Qantas Temporarily Closing Melbourne First Lounge

Qantas is about to shut its First Class lounge in Melbourne for a month, while it conducts maintenance work. It’s one of several Qantas airport lounges that will temporarily close over the coming months.

From 4 October until 3 November 2025, customers departing from Melbourne’s international terminal who are normally eligible for Qantas First Lounge access will instead be invited into a “premium dedicated space” within Qantas’ Melbourne International Business Lounge.

Qantas will continue to offer premium a la carte dining in its “premium dedicated space” within the Business Lounge for Platinum, Platinum One, Oneworld Emerald and First Class passengers. But the spa will be unavailable, as will the usual great views – and natural light – afforded by the First Lounge’s location on the upper level of the terminal.

“You’ll still be able to enjoy exceptional service, while you relax, dine or work before your flight,” the Qantas website says.

Qantas tells us that the Melbourne First Lounge is only closing for scheduled maintenance. There won’t be any material changes or new features when it reopens in November.

A few years ago, Qantas announced that it would begin upgrading its Melbourne international Business Lounge in late 2023. Two years later, and there are still no signs of any such work taking place in the lounge dubbed by some on AFF as “the dungeon” for its lack of natural light.

If you’re flying Qantas out of Melbourne over the coming period, and have Qantas Gold, Platinum or Platinum One status, you might consider visiting the excellent Emirates Lounge instead. This is a great alternative to the Qantas lounges, if it’s open.

Unfortunately, the Emirates Lounge only opens early in the morning and then again in the evening (as this is when the Emirates flights to Dubai depart).

Other upcoming temporary Qantas lounge closures

Meanwhile, Qantas will close its Gold Coast lounge from 10-16 November for a refurbishment. The airline is promising that this lounge will have a “fresh look and feel” after it reopens.

Qantas also recently embarked on a refreshment program for eight of its regional Qantas Club lounges. Following the opening of a new regional lounge in Broome earlier this year, Qantas is now in the process of installing new seats, furnishings, technology and Australian artwork at other regional airports including Coffs Harbour, Tamworth, Mackay, Emerald and Gladstone.

The next stage of this work includes the temporary closure of its lounges in Rockhampton, Kalgoorlie and Karratha from 2-10 December 2025.

Work also continues on the new Qantas Auckland Lounge due to open next year. But the opening of the new Sydney international Business Lounge appears to now be delayed (yet again) until 2027.