Which Emirates lounges can Qantas passengers use?
Your Qantas boarding pass can open the doors to dozens of Emirates lounges around the world.
By Staff Writers, January 16 2024
One of the best advantages of the Qantas-Emirates partnership is the reciprocal lounge access between the airlines – yet this is something many Qantas passengers don’t even know about.
In many cases, Qantas business class travellers or any Qantas passenger holding Qantas Platinum One, Platinum or Gold frequent flyers status can visit an Emirates lounge ahead of their QF flight.
That’s especially appealing if there are no Qantas or Oneworld airline lounges at the airport you’re flying from, or if the Emirates lounge is a cut above the rest.
That can also include when Qantas directs you to a sub-standard partner lounge, and for international Qantas flights out of Sydney and Melbourne, where the Emirates lounge is largely better than the Qantas business class lounges (provided of course the Emirates lounge is open at hours suiting your Qantas flight).
There are even instances where Qantas Club membership provides Emirates lounge access.
All Emirates lounges draw from the same relaxing design.
It also works the other way: an Emirates first class passenger or Skywards Platinum member can visit the swish Qantas First Lounge ahead of Emirates flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore.
However, the rules surrounding Qantas access to Emirates lounges come with a few caveats, so here’s what you need to know.
You must be flying with Qantas or Emirates, on a QF or EK flight number: other partner airlines (such as Oneworld members) or flight numbers (such as codeshares) are excluded from this lounge access arrangement.
The Qantas-Emirates lounge access agreement is not worldwide: it applies only to lounges in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.
In addition, you can’t visit an Emirates lounge in Australia if you’re on a Qantas flight to a destination outside of that group, such as North America or South Africa.
The opening hours of Emirates lounges might not align with your Qantas flight: after all, Emirates opens its lounges to suit its own timetable for departures.
Many Qantas passengers don't realise they can also visit Emirates lounges at many airports.
In this article:
- What to expect at an Emirates lounge
- Can Qantas Club members access Emirates lounges?
- What Emirates lounges can Qantas Gold members access?
- What Emirates lounges can Qantas Platinum and Platinum One members access?
- Emirates lounges access for Qantas business and first class passengers
- Can Qantas flyers pay for Emirates lounge access?
- Which Emirates lounges around the world can Qantas passengers access?
What to expect at an Emirates lounge
Most Emirates lounges around the world follow the same design template, with the same reliably familiar offerings including:
- an ample buffet which often surpasses other lounges in both variety and quality
- a selection of hot dishes at breakfast, lunch and dinner
- a self-pour bar stocked with wine, spirits and Moet Champagne
- plenty of comfortable seating
- free WiFi
You won't go hungry (or thirsty) at an Emirates lounge.
Can Qantas Club members access Emirates lounges?
Qantas Club members draw the short straw in the Qantas-Emirates lounge partnership: the only lounge they can use are Emirates’ business class lounges in Dubai, and only if they are booked onto an Emirates flight under a Qantas QF8xxx flight number.
An Emirates flight with an EK flight number isn’t valid for Qantas Club entry to an Emirates lounge. Of course, if a Qantas Club member holds Qantas Gold or Platinum status, that changes things…
What Emirates lounges can Qantas Gold members access?
Qantas Gold frequent flyers enjoy access to most Emirates lounges on this list as long as they’re flying with Qantas or Emirates under a QF or EK flight number; they typically can also bring one guest into the lounge with them.
What Emirates lounges can Qantas Platinum and Platinum One members access?
Platinum-grade Qantas frequent flyers have access to all Emirates lounges on this list – including Emirates’ flagship first class lounge at Dubai – provided they’re flying with Qantas or Emirates under a QF or EK flight number; they typically can also bring one guest and two children into the lounge with them.
Emirates' Dubai business class lounge features a unique Champagne Lounge.
Emirates lounges access for Qantas business and first class passengers
Qantas business class and first class passengers largely have access to the same Emirates lounges as their Gold and Platinum frequent flyer counterparts, although they can’t bring guests into an Emirates lounge – that’s one of the useful perks of Qantas status.
