Is Qantas Club membership worth it?

Fly Qantas regularly but not often enough to jump up through the frequent flyer tiers? You can still enjoy an airport lounge experience in the Qantas Club, which delivers a mix of Silver and Gold status perks for an upfront membership fee.

Among the perks are access to Qantas and selected partner airline lounges, priority check-in and boosted baggage allowance, plus the ability to upgrade to business class at the airport.

Is Qantas Club membership worth it?

The answer to the question “is Qantas Club membership worth it?” will depend on your travel patterns – not just how often you fly but where you fly to and from – along with the practical value you place on everything the Qantas Club has to offer, which goes beyond lounge access.

For example, there are vast differences in the quality of Qantas Club lounges across Australia, as well as the food & drink options in each airport.

And if you’re normally stuck buying the cheapest fares in economy, which could earn as few as 10 status credits on every flight, it will take a long time to reach the Qantas Gold frequent flyer tier where lounge access is included.

However, if you can earn over 350,000 Qantas Points per year, you’ll qualify for Qantas Points Club Plus membership, which comes with free Qantas Club membership.

Qantas Club lounge access can also be purchased on a monthly subscription basis.

We suggest a good place to start is by reviewing how many times you expect to fly each year and compare that to the yearly membership charge.

For example, a traveller taking 10 return trips (or 20 flights) per year could visit Qantas Club lounges up to 20 times.

If you signed up for a single year of Qantas Club membership at a total outlay of $828 – that’s the $129 joining fee plus $699 for 12 months – you get a ‘cost per visit’ of $41.

At some airports that $41 might be better put towards a meal and drink or two at an airport café or restaurant, especially when you get to choose what you eat rather than accept whatever’s laid out at the Qantas Club buffet.

Of course, this will depend on the airport you’re visiting – and ditto for other Qantas Club benefits such as WiFi and ideally AC/USB power outlets close at hand.

However, the additional ‘non-lounge’ travel benefits of Qantas Club may tilt the scales in Qantas’ favour.

In short, here’s our take:

• If you’re only making a handful of domestic flights per year, Qantas Club isn’t worth it: you can still get lounge access (the Qantas Club program’s main drawcard) through lounge invitations or simply eat in the airport terminal.
• If you’re making more than a dozen return trips per year, Qantas Club may be worth it: the membership cost-per-flight breakdown starts to work in your favour, especially if you’re on low-cost economy fares which will make it hard for you to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold status.
• If you’re earning over 350,000 Qantas Points per year (mainly through spending with your credit card), Qantas Club isn’t worth it: those points qualify you for the Qantas Point Club Plus program, which comes with free Qantas Club membership.

For more on the Qantas Club, read through our guide below.

Who is Qantas Club for?

The Qantas Club is an adjunct to the broader Qantas Frequent Flyer loyalty program and aimed more at what you could consider infrequent flyers: people who don’t travel enough, and especially not on higher-priced airfares, to enjoy lounge access via their Gold or Platinum status.

It's also not for people who normally fly business class, as the Qantas Club Membership benefits of priority check-in, extra checked baggage and airport lounge access are already covered by those business class fares.

The Qantas Club buffet is stocked with a variety of hearty bites.

Qantas Club membership types

Individual Membership

The most common Qantas Club membership type, Individual Membership is open to all and can be purchased for one, two, or four years. A joining fee applies to new members but does not apply when renewing an existing membership before the expiration date.

Partner Membership

Reduced-price partner memberships are reserved for the spouse or partner of an existing Qantas Club member when both travellers live at the same address, and can be purchased for one, two, or four years.

For maximum value, these are best used when both partners travel separately rather than together.

That's because the existing Qantas Club membership already allows that spouse or partner to join the member in the lounge as their guest, so the only need for a separate Qantas Club membership would be to cover other travel.

Group Membership

When 10 or more travellers join the Qantas Club together, discounts of up to 14% can be enjoyed on one and two-year membership rates.

This is most common when a group of employees at the same company band together to access group membership discounts, although the group can be comprised of anybody, even a large family or a circle of friends.

Qantas Clubs are located in most major and some regional Australian cities.

Corporate Membership

Many companies holding Qantas travel contracts also have access to Qantas Club Corporate Membership rates, which are no longer published by Qantas. If eligible, these rates can usually be accessed by contacting your company's travel coordinator.

