The complete guide to Qantas lounges: locations, access & more

Qantas lounges are a great place to unwind before a quick domestic hop or a lengthy international flight – the first and business class lounges, in particular.

No matter how wide you roam (within the Red Roo’s network, that is) you’ll be close to a Qantas or partner lounge delivering drinks and dining plus a comfy pew to perch until your flight is called.

Qantas' domestic business lounge in Brisbane.

That said, not all are created equal – there are actually six types of Qantas lounge, ranging from those lofty first and business retreats through to Regional Lounges and Qantas Clubs.

Whether you’re a devoted frequent flyer or first-time traveller with a business class boarding pass in hand, here’s all you need to know about the Qantas’ extensive lounge network.

1. Qantas International First Lounges

The Red Roo’s most prestigious offering is by far its Qantas International First lounges – serene spaces inviting guests to partake in some delicious bites and premium drinks, as well as relax with spa treatments at select locations. 

Sydney Qantas First Class Lounge sports a rather retro aesthetic.

There are currently five such lounges in existence, in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Singapore and Los Angeles.

(However, that will soon slip back to four, with the Auckland lounge tipped to become a merged ‘premium lounge’ for all passengers, from Qantas Club members through to top-tier Gold, Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers, plus Chairman’s Lounge VIPS.)

Qantas Singapore First Lounge.

Dining in the First lounges is decidedly restaurant standard – à la carte, not buffet, made to order in the open kitchen. Plus, aside from a few perennial dishes, its seasonal breakfast and all-day dining menus mean there’s always something new to try with repeat visits.

A treatment room in the Sydney La Gaia Day Spa.

Add in a broad drinks list ranging from top Champagnes to premium spirits, cocktails and plenty of non-alcoholic options, and you’re all set to activate holiday mode.

Though it almost goes without saying, you'll also have all the other creature comforts on hand, including WiFi, business facilities and bookable private suites, plus immaculate showers.

2. Qantas International Business Lounges

You’ll find International Business lounges in key Australian cities plus select ports around the world. These cater for a much broader passenger mix, from those seated in business class to travellers holding a paid Qantas Club membership (if there’s no QC lounge). 

Qantas international business class lounge.

This category also includes Qantas’ mixed-class ‘premium’ lounges found in London, as well as its Perth International Transit Lounge. Both have their own unique flair. London is also in line for a first class lounge of its own.

While buffet dining is the norm here, certain lounges feature made-to-order daily specials, such as rich and fragrant prawn laksa in the Qantas Singapore business lounge.

Complementing a broad selection of wines, cocktails can also be crafted at many lounges sporting tended bars, with London going a step further with a dedicated gin bar.

Qantas International London Lounge.

Qantas’ International London lounge shines in the gin department with a tantalising range of top-shelf botanicals to delight your palate. If that’s not to your liking, cocktails can be crafted at many other Qantas international lounges with tended bars.

Qantas' international business lounges have all the amenities you need, including WiFi, computers and showers.

3. Qantas Domestic Chairman’s Lounges

Most travellers probably won’t see inside a Chairman's Lounge, as they cater exclusively to members of Qantas’ invitation-only Chairman’s Lounge.

Located discreetly in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide domestic terminals, these offer an ‘International First-like’ experience when travelling on domestic flights. This includes a limited à la carte menu and premium drinks.

Qantas Perth Chairman's Lounge shares a similar design to the Red Roo's First lounges.

Signature dishes include salt and pepper squid with green chilli and aioli sauce (a fixture in the First lounges), a chicken and bacon club sandwich, and Neil Perry’s famous pavlova, topped by seasonal fruit and Persian fairy floss.

A small buffet selection is offered alongside, consisting mainly of cured meats, vegetables and a soup of the day, as well as fresh fruit and sweet treats.

Private business suites are available.

Showers and bookable business suites are also part of the deal.

4. Qantas Domestic Business Lounges

Business class passengers and Platinum or higher frequent flyer status holders can relax in Qantas’ Domestic Business Lounges, which have a higher level of dining and amenities compared to the neighbouring Qantas Clubs, when darting across Australia.

Domestic Business Lounges are found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth, and have entry requirements almost as strict as the International First lounges.

Perth domestic business lounge has a small business zone and bookable meeting room.

Aside from the all-important barista-made coffees and craft beers, most lounges have a ‘tray around’ during breakfast, lunch and dinner hours to complement the buffet offering.

Select lounges also have a signature dining option. Perth has its famous Pizza Oven, while Melbourne has a Spice Bar serving delicious Asian dishes. Up in Brisbane, it’s The Oven (formerly known as the Mexican Cantina), where you can pick up pre-plated dishes. 