Can Qantas flyers pay for Emirates lounge access?
Stuck in premium economy or economy and lacking any Qantas frequent flyers status? You can still gain entry to Emirates lounges by paying at the door.
The cost is US$155 for most Emirates lounges around the world (discounted to US$120 if you’re a member of Emirates Skywards loyalty program, even if at the base tier), with US$175 for Emirates’ business class lounge at Dubai (US$150 for Skywards members) and US$300 for the Emirates first class lounge at Dubai (US$250 for Skywards members).
Which Emirates lounges around the world can Qantas passengers access?
To make things easy ahead of your next Qantas flight, here’s a complete list of the Emirates lounges which Qantas travellers can access, along with how many guests they can bring in.
You can find more information on each lounge at the Emirates website.
Emirates Lounge, Auckland
By class of travel: Qantas first and business class passengers
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Emirates’ Auckland lounge is definitely preferable to Qantas’ own lounges, at least until those are upgraded into a single premium lounge in late 2024.
However, the Emirates Auckland lounge doesn’t open until 5.15pm, which rules out a visit ahead of Qantas’ morning departures back to Australia.
Emirates Lounge, Bangkok
By class of travel: Qantas first and business class passengers
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Qantas doesn’t have its own lounge at Bangkok, which has made Emirates’ Bangkok lounge a popular go-to – although there are also two very good Oneworld lounges operated by Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways (the latter is open only to business and first class passengers).
Emirates Lounge, Birmingham
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Emirates Lounge, Brisbane
By class of travel: Qantas first and business class passengers
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
At the time of writing, Emirates’ Brisbane lounge is temporarily closed, with the airline directing eligible travellers to the Plaza Premium Lounge instead – but the Emirates lounge will reopen by mid-February 2024.
Emirates Lounge, Cairo
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Emirates First Class Lounge, Dubai
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
This is Emirates’ flagship first class lounge and features an la carte dining room.
Emirates Business Class Lounge, Dubai
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
By Qantas Club membership: Access allowed when flying with Emirates under a QF flight number
This is Emirates’ flagship business class lounge and features its own Champagne Lounge; it’s also the only Emirates lounges open to Qantas Club members, and then on the strict condition that the Emirates light is booked as a Qantas codeshare carrying a QF8xxx flight number.
Emirates Lounge, Frankfurt
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Emirates Lounge, Glasgow
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Emirates Lounge, Hamburg
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Emirates Lounge, London Gatwick
By class of travel: Qantas first and business class passengers
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Emirates Lounge, London Heathrow
By class of travel: Qantas first class passengers
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling on an Emirates flight
London is an odd one out when it comes to lounge access: the only Qantas passengers offered entry to the Emirates lounge at Heathrow T3 are those booked into Qantas first class. Everyone else is of course directed to Qantas’ own London Heathrow lounge.
That said, we believe Qantas’ first class passengers and Platinum-grade frequent flyers may find Cathay Pacific’s LHR T3 first class lounge is a superior place to spend those pre-flight hours.
Emirates Lounge, Manchester
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Emirates Lounge, Melbourne
By class of travel: Qantas first and business class passengers
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Emirates’ Melbourne lounge is located on level 3, accessed via an escalator near Gates 9 and 10.
Emirates Lounge, Milan Malpensa
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Emirates Lounge, Munich
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Emirates Lounge, Paris Charles de Gaulle
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Emirates Lounge, Perth
By class of travel: Qantas first and business class passengers
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Emirates Lounge, Rome
By class of travel: Qantas first and business class passengers
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Emirates Lounge, Singapore Changi Airport
By class of travel: Qantas first and business class passengers
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Qantas travellers have several lounges at Singapore’s Changi Terminal 1 to choose between – we suggest Qatar Airways’ Singapore Premium Lounge is the prime pick if you’re in first class and business class (although the Qantas Singapore First Lounge is still excellent), with the Qantas Singapore Business Lounge or the Emirates Singapore Lounge suited to business class passengers and Qantas Gold-grade frequent flyers.