Smaller businesses with a Qantas Business Rewards membership can also save up to 30% on the cost of individual Qantas Club memberships for directors, owners and employees when signing-up for that membership via the Qantas Business Rewards portal.

In any case, whether you have an Individual Membership, Partner Membership, Group Membership or Corporate Membership, access to lounges remains the same, as does the availability of other travel benefits: all that varies is the price.

How much does the Qantas Club membership cost?

Qantas Club membership prices vary depending on your membership type. However, there’s a fixed joining fee of $129 – think of this as similar to the joining fee charged by many organisations, such as gyms and fitness centres – that simply sets up your membership.

In addition to the joining fee, you’re charged a fee which Qantas offers in one-year, two-year and four-year packages:

• One year: $699
• Two years: $1,299
• Four years: $2,399

In other words, the total up-front cost of joining the Qantas Club as a new individual member (including that one-off $129 fee) comes out at:

• One year: $828
• Two years: $1,328
• Four years: $2,228

You can renew your Qantas Club membership (as long as your initial membership period hasn’t finished, to avoid being charged a fresh joining fee) by paying a reduced ‘Existing Member’ fee of $629 for a single year, $1169 for another two years or $2159 for four more years.

Discounted rates are also available to a spouse or partner of existing Qantas Club members when signing-up for a 'Partner Membership': these are priced at $629 for one year, $1169 for two years or $2159 for four years, plus the initial $129 joining fee.  

In addition, Qantas now offers a month-to-month subscription known as ‘Qantas Club Flexible’, which unlocks access to Qantas lounges in Australia and overseas for 28 days, at a cost of $99 plus joining fee.

While good for those with a specific period of travel in mind, yearly membership is still better value in the long term.

Qantas Club Membership Benefits

While most see Qantas Club as purely an airport lounge scheme, those members have access to a broader suite of benefits than the lounge itself.

Qantas airport lounge access

The core benefit of Qantas Club membership is lounge access ahead of Qantas and Jetstar flights, specifically:

• Domestic Qantas Club airport lounges (there are currently 22 lounges in that batch
• International Qantas business class lounges (both in Australia and overseas) and single-class 'premium' lounges (such as Hong Kong and London, shown below)

The Qantas International lounge at London Heathrow.

In other cities on the Qantas network where the Red Roo doesn’t have its own lounge facilities – including Dallas, Shanghai and New York – access is provided to partner airline ‘associated lounges’ as varies from airport to airport.      

For a full list of these associated lounges, visit the Qantas website.

Qantas premium lounge entry

Exclusively at Brisbane Airport, Qantas Club members can use the Qantas Premium Lounge entry facility for expedited security screening and direct access to the Qantas Club lounge.

Normally, domestic priority security is a perk for Gold and Platinum frequent flyers, but as Qantas Premium Lounge Entry is attached to the lounge, the airline extends this to Qantas Club members in Brisbane only.

Lounge access with other airlines

The Emirates business class lounges in Dubai open their doors to Qantas Club members travelling onward on a QF flight number, although all other Emirates lounges are off-limits to these travellers.

For example, when departing London Heathrow on a Business or First Class ticket on either a Qantas (QF) or Emirates (EK) flight, Qantas Club members can choose to access their choice of the Qantas London Lounge or the Emirates Lounge - or even both.

In airports with a Qantas-operated lounge, access is also offered when booked on a Qantas codeshare flight – including the Qantas lounges in Australia when travelling with Air New Zealand, Emirates, Fiji Airways and more.

Qantas Club members can also visit Alaska Airlines' lounges in Los Angeles, Seattle, Anchorage and Portland when travelling with Alaska Airlines on a QF codeshare flight number, when connecting to or from a Qantas international flight.

Finally, American Airlines' Admirals Clubs welcome Qantas Club members the world over when jetting onwards on a QF or AA flight number – the latter being a less-publicised perk of the program.

The entrance to Sydney Qantas Club.

Qantas priority check-in

Holding a Qantas Club membership means never having to join the back of the economy queue at Qantas check-in.

When travelling on a Qantas domestic flight, Qantas Club members have access to priority check-in facilities including Premium Service Desks for assistance and booking change requests – or when flying with carry-on baggage only, can check-in at most major Qantas Club lounges.