Wonton noodle soup from the Melbourne Spice Bar.

In addition are showers and varied business amenities, together with tended bars.

5. Qantas Clubs

The Australian Qantas Clubs are the home for Gold and Oneworld Sapphire frequent flyers, plus those holding paid-up Qantas Club memberships. These are found in many more domestic airports around the country – Adelaide, Cairns, Perth and Sydney, to name a handful. 

Perth Qantas Club.

Although Qantas Club lounges tend to be the most crowded, they still have the most important amenities including a tended bar, barista-made coffee and shower facilities.

6. Regional lounges

Finally, Regional lounges are found in many smaller locations that Qantas and QantasLink fly to. On that list are the likes of Broome, Gladstone, Kalgoorlie, Rockhampton and Tamworth. 

Qantas Regional Lounge in Rockhampton.

Although the entry requirements are identical to the Qantas Club, generally you won't find any hot food or shower facilities here.

Oneworld and partner lounges

In places Qantas doesn’t fly to or have its own lounges, eligible passengers can often enjoy access to Oneworld airline lounges or those of a contracted third-party lounge where available. Browse the full list of partner lounges.

Emirates has an extensive lounge list accessible by Qantas passengers, as detailed in this guide. 

How to access Qantas lounges

There are four main ways to access Qantas lounges before a flight:

• class of travel (business, first class)
• frequent flyer status (e.g. Qantas Gold, Platinum and Oneworld Sapphire, Emerald)
• Qantas Club membership
• single-entry passes, which come with some credit cards and Qantas Silver status

In terms of guests, Qantas is more generous than most other airlines when it comes to business class passengers, offering them one guest each.

Locations of Qantas lounges worldwide

Qantas’ owned and operated lounges are found in the following cities, with links to Executive Traveller reviews where available.

Also read: What it’s really like in a Qantas Chairman’s Lounge

*Adelaide and Darwin utilise the domestic Qantas Clubs before international departures.

Qantas-operated lounge access: who is welcome?

This table summarises the different ways to get into Qantas’ own lounges before domestic and international hops, plus the number of adult guests allowed in the brackets. Note that a few lounges have special access rules separate from the below.

Guest eligibility on international flights depends on how you’re accessing the lounge – they’ll also have to be travelling on a same day flight. Check the Qantas Lounge Eligibility page for the latest information.

Not included in the table above are Qantas Chairman’s Lounges, as only those hand-picked members have access. Occasionally, select Platinum One members may receive an invite to a Chairman’s Lounge prior to their domestic flight. 

Bringing children to Qantas lounges

Qantas’ policy on bringing children into lounges, over and above the one complimentary guest each member can bring, varies depending on the lounge:

Qantas partner (third-party) lounges

Where Qantas does not have its own lounges, partner lounges will be used instead. Entry requirements and guest allowances are usually more restrictive than Qantas-operated lounges – for example, single entry passes can't be used and children of all ages might count as guests.

Also note, some of the associated lounges may only be open to Qantas members two hours before Qantas departures, so keep this in mind when you’re on a long layover.

Qantas lounges FAQs

Can economy class passengers use Qantas lounges?

Economy class passengers are able to use selected Qantas lounges if they have a single-entry lounge pass, maintain a Qantas Club membership, hold Qantas or Emirates Gold status and higher, or have Oneworld Sapphire status and higher. Some exclusions do apply.

Can premium economy class passengers use Qantas lounges?

Qantas premium economy does not automatically come with lounge access. As above, you’ll need to hold relevant Qantas Club membership, a single-entry pass or elite airline status to access Qantas lounges before a premium economy flight.

Does Qantas Silver status give access to Qantas lounges?

No, Qantas Silver status does not automatically grant lounge entry – that privilege starts from the Qantas Gold tier upwards. Instead, silver members get one complimentary lounge pass per membership year, that can be used at most Qantas-operated lounges.

Can complimentary lounge passes be used at any Qantas lounge?

No, some restrictions apply. Complimentary lounge passes can’t be used at partner lounges, or at the Qantas international business lounge in Los Angeles – since it is also co-managed by British Airways and Cathay Pacific.

There may also be temporary restrictions on using complimentary passes at certain Qantas lounges due to peak travel times, renovations or IT-related issues. Check Qantas’ complimentary invitation page for the latest information.

How can I get free Qantas lounge access?

One popular way to earn complimentary Qantas lounge access is to have it included with your credit card, which can get you into Qantas lounges even if you’re not a Qantas Club member, a Gold or Platinum frequent flyer or a first or business class passenger.