Review Plaza Premium Lounge at Melbourne Airport T2.
Plaza Premium is an independent network that owns hundreds of lounges around the world. Two are also located in the airport [...]
MEL
Australia
Plaza Premium is an independent network that owns hundreds of lounges around the world. Two are also found in Rome Fiumicino airport and are often rewarded for their quality.
Access
In this article:
These lounges are open to Priority Pass holders, American Express Platinum holders, and, if you wish, you can also purchase an annual pass for unlimited access, somewhat like with Priority Pass. The difference is that Priority Pass does not own lounges, while Plaza Premium operates its own lounges or on behalf of third parties. For example, here it also operates the Centurion Lounge on behalf of Amex.
Location
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The entrance is right at the foot of the escalator from the gate level down to the lounge area. Within walking distance are the Centurion Lounge, the Air New Zealand lounge e Singapore Airlines' Silverkris, basically if you fly Star Alliance and are a Platinum holder you are spoiled for choice.
The hall
Going to the bathroom, I found that it shares kitchens and facilities with Centurion. Basically, you can go from one lounge to the other through the restroom area, something that had never happened to me. A perfect ploy to enter with a free guest in one lounge, do the same in the other, and then congregate in one area.
As soon as you enter there is the restaurant area, then there are many different small rooms and, most importantly, an area with a view of the outdoors.
It is not exactly a direct view, but at least it lets in natural light and is definitely more relaxing.
Also very nice is the fact that because it is divided into small rooms, it is less noisy and chaotic, although when I visited it was practically empty.
Food & Beverage
The layout is different, but the content is almost identical to the Centurion.
There is also the classic pancake-spitting machine here, a larger hot buffet than at Centurion, and an express food station. I must say that I was disappointed not to stop by for lunch to see what they offer.
There would also be the bartending area, but it was unmanned. Then there is the beverage island and self-service refrigerators.
In conclusion
Definitely better than the Centurion: my advice, if you cannot get into the official lounges, is to choose this one without any doubt.
Pro
- There is a little bit of natural light
- It is not an open space
Against
- Less crowded than the Centurion