Etihad House Melbourne Lounge
The Melbourne House Lounge run by Swissport, previously the Etihad Melbourne Lounge, is now an OK generic airport lounge.
A major attraction of this lounge is the wonderful view, and the great bar overlooking the runway. The Etihad House Melbourne Lounge is large, with armchairs, bar stools, swivel chairs and dining tables.
However, dining is decidedly basic, having gone remarkable downhill after Swissport took over from No1 lounges to run the lounge catering. There is now only a basic buffet.
Melbourne Etihad House lounge review
The Etihad House Melbourne Lounge is lovely, but forget all the glowing reviews of the past. It is now a much more basic generic airport lounge.
Once upon a time, when it was run by Etihad, it was the go-to lounge at Melbourne, and gave the Qantas First lounge a run for its money. It used to have à la carte restaurant style dining, a well stocked bar offering some rare and unusual spirits, and an overall high quality experience with full-service.
Those days have long gone, and the lounge is just a shadow of itself, although the changes started when it taken over by No1 lounge, who in turn have offloaded the lounge onto Swissport, who now operate it as a basic pay-per-entry lounge, at a distinctly upmarket price, just south of $100AUD. There is also access for those with elite Etihad and Virgin Australia frequent flyer cards.
Which is a shame, as it is located in one of the best possible locations in Melbourne airport, high up in the new extension, with fantastic views over the runways.
Hence, the access, on the third level of the International terminal at Melbourne Airport. There is an escalator near 10, which also goes to the latest iteration of the Emirates lounge.
When you enter the lounge, along with the views, you'll generally be struck by how much space there is: it is a genuinely decent large airy lounge, with floor to ceiling windows and acres of seats.
With space for 144 guests, The Etihad House lounge Melbourne is tastefully decorated, sporting Poltrona Frau Italian leather chairs, the same company that supplies Ferrari.
Occupying most of the window space is, annoying, the bar, through which you can see the runways. There are seats at the bar, but they are fixed to the floor, and you tend to have to other passengers leaning over you ordering drinks if you sit here.
In front of this area used to be the restaurant, but now just has rather harsh upright seats, and at the back is a long bench. To the right is the prime area in the lounge; half a dozen large, loungy, seats, with amazing views over the airport apron, and often your aircraft.
Mains power sockets, and USB charging ports, are available at every seat, and next to most chairs are the small cocktail tables beloved of Etihad.
To the left of the main entrance are two smaller rooms. The one at the far end has half a dozen seats, and is very popular indeed, with corner views over the Dandenongs. While the one behind it has large comfortable square armchairs.
Inset into the walls here are large TVs, thankfully with the volume typically down low.
There is also a children's play room, on the inner side of the lounge, which is almost sound proof, with some basic soft toys. Plus a prayer room.
Food
Dining in the Etihad House lounge Melbourne is very basic indeed.There is a small buffet in one corner of the room, with just a basic salad, slices of pizza, and sandwiches under the silver cover. There are only a few of these, and they go very quickly.
There are slices of cake under a plastic cover on the top of the counter too, plus a bowl of fruit salad that tastes as if it has come from a tin.
About an hour before the Etihad flight departs, hot food is laid out, in the three silver tureen dishes. Typically there is a pasta dish, chicken and rice. And that's it.
The lounge is one of the few international lounges where I've seen passengers ask to take in food, or depart to the much better catering at the Marhaba lounge next door. For good reason.
Bar
With food being so basic, the main standout feature is the bar.There are numerous top shelf spirits here, and the lounge makes a very decent cocktail. Alas, there is no longer a cocktail list, and you have to google the ingredients if you want something specific.
Hose vodka is Absolut. Gin is Gordons or Bombay Sapphire. Plus Malibu, Bacardi, and quite a few rums.
Wine is also served from the bar, with three types of white, a rose, and three reds, plus an Aussie sparkling wine.
Beer is Peroni or Coopers Light. There is also cider, in bottles, behind the bar.
Business Facilities
Free wifi, and quite fast it is too.All the old PCs and printing facilities have been removed.
Bathrooms
There are very swish, nice, bathrooms.Each side has two showers. Amenity kits are available upon request from the front desk, and if you ask nicely they'll even give you a fresh towel.
Access
Etihad First and Business Class travellers on Etihad flights and Business Class travellers on Virgin Australia.
Etihad Guest frequent flyer status or Velocity Frequent Flyer Gold or Platinum members travelling on Etihad or Virgin Australia international flights.
Priority Pass, Dragon Pass, Lounge Key, Lounge Club members (with a $20 per person co-pay) and Virgin Australia Lounge members when travelling on Virgin Australia flights to New Zealand
Day pass: $80/40 for adults/children aged five and above when booked online; add $10 when paying at the door.
Video: Etihad House Lounge
View photos of Etihad House Melbourne Lounge
Melbourne Airport Guide
| Etihad House Melbourne Lounge | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rating |
Video walkthrough and Image gallery by Loungeindex.com
| |
| Pros | Lovely large lounge Light and bright Fully stocked bar |
|
| Cons | Catering is very basic | |
| Location | T2 airside on the third floor | |
| Terminal: | International | |
| Opening hours | 1900-2200 | |
| Cost | $90 | |
| Access | Etihad or Velocity Frequent Flyer Gold or Platinum travelling on Etihad or Virgin Australia | |