Turned away from SQ SYD lounge (closed?)
 

Am just sitting in the NZ SYD lounge about to fly home to AKL. As I haven't been to the new SQ lounge yet I thought I'd check it out.

My partner and I are flying in J.

When we turned up at the SQ lounge she took our boarding passes and said the NZ lounge is next door.

I replied "yea, but we can come in here too."

She replied that the lounge is closed getting the floors done.

Now this may be true, and I'd be happy to be corrected, but it seemed ridiculous given the new SQ lounge has only been open a few months; and why would they post a dragon on the desk if they were sending all passengers to the NZ lounge?

The NZ lounge is very quiet with 90% white faces, so it seems barely believable that SQ passengers are being directed here.

Any ideas on what I should do?

Go back and record them on your phone rejecting you from accessing the lounge, then forward the footage to SQHQ and see what there response is.

Haha, did that. Turns out she was correct.

Went back just after an SQ flight was called, and saw a bunch of people leaving.

Walked in asking " ah, so it's open now?"

Bit of to-and-fro until she realised I knew what the rules were and she told me the full story: apparently today the business class flooring is getting redone (they've had problems since it was put in) so they're directing J SQ pax and SQ elites to their first lounge (which appears to be the door on the right as you walk in) and other passengers to the NZ lounge.

I was still a tad sceptical until I arrived back in the NZ lounge, where the staff were a bit surprised I was back so soon; when I mentioned SQ turned me away they confirmed the floors are being redone.

Now feel like a bit of a prat :p

That is their standard line, however they are happy to accomodate NZ "customers" where capacity permits, as it is additional revenue for SQ.

What does this comment mean?

one would assume that the point that was trying to be made was that there was a lower than expected Asian clientele as one may expect from a PENDING SQ flight. I get what OP was trying to get across however I have a feeling irishguy28 or possibly others (myself included) may not agree with the wording. One would also assume that OP choice of words was just a passing comment and in no way would suggest that all SQ pax would be Asian origin.

Yes my apologies, my wording could have been and should have been more careful. It was simply more that the large bulk of passengers were NZ bound (by their kiwi accents) rather than Asia bound. Yes this is a generalisation, but frankly I stand by it; particularly given the fact there were no departures from the lounge when the SQ flight was called.

Again, apologies for any taking offence.

I have had the pleasure of using the SQ lounge in SYD on a couple of occasions recently. It is usually pretty empty when I use it as their last SQ flight departs at 19.10 but they announce boarding before 6. The lounge then closes at 6 though the staff don't expect anyone to be around then. That is usually ok as my WLG flights are around 18.30.
The beef rendang is quite tasty, too.

I was there on Saturday - made to go to the NZ lounge. They said they had strict instruction from SQ HQ in SIN.. And supposedly the work was to be completed within a few days so it could be back open again.