Plaza Premium runs a sizeable network of over 250 pay-per-entry lounges in more than 30 countries, including four departures lounges and one arrivals lounge in Australia. Travellers can pay to get in or enjoy complimentary access through airline agreements or third-party lounge and credit card programs.

American Express Platinum Card Members and Citi Prestige cardholders enjoy unlimited access to Plaza Premium Lounges around the globe! And since 20 June 2023, you can also enter these lounges with the separate Priority Pass lounge membership program.

Plaza Premium Lounges in Australia

Adelaide

Adelaide plays host to Plaza Premium’s newest Australian lounge, as well as a fresh new design that will be rolled out in future Plaza Premium lounges. Currently open from 7 am to 10 am, it welcomes passengers departing on Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Air New Zealand.

Singapore Airlines also contracts its Business Class and elite-status passengers to use this lounge. We also understand that Qatar Airways is in discussion to open this lounge ahead of its evening flights to Doha.

Step inside Adelaide’s newest international lounge.

Sydney

The second most recent addition to the network in Australia is the Plaza Premium Lounge in Sydney’s International Terminal. It resides in the space of the old American Express Lounge – a notoriously small space. But Plaza Premium has brightened the place up and now welcomes passengers departing on any airline.

Plaza-Premium-Sydney-INT

Highlights include a refreshed décor, barista-made coffee, and complimentary alcoholic drinks. You’ll find this space located opposite Gates 25 & 26.

Plaza Premium now also runs an arrivals lounge and on-site Aerotel at Sydney International Airport. Handily, it’s located in the arrivals hall.

Plaza Premium Lounge (International Arrivals), Sydney
The Plaza Premium Arrival lounge in Sydney [Photo by Chris Chamberlin]

Melbourne

Melbourne’s Plaza Premium Lounge opened in March 2018. It offers delicious food, a good range of beverages and a space to relax for passengers travelling with any airline in any class of service. Feeling productive? Settle into one of the oversized working pods to wrap up your work before the journey.

Melbourne Plaza Premium Lounge

The Melbourne Plaza Premium Lounge is located near Gate 9 – look for the stairs or lift that go down one level from the main departures area. Many other lounges are located here too.

Brisbane

The Brisbane Plaza Premium Lounge was the first to open in Australia in early 2016. Our take? It has good apron views and customer service, but the lounge is on the small side. You can expect a mix of made-to-order dining and buffet options like its siblings.

Plaza Premium Brisbane

It is located on Level 4 of the International Terminal, between Gates 81 and 82.

Key international Plaza Premium Lounges

Travelling far and wide? Perhaps your travels will take you past a Plaza Premium somewhere in the world. Here’s a small cross-section of Plaza Premium-operated lounges in major cities that you might come across:

  • Asia: Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Nagoya Jakarta, Singapore and Taipei
  • Middle East: Abu Dhabi, and Dubai
  • Europe: London, Paris, Helsinki, Frankfurt, Istanbul and Rome
  • Canada: Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Vancouver
  • North America: Boston, Dallas Fort Worth, New York, San Francisco, Orlando
  • South America: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo

Jakarta

The Saphire Plaza Premium lounge located at Terminal 3 of the Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport opened in 2018. It is located on a corner of the terminal, in between Gates 4 and 5 (the entrance is closer to Gate 5).

Plaza Premium Jakarta

Singapore

Nestled in Terminal 1, the Singapore Plaza Premium Lounge might just be this author’s favourite one in the network. It does great chicken rice and laksa – both enjoyable treats when jetting out of the city-state.

Plaza Premium Lounge Singapore chicken rice
(Yes, that chicken’s cooked – just the lighting). Delicious, silky-smooth chicken rice in the lounge.

Rome

Serving international departures (non-Schengen) out of Terminal 3, Rome’s Plaza Premium Lounge is a large and airy space with great shower rooms and Italian dining.

The Plaza Premium Lounge in Rome is Qantas’ designated lounge.

Plaza Premium First Lounges

As the name suggests, the ‘First Lounge’ concept is a step above regular Plaza Premium spaces. Be treated to à la carte dining and complimentary massage treatments. There are First lounges in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong (currently closed), with an additional co-payment required when you enter with a lounge membership.

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Unlimited access for American Express Platinum Charge cardholders

The American Express Platinum card offers lounge access to Plaza Platinum lounges. That’s in addition to the existing Priority Pass, Virgin Australia Lounge, American Express Lounge and Delta SkyClub benefits.

You just need to flash your American Express Platinum or Centurion card at the lounge entrance to gain access. What a perk!

Be a Smart Traveller with Plaza Premium

Plaza Premium’s own loyalty program is called Smart Traveller. You can earn and use Arrture Points for lounge access and other rewards as well. If you eventually start frequenting these lounges often, you might also benefit from members’ specials on lounge access passes.

Plaza Premium Smart Traveller Guide
Earn points from every lounge visit.

Plaza Premium vs Priority Pass

As mentioned previously, Priority Pass is a lounge access membership while Plaza Premium is an actual network of independent pay-per-entry lounges. Both are separate companies. After a two-year break in the partnership, you can once again use Priority Pass to access selected Plaza Premium lounges from 20 June 2023.

Two Priority Pass single-use visits are offered complimentary with certain credit cards such as the St.George Amplify Signature and the Westpac Altitude Black. Want unlimited access instead? Citi Prestige, American Express Platinum, Business Platinum and Centurion cardholders also enjoy unlimited Priority Pass membership and lounge visits, some with complimentary guest inclusions depending on the card.

Summing up

Plaza Premium Lounges are generally a welcome sight before a flight. Most lounges offer up locally-inspired food, a range of complimentary beverages and shower rooms to freshen up in (one exception is Sydney, which uses the nearby Skyteam lounge for that).

Though you can pay to access Plaza Premium Lounges, holding the American Express Platinum Card or the Citi Prestige card does make lounge life a lot easier. Enjoy unlimited entry with a guest while you remain a member. Two Priority Pass single-use visits are offered complimentary with certain credit cards such as the St.George Amplify Signature and the Westpac Altitude Black.

Supplementary images courtesy Plaza Platinum.

Guide to Plaza Premium Lounges in Australia was last modified: July 14th, 2023 by Brandon Loo