Here is Rex’s new Canberra Airport lounge
Canberra's former international departures lounge will host all Rex passengers for the next three months.
By David Flynn, April 16 2021
With Rex adding Canberra to its growing inter-city network, the airline will take over Canberra Airport's former 'international lounge' to serve as its preflight digs – and make it available to every passenger.
Created as a space for travellers boarding the airline's handful of pre-COVID international services flown by Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways, it's more of a well-appointed departure lounge than the more familiar and private 'club lounge' such as those of rivals Qantas or Virgin Australia.
Rex says its use of the international departure lounge is temporary, and as "a promotional offer for the next 3 months, all Rex passengers will be entitled to access the lounge."
The modern design features a variety of different areas for 'seating and meeting', with both social and private spaces.
It also includes a large bar and café dining area, from which Rex says it will provide each passenger with "a complimentary non-alcoholic beverage, while alcohol and snacks are available for purchase."
Rex Lounge members will enjoy other benefits "in line with existing lounge offerings."
While Rex says its use of the international departure lounge is temporary, it will be available for Regional Express passengers to use when daily Canberra-Sydney flights take off from Monday April 19, in competition against Qantas and at some stage, it's expected, Alliance Airlines operating on behalf of Virgin.
As previously reported, Rex's ambitious assault on what's currently a Qantas monopoly will match Qantas' own busy schedule with seven return Rex flights each day, which launched into the market at $99 one-way.
Rex sees its mixed fleet as helping find the right fit for Canberra.
Rex is expected to begin Sydney-Canberra flights using its workhorse 33-seat all-economy Saab 340B turboprops, but with the scope to swap in the larger Boeing 737 jets – with eight seats in business class and 168 in economy – during the morning and afternoon peak hours according to demand.
This is the same approach adopted by Qantas, which flies a mix of Boeing 717 jets and Dash 8 turboprops.
Read the ET review: Rex Boeing 737 business class (Gold Coast-Melbourne)
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Feb 2020
Total posts 28
That’s a nice touch for Rex to add to that route albeit temporary. That offers have competition in that tight market.
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 422
Smart move by both Rex and Canberra Airport, and better for Rex than having no lounge at all. Most importantly, bring on the competition and lower airfares!
Qantas
22 Oct 2012
Total posts 318
Rex are certainly prepared to spend large amounts of cash to increase their services with new Aircraft, Routes and Lounges, but so far they're not attracting many passengers on their new inter-city routes. Whilst I hope they succeed, their future is surely in a fair degree of doubt.
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
slightly off topic, but might have to fly MEL/SYD at 6am & SYD/MEL at 5.30pm tomorrow & looked at various sites including Webjet, Expedia & Skyscanner & then Rex's site. All were more expensive than Rex's own site. So I thought maybe only 1 seat left @ $79 in each direction, so searched for 7 seats & same price came up on Rex's site, so something is going on.
Is Rex being shafted by tech maybe ?
20 Feb 2012
Total posts 67
I found the same experience when looking at OOL-MEL. Maybe it’s because they are not offering any commission?
13 May 2020
Total posts 827
sounds dodgy like continual phone calls with no one there to Compass mark 1.
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