The Qantas lounge at Gold Coast Airport. Picture: News Corp Australia
TRAVELLERS are being told they are not allowed into the Qantas Club after flights — only before — in an apparent effort to control numbers in the airlines’ lounges.
A passenger arriving in Sydney yesterday was surprised to learn he wasn’t allowed entry despite his Gold-level Frequent Flyer status.
The Qantas Domestic Business Lounge at Perth Domestic Airport. Picture: News Corp AustraliaSource:News Corp Australia
“I sometimes pop in after a flight to check emails and make calls,” said the traveller who did not want to be named.
“This time I was stopped at the door and told it was an “unwritten rule” that arrivals be refused lounge entry, and that was now being enforced because of numbers.”
Only passengers arriving on “red-eye” flights from Perth were exempt from the rule, the man was told.
Social media posts have indicated overcrowding could be an issue at some Qantas Club lounges, and Sydney members have also complained about the removal of a “kids area”.
@Qantas Gold Coast OOL #qantasclub chockers ! Need larger QC please.
— Brian Walker (@walkerb100) April 25, 2016
Probs more people in #QantasClub than in the terminal http://pic.twitter.com/NTgqrGKgxk
— Joanne Belford (@JoBel89) March 22, 2016
The crackdown follows on from a stricter dress code being introduced in Qantas Club lounges last year, banning passengers wearing thongs, gym wear, boardshorts, ugg boots or tank-tops from entry.
The tougher code was the result of feedback from existing members who wanted the rules applied more rigorously, Qantas said at the time.
Yesterday a Qantas spokesman said the policy on lounge entry for arrivals was not new and was “one that our lounge staff follow”.
“Like many other airlines, Qantas offers eligible customers use of airport lounges before their flight with some members of a higher Qantas Frequent Flyer status (Platinum and Platinum One) able to use the lounge upon arrival,” he said.
“We also offer access to the lounge for Business Class passengers on select overnight flights from Perth to the eastern seaboard.”
The Virgin Australia lounge at Cairns airport Picture: suppliedSource:Supplied
He said the policy of restricting lounge access for arriving passengers was not an issue for most members.
“We know that many of our customers who use our lounges are keen to get on their way once they have arrived at their destination,” said the spokesman.
Virgin Australia is a little more relaxed, allowing Gold and Platinum Velocity members to access its lounges after a flight.
However access to Gold members was dependent on “space availability”.
The cost of joining the Qantas Club is $895, with annual fees set at $510.
Virgin Australia charges $750 for Velocity lounge membership, which can be renewed annually for $420.
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