American Express’ large Card Member lounge is a relatively recent addition to Sydney International Airport. You can’t pay to get in, but flashing the right Amex card at the entrance will let you breeze through into this stylish space to wait out your flight.
In fact, if your card allows two entries a year in Sydney or Melbourne, I’d definitely recommend you use those passes in Sydney if your travel plans allow.
With the Amex Lounge being three times larger than the previous iteration – at over 600 square metres – there’s plenty more room to go around, plus added amenities such as shower rooms. We take a fresh new look at the Amex Lounge before it later rebrands as a Centurion Lounge.
Lounge location and details
The American Express lounge is located in the T1 International terminal, near Gates 50-63. It’s a great option if you’re travelling with Star Alliance carriers. If you are travelling on oneworld carriers, be aware that many of these flights depart from gates that can be more than a 10 minutes walk away.
The lounge currently opens from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, seven days a week.
Lounge seating
Dining area
The lounge is divided into three distinct areas: an open dining space, a secluded resting space, and a ‘social’ area with multiple LCD displays, bench seating and self-serve beverages. Speaking with Point Hacks, the designer of the lounge and director of Mitch Squires and Associates commented:
What we wanted to achieve with this lounge is a fusion between what people might experience in an American Express Centurion lounge with the casual and relaxed feel of a sports bar. The brief was all about creating a stress-free haven for eligible American Express Card Members and their guests.
– Mitch Squires
Entering the lounge, I’m greeted with the familiar green wall, which is a key design feature of American Express lounges worldwide. To the left, there’s the main dining room with the kitchen, booths and café-style seating.
Social area
The ‘social’ area features two long tables with bench seats in front of a bank of LCD screens and the self-service refreshment areas. Behind the bench seats are private alcove/booth seating that lets you have a quiet conversation with your guests while still being connected to the public space.
Lounging area
On the right, I come across the main lounge space with several different seating options. I’m quite a fan of the winged chairs with ottomans – it would be a nice spot to kick back with a drink!
This space features plenty of power points to charge your devices while you’re relaxing. There are also limited window views into the arrivals concourse and further out to the apron. That’s a massive improvement over the old Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge, which had no windows at all.
A key component of the design brief for the lounge was to have an ‘activation space’ that could be used for multiple purposes.
The activation space was a key component to the design of the lounge, so that AMEX could use it for product launches, wine tastings, or other transitory installations to surprise and delight members and guests.
– Mitch Squires
Food & beverage
Previously, American Express introduced ‘live cooking’ stations into the lounge. But this hasn’t yet returned since the lounge re-opened post-COVID. Still, the hot and cold buffet stations offer great variety and quality – better than what’s in the Qantas International Business Lounge, for example.
A number of eye-pleasing salads are the prelude to six hot dishes including stir-fry noodles, chicken cacciatore, chicken and corn soup and pasta carbonara. There are also a few colourful desserts to round off the meal, such as rocky road.
Like the Plaza Premium Lounge, which runs the catering in the Amex lounge, tap beers aren’t available just yet. But there is a pleasing array of beers, wines and spirits available for no extra cost. Barista-brewed coffee is available from the bar, and you can certainly ask for cocktails such as an espresso martini.
Amenities
Setting the new Amex lounge apart from its predecessor is the inclusion of shower suites. There are three of them in total and all come stocked with L’Occitane en Provence products. Unfortunately, the shower rooms were closed during my visit but should be reopening again shortly.
Australian interior design firm, IA Design, worked with local artists to create bespoke wall decals for both the male and female bathrooms that feature Sydney-inspired imagery.
Fast and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the lounge. We clocked the speeds at 53 Mbps down and 58 Mbps up, with a ping of just 5ms. That’s plenty of bandwidth for everyone.
Lounge Access Options
American Express Card Members with the following cards can access this lounge on an unlimited basis, along with up to two guests and children under the age of 17:
- Platinum Card
- Business Platinum Card
- Centurion Card
American Express Platinum Card
American Express® Platinum Business Card
Plenty more American Express cards also include two single-entry passes per calendar year, while you remain a Card Member. You’ll need to use one pass per guest for these cards.
