Qantas Implements Changes to Airport Lounge Guest Policy

Qantas renovating their lounges now make it more difficult to get in.

Hi Readers,

Qantas has announced a revision to its airport lounge guest policy, effective from June 15, 2023. The airline will no longer permit frequent flyers or Qantas Club members to bring guests into its airport lounges if they are not flying on the same day with Qantas or a partner airline.

Currently, Qantas Club members and select frequent flyers are entitled to bring guests with them into the Qantas Club lounge when traveling on any domestic Qantas or Jetstar flight. Qantas Platinum, Platinum One, and Oneworld Emerald frequent flyers can bring up to two guests into any domestic Business Lounge or Qantas Club. Additionally, eligible passengers are allowed to bring up to two additional children into domestic lounges.

However, the forthcoming change will require guests to be traveling on the same day with Qantas, Jetstar, or a partner airline flight in order to access Qantas domestic lounges. This means that individuals who are not traveling on that particular day or are booked on other airlines like Virgin or Rex will no longer be able to use the Qantas lounge as a guest.

Qantas has stated that this adjustment aims to simplify its lounge access policy and alleviate overcrowding issues in the lounges. Similar policies are already in place with many overseas airlines, including Air New Zealand, particularly when it comes to accessing Qantas international lounges. Nevertheless, the ability to guest non-traveling individuals in domestic lounges has long been a cherished benefit for Qantas frequent flyers.

In contrast, Virgin Australia still permits its Gold and Platinum frequent flyers, as well as Virgin Australia Lounge members, to bring non-traveling guests into their lounges.

It is worth noting that Qantas Club members flying internationally will experience a slight improvement in guesting arrangements. Previously, Qantas Club members could only bring fellow passengers on the same Qantas or Jetstar flight into Qantas international Business Lounges. However, with the recent change, Qantas Club members can now bring any traveler on a Qantas, Jetstar, or Oneworld flight into international lounges.

This alteration aligns Qantas' lounge access policies for domestic and international flights more closely. However, some customers have expressed concerns regarding the implementation of this change without sufficient notice. According to section 3.2 of the Qantas Frequent Flyer terms & conditions, Qantas Loyalty is expected to inform members of any significant changes that may limit benefits and provide a minimum notice period of three months. As access to Qantas-operated lounges is considered a benefit provided by Qantas, the removal of the ability to guest non-traveling individuals is viewed as a substantial change to the program. Consequently, it is believed that Qantas should have provided at least three months' notice instead of the one-month notice currently given.

Good Travelling

David

Travelodium Travel Magazine