Qantas Brisbane International lounge reopens: what to expect

A la carte dining comes to Qantas' Brisbane international lounge.

By David Flynn, April 16 2021
Qantas Brisbane International lounge reopens: what to expect

Overseas travel is back – at least, to New Zealand - and Qantas is reopening its international lounges at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to cater for flyers eager to take advantage of the quarantine-free 'travel bubble'.

Sydney and Melbourne are getting all the attention – perhaps understandably, as both feature flagship first class lounges – but what's in store for Brisbane-based flyers at Qantas' Brisbane International Lounge?

Opening hours will be restricted to when Qantas and Jetstar are flying.
Opening hours will be restricted to when Qantas and Jetstar are flying.

Access will be largely as before: business class passengers; Qantas frequent flyers with Gold, Platinum or Platinum One status (and their equivalents at partner airlines such as Oneworld carriers); and Qantas Club members.

Executive Traveller understands that complimentary lounge passes will be added to that list in early-mid May.

Qantas' Brisbane International Lounge has a refreshingly open, tropical feel.
Qantas' Brisbane International Lounge has a refreshingly open, tropical feel.

However, the lounge's opening hours will follow Qantas' schedule for international flights from Brisbane: it'll open three hours before the first departure, and close after the last flight leaves.

At the start of the NZ travel bubble, this will generally mean around 6.30am – ahead of QF119 to Auckland – to 12 noon (for QF135 to Christchurch).

In line with current health regulations, buffets and other self-service food and drinks won't be available.

The days of self-serve are over, at least for now...
The days of self-serve are over, at least for now...

"We'll be doing some à la carte offerings," Qantas' Chief Customer Officer Stephanie Tully tells Executive Traveller, with lounge staff taking orders and delivering food to your table.

This will include a variety of dishes from healthy breakfast bowls to Bircher muesli and yoghurt.

Staff will bring dishes of the day to your table, or you can relax with a drink at the bar.
Staff will bring dishes of the day to your table, or you can relax with a drink at the bar.

Tully says "there will also be some hosted buffet-type offering", similar to what was seen in the domestic Qantas Business lounges when they first reopened.

Here's how the 'hosted' service worked at Qantas' Sydney domestic lounges.
Here's how the 'hosted' service worked at Qantas' Sydney domestic lounges.

Also read: Qantas reopens Sydney, Melbourne first class lounges

Ignite your Qantas Points balance with our roundup of Australia's best credit card sign-up deals, beginning at a hefty 150,000 points

David

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.

Joe
Joe

03 May 2013

Total posts 669

Brisbane,......forever the poor cousin

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

29 Nov 2013

Total posts 478

2-ish flights a day and they're opening the lounge - hardly the poor cousin. 

The lounge was a pretty good offering for their 3rd most frequented port pre-COVID. 

Joe
Joe

03 May 2013

Total posts 669

Until they have some differentiator for plats and above it will be poor cousin.


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