Plaza Premium to reopen Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne lounges

Independent lounge operator Plaza Premium will move to reopen its international departure lounges located at Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne airports. This means savvy travellers will be able to enjoy lounge access before trans-Tasman flights and other international flights, depending on airport ‘green zone’ arrangements.

The Sydney Plaza Premium lounge will be the first to kick off on Monday 17 May, followed by Brisbane on Thursday 20 May and Melbourne on Monday 31 May. A spokesperson for Plaza Premium tells Point Hacks that the in-lounge offering will be similar to before, in terms of a-la-carte dining and beverages.

Plaza Premium lounge opening hours

The three Australian Plaza Premium lounges will initially open with reduced hours, as below:

Accessing Plaza Premium lounges

There are quite a few ways to access Plaza Premium lounges, as those spaces are open to all passengers regardless of airline or status. This includes:

• Paying for entry at the door (most expensive)
• Purchasing a pass online, including from Plaza Premium, LoungePair or LoungeBuddy.
• Purchasing a prepaid lounge access pass for 2, 4, or 6 visits at a discount
• Free entry for American Express Platinum Card Members
• Access through Priority Pass and DragonPass
• Using 2,500 Arrture Points through Plaza Premium’s Smart Traveller program

Summing up

This is positive news that international travel demand is picking up. Plaza Premium’s lounges in Australia are of a high standard, with great furnishings and a-la-carte food menus. Note that access via Priority Pass will cease from 30 June 2021, but there are still plenty of ways to access including through the American Express Platinum Charge card.

Somewhat ironically, Plaza Premium’s newest Sydney Lounge was just opening up when the world was closing down, in early 2020. It’ll be great for passengers to be able to enjoy the space once more.