Best *A lounge in SYD

[simongr]

Hi all
Just wondering what the best *A lounge is for a non-status pax flying in J on SQ SYD-SIN. I have advised my colleagues to go to the NZ lounge but was not sure if that is the best one.
Cheers
Simon

[bokflyer]

As a non-status *Alliance pax, I doubt you will have any choice in the matter, it will be the SQ lounge only. You need * Gold to access lounges belonging to airlines other than the one you are flying on. That said, the SQ lounge is at best adequate, not a patch on their lounges in Singapore or on the QF SYD lounges. It normally has self-service drinks/snacks, best thing is the dim sum. However, it is also way too small and gets very crowded, especially if you are on the A380. The NZ lounge is nicer, it seems fresher IMHO, but as I said, you need * Gold to go there.

[simongr]

That isnt actually correct. Per the *A site:

Lounge Access for International Business Class: Customers who present an international Business Class boarding pass, regardless of the Star Alliance carrier they fly, have access to all members' designated business departure lounges. Guests are not permitted.

[jn82]

Edit: Ah simongr, you beat me to it!

From Star Alliance website section on lounges:
(sorry post count too low to post a direct link, but its on the website under the first tab benefits)

Lounge Access for International First Class: Customers who present an International First Class boarding pass, regardless of the Star Alliance carrier they fly, have lounge access. They and one guest, are welcome to visit first class lounges or any other members' departure lounges when departing on a Star Alliance flight. Note: AC, BD, OS and SK do not have international first class service.

Lounge Access for International Business Class: Customers who present an international Business Class boarding pass, regardless of the Star Alliance carrier they fly, have access to all members' designated business departure lounges. Guests are not permitted.

Star Alliance Gold card holders and one guest, have access to any lounge around the world that is identified with a Star Alliance Gold lounge sign when departing on a Star Alliance flight, no matter which class of service they travel in. Just look for the Star Alliance Gold sign outside the lounge and present the ticket for your same-day Star Alliance flight, your boarding pass and your frequent flyer programme card featuring the Star Alliance Gold logo. Guests must enter the lounges with an eligible Star Alliance Gold member and must depart on a Star Alliance member airline, but may travel on a different flight.

Eligible Guests
Any guest of an eligible customer (International First, Star Alliance Gold card holders, and eligible paid member) must enter the designated lounge with the eligible customer. The guest must also depart on a Star Alliance carrier, but may travel on a different flight.

[bokflyer]

Ah, that's interesting, a conflict between terms and conditions and actual practice. I suggest you take the terms and conditions along with you, as I have previously been denied access to lounges other than the carrier I was flying on. As a SQ PPS I no longer have this problem. Certainly in Singapore itself, SQ doesn't allow *A J pax into its own lounges, rather directing them to what it calls a Star Gold lounge, which is much lesser. Good luck.

[dajop]

Certainly in Singapore itself, SQ doesn't allow *A J pax into its own lounges, rather directing them to what it calls a Star Gold lounge, which is much lesser. Good luck.

To be pedantic, the rules only allow access to designated * Gold lounges. The SQ Kris Lounges in Singapore are not dedicated * Gold lounges, so that is why lounge access is restricted. Instead the Krisflyer Gold lounge (in T3) and another lounge in T2 (name escapes me) are the designated * Gold lounges at Changi (along with the TG lounge in T1). Even Krisflyer Gold members cannot access the SQ Kris Lounges there.

However, in SYD the NZ lounge is a designated * gold lounge, and it is sound advice to take a copy of the T&C - I've been challenged (at MEL) accessing the NZ lounge when flying SQ J (and that's as one of NZ's own Gold members).

[simongr]

So back to the question - which if teh designated *G lounges should I suggest that they use?
S

[bokflyer]

I would most likely go with the NZ lounge, depending on time of departure. Since UA closed its lounge, the NZ lounge can get quite full around the time of UA departurres as this is where they direct their pax. But both the *A lounges in SYD are fairly disappointing IMHO. They are right next to each other, so have a quick look see in both is generally pretty quick and this speeds upthe decision-making process.