Qantas is about to shake up things up in accessing Qantas Lounges. These updates kick in from 1 July and will affect how both status holders and casual travellers use Qantas lounges when flying with Jetstar. In addition, there are some changes coming through that will pare back the flexibility of complimentary lounge invitations.
With that in mind, here’s a look at what’s changing and who’s affected.
Jetstar International Access Rule Changes
If you’ve been enjoying the little luxury of popping into Qantas’ international lounges before a Jetstar flight, things are about to change. Qantas has announced that from 1 July, many Jetstar passengers will lose access to those lounges. In particular, it is Qantas Club members and Gold or Platinum status holders that will no longer have access.
In short, the following travellers on international Jetstar flights will no longer be able to use Qantas lounges:
- Qantas Gold and Platinum frequent flyers
- Qantas Club members
- Anyone using Qantas lounge passes
As per the lounge access page, this change does not extend to Platinum One members. As such Platinum One members will still have access to the lounges when making a Jetstar International flight.
If you’re not a Platinum One member, your options are a bit more limited. Qantas says that if you still want lounge access while flying Jetstar, you’ll need to book a Qantas codeshare operated by Jetstar, fly Jetstar domestic, or buy a Jetstar Business Max fare.
What it means
What does this mean in a practical sense? Basically, if lounge access is important to you, then you may need to look closely at how you book.
Picture two people on the same Jetstar flight, sitting in the same cabin, heading to the same place. One strolls into the lounge while the other gets turned away at the door. The only difference? One booked their ticket under a Qantas codeshare, and the other booked the exact same flight as a regular Jetstar (JQ) service.
Alternatively, you could take a look at Jetstar’s Business Max bundle. This bundle will remain eligible ofr lounge access, and it’s now one of the few reliable ways to keep that pre‑flight lounge ritual when flying Jetstar.
Of course, you could just forgo the Qantas Lounge altogether and use alternate lounged. For example, in many airports there are Priority Pass lounges that you could use (should you be a member of Priority Pass)
Complimentary Lounge Invitation Changes
Starting 1 July, Qantas is also tightening the rules around its Complimentary Lounge Invitations. From that date, you’ll only be able to transfer a lounge pass to someone who’s actually travelling on the same flight as you.
There is one notable exception. Platinum One Lounge Invitations aren’t affected by this change. It’s the ones you get from credit cards and so on that will lose their flexibility,
Up until now, Qantas has been pretty relaxed about these passes. You could transfer one to any Qantas traveller, no matter where they were flying, when they were flying, or even which airport they were departing from. That flexibility is about to disappear.
Why the changes
While Qantas have not outlined the reasons for the changes, they seem to be driven partly by overcrowding. Qantas lounges, especially the flagship ones in Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore, have been getting pretty busy.
It may also be a reaction to those taking quick domestic flights on certain Jetstar International flights that have domestic sectors. As such, that sneaky visit to the First Lounge when flying Sydney to Melbourne may no longer be possible.
Finally, if you’ve ever search on ebay for lounge passes, you’ve likely found some. There is quite a secondary market (even a blackmarket) in selling the passes. Restricting passes to being used by someone on the same flight will put a damper on that market.
Final Words
Qantas has rolled out several major program changes this year, and these latest adjustments seem aimed squarely at reducing lounge overcrowding. They also appear to take a swipe at the growing black market for buying and selling lounge passes.
Any cutback is disappointing. For Qantas, it likely means lower spending on food and beverages, though the airline could argue those savings will be reinvested into improving the lounges themselves.
What’s clear is that removing lounge access for most Jetstar passengers will widen the gap between Qantas and its budget sibling. It’s a move reminiscent of the clear separation between Singapore Airlines and Scoot, highlighting the distinct roles each brand plays in the market.
We’ll have to wait and see how these changes ultimately affect lounge numbers, but the impact will be interesting to watch.
