Review: Qantas First Class Lounge – Sydney, Australia…

When the airport feels better than home, you know you’re in the right place. Qantas operates three flagship First Class lounges in Melbourne, Sydney and Los Angeles – each with a continuity and grace that’s hard to properly fathom.

On a recent trip through Sydney, we popped in to sample the Qantas finest airport offering. If only home came with the amenities found in this lounge…

Entry: OneWorld Emerald or Qantas First Class only.

Security is tight. Before entering the soft lobby, guests boarding passes are scrutinized. Once up the escalator and into the main event, passes are scanned again – this time with a very warm welcome from the Qantas services desk.

Qantas partnership with Marc Newson make this an instantly recognizable space. Angled columns, stained wood, jazzed up carpets and branded red tones set the highly stylish scene.

Within moments the lounge is pleasantly overwhelming. To the bar? The dining room? The reclining chairs overlooking the runway – or tragically, an office space? Waiter service flows throughout the lounge, as does a variety of specially designed cocktails, wines, champagnes, beers and of course – coffee.

The wines are worth drinking, four champagnes cater to all styles and the cocktails are borderline clever. Think Perrier Jouet, Mumm Rose, Pommery and other delicious choices, as well as hand selected Australian wine stunners.

But the a la carte dining is a sensation of it’s own right. Neil Perry, the acclaimed chef behind the Rockpool Grille partners with Qantas on food – and if taste is any indicator, the partnership is thriving. The dishes are fresh, light, seasonally changing and offer a diverse selection for all palates.

Of course, no visit is complete without a sampling of the iconic salt and pepper squid. We sampled the corn fritters for breakfast and had to order a second plate. For a good preview of the ever changing food menu, check out our friends at AusBT, who have nice pictures to boot!

There are showers, meeting rooms and business facilities, but the one thing you can’t miss, are the analog departures boards. These rare gems remind us instantly of a more stylish jet set era. After a stretch in one of the sleep worthy lounge chairs with runway views – we were off. Time always seems to go far too fast in this lounge – but we certainly don’t mind.

Have you visited the Qantas First Class Lounge in Sydney?