- Platinum Corporate Card
- Explorer Credit Card
- Business Explorer Credit Card
- Platinum Reserve Credit Card
- David Jones American Express Platinum Card
- Qantas American Express Ultimate Card
- Qantas American Express Corporate Platinum Card
- Velocity Platinum Card
- Airpoints Platinum Card (NZ)
Summing up: our take
American Express, in conjunction with Plaza Premium and its design partners, have done a brilliant job of delivering a new lounge experience for their Card Members at Sydney International Airport. The natural and neutral tones used throughout make it an inviting and pleasant lounge to spend time in before your flight, and the choice of three spaces gives travellers the opportunity to dine, relax or socialise.
Some guests may miss the more expansive views from the old lounge (which is now the Plaza Premium Lounge). But there’s no denying American Express is doing so much better in this much larger space. There are more seating options, a bigger range of food & beverage, and shower facilities. It seriously competes as one of the best third-party lounges in Sydney.
Photography by Brandon Loo, who travelled at Point Hacks’ expense. He accessed the American Express Lounge as a guest of Plaza Premium. Quotes from Mitch Squires were previously written by Greg Stone.
Recently went to lounge at 11.30am.
Horrid. Dirty, no food available. Located in the middle of no where.
A disgrace.
Just wish to know if I hold one of those cards which allow 2 entries, would it be sufficient for myself , my wife and all children under 17 to access the amex lounge?
Hi Joshua, technically the two passes don’t allow guests including children. You may be able to pay for their entry at the door.
American Express Lounge.
Qantas American Express Ultimate Card Members are entitled to a total of two (2) entries into the American Express Lounges in Australia per calendar year (1 January to 31 December). Complimentary access is available for the Card Member’s children between the ages of 2-17. Card Members wishing to bring additional guests may be subject to a charge that is to be processed on the Card Member’s American Express Card.
confused by date and old comments. I am assuming it has been revamped since those comments. However, wondering has the key problems been addressed. Nice new digs doesn’t fix the disgusting state of cleanliness and service the old digs had. I remember going in there around 2019/2020 thinking I would use my benefits, my wife and I left 20 seconds after walking into that disgusting garbage tip.
I have to say that I totally agree with Scott. I went there for the first time ever on July 10, largely on encouraged by this review of Brandon’s.
Mid afternoon on a Sunday. The lounge was around 50 % capacity but it was dirty, and poorly staffed with disappointing F&B. The showers were also non operational. The only redeeming feature was the option to have an espresso martini. Even this was denied to me when I first tried to order one at the bar. I was told by staff that they didn’t make them anymore. I then advised that a) I had just walked past two other people drinking them and b) the only reason I had dragged my family all the way to this lounge was because I wanted to try their espresso martini. They relented and made me one (and it was good) but staff clearly weren’t happy. As soon as has downed that, we were outta there and off to the far superior Qantas Lounge. Luckily I have a membership because I wouldn’t have wanted to spend a second more in the AMEX lounge.
Brandon, I’m afraid your review is misleading. Either things have gone dramatically wrong since you reviewed this, or, well I really don’t know. It’s bad. Very bad. Stay away unless you have no other option, and even then…
Hi Nola, thanks for sharing your feedback. I can only assign a rating based on my experience, which didn’t have any of the issues you mentioned with cleanliness. I also found the F&B to be good at the time, as evidenced by the photos. However, the shower was still not operational which I’ve factored in. I’m told that a la carte dining will make a return, which will hopefully enhance the dining experience further.
Sorry, but I was there earlier this year and it was a rubbish tip. Messy and food and crap all over the floor, buffet a mess and a couple of surly staff wishing they were somewhere else as well. A one off visit to try it out – not again.
Are supplementary cardholders entitles to use this lounge?
Either platinum charge and/or Explorer?
Hi Mike
The terms and conditions mention Platinum card members as having access to these lounges, without mentioning additional cardholders. However, in practice, additional cardholders have been able to enter the lounge.
Regarding the Explorer card, the terms are much clearer. They section for all Amex cards other than Platinum Business Platinum, Centurion and Corporate cards reads as follows:
‘All other eligible cards are entitled to a total of two entries into The American Express Lounges per calendar year (1st January to 31st December). The entries may be used by the Primary Card Member, Additional Card Member or a guest travelling with a Card Member. Complimentary access is available for the Card Member’s children under the age of 17.’
