Plaza Premium runs a sizeable network of over 250 pay-per-entry lounges in more than 30 countries, including four departures lounges and one arrivals lounge in Australia. Travellers can pay to get in or enjoy complimentary access through airline agreements or third-party lounge and credit card programs.
American Express Platinum Card Members and Citi Prestige cardholders enjoy unlimited access to Plaza Premium Lounges around the globe! And since 20 June 2023, you can also enter these lounges with the separate Priority Pass lounge membership program.
Plaza Premium Lounges in Australia
Adelaide
Adelaide plays host to Plaza Premium’s newest Australian lounge, as well as a fresh new design that will be rolled out in future Plaza Premium lounges. Currently open from 7 am to 10 am, it welcomes passengers departing on Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Air New Zealand.
Singapore Airlines also contracts its Business Class and elite-status passengers to use this lounge. We also understand that Qatar Airways is in discussion to open this lounge ahead of its evening flights to Doha.
Sydney
The second most recent addition to the network in Australia is the Plaza Premium Lounge in Sydney’s International Terminal. It resides in the space of the old American Express Lounge – a notoriously small space. But Plaza Premium has brightened the place up and now welcomes passengers departing on any airline.
Highlights include a refreshed décor, barista-made coffee, and complimentary alcoholic drinks. You’ll find this space located opposite Gates 25 & 26.
Plaza Premium now also runs an arrivals lounge and on-site Aerotel at Sydney International Airport. Handily, it’s located in the arrivals hall.
Melbourne
Melbourne’s Plaza Premium Lounge opened in March 2018. It offers delicious food, a good range of beverages and a space to relax for passengers travelling with any airline in any class of service. Feeling productive? Settle into one of the oversized working pods to wrap up your work before the journey.
The Melbourne Plaza Premium Lounge is located near Gate 9 – look for the stairs or lift that go down one level from the main departures area. Many other lounges are located here too.
Brisbane
The Brisbane Plaza Premium Lounge was the first to open in Australia in early 2016. Our take? It has good apron views and customer service, but the lounge is on the small side. You can expect a mix of made-to-order dining and buffet options like its siblings.
It is located on Level 4 of the International Terminal, between Gates 81 and 82.
Key international Plaza Premium Lounges
Travelling far and wide? Perhaps your travels will take you past a Plaza Premium somewhere in the world. Here’s a small cross-section of Plaza Premium-operated lounges in major cities that you might come across:
- Asia: Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Nagoya Jakarta, Singapore and Taipei
- Middle East: Abu Dhabi, and Dubai
- Europe: London, Paris, Helsinki, Frankfurt, Istanbul and Rome
- Canada: Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Vancouver
- North America: Boston, Dallas Fort Worth, New York, San Francisco, Orlando
- South America: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo
Jakarta
The Saphire Plaza Premium lounge located at Terminal 3 of the Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport opened in 2018. It is located on a corner of the terminal, in between Gates 4 and 5 (the entrance is closer to Gate 5).
Singapore
Nestled in Terminal 1, the Singapore Plaza Premium Lounge might just be this author’s favourite one in the network. It does great chicken rice and laksa – both enjoyable treats when jetting out of the city-state.
Rome
Serving international departures (non-Schengen) out of Terminal 3, Rome’s Plaza Premium Lounge is a large and airy space with great shower rooms and Italian dining.
Plaza Premium First Lounges
As the name suggests, the ‘First Lounge’ concept is a step above regular Plaza Premium spaces. Be treated to à la carte dining and complimentary massage treatments. There are First lounges in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong (currently closed), with an additional co-payment required when you enter with a lounge membership.
Unlimited access for American Express Platinum Charge cardholders
The American Express Platinum card offers lounge access to Plaza Platinum lounges. That’s in addition to the existing Priority Pass, Virgin Australia Lounge, American Express Lounge and Delta SkyClub benefits.
You just need to flash your American Express Platinum or Centurion card at the lounge entrance to gain access. What a perk!
American Express Platinum Card
Be a Smart Traveller with Plaza Premium
Plaza Premium’s own loyalty program is called Smart Traveller. You can earn and use Arrture Points for lounge access and other rewards as well. If you eventually start frequenting these lounges often, you might also benefit from members’ specials on lounge access passes.
Plaza Premium vs Priority Pass
As mentioned previously, Priority Pass is a lounge access membership while Plaza Premium is an actual network of independent pay-per-entry lounges. Both are separate companies. After a two-year break in the partnership, you can once again use Priority Pass to access selected Plaza Premium lounges from 20 June 2023.
Two Priority Pass single-use visits are offered complimentary with certain credit cards such as the St.George Amplify Signature and the Westpac Altitude Black. Want unlimited access instead? Citi Prestige, American Express Platinum, Business Platinum and Centurion cardholders also enjoy unlimited Priority Pass membership and lounge visits, some with complimentary guest inclusions depending on the card.
