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.

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

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.

More stories on:

qantas perth

39 Comments

Sort by :

Newest Oldest Top Rated

reeves35

View posts Message

reeves35

24 Aug 2011

Total posts 552

Is the transit only status possibly because the new lounge is located prior the transit security checkpoint meaning passengers leaving the lounge will still have to clear security before boarding? I don't know if this is the case but it would explain why pax departing from PER cannot access the new lounge.

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 08:31:02 am

John Phelan

View posts Message

John Phelan

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

28 Oct 2011

Total posts 322

Pax departing from PER on QF 9 will be using the new lounge, as the article clearly states.

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 12:32:02 pm

Grannular

View posts Message

Grannular

31 Mar 2014

Total posts 289

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?

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 08:46:02 am

Grannular

View posts Message

Grannular

31 Mar 2014

Total posts 289

With the story being updated to include Perth based QF9 passengers, this makes a bit more sense. However I still think it a bit silly to exclude other Qantas international flights such as Singapore and Auckland.

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 10:53:02 am

Libertyscott

View posts Message

Libertyscott

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

19 Aug 2011

Total posts 154

Truly bizarre. So the new flagship route for those in Perth, able for the first time to fly non-stop to London, requires passengers paying premium business class fares to go to the (admittedly good) domestic Business lounge, but leave early to go through immigration and presumably ANOTHER layer of (international standard) security. After all, domestic security doesn't meet international standards regarding liquids.

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...

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 09:27:02 am

princess fiona

View posts Message

princess fiona

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

20 Dec 2012

Total posts 41

No I think you’ve got this wrong. Eligible status and Business passengers departing from Perth to LHR on QF9 will have access to the new Lounge. Those taking QF10 to MEL who aren’t in transit from LHR will not.

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 09:32:02 am

Nick Sydney 2

View posts Message

Nick Sydney 2

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

22 Jul 2015

Total posts 223

Spot on. It's a westward trek from the eastern capitals but not on the scale of the run to LHR. Now if QF built a facility a LHR or allowed inbound passengers to freshen up there then that would be novel and great.

Friday, 09 Feb 2018, 05:30:02 pm

Chris Chamberlin

View posts Message

Chris Chamberlin

24 Apr 2012

Total posts 2948

Qantas business class passengers arriving into London can access the American Airlines Arrivals Lounge at Heathrow. No access for frequent flyers in premium economy or economy, though, only business class guests (and first class too, on flights with first class).

Friday, 09 Feb 2018, 05:36:02 pm

aniljak

View posts Message

aniljak

15 Sep 2012

Total posts 84

Most exclusive club in world! With these new rules NOBODY will be allowed into a QANTAS lounge! And people ask why tje middle eastern and asian airlines dominate the premium markets!

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 09:37:02 am

NQPsych2U

View posts Message

NQPsych2U

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

11 May 2017

Total posts 15

Interesting point to make when the gulf carriers are slowly cutting back costs on a lot of their offerings.

Perhaps QF are trying to add a level of exclusivity to encourage more pax through this new route.

Friday, 09 Feb 2018, 02:59:02 pm

GregXL

View posts Message

GregXL

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

26 May 2014

Total posts 401

David, can you clarify the case of Perth passengers joining QF9? “Transit only” would seem to exclude them, but it seems bizarre.

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 09:39:02 am

David

View posts Message

David

24 Oct 2010

Total posts 2336

Hi Greg - yes, they're the exception to the 'transit' rule.

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 09:52:02 am

sdtravel

View posts Message

sdtravel

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

18 Jun 2015

Total posts 107

is this likely a short term branding thing that will be opened up as a regular International Premium Lounge once more flights open up out of Perth? Or is it really as other have suggested a logistics location issue.

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 09:45:02 am

reeves35

View posts Message

reeves35

24 Aug 2011

Total posts 552

As I said, I'm guessing this is probably a location issue with the lounge being airside of inbound flights meaning pax departing from PER will not have access as they will clear security from landside and enter the main terminal which will be a different checkpoint compared with the transitting pax. I'm unsure of the exact location physically of the new lounge but would guess that it is downstairs near where the old Golden Wing/Virgin Lounge was which is likely to be the main issue.

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

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 09:47:02 am

John Phelan

View posts Message

John Phelan

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

28 Oct 2011

Total posts 322

Pax originating in PER on QF9 WILL have access. The lounge is after immigration/security.

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 12:35:02 pm

highflyer

View posts Message

highflyer

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

10 Apr 2012

Total posts 302

Well now that’s just stupid... I’m guessing it’s something to do location, such as pax arriving internationally to domestic at Sydney and Melb can’t access the international lounges, but its kind of stupid pax joining a flight at Perth won’t have access if that is the case?

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 09:58:02 am

eminere

View posts Message

eminere

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

25 Sep 2013

Total posts 1133

I can see the poor lounge attendants being confronted with a lot of confused and angry passengers expecting access.

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 10:19:02 am

peteshep

View posts Message

peteshep

15 Feb 2013

Total posts 135

Probably not because they won’t be able to get airside.

