydney again, but I don’t know that I’d block time for a meal.  It had nothing to do with the quality of my meal, I enjoyed my breakfast.  But, in the end, it was just breakfast and there was plenty of food onboard (more on that later).  I might have enjoyed the lunch or dinner menu more.  I’d probably allocate some time for my wife to squeeze in a spa treatment while I hung out in a quiet corner watching the planes come and go, letting the kids enjoy the play area.

The post Qantas First And Business Class Lounges at Sydney Airport.  54 Hours In Sydney was published first on Pizza in Motion