Empty airport lounges are a waste of money for airlines and lounge operators. That’s why many lounges have partnered with Priority Pass to provide an incremental source of revenue — and fill lounges during non-peak periods.
Sometimes, however, those lounges become too full since everyone and their mother has a Priority Pass membership these days, and you see signs outside the doors that restrict access. That’s just not useful for anyone, and ends up being a bad look for both the lounge and Priority Pass.
A handful of premium lounges around the world don’t partner with Priority Pass, but are simply just pay-to-enter for access. Add Qantas’s lounges to that list.
Related: Cathay Pacific Trialling Paid Business Class Lounge Access
Qantas Now Offering Paid Lounge Access
Qantas Lounge LHR
After trialling paid lounge access at London-Heathrow, Qantas is now rolling out paid access to some of their most exclusive lounges worldwide.
These are the Qantas lounges that you can now pay to access. This is regardless of what airline you’re flying or class of service. (Yes, you can fly Spirit and still schlep over and use the Qantas First Class LAX lounge, if you so desire.)
- Los Angeles first class lounge: USD $150
- Los Angeles business class lounge: USD $75
- London Heathrow lounge: £55 (or ~USD $71)
- Hong Kong lounge: HK$450 (or ~USD $57)
- Auckland business class lounge: NZ$60 (or ~USD $38)
- Wellington business class lounge: NZ$55 (or ~USD $35)
- Perth T4 business lounge: A$70 (or ~USD $38)
All lounges are for up to 3 hours only but I’m not sure how exactly they’ll enforce that.
Is Paying For Access Worth It?
As you can see, LAX first class access doesn’t come cheap, but the price points at the business class lounges elsewhere are much more reasonable.
While the Qantas First Class Lounge at LAX has a stellar sit down dining (including a famous salt and pepper squid dish), I find the lounge to be a bit overrated. The space is kind of dark, service can be hit or miss, and the bathrooms remind me of a hospital — although not quite as hospital-like as British Airways Heathrow lounge bathrooms.
Having been to the excellent Qantas Hong Kong lounge, $57 or so for access seems fairly reasonable. Consider that an American Admirals Club or Delta SkyClub day pass costs nearly as much.
Qantas Lounge HKG
Obsessed with these red leather seats
Overcrowded premium lounges is not what Qantas is going for, nor should they be. A representative told Executive Traveller, “Paid access is dependent on sufficient space being available, after eligible customers from Qantas, Oneworld airlines and partner airlines are accommodated. Check-in staff will extend the offer only when capacity will allow.”
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4 comments
Thank you Chris for the update. How does one purchase Qantas Lounge access?
You would purchase at the lounge itself based on availability — unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a way to purchase in advance
Thank you for alerting us to this option and for pointing us in the right direction Chris. The Lounge has confirmed that paid lounge passes need to be purchased when CHECKING-IN (must be on Qantas flight etc). And many thanks for all your great advice throughout the year on all topics. Merry Christmas!
@Yobble said: “must be on Qantas flight etc”
What? This article (and others) said that it doesn’t matter what airline you’re flying. Has Qantas changed the rules for purchasing lounge access on-the-day?