Qantas permanently closes Perth International T1 lounge
Perth’s international terminal joins Hong Kong and Tokyo in the wake of Qantas’ lounge rationalisation.
By David Flynn, March 11 2022
Executive Traveller exclusive
With apologies to Freddie Mercury, “another lounge bites the dust.”
Following the closure of Qantas’ lounges at Hong Kong and Tokyo’s Narita Airport, the scythe now swings closer to home with news the Qantas lounge at Perth’s T1 international terminal has switched off the lights for the last time.
Although a question mark has hung over those frosted glass doors well before they were ‘temporarily’ locked when Qantas paused all overseas flights in March 2020, a Qantas spokesperson today confirmed the lounge’s fate to Executive Traveller.
It’s important to note that Qantas no longer flies from Perth T1, and hasn’t done since 2018 – instead, the Roo’s current and future overseas flights all use the international wing of Terminal 3, where Qantas’ Perth International Transit Lounge is set to reopen in June.
Qantas' upmarket Perth International Transit Lounge at T3.
This modern and spacious lounge, with its outdoor terrace dining area and well-appointed shower suites, will once again welcome passengers on Qantas’ Perth-London flights when that non-stop marathon resumes on June 19, along with the forthcoming Perth-Rome service from June 22 (and perhaps Johannesburg).
Despite the lack of Qantas flights from Perth Terminal 1, the lounge has long been home to a number of partner airlines such as Jetstar, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways.
Perth's new Aspire Lounge.
The pre-flight lounge options for those airlines will depend on what arrangements each can make, but most are expected to shift to the newly-opened Perth T1 Aspire Lounge, which also welcomes travellers on a pay-in basis starting at $66 for online bookings or $77 at the door.
As previously reported, Qantas revealed in August 2021 its Hong Kong lounge would permanently close, barely six years after making its stylish debut in April 2014.
Gone but certainly not forgotten: the Qantas Hong Kong lounge.
When Qantas resumes flights to Hong Kong – which CEO Alan Joyce hopes will be in July this year, providing the Asian metropolis unlocks its borders to international visitors – passengers will be directed to the airport’s Cathay Pacific lounges.
And with Qantas shifting all its Tokyo flights to the more convenient city-adjacent Haneda Airport, where it will share the lounges of Oneworld partner Japan Airlines, the well-worn Qantas Business Lounge at Narita Airport has served its last sushi tray.
So what international Qantas lounges remain on the board?
The airline reopened its London Heathrow lounge in December 2021, along with the business class lounges at Los Angeles and Singapore – their first class siblings are expected to welcome back frequent flyers in the coming months.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Mar 2014
Total posts 204
No great loss - was very old on the inside. QFFs on JQ might miss out on lounge now though.
11 Sep 2015
Total posts 224
I think you might be right. Jetstar can probably afford to pay whatever Aspire is asking for 'business class' passengers on its 787s but Qantas Platinums and Golds will have to fend for themselves.
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 418
I don't understand why this comment is being downvoted, LostInTransit is just stating what's likely to be a fact, just because people don't like this outcome doesn't mean they should 'shoot the messenger'!
11 Mar 2012
Total posts 314
Another reason to avoid JQ!
28 Aug 2020
Total posts 5
Since they don’t fly out of T1 what is the point of maintaining it? Would be very few Cathay flights as well at the moment. Guarantee that another airline or maybe priority pass/American Express will grab this space.
11 Sep 2015
Total posts 224
Very few flights at the moment by any of the airlines who used to use the Qantas T1 lounges. That will slowly change across this year as travel returns but none of those airlines will have enough traffic ex-PER to justify the cost of having their own lounge. But I think the Aspire lounge is going to end up pretty packed in the end. Maybe AMEX or Plaza Premium will take over this space and make it more of a premium or boutique lounge. It's just not a very appealing location because there's no natural light.
01 Dec 2012
Total posts 63
I hope Singapore Airlines take up the old Qantas T1 lounge space. The current SQ lounge is very cramped and by November, when SQ has schduled five flights a day PER-SIN (plus Scoot), it will be most inadequate.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Mar 2014
Total posts 204
Also unless there is a change in rules, access to the "T3 International Transit Lounge" was only ever for QF9/10 passengers. Those on SIN flights had to use the domestic business lounge.
01 Dec 2012
Total posts 63
Interesting news, if true, that the Perth International TransitLounge, as it is currently called, will be open to passengers other than on QF 9/10. Pre-pandemic, other Qantas international passengers departing T3 used the domestic Business Lounge and Qantas Club in T4 before walking a short distance to the international departure doors in T3.
22 Feb 2022
Total posts 6
No indication that there will be a change of rules for use of the Transit Lounge. Rome / Joburg passengers can use the transit lounge as the flights will connect from other east coast cities.
Perth originating travellers have been able to use the Transit Lounge already.
11 Mar 2022
Total posts 2
Any idea where Qatar pax will go?
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 418
Probably the Aspire Lounge, just like it suggests in the article. Not many other choices, no other OneWorld airline has a lounge at PER T1.
QFF
19 Sep 2013
Total posts 205
That is my main concern. Also Air New Zealand were using the T1 lounge, so not sure where their J passengers will end up.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Mar 2014
Total posts 204
Air NZ have their own lounge, much nice than the old QF one
NZ
13 Aug 2016
Total posts 64
NZ's own lounge opened in PER just before the Pandemic began, so they are will catered for in PER now.
07 May 2015
Total posts 40
Seems like the time is right for an AMEX Lounge at Perth T1. The original AMEX Lounge at Sydney T1 wasn't big but it was a hit, I'm sure an AMEX Perth lounge would do well.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Sep 2018
Total posts 1
Do you guys think Is it likely that Qantas will rename the transit lounge to "Perth International lounge" in June when it re-commences direct London flights and starts up Rome flights and will they allow it for all departing international flights including Singapore and possibly Auckland and Johannesburg if scheduled flights start up. It seems stupid that if all international Qantas flights are departing from T2/T3 terminal that all international flights should get Lounge access! Currently if flying to Singapore on QF71 you are directed to the Qantas Business Domestic lounge where the flight departs before the bar opens at 12.00pm so you can even get a sneak glass of bubbles in before your start your international trip.
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