Can you access it on arrival as I wait for a domestic flight in 5 hours
RTFA.
Sorry, but this lounge is very tiny, crowded and dated.
Hi Keith. I have a CBA Amx Diamond Card. 2 Annual entry. Can I use it at one go..meaning both my wife and I can use without she paying for it?
Yep!
Yeah – it’s small and it’s packed. I used it as a lounge for my 3 hour layover in Sydney and we were fortunate enough to snag the last table. We then spent the next couple of hours watching frustrated travellers doing laps, desperately trying to scavenge a space with many leaving defeated, or agreeing to split up onto the remaining single stools.
It’s by no means a ‘bad’ lounge, but they need to tweak it. I suspect the entry bar is a little low judging from the number of people flowing in. Also, they could police the usage. A loud family with young kids decided to setup camp in the corner and hog a lot of chairs and the staff seemed uninterested in asking them to give up some room.
It’s a good lounge if you can get in – just don’t count on getting in.
I tried it one morning out of SYD to AKL on my Westpac Black. It was packed, and it is fairly small, as there are a lot of flights ex SYD to China etc in the mornings now. The design seemed quite nice, but too squeezy in space terms. Tried a quick coffee to say I had been there, then glad to exit to the much more spacious QF lounge as Gold anyway. Not sure I will be back, even though now QF Ultimate Amex, unless for another quick coffee on way to gate? But you can do that more comfrotably in QF lounge.
Hi there,
My Family and I recently tried to enter the Amex Lounge Sydney airport and were denied entry as this service was too full. We were told we could enter in 45min once called by the front desk. The whole idea of this service is to provide a comfortable environment to wait for your flight, if you have to wait 45min then this defeats the purpose as you are not at the airport for any longer than necessary.
We are not regular overseas travellers and not being able to use this service provided is disappointing.
I was shocked and dismayed by the service received at this lounge. I recently went to use the Amex lounge with my two young children and elderly parents in tow. I understand that I had to pay for an additional guest pass but was refused entry as the “system was down” so they couldn’t process the payment. When I said that I could pay in cash (the exact amount) they again refused as they couldn’t accept cash, what nonsense and certainly not the service level I expect from AMEX.
The front desk staff was young and inexperienced and the Manager, when called, was was no better as she concurred that nothing could be done.
Shocking customer service.
Hmmm, felt more like a Westfield’s food court when I was there recently. Overcrowded, noisy, not aligned at all with the AMEX brand 🙁
Apart from getting over crowded I think that it’s a pretty good lounge.
I have just been to Centurion in SFO, Dallas and Vegas and I think Sydney had better food options with SFO second. Bars may be slightly better at Centurion and obviously they are bigger. As the Centurions are technically a domestic lounge they are at that upper range for domestic.
Completely agree. Bailed on this and went up to The Q lounge. Weak.
Was just at this lounge yesterday and found it over packed, very warm and basically an embarrassment for AMEX. They need to relocate it and get a bigger space or take their name off of this one….really poor. Stayed less than 5 minutes, the outdoor waiting areas at the gate were more comfortable for sure….mostly empty and this was 3pm on a Friday.
Spot on
Hi Keith,
Appreciate if you may help me with below questions:
1) I am landing at Sydney domestic, can I still use the lounge (I have CBA Diamond and have few hours left to leave airport for my destination)
2) Can I use the second pass for the next day , again from Sydney Domestic?
Thanks
Unfortunately the lounge is airside in Sydney International so you’ll need to have an flight departing from the international terminal and appropriate boarding pass to gain access.
Thanks for the reply Keith. Any recommendations of an Australian based cc for access in HK / Japan?
You’d probably want to look for a Priority Pass linked card – our full guide to Priority Pass is here.
Does anyone know if you can use the Explorer card for lounge access in Hong Kong and Haneda (Tokyo)? Not fussed if there is a contribution required…
No, there are no lounges really outside of Sydney that offer access with Amex Explorer.
Does the ANZ Black Amex still grant 2 free passes per year for those with existing cards? I know that ANZ recently removed the AMEX linked card from this product.