Emirates Lounge, Sydney
By class of travel: Qantas first and business class passengers
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
Many Qantas business class passengers and Gold frequent flyers happily make their way over to ‘the other end’ of Terminal 1 (the same departures wing as used by Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines, among others) to visit Emirates’ Sydney lounge rather than Qantas’ own lacklustre Sydney international business lounge.
Emirates Lounge, Zurich
By Qantas Frequent Flyer status: Qantas Gold (plus one guest), Platinum and Platinum One (plus one adult guest and two children) when travelling with either Emirates or Qantas
American Airlines - AAdvantage
13 Jul 2015
Total posts 276
Emirates are notoriously bad in Australian airports of letting you into the lounge if you are not flying an Emirates flight. They don't really follow the advice above - they basically said 'only if you are flying to Dubai on Qantas' which doesn't even make sense since Qantas doesn't fly to Dubai.
Malaysia Airlines - Enrich
15 Sep 2023
Total posts 2
I do beg to differ on QF Business passengers having access to EK Lounge at MEL based on what I experienced in August last year. As I don't usually fly in and out of MEL, I thought I would do a bit of lounge hopping in MEL when I flew QF Business from MEL to AKL on that trip. My plan was to give MEL EK Lounge a try before entering MEL QF First Lounge with my Oneworld Emerald status. Surprisingly, I was denied access to EK Lounge on that occasion. The staff told me I am not allowed in because I am travelling on QF Business class and the staff working on the day appeared to be clueless when I told them that QF Business passengers are allowed use either EK or QF Lounge. To date, the incident is still a mystery to me as I never had issue accessing SYD EK Lounge when I am travelling on QF in Business.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 416
I've always found the EK lounges outside DXB to be underwhelming with awful furniture etc and in DXB I find the lounges to be clinical and cold (personality not temperature) and the shower rooms in the Dubai first lounge are awful. Like saunas and you cant reduce the water temperature, no aircon/vent system in there.
QFF
19 Sep 2013
Total posts 205
I was able to access the Emirates Heathrow lounge recently when flying business on a Qantas codeshare.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Feb 2022
Total posts 4
I flew back from the Philippines early this month. I was flying business and currently hold Platinum. I decided to try the Emirates lounge in Terminal 3 in place of the PAGSS Premium Lounge but was turned away on the basis that it is a 'third party' lounge and the flight was not EK or code share.
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Jun 2018
Total posts 3
Oct 2023 business class departure from Heathrow was amazing with 180 degree views over runways and direct access to the flight from the lounge. Hard to compare with the QF first class lounge in Heathrow with its unique and wide variety of gins on offer. Dubai First class lounge on arrival in Dubai as a QF platinum member was the best customer service for our stopover on return to Sydney. Staff were quick to recommend the marbleised rib eye. Choice of aged French reds but precursed by tender sashimi cuts whilst rib eye was being prepared. Heading to Milan is May 2024 on EK flight as the QF PE class to Milan Via London with a substantially more expensive and a much longer journey via London. Pleased to know reciprocal rights for QF/EK as our four hour stopover in Dubai would be sub optimal without lounge access. Perhaps I can try the succulent rib eye once more....
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Oct 2012
Total posts 46
Hi - apologies if this is an obvious question... am planning on travelling economy to UK via Singapore and Dubai and have QF Platinum status. Considering Emirates. and Qantas (more expensive). If I book and fly Emirates (EK flight code, not QF codeshare) can I access the Emirates lounges. I've been denied access previously as they didnt have my QF details on system (even though I've double checked) and wouldnt even take the digital card as evidence... Thanks for advice...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 May 2014
Total posts 12
Heathcor, I recently flew that route in Y with QF gold status, EK flight numbers, and has access to EK lounges in SIN, DXB, and LHR. You will get access to the EK First lounge in DXB. Note also if you are stopping over in Dubai that you can use the EK First checkin terminal
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