Qantas First Lounge, Melbourne

Qantas’ First Lounge in Melbourne may be almost 20 years old, but its timeless design hasn’t aged a day. Making its debut back in 2007 ahead of the 2008 delivery of Qantas’ first Airbus A380, the lounge heralded a new era of first class luxury.

But the lounge isn’t just a playground for those on a first class budget. Platinum frequent flyers, including those who’ve earned their stripes purely from economy class travel, are also welcome. As one of those Platinum members, this has become my favourite airport lounge globally.

It’s never crowded, you’re never stuck waiting for a table, and as luck would have it, any time the spa is open, I always manage to secure a complimentary treatment. While Qantas’ Sydney First Lounge is much bigger, it’s much noisier and far less exclusive.

As a Melbourne resident, this lounge is one of my biggest motivators to keep retaining Qantas Platinum. If you haven’t yet been inside, here’s what you’re missing out on… and why the race for Platinum is absolutely worth it.

Qantas Melbourne First Lounge Location & Opening Hours

After check-in, security and passport control, just keep following the path through duty-free and beyond. Once you see Brunetti, veer right in the direction of gates 9/10/11, and take the escalator or lift upstairs.

The entrance to the Qantas First Lounge sits across from the Marhaba Lounge. You’ll find Qantas’ lounge open bright and early at 4:45am each day, closing at 11pm. This makes it accessible prior to most eligible flights, except for Emirates’ service to Dubai around the crack of dawn (EK409), for which Emirates’ own lounge is available.

Qantas Melbourne First Lounge Overview

Melbourne’s Qantas First Lounge looks a lot like Sydney, but on a smaller and cosier scale. Pass reception and your eyes are drawn towards the tarmac views. The design then draws you towards the right, up to where the restaurant is located… but don’t head there before you’ve explored the space.

Left of the entrance is where you’ll find working desks tucked away with power: great for pre-flight productivity.

There’s also a subtle entrance to the spa. To request a complimentary appointment, just enquire at the main lounge reception.

This part of the lounge also houses two office suites: also bookable at reception. My go-to is the larger office on the right, which offers the best views.

An array of comfortable Poltrona Frau leather chairs reside nearby. Pro tip: the chairs with headrests are recliners. Just lean back and your feet come up. These seats continue along the side of the lounge’s main internal corridor.

On the other side of the aisle, there are several suites in U-shaped layouts. These are great for groups and families. Some are configured as a library, while others have a TV.

Continue your walk through the lounge and it’s hard to miss the striking bar. But it’s rare to see people sitting here, as there’s waiter service anywhere you settle down.

Instead, take a seat in the dining area: preferably with a view. My favourite spot is in the far corner, as you get the vistas on both sides.

Part of why I love this lounge is its distinctive design. Carrara marble is liberally used, as is Swiss quartzite. The hexagonal patterned carpets by designer Marc Newson come from Hong Kong, made of Tai Ping wool. These are complemented by dining tables and chairs that represent an evolution of a style that Newson initially debuted at a restaurant in New York.

It’s rather poetic for an airport: things coming together from near and far, as others prepare to begin adventures of their own to many of the same places.

Food & Beverage At Qantas’ Melbourne First Lounge

Dining here is more bistro fare than fine dining, but even so, this is why you arrive early. No visit to Qantas’ Melbourne First Lounge is complete without an order of salt and pepper squid.

Champagne is a perfect pairing (Lallier R020 Brut, on my most recent visits). I appreciate that Qantas no longer hides this from the menu. For a while, Champagne was conspicuously absent from the beverage list, despite still being available on request. I can’t think of any reason to do this other than cost-cutting. But it’s back, and there’s an entire beverage book to go with it.

Still, I won’t pick up the menu until I’ve ordered the squid. The rest of the menu changes seasonally, but the squid is a staple. If you can tear yourself away from the signature, the gua bao with Korean fried chicken and pickles is a great alternative… or a nice bite to follow with.

For light bites or snacks, the olives, grissini and hot chips are also favourites.