I believe the ANZ Amex can be used to access the Sydney as long as it remains active (until 5th August). After that point it’s game over.
I’ve used this lounge once with my CBA Diamond Awards Amex card. It is quite small and was very full when I visited. The staff were very friendly, had a great view over the tarmac- beats sitting in a crowded noisy departure lounge (if you can manage to even get a seat). Would definately visit the Amex Lounge again next time I travel through Sydney international.
Is this lounge in a practical location for flying in from an international flight and out on domestic 3 hours later? I’m not very familiar with Sydney airports!
Thanks forever the guides!
Sorry for the delayed reply… no, the American Express lounge would be of no use arriving on an international flight into Sydney as it is airside in the Sydney international departures area where you need a valid boarding pass for an international flight to access.
Love the lounge, shame it’s a bit small and when it’s full not pleasing.
In saying that, more AmEx lounges should be build across Australia! And a centurion one too
I have been a regular visitor/user of the lounge since it’s opening in 2015. I agree that this is a decent place to relax before boarding but would like to highlight a few shortcomings: 1. Space is quite limited and your experience would vary greatly, depending on how busy it is during your visit. The fact that so many card variants offer admission (twice a year) certainly makes it a busy place most of the time; 2. F&B options are really limited but are generally of decent quality with timely refills; 3. The fact that only one wash room for each gender is available tells a lot about the small-ish venue; 4. Last but not the least, the service quality at the reception deteriorates greatly (and steadily) over time. I felt I was cordially welcome and received a cheerful farewell/thank you on leaving during my visits in 2015. In recent visits, the reception staff were more like gatekeepers whose focus was more on entry record processing. The reception also paid no attention when I left the lounge. It’s like “Hey it’s free, so don’t expect us to thank you for your patronage”
I have a UK Amex platiunum card, would this get me in?
Hi Keith, I read your updates all the time and find them very useful, so thanks. I have used my Amex Platinum Edge card to enter the Amex Lounge at Sydney Airport but I also have a NAB Platinum Amex. Does that card give me entry too?
No NAB cards are on the list, unfortunately.
Hi Keith
How do I go about getting my 2 visits a year to this lounge? Do I need to apply for a guest pass or just show my Anz black Amex card?
You just show your credit card and visits are logged against your card number.
Hi Keith. Does the new The ANZ Frequent Flyer Black card get you access to this lounge?
The recent guide only mentions Qantas lounge access.
Cheers
Sorry for the delayed reply Phil – yes, the ANZ Black cards do offer 2 x visits to the Amex Sydney Lounge annually.
There’s no bathrooms in the lounge and yes it is very small but nice for an hour or so to get away from the people and noise in the airport generally. If you are like me and suffer anxiety getting through lines of people then go here for a chill before the plane ride.
How does the Amex lounge compare to the Qantas business lounge? And which one would you prefer and why? Cheers
They are different beasts, and I am still yet to spend a significant amount of time in the Amex lounge to really compare, so others would be best placed to judge. In short, Qantas Lounge has more space (but more people), a kids area, a small amount of bar/table service at certain times of day and showers. The Amex Lounge is smaller, (hopefully) less popular, (I think) a smaller selection of food, with a better view.
Hi – did the lounge have shower facilities? Thanks for the review.
No showers in the Sydney Amex lounge to my knowledge – biggest feature missing IMO.
This Amex Lounge shares shower and bathroom facilities with the SkyTeam lounge downstairs. One can ask at the bar (not the reception) to use the shower, and they’ll sort it out. I did this Feb ’17.
Thanks for the review, looking forward to trying this out later in the year in favour over the SYD Qantas Business Lounge.
Any more being established in Australia.
Rumours of a Melbourne lounge around, but nothing confirmed in the slightest.
I was there not long ago and found the lounge to be quite tiny in space.
does the platinum edge card qualify for entry?
Unfortunately not!
A comment below says that the holder got entry with the platinum edge card. Do you think that it is possible to get in with the Edge based on availability / friendliness of the request?
I would expect that that is a one-off. On my visits they have looked pretty closely at the card and compared to a print out of card images they have on hand to verify, before then swiping you in for access.