Amex & Priority Pass lounge - Melbourne

[DavidFlynn]

Update: both the American Express and Priority pass lounges at Melbourne will open Tuesday March 27
American Express to open new Melbourne Airport lounge on March 27

 

[tdpali]

Wow, finally. Can't wait...

 

[Mattg]

Just walked past the Priority Pass lounge in Melbourne and they're offering paid entry for $35 at the door as an "introductory offer".

 

[glasszon]

Has anyone been to both the Amex lounge and the Plaza Premium lounge? Which lounge is better?

 

[straitman]

Has anyone been to both the Amex lounge and the Plaza Premium lounge? Which lounge is better?

Plaza Premium is ordinary IMHO.

I’m not sure where the Amex lounge is.

 

[blueythecat]

I’ve enjoyed the Amex lounge. It’s not big, but it was very quiet when I was there - a stark contrast to the Sydney one.

 

[Monya Meow Meow]

Has anyone been to both the Amex lounge and the Plaza Premium lounge? Which lounge is better?

Amex Lounge is opposite Plaza Premium and they share the same washrooms.
Haven't been to Plaza Premium but Amex Lounge is pretty alright and quiet in the mornings (at least while we were there on a Friday).

 

[straitman]

Amex Lounge is opposite Plaza Premium and they share the same washrooms.
Haven't been to Plaza Premium but Amex Lounge is pretty alright and quiet in the mornings (at least while we were there on a Friday).

Thanks. That makes sense with what I saw.

Still in the dungeon with the Qantas J lounge then.

 

[Melburnian1]

Given that Melbourne does not have a curfew and 2300 to 0100 hours plus 0400 to 0600 hours plays host to some departing international flights (bearing in mind times change once a year by an hour due to daylight saving), it's poor that the Plaza Premium lounge only opens 0600 to 2300.

For instance EK409 (daily) departs (at present) for DXB at 0500 hours, so many will check in between 0200 and 0300.

SQ218 departs for SIN at 0005, and from late October at 0105.

JL774 departs daily for NRT at 0005 hours.

VA69 departs at 0030, and on some days PR208 at 0440 hours.

Plus others timetabled to depart at 2230 to 0000 can run late, such as JQ flights for AKL and CHC or FJ for NAN.

Given that this company is geared towards independent travellers who may be travelling in whY yet lack the status to get into an airline's lounge, despite the high cost of labour in Australia shouldn't PP become a 24 hour operation at Oz airports that lack a curfew?

AviatorInsight broadly agreed with me that MEL is the most difficult of the three major east coast airports to keep time to and from (due to increasing 'traffic' and only having two runways) so assuming that we continue to have high inbound migration and tourism keeps growing, one can foresee that gradually the number of international flights in and out of MEL at unsociable hours will rise, meaning more travellers around at times like 0030.

 

[SOPOOR]

my understanding is that you get 2 visits per calendar year for the explorer, ( so I assume that it resets on 01/01)

can the supplemantary cards be used as part of your included two?

have a relatitve going overseas and I Want to give them the pass, I could give them my personal one, but its a bit awkward for them if they get asked to identify themsveles

 

[serfty]

You normally need to present a same day boarding pass when using Priority Pass facilities. It's nontransferable.

Don't know about the supps.

 

[SOPOOR]

and another issue with amex and their philipino support centre

last month I wanted to check how many lounge passes I had left, and to confirm is it 2 per calendar year or billing year
get told its 2 reset on 1st jan, and then puts me on hold for 25 mins, to get told, oh our systems are nt working, I cant find out, ill call you back when the system is working
No call

today I call, and I get told its 2 per billing year and I have 2 left
me: are you sure, I have a feeling I might have used one,
no sir you have 2 left
me: are you just guessing or did you check
Hold the line sir, 15 mins later, oh ive contacted amex lounge and they cannot check your lounge pass unless you go there, they cant even enter the credit card numbers in to check
me: I thought you checked and said I had 2 left
if youve used 1, then you 'll have 1 left, you can call their number and check
me: why would you give me their number if they cant check any way
I dont know sir

this is why I hate phillipino call centres

 

[SOPOOR]

hilarious,
had to contact amex today for a different matter, and I got through to an aussie one,

at least the aussie ones will tell you the truth

anyway, guy says , yes sure I can check your amex passes for you, not a problem, and to answer your question, its 2 per calendar year

a few minutes later, im sorry sir, I thought I could check your passes for you but it looks the only way is to physically go to the lounge, oh and I do apologise i gave you wrong info, the lounge passes are 2 per billing year

im confused

 

[Doctore1003]

Amex lounge entries are two per calendar year.
The lounge passes for QF and VA lounges you get with Amex co-brand cards are two per membership (billing) year.

 

[straitman]

Amex lounge entries are two per calendar year.
The lounge passes for QF and VA lounges you get with Amex co-brand cards are two per membership (billing) year.

AMEX Platinum Card give unlimited access.

 

[Obzerva]

A quick query, tried to find online but haven’t found the answer.

As I understand it, if you want to bring an additional guest in then you can purchase a guest pass to be billed to your Amex, does anyone know how much the guest pass is?

 

[oz_mark]

for priority pass. A guest is 27 USD until Tuesday. then 32 USD

 

[Obzerva]

for priority pass. A guest is 27 USD until Tuesday. then 32 USD

Great, thanks for your assistance