Pre-flight pampering at Qantas' first class lounge spa

There are two pre-flight rituals at Qantas' Sydney and Melbourne first class lounges: a delicious meal at the à la carte restaurant, and a relaxing 20-minute treatment at the day spa.

Nestled within Qantas' flagship First Lounges, the spa offers complimentary facial and massage treatments to replenish, revitalise and refresh travellers before their journey, whether it's a quick hop across the pond to New Zealand or the long trek to London, Los Angeles or beyond.

But it's not just for first class passengers – top-tier frequent flyers such as Qantas Platinum and Platinum One members, along with their Oneworld Emerald equivalents, can also visit the Qantas First Lounge and make a free appointment at the spa, although the limited number of booking slots quickly fill up during peak travel hours. 

This Executive Traveller guide aims to answer all your questions about the Qantas First Lounge spa at Sydney and Melbourne.

The 'VIP' treatment room at Qantas' Sydney First Lounge spa.

Who can use the Qantas First Lounge spa?

A surprisingly wide list of travellers can visit the Qantas First Lounge and spa. Eligible passengers include:

• First class passengers of Qantas along with partner airlines such as Emirates, British Airways and Qatar Airways
• Qantas Platinum, Platinum One frequent flyers and Chairman's Lounge members (travelling on a Qantas, Emirates, China Eastern, Jetstar or Oneworld flight, including Qantas codeshare flights operated by non-Oneworld partners such as Fiji Airways)
• Other Oneworld Emerald frequent flyers prior to Qantas and Oneworld flights (such as Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, LATAM, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways and SriLankan)
• Emirates Skywards Platinum cardholders prior to Qantas and Emirates flights with a QF or EK flight number on their ticket, except when travelling to North and South America
• Holders of a single-use Qantas first class lounge pass, such as issued to Platinum One frequent flyers which can be shared with friends and family, plus Qantas Titanium cardholders. 

A preflight haven: the entrance to the Qantas First Lounge spa, Melbourne.

What are the opening hours of the Qantas First Lounge spa?

As of November 2019, the day spa in Sydney is open from 8am to 4pm, closing when QF1 to Singapore and London is called for boarding.

In Melbourne, it's generally 7.30am to 4pm (closing after QF9 to Perth and London), but then reopens from 6:30pm to 9:30pm (closing after QF95 to Los Angeles).

The spa hours are tailored to Qantas' Airbus A380 flight departures (and the QF9 Boeing 787 Dreamliner to London), so seasonal variations and daylight savings will affect these opening times.

The new selection of LaGaia Unedited products in use at the Qantas First Lounge spa.

What is the Qantas First Lounge spa treatment menu?

The Qantas First Lounge spas in Sydney and Melbourne are operated by Australian skincare company LaGaia, which has introduced a streamlined version of the treatments menu offered by Qantas' previous partner Aurora Spa with fore core options:

"Lift Off" is a facial elevation that soothes and hydrates your face and neck, leaving you refreshed for the flight.

"Baggage Drop" is a neck, shoulder and scalp massage that employs pressure point therapy to lift away tension and stress.

"Kiss Landing" features a hot and precious stone back massage, relieving aches and increasing muscular circulation.

Finally, "Stretch your Legs" is a foot massage with seasonal mineral scrubs and an aim to send you 'floating to your flight'.

L: LaGaia Qantas First spa menu | R: LaGaia staff encourage positivity and mindfulness with a selection of inspirational messages.

How to book a Qantas First Lounge spa appointment

Qantas First Hosts contact first class passengers flying out of Sydney and Melbourne the day before their flight to offer their choice of appointment times.

For everyone else it's a case of 'first in, best dressed' (or perhaps 'first in, less stressed') on the day of travel, as the remaining spa slots are filled up. 

On arrival at the Qantas First Lounge, ask at the lounge reception if there are any spa slots available. You can also put yourself on a waitlist and be paged if someone doesn't turn up for their appointment (which happens from time to time, especially if first class passengers face delays in getting to the airport or lounge guests wander off to do some duty-free shopping).

If you get a booking, we suggest setting an alarm on your smartphone for 5-10 minutes before the allocated appointment time so that you can tidy up any emails or work, finish that meal or glass of wine and head to the spa area a few minutes ahead of your slot.

The spa reception in the Qantas Melbourne First Lounge.

What is it like in the Qantas First Lounge spa?

Here's a quick rundown of what it's like to experience a Qantas First Lounge spa treatment with LaGaia.

Guests who've never had a treatment before will need to come in a little earlier and fill out a quick health check. This paperwork is kept on file so you won't have to do it on your next visit.

You'll be called into the spa room to get ready. If your treatment requires you to remove your top, the therapist will leave the room so you can do so and wrap yourself back into a towel. Clothes and jewellery can be stored in a cupboard.

A selection of inspirational and motivational messages are laid out on a tray for you to read while getting ready. Finally, the therapist will re-enter and offer you the relaxing 20-minute treatment.

Afterwards, you'll be left alone to get dressed again and depart the room at your leisure, to hopefully settle down back into the first class lounge.

Spa with a view: at the Qantas Melbourne First Lounge.

Frequently-asked questions

Is there a dress code for the Qantas First Lounge spa?

No, there is no official dress code for Qantas international lounges or for the spa. However, as a rule of thumb, it's always advisable to not wear anything that could be deemed as inappropriate.

Can children use the Qantas First Lounge spa service?

No, LaGaia spa guests must be 18 years or older to use the spa services.

What happens if I run late for my appointment?

As spa appointments are 20 minutes long, if you are more than five minutes late then it is likely a waitlisted guest will get your spot and you will need to re-book into another available time.

Brandon Loo

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