Prior to Qantas-operated international flights, Qantas Club members can also use dedicated priority check-in lanes marked "Qantas Club" – or when these are unavailable, premium economy or business class priority check-in channels, as directed.

Extra baggage allowance

When travelling with Qantas, Qantas Club cardholders may be able to pack a little heavier, bring an extra bag, or both: depending on their destination.

On domestic Qantas flights, the standard 1x23kg baggage allowance in economy is elevated to 1x32kg for Qantas Club members, being the same allowances as granted to Qantas Silver frequent flyers. There’s no change in business class, however.

When jetting abroad with Qantas or Emirates to destinations adopting the ‘weight system’, your baggage allowance shown on your ticket is instead boosted by 12kg. That pushes the standard economy allowance from 30kg to 42kg, and the business class allowance from 40kg to 52kg, for example.

Where the ‘piece system’ is used instead (mainly to North and South America), Qantas Club members can pack a flat 3x32kg – that’s 96kg in total – being the same allowance normally afforded to most first class passengers, even if the Qantas Club member is booked in economy.

Request 'on departure upgrades' to business class

When booked in economy on a Qantas domestic flight, you'll be able to request an upgrade to business class in the lounge using your Qantas Points.

Upgrades remain subject to availability but may be possible even if you'd previously tried online without success. The number of points needed for these upgrades is the same as when requesting in advance, however, and you may not be guaranteed full catering, so this is more of a backup plan rather than a go-to.

Fancy an upgrade from domestic economy to business class on departure day using your Qantas Points?

Just ask at the service desk in the Qantas Club lounge, and you might have success – even if you’d previously tried to upgrade online and didn’t land that bump-up.

Business class on the Qantas Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

Priority when flying standby or on a waitlist

On the rare chance you’re trying to change flights and your preferred departure is full, you may be able to ‘waitlist’ for that flight – and as a Qantas Club member, you’ll be ranked at a higher priority than entry-level Bronze frequent flyers for getting on that flight.

The same applies when trying to purchase a ticket on a fully-booked flight at the airport: if a seat on that flight becomes available at the last minute, a Qantas Club member on the standby list would be offered the seat before a Bronze frequent flyer.

How to get Qantas Club lounge membership for free

There’s a way to get the Qantas lounge membership for free – and it's not only totally legit, but you may already qualify.

In addition to the paid Qantas Club scheme and its popular Qantas Frequent Flyer program, Qantas also runs what it calls a Points Club for people who earn most of their Qantas Points on the ground, rather than by flying.

And that's surprisingly easy to do, especially through savvy use of a Qantas-affiliated credit card, as well as online shopping with Qantas-partnered retail outlets. 

On top of that, you've got the Qantas-Woolworths Rewards partnership to earn Qantas Points through grocery shopping and the Qantas-BP alliance for earning Qantas Points when you fill the tank with petrol.

Additionally, travellers with Qantas Silver status receive one complimentary Qantas Club or Qantas International Business lounge entry per year, while those with selected Qantas co-brand credit cards receive two lounge passes annually.

These passes can be used for access to a Qantas Club lounge prior to a Qantas or Jetstar flight.

All of those points in your account go towards unlocking free membership to the Qantas Points Club. 

The entry-level Points Club is yours when you earn 150,000 Qantas Points in your membership year, and this comes with a number of benefits such as two Qantas Club lounge invitations.

But if you can manage to rake in 350,000 Qantas Points in your membership year, you'll be upgraded to the higher Points Club Plus tier – and one of the key perks of Points Club Plus is free Qantas Club membership.

Alternatively, Qantas Frequent Flyer members who earn at least 350,000 Qantas Points each year – of which, 330,000 must be earned from non-flying activities such as credit card spend – qualify for Points Club Plus, where full Qantas Club membership is a complimentary inclusion.

If travelling with a companion or colleague, and that person has their own Qantas Club membership or Qantas Gold (or above) frequent flyer status, you may instead be able to visit a lounge as their guest, free-of-charge.

Qantas Club Membership FAQ

Can I bring more than one adult guest into the lounge?

Yes – you will need to purchase an ‘Annual Guest Card’, which allows you to bring an extra guest when visiting Qantas-operated lounges throughout the year.