Saturday, 10 Feb 2018, 01:58:02 am

GregXL

View posts Message

GregXL

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

26 May 2014

Total posts 401

Article updated, so my understanding is that the only QF9/10 pax excluded are the Perth - Melbourne domestic. Possible timing and/or capacity issues are behind not using this lounge for other Perth international departures

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 10:54:02 am

MrT

View posts Message

MrT

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

28 Aug 2015

Total posts 34

So would gold/sapphire passengers in economy flying to Singapore or Auckland get access to the domestic Qantas Club or domestic Business Lounge? Usually they have access to the Qantas club for domestic flights, but business lounges for international flights.

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 11:06:02 am

David

View posts Message

David

24 Oct 2010

Total posts 2336

A very good question, and one we'll look into

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 11:31:02 am

eastwest

View posts Message

eastwest

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

23 May 2014

Total posts 2

Man Qantas waist' cash. They really do not put effort into planning. Why waist millions of dollars. Is this because they regret taking the option to be the first ones into the domestic pier at the international side of the airport? Just remember...the Qantas precinct gets demolished by what...2025?

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 12:45:02 pm

MarkivJ

View posts Message

MarkivJ

22 Jan 2018

Total posts 64

So they built such a great lounge to cater to a small 789 premium crowd? Seems like a waste of money!

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 03:17:02 pm

grov

View posts Message

grov

QFF

19 Sep 2013

Total posts 151

Another good reason not to fly QF to other int destinations from Perth.

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 03:25:02 pm

AJW

View posts Message

AJW

16 Nov 2011

Total posts 511

The domestic business lounge is hardly a bad place! Better than most international lounges.

Though do agree it seems odd if the lounge is there to not open it to all international flights out of Perth.

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 09:27:02 pm

Mr Miyagi Banned

View posts Message

Mr Miyagi Banned

18 Jan 2018

Total posts 63

ahahaha. Pay $4K for an international J ticket - enjoy making your own ham sandwiches at Qantas Pub! Befitting if the forgotten west coast city status!

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 03:56:02 pm

jrfsp

View posts Message

jrfsp

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

04 Mar 2014

Total posts 111

I understand why domestic passengers wont be able to access the lounge, but seems a bit silly to exclude the other international flights, which most days will be two 737 flights...hardly large numbers..

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 03:56:02 pm

AT

View posts Message

AT

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

14 Sep 2012

Total posts 259

I'd say for the moment staffing and managing 3 lounges, for what is a very small international network out of Perth doesn't make sense. Once Perth's international network builds up with the predicted Europe flights and maybe more Asia flights then bring all across to the new T3 lounge. I know QF has a great consistent lounge network (one of it's strengths), but this will surely only be a short-medium term arrangement.

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 05:14:02 pm

rhondaB

View posts Message

rhondaB

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

07 Feb 2018

Total posts 15

Thanks for this, David. However, you don't touch on those going in the opposite direction -- i.e. PER-MEL-LAX on the same day, same plane (QF10 and QF95). Do you know if Qantas Club/Plat FFs/Business Class passengers travelling on the 787 from PER-MEL-LAX can access the new international lounge at PER? Qantas' online support staff don't seem to know of the existence of this lounge as yet, so haven't been able to help me. However, I was able to find out from them that customs/immigration will be done at PER, and the 90 minutes or so at MEL will be in the transit lounge.

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 07:35:02 pm

SMM

View posts Message

SMM

01 Feb 2013

Total posts 10

Interesting. Ive flown JQ Business Syd to Mel but from the International Terminal and was allowed to use the Qantas First Lounge as normal as P1

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 08:11:02 pm

AJW

View posts Message

AJW

16 Nov 2011

Total posts 511

Totally different and unrelated issue.

Wednesday, 07 Feb 2018, 09:29:02 pm

highflyer

View posts Message

highflyer

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

10 Apr 2012

Total posts 302

Why did they have to fiddle with a simple thing and make it suddenly so Confusing :(. Hope Qantas PR have a good spin on things to explain it

Thursday, 08 Feb 2018, 04:27:02 am

worldwanderer

View posts Message

worldwanderer

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

13 Jan 2017

Total posts 70

Sounds perfectly logical and a smart move.

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".

Friday, 09 Feb 2018, 04:19:02 pm

orion77

View posts Message

orion77

21 Jun 2014

Total posts 2

How would this affect code share airline passengers if the Qantas lounges are moved, such as Cathay Pacific ?

Friday, 09 Feb 2018, 04:57:02 pm

oxy

View posts Message

oxy

03 May 2017

Total posts 19

So essentially Qantas has built this lounge for one single flight, QF9. Is this the only case in the world of a lounge being built for this purpose?

Friday, 09 Feb 2018, 05:11:02 pm

BrisbanePE

View posts Message

BrisbanePE

02 Dec 2016

Total posts 31

Seems like a lot of lounge for a very few pax. Surely the economics won't stack up. ??

Friday, 09 Feb 2018, 07:22:02 pm

peteshep

View posts Message

peteshep

15 Feb 2013

Total posts 135

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.

Saturday, 10 Feb 2018, 02:04:02 am

terryj

View posts Message

terryj

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

05 Sep 2016

Total posts 10

This is not a smart move if Qantas wants to try and woo back customers to use their Singapore and Auckland services.

Friday, 23 Mar 2018, 02:35:03 am

Itsoosi

View posts Message

Itsoosi

07 Nov 2017

Total posts 2

Can you just please clarify.......you say - 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.

I am travelling in business, but am not Platinum One, Platinum, gold or a Qantas Club member. Am I able to access the lounge?

Thursday, 12 Jul 2018, 04:02:07 pm