Main courses vary by season, but the minute steak is another staple. Yes, you’re supposed to spread the café de Paris butter only on the steak, but I can never resist the urge to dive a few chips into it first…

There’s usually a solid fish dish, too: Humpty Doo barramundi, on my last visit. While a variant of this is served aboard many Qantas long-haul flights, it always tastes best on the ground.

Spring onions give a nice crunch to the stir-fried duck noodles: one to enjoy if you don’t mind a little chilli kick.

There are lots of choices, but you must leave room for the pavlova. It’s as much of an institution as the squid, with its ingredients also changing by season.

If you somehow still have stomach space, the cheese plate is generous and great with a dessert wine (often, it’s a Noble One).

And, if you need some energy for the flight ahead, I can vouch for the Espresso Martini.

Here for breakfast? When I’m too sleepy for decision-making, I go straight for the Eggs Benedict with salmon – or for an alternative, the sweet corn fritters. The barista brews are also up to scratch.

Qantas First Lounge Amenities

The other reason to arrive early to Qantas’ Melbourne First Lounge is the spa: at least, if you’re travelling when it’s open. It can be tricky because Qantas doesn’t publish set opening hours, but in my experience, the spa tends to open for eight hours a day, with the timing anchored around the middle of the day. For instance, 8am to 4pm, 7am to 3pm, or 9am to 5pm.

Exact timings can vary by flight schedule, but any time that I jet through between late morning and early afternoon, I have a 100% hit rate for securing an appointment. That’s one of the reasons that I favour this lounge over its Sydney counterpart, because there, it’s rare that I’ll land a treatment without first being placed on a waitlist at reception. In Melbourne, there’s always a proactive offer at reception.

Treatments are a quick 20 minutes: just long enough for a hot stone back massage. The lounge also has showers, marble-clad restrooms… and something seriously cool (at least, for avgeeks): a retro-style ‘Solari’ departure board.

Forget the typical TV screens that now flood airports. Here, as the day progresses, the departure board updates itself with that signature click-clack sound of a bygone era. Okay, it’s nerdy to appreciate that… but I never get tired of hearing that sound. But I must say, it doesn’t handle codeshares very well. A single flight can fill the entire board, and then it’s back to your phone to check your departure status, defeating the point.

My only grumble is that the lounge doesn’t have more power outlets. They’re here, but you have to choose your seat accordingly to power up, rather than sitting down and plugging in.

Who Can Access The Qantas First Lounge?

On paper, a first class ticket on Qantas, Emirates or a Oneworld airline gets you through the door (plus one guest). However, Qantas has moved all its A380 flights to Sydney, so Qantas first class isn’t an option, and most Oneworld airlines don’t offer first class from Melbourne, either.

That’s where British Airways’ new Melbourne route will come in handy: equipped with first class and running daily from mid-January 2027 to Kuala Lumpur and onwards to London. Flying first class on Emirates works as well, except aboard that early morning departure.

While the lounge may have been created for first class travellers, the clientele now is largely frequent flyers. This includes Qantas Platinum members prior to Qantas, Emirates and Oneworld flights (plus one guest). Platinum One members can also visit prior to these flights and when flying Jetstar (with one guest), while Chairmans Lounge members can visit prior to all the same flights with two guests.

Otherwise, Qantas Premier Titanium credit card holders receive two First Lounge passes each year, as do Platinum One members which can be shared with others.

In Conclusion: Qantas First Lounge, Melbourne

In my book, Qantas’ First Lounge in Melbourne is leaps and bounds ahead of Sydney. Getting a spa treatment is easy… and for that matter, getting a table in the restaurant is simple, too. That might sound simple, but my last pass via Sydney saw me waiting over an hour to dine. I gave up hope for a table when boarding was imminent and I still hadn’t been seated.

I’d go so far as to say, there’s only one true Qantas First Lounge in Australia, and it’s in Melbourne. Sorry, Sydney, but your First Lounge is second class. Fly from Melbourne next time and you’ll see what I mean.