People rave about the Qantas First Lounge Sydney, so I was excited to check it out. I’ve always considered the Air France First Class Lounge Paris, Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai, Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt, and Thai Airways First Class Lounge & Spa in Bangkok to be the world’s best airport lounges, so I was curious to see how Qantas’ flagship lounge compared.
We arrived at Sydney Airport at around noon for our 3PM departure to Los Angeles.
Qantas Sydney terminal exterior
Once inside the terminal we tried to find the first class check-in counter, which we eventually discovered was actually partitioned off from the rest of the terminal.
Qantas Sydney terminal check-in area
For what it’s worth, oneworld Emerald members can also use the facility.
Qantas first class check-in Sydney Airport
There are a couple of check-in counters in the first class section, and we were quickly checked in. We were handed our boarding passes, Express Path cards (for expedited security and immigration), and immigration forms.
Qantas first class check-in Sydney Airport
It is a pain that you’re handed immigration forms upon checking in, since you have to fill them out before you can proceed. Therefore it’s rather convenient that they have seating in the first class check-in area.
Qantas first class check-in Sydney Airport
Once we had filled out those forms we proceeded to the Express Path towards immigration and security. Immigration was a breeze, though security was a pain in the ass.
Express Path Sydney Airport
There was one insanely unprofessional female security screener who was bitching about how she was the only female working in that section, and couldn’t possibly conduct so many secondaries. But she wasn’t a good multi-tasker, so she literally just stood there and bitched rather than screening people. And she did so loudly.
Meanwhile my bag got pulled over for secondary by a jovial screener, who asked where I was traveling to. When I said Los Angeles, he said “oh, are you famous?” I responded “not as far as I know.” For the entire time he was going through my bag he was trying to figure out “who I was” since I was flying first class to Los Angeles.
Qantas international terminal Sydney Airport
Once through security we followed the signage towards the Qantas lounges, which are just a two minute walk away.
Qantas international terminal Sydney Airport
The entrance to the lounges are all located one level up from the main concourse, so we took the escalator up there.
Escalators to Qantas lounges Sydney Airport
The Qantas First Lounge is located immediately at the top of the escalator.
Qantas First Lounge entrance Sydney Airport
There were agents at the entrance to welcome us, though as it turns out the lounge is another level up.
Qantas First Lounge entrance Sydney Airport
I do love the decor by the entrance.
Qantas First Lounge entrance Sydney Airport
Qantas First Lounge escalators Sydney Airport
Since our boarding passes were checked at the entrance I had assumed we were “good to go,” and just walked into the lounge. But I was chased down by a guy from the reception desk who needed to see my boarding pass again.
Qantas First Class Lounge rotunda Sydney Airport
The lounge grew on me from the second I walked in, thanks to the “flipping” departures board, which I love.
Qantas First Class Lounge departures board Sydney Airport
Okay, so the Qantas First Lounge is absolutely gorgeous, aesthetically the nicest I’ve ever seen. It’s bright, colorful, and almost hypnotizing.
Qantas First Class Lounge Sydney Airport
Qantas First Class Lounge Sydney Airport
The lounge is reasonably large, but despite its size, feels really private. That’s because the lounge has so many unique seating areas thanks to the massive “partitions” separating the various seating areas.
Qantas First Class Lounge Sydney Airport
Qantas First Class Lounge Sydney Airport
Qantas First Class Lounge Sydney Airport
The furniture is all stylish, functional, and versatile.
Qantas First Class Lounge Sydney Airport
Qantas First Class Lounge seating Sydney Airport
Qantas First Class Lounge seating Sydney Airport
Qantas First Class Lounge seating Sydney Airport
In addition to tons of more “traditional” lounge seating, there’s a business center with some iMacs.
Qantas First Class Lounge business center Sydney Airport
Qantas First Class Lounge business center Sydney Airport
Then there are a couple of self serve bar areas with soft drinks and coffee machines.
Qantas First Class Lounge self serve bar Sydney Airport
Qantas First Class Lounge coffee machine Sydney Airport
There’s also a nice selection of fresh options. Here’s the menu:
These were all intended to be things to nibble on more than anything else, and can’t compete with what’s offered in the lounge’s restaurant.
Qantas First Class Lounge self serve bar Sydney Airport
Qantas First Class Lounge self serve bar Sydney Airport
The lounge also has great plane watching potential, as you have sweeping views of both the runway and the tarmac from the lounge.
