Current track

Title

Artist

Background

Qantas’ insane price on new lounge pass

Written by on July 10, 2024

Qantas has unveiled a new “flexible” pass for its luxury airport lounges for a staggeringly cheap price tag – just months after announcing annual memberships would be hit with a 17 per cent price hike.

The new Qantas Club Flexible allows customers to pay for 28-day access to the branded lounges, with the Flying Kangaroo claiming the subscription is a way of offering “flexibility” and a choice to enjoy access to the lounges on an “ad-hoc basis”.

Currently, an annual Qantas Club membership costs from $699, with a one-off joining fee from $129.

The Qantas Club Flexible membership costs just $99 a month – plus the one-off joining fee of $129 – and auto-renews every 28 days.

Customers are also able to cancel their membership at any time up until three days prior to renewal.

The airline has also offered additional checked baggage for domestic, international and Jetstar flights to people who take out these memberships and travel before March 31 next year.

A Qantas spokeswoman said the company had brought in the membership in response to customer feedback over the past year.

“We know our customers are looking for flexible options when it comes to lounge access,” the spokeswoman said.

“Qantas Club Flexible gives customer the choice to enjoy the benefits of our Qantas lounges in a timeframe that suits them – the perfect option for travellers who don’t fly every month.”

Other benefits includes Domestic On Departure Upgrade rewards and a complimentary Qantas Frequent Flyer membership, the airline revealed.

Earlier this year, Qantas customers were warned the prices of annual membership fees would jump for the first time in seven years.

For newcomers, the price will increase from $699 to $828, while the fee for current members will rise from $540 to $629.

The airline said the new prices would help cover the costs passed on from suppliers over the seven-year period.

“This follows a reduction in the membership fees for several years during the pandemic,” a spokesperson said in March.

The move also follows what the airline has called a “significant” $100m investment in the lounge network – including a new lounge in Hobart almost double the original capacity.

More Coverage

Lounges in Adelaide and Broome were also refurbished.

The first stage of construction for the South Australian capital’s lounge included the fit-out of the Qantas Club, now expected to open in mid-November, ahead of the new Domestic Business Lounge welcoming its first customers in mid-2025.

While the footprint of the lounge space will remain the same, through the redesign of under-utilised spaces, the total seating capacity will increase by more than 10 per cent.

Read related topics:Qantas