One of the stand-out features of Qantas’ first class lounges in Sydney and Melbourne is the day spa.
The spa offers a range of free treatments between 30 and 50 minutes by qualified beauticians and masseuses in private treatment rooms using quality Payot Paris products.
It's a superbly relaxing experience and the perfect way to kick off the long flight overseas (or even a quick cheeky Jetstar hop between Sydney and Melbourne).
The spa area itself is designed around the themes of natural elements to create an oasis of calm before your journey begins.
Who can use the Qantas spa?
If you can get into the Qantas First lounge you can get into the spa.
This isn’t restricted to travellers flying in the pointy end of the plane.
The Qantas First lounge is also available to Platinum-grade Qantas Frequent Flyers and anybody holding oneworld Emerald status in partner airlines such as British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines (and, from October 30th, Qatar Airways).
Qantas spa opening hours
The spa at the Sydney lounge is open daily (including weekends) from 8am to 4pm, although from October this usually moves back an hour or so to reflect the changed flight times for summer (usually opening at 8.30am or 9am, and closing at 4.30pm or 5pm).
At the Melbourne first class lounge, the first treatment is at 7.30am and the last treatment is 2.20pm, although Qantas tells us that in October this will shift to 9.30am-4pm.
Treatments
The spa offers 10 treatments, with the facials and back massage most popular among both male and female flyers.
(I always go for the men’s hot towel facial, which deeply cleanses my skin as well as intensely moisturising it to guard against the dry cabin air of the flight.)
- Hand treatment for men and women (20 minutes)
- Eye contour and lip treatment (20 minutes)
- Express energising facial (30 minutes)
- Men’s hot towel facial (30 minutes)
- Intensive hydrating facial (50 minutes)
- Foot and leg wrap (30 minutes)
- Foot massage (30 minutes)
- Back massage (30 minutes)
- Neck, shoulder and arm massage (30 minutes)
- Body massage (50 minutes)
Note that not all treatments are available at any given time. Some of the spa team are beauticians who are qualified to offer every treatment, but others are masseuses who can only do massage-based sessions.
How to book a session at the Qantas spa
Qantas' first class passengers get first shot at the spa: they’re contacted the day before their flight and offered a treatment at a time of their choosing.
Everybody else has to take what’s available, which is why we suggest making a beeline for the spa as soon as you get into the lounge.
This is one of the best reasons for checking in as soon as your flight opens, which is three hours before departure. The earlier you turn up and lob into the lounge, the better your chances of snaring a spa session.
Read: Expert tips to make the most of the Qantas First Class Lounge
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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
22 Oct 2012
Total posts 318
David, you say that checkin at Sydney is 3 hrs before the flight. This has changed recently, on a trial basis (for QF at least), so that passengers at T1 can checkin at any time of the day of the flight, including those with luggage. Hopefully the trial becomes permanent, so that some people will have even more time to spend in the Flounge.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2011
Total posts 359
Yes, I checked in 4 hours before my flight on QF1 on Wednesday with luggage.
03 Jan 2012
Total posts 96
I go through the Sydney First Lounge 4 times per year for the last 3 years on a connection from Perth to LAX but have never been sucessful in getting an appointment in the Spa! Hope your other readers have better luck than me. On another whinge about Qantas, I've recently flown 4 international legs with BA, all booked in premium economy and I was given free upgrades to Business on 3 out of the 4 legs. I'm OW Emerald but have no status with BA. I'm platinum with Qantas for ten + years on the trot and never get free upgrades. What's the story here?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2011
Total posts 359
Where in the rules does it say you must get free upgrades?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Sep 2013
Total posts 1
Agree it is an excellent spa but I also agree with some comments in regards to appointments. As a QANTAS platinum one member I have travelled through Sydney about 20 times in the past year and half of those times were in first and yes, no problem arranging appointments but not flying first? I have NEVER been able to arrange an appointment (and been a Platinum member for 14 years), even in some cases where I have had 8 hour transits. So again, QANTAS gets the product right but has an execution problem
03 Jan 2012
Total posts 96
Hi Russell, I'm not really saying that I must get upgrades. I'm just saying its odd that for an airline like Qantas, whith whom I have over ten years loyalty at Platinum membership level to never have been given a free upgrade is odd when compared to recent experience with BA - with whom I've got no status and get 3 X upgrades out of 4 flights. Don't you think that is odd? Perhaps my understanding of "loyalty" programs is scewed.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
It's very simple. Some airlines are more stingy with upgrades than others. For example, SQ, CX and QF are generally quite stingy with upgrades, but others like AA, BA and UA are very generous with them.
For what it's worth, BA also appears to offer cash upgrades. So drawing from this, I'd say that BA is more generous with upgrades, and so as an OWE you were being treated well according to their style.
In short, Qantas is more protective of its forward cabins than British Airways. About the only upgrades people get on QF are op-ups or those redeemed for with points.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Nov 2012
Total posts 68
Perfect timing for this story, I'm on BA First class on Tuesday. Looking forward to test out the lounge and the flight.
This is probably more exciting than Singapore itself.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Mar 2012
Total posts 211
Managed to get the mens facial when flying from Syd earier in the year. Must say it was a great way to start the long trip to London. As to upgrades, I have had a couple comp upgrades on BA but also had a half a dozen with QF on flights to/from LHR and LAX. Also had a few over the last 18 months on domestic flights. Do like the cash upgrades on offer from BA as well, used one from LHR to SIN recently.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 May 2012
Total posts 178
Flying First from Sydney - LHR with BA in a few months, i dont suppose BA F passengers get any preferential treatment after the F passengers from Qantas, is it still a case of try your luck on the day of the flight. Im assuming this is the case but thought id ask those in the know.
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
LoveToFly: nobody gets any preferential treatment expect Qantas First Class passengers. After QF F flyers have taken their pick of the spa sessions what remains is open to everybody else on a "first come first served" basis no matter what airline you are with or what class you are travelling in.
Qantas
22 Oct 2012
Total posts 318
And just to clarify, it's those who have booked and PAID for Qantas First Class that get the first pick of Spa sessions, and in fact get a phone call the day before offering to make a booking.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Jul 2012
Total posts 43
Phil, do you know if those who book and 'pay' for QF F using points (upgrade) get a call after they have called those who paid with $$$?
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