The card affords no lounge access privileges on its own, and is only valid when the guest is entering at the same time as the paid-up Qantas Club member.

A Qantas Club Annual Guest Card costs $449 per year for Australian residents.

Travellers can also redeem their Qantas Frequent Flyer points for lounge memberships and Annual Guest Cards, although you’ll get little more than half a cent in value per point redeemed – so we’d suggest keeping them for your next upgrade to business class.

Can I bring children into the lounge?

Yes, and in some lounges they can enjoy a dedicated 'kid zone' or 'family zone', but the guesting rules vary depending on which airline operates the lounge you’re visiting.

Qantas allows Qantas Club members to bring two children aged between four and 17 years into the lounge in addition to one adult guest, plus any accompanying infants aged three years and younger.

In Dubai, Emirates considers all travellers to be guests regardless of age, and doesn’t recognise Annual Guest Cards – so for a Qantas Club member, their partner and a child to all have lounge access, you’d need to pay for a second, full-rate Qantas Club membership.

For other lounges, refer to the Qantas website.

Do Qantas Clubs have a dress code?

Qantas has always maintained a 'smart casual dress standard' in the terms and conditions for entering its Qantas Club lounges, with singlets, bare feet, rubber thongs "and clothing with offensive images or slogans" in most cases considered unacceptable in the capital city lounges.

The airline says its staff will use discretion to determine if a visitor doesn't meet its standards.

Can I buy Qantas Club guest passes on eBay?

No, and in fact, you shouldn't be able to buy them anywhere. While Qantas does hand out complimentary invitations to use its domestic Qantas Club and international Qantas Business Lounges, these are not intended for sale.

They can be given away to family, friends, colleagues or even a random stranger at the check-in line if that's your fancy – but selling the cards (or digital invitations) is not allowed, which is why eBay is now blocking frequent flyers from listing these 'free' invitations for online auction.

Read: eBay cracks down on sales of 'free' Qantas Club lounge passes

What if I pay for a Qantas Club membership but then progress to Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold before it expires?

Gold frequent flyers essentially receive free Qantas Club membership among their suite of perks, so when you climb the status ladder beyond the Silver tier, your paid Qantas Club membership is paused.

Should you subsequently drop from Gold status down back down to Silver or even Bronze, your remaining period of paid Qantas Club membership automatically resumes from where you left off.

And, if you happen to achieve Lifetime Gold status before being able to utilise your full paid Qantas Club membership, contact Qantas to discuss your refund options.

Won’t I reach Gold if I’m flying enough to use the Qantas Club?

Not necessarily – and that’s exactly where Qantas Club provides the best value, when you’re travelling regularly enough to use it often, but not frequently enough to get Qantas Gold.

Qualifying for Qantas Gold status requires a hefty 700 status credits earned in a single membership year.

On Australia’s most popular domestic route, Sydney-Melbourne, each flight can earn as few as 10 status credits: requiring up to 70 one-way flights, or 35 round trips, to get over that line and progress to Gold, which then includes complimentary lounge access.

Anything less, and you’d need to rely on a Qantas Club membership for lounge access.

Still, there’s a slight shortcut to Qantas Gold, for those earning at least 500 of their status credits each year from Qantas or Jetstar flights.

Reach that threshold, and through the Qantas Loyalty Bonus, you can opt for a bonus 50 status credits – putting Gold within reach after a reduced 65 one-way Sydney-Melbourne flights on the lowest-priced fares, or taking 33 return trips.

Does Qantas ever discount its Qantas Club membership fees?

Several times per year, the Flying Kangaroo releases promotions on Individual Qantas Club memberships. The offers can include discounted or waived joining fees, and a reduction on renewal fees.

Is my Qantas Club membership tax deductible?

According to the Australian Taxation Office, lounge memberships are tax deductible. Of course, to count as a business deduction an expense must be for your business, not for private use.

“As a sole trader, deducting an airport lounge membership is no different from deducting any other business-related expense,” an ATO spokesperson confirmed.

“You can claim a tax deduction for most expenses from carrying on your business, as long as they are directly related to earning your assessable income.”

Be sure to consult your accountant or tax professional for advice on how the ATO’s rules and regulations apply to your particular circumstances.

Can I use Emirates lounges?

Yes, but only one. 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.