Qantas' new Perth Airport lounge is only for Boeing 787 passengers
By David Flynn, February 7 2018
When Qantas opens its all-new Perth international lounge on March 24, it will be branded as an 'International Transit Lounge' – and with good reason.
The lounge will be available only to travellers in transit on those non-stop Boeing 787 flights between Perth and London, according to Qantas, with the sole exception of those starting their journey in Perth on QF9.
That's in keeping with the transit lounge's raison d'être, as well as key design features such as a menu geared towards "wellness" and more than a dozen shower suites with blue LED lighting set to a wavelength which gently revitalises the body ahead of, or after, that 17+ hour trek.
Plus of course, an outdoor area where you can soak up some natural rays.
Read more: Feel-good factor – how Qantas wants to change long-haul flying
The novel approach of creating a dedicated transit lounge at the new 'international wing' of Terminal 3 is just one of the measures Qantas is taking to give its globe-hopping flights their best chance of success – especially as the airline also has its eye on Perth-Paris and Perth-Frankfurt flights in the future.
What does this mean for passengers jetting out on Qantas' Perth-Singapore and Perth-Auckland flights, which will be relocating from Perth Airport's T1 international terminal to T3's international wing?
They'll use the domestic Qantas lounges at Terminal 4, which includes the Qantas Club and the Qantas Business Lounge (below) – and for some, of course, the Chairman's Lounge...
... and then make their way across to T3's international wing to catch their flight.
The same will apply to travellers booked on QF10 as a purely domestic Perth-Melbourne flight, even though that flight will depart from T3 (although passengers who've flown all the way from London on QF10 will of course have the lounge at their disposal).
Qantas' Perth International Transit Lounge at T3 will open its doors to passengers in business class, holding Qantas Platinum One, Platinum or Gold frequent flyer status (or their Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire equivalents), and Qantas Club members.
As we've previously noted, Qantas will also retain its recently-refreshed lounge at Terminal 1 for eligible travellers on Jetstar flights along with partner airlines including Oneworld members Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways.
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.
24 Aug 2011
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Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
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My first thought is, you have got to be ******** me. What's the point of building this nice new lounge, but send any non-transit to the domestic lounge and then have to worry about leaving early to clear customs. Is this a space issue maybe? Or cheaper to run the lounge as opening hours are shorter due to no requirement to open it before incoming plane lands?
31 Mar 2014
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Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Aug 2011
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Consider also, that the passengers going westbound aren't that likely to need use of the transit lounge for much, given they all had lounge access at MEL, and were all fed on the domestic sector. A few may like a shower, but really the point of this lounge has to be for the eastbound passengers after the long slog from LHR. Anyone transiting from other domestic origins (e.g. ADL/CBR) wouldn't have access either westbound or eastbound...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
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Perhaps QF are trying to add a level of exclusivity to encourage more pax through this new route.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 May 2014
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24 Oct 2010
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Hi Greg - yes, they're the exception to the 'transit' rule.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
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24 Aug 2011
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In effect, only pax arriving from LHR and transitting to MEL on QF10 or vice versa on QF9 will have access to the new lounge at this stage. If other flights are added such as SYD-PER-CDG are added then the transit pax on those flights would also gain access but never those pax originating in PER or transitting from domestic to international in PER.
It's a bit of a bizarre outcome and probably should've been flagged when the lounge was announced rather than 6 weeks before it is opened
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
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Though do agree it seems odd if the lounge is there to not open it to all international flights out of Perth.
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A first time new ultra long haul route with an amount of exclusivity to it to have a lounge with upgraded leading edge features designed to overcome the effects of ultra long haul travel where the airline will have the opportunity to assess the efficacy and future strategy without it being polluted with "general traffic".
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15 Feb 2013
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I think this is perfectly ok. If they are going to have Frankfurt and Paris flights in the future, they would possibly have to remove access again for the other international flights (no doubt sparking more complaints at that time) so better to restrict it from the beginning. Wouldn’t make sense to keep it open all hours of the day for a handfull if passengers on those 737 flights. Also makes sense for the domestic QF10 passengers to use the domestic lounges considering the new lounge is airside and then just get the orange sticker to go through immigration for the flight - I’d expect it not to be too busy considering the low numbers of international flights.
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I am travelling in business, but am not Platinum One, Platinum, gold or a Qantas Club member. Am I able to access the lounge?
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