A business traveller's guide to Perth's airport lounges

With four terminals catering to a mix of domestic and international flights, Perth Airport hosts no fewer than 11 airline lounges for well-heeled business travellers to relax and work.

Here's where you'll find them, what's on offer and how to gain access.

Perth Airport: which terminal?

The eastern side of the airport houses Terminals 1 & 2, where most international flights and all Virgin Australia, Regional Express (Rex) and Tigerair flights operate. T1 is further divided into domestic and international zones which connect to each other.

You’ll find the interconnected Terminals 3 & 4 on the other side of the airport: these host all Qantas domestic flights, as well as Qantas' Boeing 787 service to London, the daily sprint to Singapore, and the seasonal service to Auckland. Jetstar domestic flights also depart from T3.

Perth Airport lounges: T1 domestic & T2

Virgin Australia operates three lounges across the T1 Domestic Pier and T2.

The Virgin Australia Lounge: T1 Domestic

The main Virgin Australia lounge is found here, immediately to the left after security screening. 

• Opening hours: One hour before the first departure until the final flight of the day is called for boarding.
• Entry: Business class passengers, Gold and Platinum members of Velocity and eligible partner airline programs, Virgin Australia Lounge members, holders of single entry passes, and AMEX Centurion and Platinum Charge Card holders. For now, AirNZ Koru Club and Delta Sky Club members also have access.
  
• Tip: If you have access after your flight as a business class passenger, Velocity Gold/Platinum cardholder or Virgin Australia Lounge member, it’s easy to swing by here after your flight for a quick drink before venturing past the baggage carousel or into the city.

Virgin Australia ‘The Club’ Lounge: T1 Domestic

Only for VIP passengers on the exclusive membership list, this area is located behind a discreet white frosted door further into the terminal from the main lounge.

• Opening hours: Same as the main Virgin Australia Lounge.
• Entry: You’ll know if you have entry to The Club.

Revealed: Perks of 'The Club', Virgin Australia's secret VIP tier

Virgin Australia Regional Lounge: T2

A smaller secondary lounge in the nearby Terminal 2, which is dedicated to regional WA flights. Located to the left after security screening. It has a pared-back selection of food and beverage.

• Opening hours: Monday to Friday, one hour before the first flight until the final flight from T2 has been called.
• Entry: Same as for Virgin Australia's main lounge in Terminal 1, above.
  
• Tip: If you have some time to spare, consider cooling your heels in the main Virgin Australia lounge next door in T1 Domestic instead. You’ll need to allocate at least 10 minutes for the walk and extra security screening.

Perth Airport lounges: T1 international

Adjacent to the domestic pier, the older T1 International terminal is the place for all 'non-Qantas' international flights, including routes to Australian offshore territories such as Christmas Island. 

The Qantas Perth International Business Lounge

The name is a bit of a misnomer now as no Qantas flights depart from T1 or use this lounge anymore. However, it remains open for 19 hours a day to look after passengers from a multitude of partner airlines, including some who are affiliated with the competing Star Alliance and SkyTeam.

• Opening hours: 4:30 am to 9:00 am, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, 7:30 pm to 2:00 am.
• Entry: Eligible guests travelling on:
• Oneworld airlines - Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways (business class and first class, and Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald frequent flyers including Qantas Gold and Platinum)
• Emirates (business and first class, Skywards + Qantas Gold and higher)
• Etihad Airways (business class, Etihad Guest or Velocity Gold + Platinum, until October 2 when these flights cease)
• Thai Airways (business class, Royal Orchid Plus Gold and higher, Star Alliance Gold)
• Air Mauritius (business class, Kestrelflyer Elite/Gold)
• China Southern (business class, Sky Pearl Silver and Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus)
• Garuda Indonesia (business class, Garuda Miles Platinum, SkyTeam Elite Plus)
• South African Airways (business class, Voyager Gold or higher, Star Alliance Gold)
• Jetstar/Jetstar Asia (Qantas Gold or higher, Qantas Club members, Qantas single entry pass)
  

The Emirates Lounge

Opened in 2015, this is one of Emirates’ newer lounges in the network and is located in the extension of T1 International, adjacent to the gates which serve the Airbus A380.

• Opening hours: Three hours before each Emirates flight.
• Entry: Emirates first class and business class, Skywards Gold and Platinum, and Qantas Gold members (and above) when travelling with Emirates on an EK or QF flight number.
• Tip: You can board your A380 flight directly from this lounge, so there’s no need to rush prior to departure.

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge

Tucked away in an unassuming corner near Gate 5, this is one of the smaller and less-fancy lounges that Singapore Airlines operates.

