Refurbishment at MEL QF International Business lounge?

[drcam]

Just wondering has there been a refurbishment at the QF international J lounge in Melbourne yet?
I know pre-renovation it was one of the weakest lounges in the network, is it worth consuming a Priority Pass visit at a different lounge?

 

[moa999]

Not yet.

 

[cpatters]

We are all still waiting for the official announcement!!

 

[drcam]

We are all still waiting for the official announcement!!

Damn. D'oh!

 

[Daver6]

We are all still waiting for the official announcement!!

Announcement for a renovation that will happen in 3 years time and then be delayed another 5 years. So 2033 at the earliest.

 

[moa999]

Reading between the lines, Qantas is waiting for MEL Airport to finalise it's plans for international terminal expansion, which might hopefully open up some alternative spaces that aren't so dungeon like.

Planning for the future of international travel at Melbourne Airport

www.melbourneairport.com.au

 

[TeaKozy]

The domestic Melbourne Qantas Club has similar lighting constraints following the reconfiguration with the business lounge, but would never convey the dungeon moniker. Can understand waiting for the terminal reconfiguration, but that doesn’t preclude them adding a little more lighting or improving the F&B in the interim.

I went down to visit some colleagues on the same flight the other week. If that isn’t an incentive to retain Platinum for Victorian flyers, I don’t know what is.

 

[opusman]

The domestic QC has the advantage of large windows into the departures hall, which does allow (indirect) natural light in. Artificial lighting can never really make up for lack of natural light.

 

[Mwenenzi]

As I posted in another thread in April 2025 Melbourne International Business Lounge Dungeon Food

I was in the lounge last year when someone with a large tablet was walking around with 2 others. saying new bar here, new bathroom etc​

Was announced Feb 2023 (over 2 years ago) https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/m...network-including-new-first-lounge-in-london/​

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LOUNGE

• Proposed redevelopment of existing Qantas Business Class Lounge at Melbourne International Airport featuring an expanded footprint which will increase capacity by up to 30 per cent to accommodate future passenger growth.
• Will include a full internal refresh and a new signature food and beverage concept. Work will be carried out in stages from late 2023, targeting stage one opening in mid 2024.

And in the same thread I posted

The MEL T2 QF business lounge is on level 1, about 6m above ground. But no natural light or wall to the exterior. So not a "dungeon", even if feels like it is. Leaving the lounge, turning left to gates 9 &11 are above the aircraft. Jetbridge has a down slope. Next time I am gates 9 & 11 will take a photo. Image below is on the wall near lounge door. Limited options for expanding the floor area.​

 

[Human]

is it worth consuming a Priority Pass visit at a different lounge?

No-one seems to have answered your original question. In my opinion, the answer is Yes, but only if what you're looking for is tarmac views. The views from the Marhaba (Priority Pass) lounge are very good.

If you don't care about the view but you want better food, the answer is more complicated. In my opinion the food in the Marhaba lounge isn't better than the food in the Qantas lounge (AFFers disagree on this, but in my opinion it's worse).

The House lounge has reasonably decent food, especially if you pay extra for it, and the views are pretty good too.

Plaza Premium has OK food but no views.

TBH if I had free access to the Qantas International Business Lounge but I had to pay and/or use a valuable Lounge pass to use somewhere else, I'd just use the Qantas Lounge. The Qantas Lounge isn't the best airport lounge, but it's far from the traumatising torture-chamber that some make it out to be.

 

[drcam]

Last time I was in the Marhaba lounge the food was just fine. They had a nice selection of dim sum from my part of the world. The last photo of food on offer from the QF lounge did not seem appetizing at all.

 

[Mwenenzi]

From Point Hacks (owner of aFF)

Melbourne Airport plans to close its infamous 'lounge dungeon'

EXCLUSIVE: The airline lounges below decks at Melbourne Airport's 'dungeon' will one day be a thing of the past as the airport expands.

www.pointhacks.com.au

POINT HACKS EXCLUSIVE | Melbourne Airport’s international lounge precinct is set for an overhaul. As part of expansion works at Terminal 2, the ‘dungeon’, as it’s become known among many frequent flyers, will close. Instead, lounge operators could move into nicer real estate on the upper levels, with floor to ceiling windows.

The change won’t happen overnight. In fact, it’ll be some years away, as the arrivals floor of the terminal is expanded, consuming the space currently occupied by many of those lounges. It’s known as the dungeon because the lounges down here generally lack outside-facing windows. There can be glimpses of natural light, but the views provided are usually just of arriving international travellers marching past on their way to passport control.
<snip>

So do not see QF spending any $$ on updating the MEL QF International lounge (on level 1 about 6m above grade)

 

[cpatters]

From Point Hacks (owner of aFF)

Melbourne Airport plans to close its infamous 'lounge dungeon'

EXCLUSIVE: The airline lounges below decks at Melbourne Airport's 'dungeon' will one day be a thing of the past as the airport expands.

www.pointhacks.com.au

So do not see QF spending any $$ on updating the MEL QF International lounge (on level 1 about 6m above grade)

Thanks for sharing! Think its pretty clear that Qantas will spend the $$ instead on a completely new lounge once the expansion works are complete or being done.

 

[moa999]

From Point Hacks (owner of aFF)

Surprised that ChrisC or the Pointhacks admin didn't post the article here as well

 

[Mwenenzi]

Just on topic as QF & SQ have lounges in the same area., So would expect both lounges to be rebuilt in the new location at about the same time.
Pointhacks 06 Nov 2025. ---> Singapore Airlines to open all-new Melbourne SilverKris Lounge

Good news for Singapore Airlines’ Melbourne passengers – a brand-new SilverKris Lounge is coming. While the juiciest details are still under wraps, we now know that the airline is targeting a late 2026 or early 2027 opening.<snip>
Mr Chua wouldn’t be drawn on the new lounge’s location, but we do have some clues. Melbourne Airport’s Chief of Aviation, Jim Parashos, previously spoke to Point Hacks about the overhaul of the airport’s basement lounge precinct.

“The most significant infrastructure – and of course, probably the most sought after from our airline customers – is an expansion of that central satellite area. (This) will provide more seating and circulation to the new gates.”

“But the idea is that the level above departures will become the home of an expanded gate lounge area. I think it’s fair to say all our (existing) airline customers would like to move up there over time.”

Current location is a1 level below departures, about 6m above ground

 

[elanshin]

Just on topic as QF & SQ have lounges in the same area., So would expect both lounges to be rebuilt in the new location at about the same time.
Pointhacks 06 Nov 2025. ---> Singapore Airlines to open all-new Melbourne SilverKris Lounge

Current location is a1 level below departures, about 6m above ground

What i can see happen is QF take over the SQ space potentially whilst wait for a proper long term build if the other space being offered isn't suitable.

I'm also not sure if they'll do both SYD J and MEL J at the same time.

 

[Mwenenzi]

What i can see happen is QF take over the SQ space potentially whilst wait for a proper long term build if the other space being offered isn't suitable.

I'm also not sure if they'll do both SYD J and MEL J at the same time.

From what I have read SYD International Business lounge rebuild is ahead of MEL in timing. Anyway no issues doing at the same time
SQ space is small