International travellers flying business class with Vietnam Airlines can visit the SkyTeam lounge at Sydney International Airport. In the last couple of years the lounge has also undergone a refurbishment with lots of modern touches. Come and take a look and see what the lounge is like and what is a must order if you're there!
I look at my watch and it's 7:50am and I've got another 2 hours at Sydney airport before boarding flight VN776 to Saigon and then onto Paris. I head to the Skyteam lounge, located near Gate 24 at Pier B in the International Departures Terminal or T1. The SkyTeam lounge is slightly hidden away next to the Plaza Premium Lounge (Plaza Premium also run the SkyTeam lounge). The greeting from the young woman behind the counter is super sweet and welcoming when I arrive and I descend the escalators to the lounge.
The SkyTeam Sydney lounge seats 140 people and I'm surprised to see that it is busy but not heaving considering that it's the start of school holidays at the time of my visit. This is the lounge for SkyTeam Elite Plus, First and Business Class members of Aerolíneas Argentinas, Mexico Aeroméxico, Air Europa, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Garuda, ITA Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, Scandinavian Airlines, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and XiamenAir. SkyTeam Elite Plus members can invite a guest traveling on a SkyTeam member airline operated flight. Guests are allowed to access the lounges within 24 hours of their scheduled departure time.
The lounge was refurbished in 2022 with a blue colour theme and plenty of greenery with floor to ceiling windows with views of the tarmac. There are also shower facilities here with water saving cisterns. As there is just one shower you have to ask at front reception for a pass for this to access the shower.
In other efforts to be more green there are no single use straws or plastic stirrers and all cutlery, glass and crockery is non disposable. Sparkling and still water are available on tap.
This lounge has a dedicated eating area and bar as well as a section with more comfortable seating. I do a quick peruse of where to sit before deciding that the smell of breakfast is too tempting. There are all of the regular hot breakfast offerings from scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages and plain congee. The fridge display also has cut fruit as well as pots of yogurt with fruit compote and tapioca pudding flavoured with pandan and taro. I grab a pandan pudding and it's nice and not overly sweet.
The bar serves coffee, tap beer and drinks but I help myself to a sparkling water from the dispensing tap and order a beef noodle soup from the chef. It was a close toss up between the vegetable noodle soup and the beef but I'm happy with my decision once I see the beef noodle soup.
There's vermicelli noodles underneath a generous portion of Taiwanese style braised beef and sliced mushrooms. I add some fried shallots, spring onion and chilli oil and it's absolutely delicious. Staff are efficient and friendly, clearing and cleaning dishes so that the tables are always clean and available.
Tummy full, I head to the other area to find a seat to work on. There is an array of seating from banquettes with tables to a circular section with plants above it. There are small, private booths that look to be noise-proof or at least quieter with a desk, chairs and plugs. There is also one large meeting one that needs to be pre-booked. I watch as a staff member leads a passenger into the meeting room carrying a bag of KFC.
I settle down in a section of comfy lounge chairs and ottomans right out the back as I figure I want to elevate my legs as much as possible before flying. Importantly there are plenty of plugs and USB ports here so I plug in and set up work. Others read books around me and do work and time goes quickly and I have to head to the gate for my flight with Vietnam Airlines.
So tell me Dear Reader, how much earlier do you try to arrive at the airport before takeoff?
SkyTeam Lounge
Departure Plaza, Terminal 1, Departures Level at Pier B
Sydney International Airport, Mascot NSW 2020
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