• Opening hours: 3 hours before departure of each service, including Virgin Australia’s 1pm trek to Christmas Island.
• Entry: Business class passengers of Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia; KrisFlyer Gold members and Virgin Australia Velocity Gold members (and above), and exclusively before Singapore Airlines and other Star Alliance flights, Star Alliance Gold frequent flyers, members of United Club and Air Canada Maple Leaf Club Worldwide, and of course, Star Alliance business class passengers.
  

Air New Zealand Lounge

This is the newest lounge in T1, opening at the end of 2017. It is located adjacent to gate 52A, just after the duty-free gauntlet.

• Opening hours: 2.5 hours before departure
• Entry: AirNZ business class, Airpoints Gold + Elite, Koru members, Star Alliance Gold. At least until late October 2018, Velocity Gold, Platinum and Virgin Australia Lounge members can also access this lounge prior to AirNZ trans-Tasman flights.
  
• Tip: Although Star Alliance Gold passengers on other airlines technically have access, this lounge is usually closed when those flights depart.
  
  An exception is during peak summer months, where an overnight twice-weekly Perth-Christchurch service is run. The Air NZ lounge will remain open later on those evenings, meaning eligible SAA passengers should be able to access the lounge.

Perth Airport lounges: T3 & T4

As you arrive at the terminal, T4 will be first on your left. This is the main check-in area for Qantas flights, both domestic and international. Jetstar check-in is located nearby in T3.

Domestic security screening is found in both terminals on the ground floor, and you can use either checkpoint to go airside as they are connected. The international departures area is located within the T3 domestic departures concourse, so Qantas international guests will need to clear domestic security screening first.

T4 Ground Floor – we’ve outlined the two security checkpoints you can use to go airside, as well as the new Qantas T3 International Transit Lounge – only open to guests travelling to/from London Heathrow.

There are a total of four Qantas lounges in this precinct.

Domestic Qantas Club: T4

The prevailing lounge for Qantas Club members and Gold frequent flyers travelling domestically, Perth's Qantas Club is after security. It is located on level up from the departure gates, with a very prominent escalator taking you up.

• Opening hours: One hour before the first Qantas departure, until boarding is called for the last Qantas flight of the day.
• Entry: See the table below.

Qantas Combined Domestic/International Business Lounge: T4

Initially just the Domestic Business Lounge when it opened in 2015, this space also now doubles as an 'international' business class lounge for guests on Qantas services to Singapore and Auckland. It is located on the right-hand side of T4, on the main concourse level.

• Opening hours: Same as the Qantas Club.
• Entry: See the table below.
• Tip: The lounge’s specialty is pizza - check the buffet regularly for fresh-cut slices.

Qantas Chairman’s Lounge: T4

This is the closest thing to a Qantas First Lounge in Perth, located upstairs next to the Qantas Club via a separate entrance.

It's essentially a miniature version of the Sydney and Canberra Chairman's Lounges, complete with  à la carte dining.

• Opening hours: Same as the Qantas Club.
• Entry: You’ll know if you have access.
• Tip: If you’re lucky enough to get in, enjoy the à la carte menu!
  

Qantas International Transit Lounge: T3

Custom-designed for the QF9/10 flights to London and back, this is the newest Qantas lounge in Perth. The opening hours and access list is very tight, in line with the departure times for those two flights.

• Opening hours: 1pm to 2:45pm, then 4:45pm to 6:50pm.
• Entry: See the table below.
• Tip: Indulge in the stretching and relaxation classes run in the Wellbeing Studio, designed to get you in the right state before your flight.

Qantas T3 & T4 Lounge Locations

All of the domestic Qantas lounges are located in T4 after security. The new International Transit Lounge is located after clearing customs, immigration and another round of security in T3. The small entrance is located between Gates 18 and 19, and the lounge itself is situated one level down.

T4 First Floor – domestic lounges marked in yellow - Qantas Club, Chairman’s Lounge and combined Domestic/International Business Lounge.

Access to the Qantas T3 & T4 Lounges

Getting into these lounges depends on your class of travel, frequent flyer status and whether you’re travelling domestically or internationally. Here’s a table to quickly work out what lounge you can access departing Perth on Qantas:

Qantas’ electronic lounge passes are currently unable to be linked to the Perth International Transit Lounge online, due to technical issues.

A Qantas spokesperson confirmed to Australian Business Traveller that the airline is looking into a fix, and that eligible customers could temporarily redeem their digital passes at the reception desk of the International Transit Lounge.

Brandon Loo

Based in Perth, Brandon enjoys tucking into local delicacies, discovering new cocktails, and making aeroplane food look good on camera.