Single-Use Lounge Pass Options
There are several ways to purchase single-use lounge passes for Plaza Premium and other airport lounges:
- Plaza Premium’s own website: Purchase passes directly from Plaza Premium for their lounges.
- LoungePair: A lounge pass site that allows you to search and buy lounge passes across multiple providers. Their passes are flexible and do not require a fixed time or date of travel.
- LoungeBuddy: An app-based service that allows American Express cardholders to book lounge access.
- Lounge Pass: Another option for purchasing single-use passes to various airport lounges.
Summing up
Plaza Premium Lounges are generally a welcome sight before a flight. Most lounges offer up locally-inspired food, a range of complimentary beverages and shower rooms to freshen up in (one exception is Sydney, which uses the nearby Skyteam lounge for that).
Though you can pay to access Plaza Premium Lounges, holding the American Express Platinum Card or the Citi Prestige card does make lounge life a lot easier. Enjoy unlimited entry with a guest while you remain a member. Two Priority Pass single-use visits are offered complimentary with certain credit cards such as the St.George Amplify Signature and the Westpac Altitude Black.
Supplementary images courtesy Plaza Platinum.
Hi Brandon
Plaza Premium lounges will also allow entry to DragonPass members.
Well hullo Adelaide. Welcome to the world! A Qantas business lounge on the way – and now Plaza Premium as well. About bloody time!
I’ve approached the Plaza Premium lounge at Sydney airport a few times with a Platinum card and been turned away because I could also access the AMEX lounge – they said this may change in the months to come (last attempt was December 2019). I was surprised by this given Platinum card plaza premium access – do you know if this has changed?
Hi Jack/anyone else reading this that is wondering about supplementary cardholder access,
Unlimited lounge access seems to be granted to the primary and all supplementary cardholders, except for priority pass lounges that are not included in any of the other lounge networks (only one supplementary cardholder may be nominated) and Virgin (primary cardholder only) –
https://global.americanexpress.com/lounge-access/the-platinum-card#/loungefinder
The excerpt from the above webpage is as below:
The Centurion® Lounge
To enter, present your Platinum Card, a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for same-day travel and a government issued ID. You may enter with up to two complimentary guests. Access is open to Primary and Supplementary Platinum Card Members.
International American Express Lounges
Access is open to the Primary and Supplementary Platinum Card Members. To enter, present your Platinum Card, same-day airline ticket on any carrier and a government-issued I.D. For details of individual American Express lounge access requirements please review the lounge details page for the specific lounge.
Priority Pass™
Enrolment is complimentary for the Primary Platinum Card Member and one Supplementary Platinum Card Member. To enter, present your valid Priority Pass card, a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for same-day travel and a government issued ID. One complimentary guest may enter with the Primary and Supplementary Platinum Card Member.
Plaza Premium Airport Lounges
To enter, present your valid Platinum Card, a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for same-day travel and a government issued ID. You may enter with up to two complimentary guests. Access is open to Primary and Supplementary Platinum Card Members.
Virgin Australia
Travel with Virgin Australia domestically within Australia and present your Platinum Card with same-day boarding pass to gain access to Virgin Australia Lounges. Access is complimentary for the Primary Platinum Card Member and a guest.
Delta Sky Club
Access is open to Primary and Supplementary Platinum Card Members. To enter just show your Platinum Card, valid ID and same-day boarding pass for a Delta flight. You may purchase guest access for your spouse or domestic partner and a child under 21, or up to two other traveling companions. Any additional guests may purchase One-Day Passes.
It took ages for me to find this information (AmEx, why would you not include an obvious link in the platinum charge card page???) so hopefully this information is helpful to you too!
Hi,
Is the unlimited access available for supplementary card holders for the Platinum Charge card?
I just don’t seem to be able to find that information on the AmEx account website at all. If you can direct me to where you obtain this info, that would be very helpful!
I recently used the American Express lounge and found that the elevator inside that lounge heads directly down into the Skyteam lounge. There is even a sign advising that there are additional bathrooms downstairs (the only reason I even thought to get into the elevator) so it can’t be a coincidence. There are no checks there, so effectively the two lounges are connected.
Hi Keith I tried to gain access to the Skyteam lounge in Sydney last Sunday and was told my Business Platinum charge card does not give me access to this lounge and they directed me back next door to the American Express lounge. I then asked the manager at the American Express lounge whether my card allows me into the Skyteam lounge due to it being run by Plaza Premium and he advised no not in Sydney.
OK, thanks for flagging on the lack of access for PP in Sydney. Looks like we received some incorrect info.