| THE ALVIATOR'S VERDICT 2003 called and they want their lounge back, and there's not much seating variety. However, the food and champagne options are great, and the lounge is a very quiet space (if it's open) | 4.0 |
At Sydney Airport, Qantas doesn’t have an ideal setup for business class passengers, at least for now. However, Qantas business class passengers also have access to Emirates lounges, due to a partnership between the two airlines. Of course Emirates passengers also get to use this lounge, though not beyond that, as Emirates isn’t part of an alliance. So on a recent flight in Qantas business class from Sydney to Auckland, I was sure to drop by, given that I’d be at the airport during the lounge’s opening hours.
The Emirates lounge is fine, though not amazing – it features champagne and the best food out of the lounges I visited, though the seating is dated, the facilities are old, and there isn’t otherwise good barista coffee or drinks options. However, the lounge is extremely quiet and pleasant to sit in, especially when there’s not an Emirates flight departing in the vicinity. So if the lounge is open before your flight, I’d definitely visit this lounge over the Qantas lounge, at least before the new Qantas business class lounge in Sydney opens in 2027.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Access and Opening Hours
The Emirates lounge Sydney opens four hours before every operating Emirates flight (i.e. if the flight is cancelled, the opening hours will be adjusted). At the moment the only departing flight is at 8:45 PM (given the geopolitical situation), so the lounge is open for four hours daily, from 4:45 PM to 8:45 PM.
Access is open to Emirates (non-Special) business class passengers, as well as Gold and Platinum status holders. On top of this, Qantas business class passengers and frequent flyers can use the lounge as well. So this lounge serves an alternative to the temporary (and not great) Qantas business class lounge, which you would also have access to if flying Emirates business class.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Location and Entrance
The Emirates Lounge Sydney is located in the lounge complex just by gates 50-63. The Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand lounges are up a level, whereas AmEx Centurion lounge and Emirates lounge are downstairs.
Sydney Lounge Complex Entrance
Once you take the escalators down to the transit desk area, you’ll find the Emirates lounge to your right.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Entrance
Emirates stays quite faithful to their “four hours before departure” opening time policy (unless there are delays, where I believe the lounge opens four hours before when your flight is supposed to depart). So at 5:45 PM a lounge agent opened up the doors, and we were invited into the Emirates lounge (where there was a nice model A380).
Emirates Lounge Sydney Entrance
When I asked whether Qantas passengers could access the lounge, the lounge attendant smiled and said “of course!”.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Seating and Atmosphere
The Emirates lounge Sydney is large and spans 880 sq. m. It’s essentially a dumbbell-shaped room, with a corridor connecting two large seating areas.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Seating
To the right of the entrance you’ll find a dining area, which featured chairs facing 1-1 across one another, as well as tables adorned with flowers.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Seating
Then past this was a seating area, consisting of a couple of types of armchairs.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Seating
Then dotted along the lounge closer to the windows were more armchairs, some of which were laid across in a more communal setting for larger groups.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Seating
Then on the far end of the lounge, there was even more seating, some of which faced the tarmac as well. There was some fake greenery dotted around the lounge, especially on this side.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Seating
While the seating was quite same-y, I saw some power port cubes dotted around the lounge. These were last-generation – they didn’t feature universal power ports, and also featured USB-A charging, as opposed to any form of USB-C charging.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Charging Ports
The lounge looked out onto the tarmac, though views were obstructed by the terminal building. There was a view of an Air New Zealand A321noe, though that was about it. This lounge doesn’t offer direct boarding, unlike some of Emirates’ other lounges.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Tarmac Views
Then lastly, on the far end of the lounge, there were some workstations with monitors. I guess the chairs here were quite comfortable, and suited for working.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Business Centre
WiFi was fast, and measured 92.7 Mbps down and 82.2 Mbps up.
While I know the lounge had a soft refurbishment in 2022, I still felt it screamed “oy, 2003 called and they want their lounge back” vibes. Much of the decor still inherited the lounge’s older-style gaudy lighting and colour tones, and while there’s still not a huge variety of seating in their newer lounges, the lighting feels much more modern. I also felt like there was a very limited range of seating, considering the lounge’s size – there were armchairs, restaurant-style table chairs, and a few desk chairs, though that was it.
Despite this, I enjoyed my time here. The main selling point was how quiet the lounge was, as it barely filled up throughout the early evening. Even at peak hour there isn’t more than one A380 flight featuring first and business class out of Sydney, so I doubt an aircraft with 90 premium passengers would make this lounge too packed.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Food and Beverage
The Emirates Lounge Sydney’s food spread was extensive, and located to the right of the lounge entrance. There were loads of hot options here, including orecchiette alla Pugliese, Moroccan chicken tagine, miso cured salmon, Greek-style slow-roast lamb, spiced vegetable jalfrezi, zaatar roasted kumura wedge, gunpowder potatoes, and more. This was by far the strongest food selection I’ve seen at any of the lounges I’d been past on the day, and it certainly beat out the Qantas lounge.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Food Spread
There was also beef, rosemary and root vegetable pie served in individual ramekins, which were very fresh and tasty.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Food Spread
In terms of cold options, there were multiple cheese (more than what I saw at other lounges), cut fruit, crudites, crackers, and other bites. There were also individually plated items including toasted falafel, fattoush salad, chicken larb with roasted rice, and various desserts, including powerplay tart and pavlova. I loved the individual plating concept, and everything tasted fantastic.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Food Spread
So while there’s still no signature dish or “wow” factor to the catering here, I would take catering here over any of the lounges I saw at Sydney Airport any day of the week. This was probably one of the best non-made-to-order food spreads I’ve seen at any airport lounge, let alone at an outstation.
In terms of drinks, there’s a self-serve bar at both ends of the lounge, featuring a selection of soft drinks, wines, spirits, and flavoured water. While most of the drinks were nothing special, it’s worth noting that Emirates pours two types of champagne at the lounge – Veuve Cliquot and Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée. I was sure to have a couple of glasses before my flight.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Drinks Selection
The one thing this lounge lacks in the catering department is barista coffee, which all three other lounges I visited had (yep, even the Plaza Premium lounge). It would’ve been cool for Emirates to pull this off, given how big coffee culture is in Australia.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Shower Facilities
In terms of shower facilities, I saw a shower within the men’s room (assuming there’d have been a similar one within the women’s room). It looked very basic, old, though functional, and featured Voya toiletries.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Shower Facilities
In terms of amenities, a shower cap, loofah, cotton buds and a comb were available, whereas shower packs, shaving kits, and dental kits could be requested from reception.
Emirates Lounge Sydney Shower Facilities
Conclusion: Emirates Lounge Sydney
It’s impressive how many outstations Emirates operates lounges at, though the lounge at Sydney wasn’t anything special. The decor is very outdated, and there’s a limited range of seating. However, I do love how quiet this lounge is, especially if you’re visiting before a Qantas flight (as long as you’re at the airport within the lounge’s opening hours).
The food spread is delicious here – one of the best non-a la carte options I’ve seen. It’s also great that the lounge offers two types of high-quality champagne; however, the other drinks weren’t so strong, and I definitely wouldn’t drop by for a coffee. That being said, given that the lounge is currently only open in the evenings anyway, I certainly wouldn’t mind stopping by for dinner and a glass (or two) of champagne.
Have you been to the Emirates lounge Sydney before? What’s the nicest Emirates lounge you’ve been to?