View from Qantas First Lounge Sydney Airport
View from Qantas First Lounge Sydney Airport
A friend of mine was in the lounge the same time as us, so we had lunch with him shortly after getting there. The restaurant area is beautiful, with both table and bar-top seating options.
Qantas First Lounge bar Sydney Airport
The alcohol selection is quite impressive, including the wine display.
Qantas First Lounge wine display Sydney Airport
The restaurant was reasonably busy, though we had no issues snagging a table in the corner by the window.
Qantas First Lounge restaurant Sydney Airport
The lounge features a Neil Perry inspired menu, which changes seasonally.
The menu read as follows:
And the beverage list read as follows:
My friend is a regular here so did most of the ordering. I’m not a squid fan, though he said the salt & pepper squid were a “must.” And he was right.
Qantas First Lounge dining starter — salt & pepper squid
Then we all shared a salmon tartare, which was fantastic.
Qantas First Lounge dining starter — salmon tartare
For the main course I ordered a simple steak and fries. Since Sydney was really the “highlight” of the trip since that’s where we were over my dad’s birthday, we had eaten way too much fancy food. A simple steak and fries hit the spot!
Qantas First Lounge dining main course — steak with fries
My dad ordered the burger, which he loved.
Qantas First Lounge dining main course — beef burger
And then my friend ordered the spaghettini and grilled snapper. I think ordering both may have been a function of the amount of Perrier-Jouet champagne we had been drinking.
Qantas First Lounge dining main course — spaghettini
Qantas First Lounge dining main course — grilled snapper
When we first got to the lounge there was only one Qantas A380 parked in the gate area, though during lunch a second one was towed over. One would be operating our flight to Los Angeles, while the other would be operating the Dallas flight.
Two Qantas A380s Sydney Airport
Qantas also has a spa in their first class lounge. If you’re traveling in first class on Qantas they’ll phone you the day before travel to check in with you and see if you want to schedule a spa treatment. My dad and I both scheduled 20 minute massages for 1:30PM. For what it’s worth, while oneworld Emerald members traveling in economy and business also get access to the lounge, they can only schedule spa treatments on a space available basis day of.
The spa is located at the far end of the lounge, and has a sliding door that separates it from the rest of the lounge.
Qantas First Class Lounge spa Sydney Airport
I had to fill out a quick health form confirming I’m not pregnant and consent form confirming they’re not at fault if they kill me, but once that was complete my treatment started immediately.
The treatment room was beautiful, possibly the nicest airport spa I’ve ever been to.
Qantas First Class Lounge spa treatment room Sydney Airport
My masseuse was fantastic. The treatments offered here are “real” massages, in the sense that you take off your shirt and lay down. It’s not like the 15 minute treatments offered by other airlines, where you sit in one of those massage chairs and stay fully clothed.
Qantas First Class Lounge spa treatment room Sydney Airport
The lounge also has nice shower rooms, though I didn’t have a need for using one.
Qantas First Class Lounge shower room Sydney Airport
Qantas First Class Lounge shower room Sydney Airport
Qantas First Class Lounge shower room Sydney Airport
At around 2PM we decided to leave the lounge and head to our departure gate, which was gate 9.
Sydney Airport terminal
Qantas A380s Sydney Airport
It was maybe a five minute walk to the gate, and much to my surprise boarding was already well underway when we got there.
Boarding gate Sydney Airport
The jet bridge boasted some amazing side views of the A380, which really put into perspective just how big the plane is.
Qantas A380 Sydney Airport
I also noticed that based on the tail number (VH-OQA) we were flying on Qantas’ first A380, also the one involved in the QF32 “incident:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xnTTjEkdD0
Qantas First Class Lounge Sydney bottom line
This is one of the world’s best lounges, plain and simple, and certainly deserves to be in the company of my other favorite lounges.
I’d argue the Qantas First Lounge Sydney has:
- The nicest decor of any lounge I’ve been to
- The second best food of any lounge I’ve been to, after the Air France First Lounge Paris
- The second best spa treatments of any lounge I’ve been to, after the Thai Airways First Class Lounge Bangkok
When you factor in that oneworld Emerald members get access to this lounge even when traveling in economy, it makes this lounge even better. This is definitely a step up from the Qantas First Lounge Melbourne. And while the Qantas First Lounge Los Angeles is possibly the nicest lounge in the US, it doesn’t compete with this lounge, given that it doesn’t quite have the decor or views of this lounge, and also doesn’t have a spa.
Kudos to Qantas on this amazing lounge!
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