Where is Qantas’s Sydney International Business Lounge Located?

Qantas’s International Business Lounge as the name entails is located airside in Sydney International Airport’s Terminal 1. After clearing security and immigration and walking through the myriad of duty free shopping opportunities proceed up the escalators to Level 1 above the main concourse near Gate 9 and 10. Walking pass the even more superior Qantas First Class Lounge, you’ll find Qantas’ busiest international lounge.

Who Can Access the Lounge and When is it Open?

Unlike some of it siblings in other Australian airports, the International business Lounge in Sydney has a set opening time of 5am daily and is open until the last scheduled Qantas departure. This means no opening and closing at various times throughout the day and only catering to select flights. If you are flying Qantas and are eligible you can be assured the Lounge should be open in Sydney.

Qantas’s International Business Lounge can be accessed through numerous different pathways for traveler’s flying abroad on the Red Roo and its partner and alliance airlines. This can include for business and first class travelers, those with airline and airline partner frequent flyer status, Qantas Club membership or through single entry passes. Many of these pathways will also allow an additional +1 guest but confirm with the airline first.

Business and First Class Passengers: For passengers flying Qantas, One World Partner Airlines and other non alliance partners, notably budget subsidiary Jetstar, China Eastern and Emirates

QFF Membership Status: Qantas Gold and Above

One World Status: Sapphire or Emerald (When departing on a OneWorld Flight

Emirates Skywards status: Gold and Platinum

Qantas Club membership: Provided travelling on a Qantas or Jetstar Flight Number

Day Passes/Single Entry Passes: Provided travelling on a Qantas or Jetstar Flight Number and subject to availability

Credit Card Holders: Several high end credit cards provide several complimentary entries to the lounge each calendar. Check with your provider to see if eligible.

Lounge Design and Seating

Qantas Sydney International Business Lounge is one of the largest lounges of it kind in Australia and one of the most important in Qantas’s network which caters to a large traveler base travelling both on the home carrier and also hosts access for many foreign carriers. It serves passengers bound for short hops across the Tasman and leisurely trips to South East Asia all the way to those bound for day long journeys to North America and Europe. Whilst traffic visiting the lounge has not yet fully returned to the scenes of the past , it is safe to say that the Qantas’s Sydney flagship has been very busy in years gone by and to some extent shows its age and is probably well deserving of a revamp. Perhaps a missed opportunity was had here during the slowdown and even closure of the lounge during the hardest stages of the Covid pandemic.

Generally speaking it could be described that the lounge is broken into 3 main zones consisting of a left and right wing connected through a a central common area where most of the lounge’s liveliness originates. Both the left and right sides offer a similar style of various seating options and both have identical self service buffet and drinks stations. At the time of visiting and with reduced demand only the right side was offering food and drinks but you are nonetheless welcome to sit in the left side which is slightly more spacious and less busy.

Central Zone

The central area of the lounge which we shall coin the ‘central zone’ is arguably the focal point of the lounge where much of the liveliness of the lounge centering around the sit up long bar table stocked with self service wine bottles, flavored waters and accompanying snacks. Whilst the lounge is certainly showing some signs of its age upon entering good natural sunlight and at least partial views of the operating tarmac provide for an inviting space At the right hand side there is also the barista station which attracts a steady flow of foot traffic and is the only crewed aspect of the lounge when it comes to food and beverage – everything else here is self serve. A central area towards the back of this zone immediately past reception provides easy seating for those stopping by for perhaps just a quick coffee or wine before the flight whilst bar stools with tables are at the front for those seeking the partially obscured views of the tarmac.

Right Wing

The Right Wing of the lounge is currently definitely the busier side of the lounge chiefly because it is the only wing with its food and beverage stations currently open. Sit here if you want to be within easy reach of the buffet and expect a variety of seating options including benches with bar stools, tables with chairs and lounge chairs. Several television screens are available presenting predominately news programming

Left Wing

The Left Wing of the lounge when we visited was certainly the far quieter area of the lounge. Expect a longer walk to the self buffet and bar. For those looking for a more secluded area before their flight this might be the better place to sit. Once again as with the right side there is plenty of seating options, albeit it is even a larger area. Some of the seating does appear dated though. There are also several television screens located in the area playing mostly news programming.

Food and Beverage

Self-Service Buffet

Qantas’s International Business Lounge in Sydney has two main dining stations located at opposite ends of the lounge. Currently the food and beverage precinct on the right hand side is the only one open but otherwise it would appear that both would offer identical food and drink options. The lounge offers all day dining with the menu offerings changing throughout the day to suit. During our visit during the early morning hours, the usual breakfast fare was on offer including both English and continental options. The range and quality could be be alike to a mid range hotel’s offering and was more than adequate. Similar to other Qantas lounges if visiting during lunch or dinner expect several rotating hot meal options along with all day breads, cakes, soups and sweets.

Self-Service Bar

Unlike many of Qantas’s domestic lounges expect a completely self service bar at this lounge. Don’t expect a bar tender to prepare and serve drinks. Some may see this as an annoyance whilst others may think the exact opposite of which we tend to think. Unlike in the Qantas Club and Domestic Business Lounges alcohol is available any time the lounge is open. Expect typically 3-4 verities of Red and White mid-range wine each and also a sparkling. Also expect 3-4 verities of beer in stubbies including Little Creatures and Boags, among other. Impressively, you can draw your own fresh chilled glass of beer with Heineken, 150 Lashes and Hahn Super Dry also on tap. The bar also offers a range of spirits, nothing top shelf but nonetheless some of Australia’s favorite tipples. A full range of soft drinks and non alcoholic options including N/A beer is also available.

Service and Staff

Due to the largely self service nature of the lounge don’t expect the same high staffing levels of Qantas’s big city domestic lounges. Customer facing staffing is largely limited to the reception area and also the barista station. Service staff did well to regularly replenish the food and drinks options whilst cleaning staff were spotted often sanitizing and clearing tables and keeping the amenities in good condition. Good work Qantas here!

Lounge Amenities

Being one of the larger lounges, users can expect to benefit from the location of two bathroom areas which were well serviced and kept clean during our visit. Only the ones on the left hand side appeared to have showers which were not used on this visit. The Wifi appeared to work well in the lounge and was amongst some of the fastest and most reliable we had experienced in a lounge before. Access to charging ports were available in the lounge but there location is hit and miss and there is no usb ports so don’t forget to bring your wall charger and also an international adaptor if a foreign visitor. The ports were more commonly located along the walls of the lounge so best looking for a seat nearby to them if needing to charge your devices. The lounge also has a magazine rack which provides a range of literature and newspapers and also the QANTAS Magazine for those who fancy an old fashioned read before on on their flight.

Summing Up: Is the Lounge Fit For Purpose?

Qantas’s International Business Lounge in Sydney has certainly served its purpose as one of the largest and most important lounges in the Qantas network. The lounge despite showing its age and disappointingly has not yet realized its planned upgrades is still a well serviced and comfortable lounge for the wide range of different travelers on Qantas and partner airlines it services everyday. Whether its a short pitstop for a quick coffee or spending several hours before a flight like we did it does an adequate job of servicing the needs of its diverse traveler base. Overall despite the obvious need for a well deserved revamp, Qantas ticks most of the right boxes for a good foundation to a solid lounge. To keep up with the expectation of its premium travelers amongst a competitive and increasingly innovative market long term though a new revamp of the lounge should be of high priority for Qantas!