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The information provided on this page is purely factual and general in nature. You should seek independent advice and consider your own personal circumstances before applying for any financial product.
You'd normally need a business class ticket or a Gold frequent flyer card to get through the door at one of Qantas' many Australian and international airport lounges – but if your wallet packs the right credit card, this can also be your Golden Ticket to the Qantas Club lounges.
That’s because some cards provide complimentary airport lounge access as one of their enticing perks, often in the form of two lounge invitations each year that you can use yourself, share with friends and family or to bring an extra guest into the lounge if you already have access.
But not every credit card is created equal – here are the ones that let you lounge about before your next Qantas flight, and what you’ll pay for the privilege.
ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Visa
Topping the pile is the ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Visa card which currently comes with no annual fee in the first year and two single-use Qantas Club lounge passes when requested from ANZ Concierge – you’ll find the number on the back of your card.
Then if you’d like unlimited access to Qantas lounges both at home and abroad whenever flying Qantas and Jetstar, ANZ Black also saves you up to $475 on the first year of Qantas Club membership with a waived joining fee and discount on the membership price.
In other words, you’re paying no annual fee on a card that provides two lounge passes and a near-$500 saving on your lounge membership, plus an offer of 75,000 Bonus Qantas Points after you spend $2,500 on eligible purchases within the first three months, plus 75 Bonus Status Credits when you book and take a Qantas return flight by September 30 2017.
Westpac Altitude Black World Mastercard
Westpac’s comparable Altitude Black credit card also promises two free Qantas Club lounge visits each year against a $395 annual fee (currently reduced to $250 in the first year) for its broader package of perks and points: including a bonus offer of 60,000 Qantas Points for eligible new customers.
These lounge visits can be had at any of the Qantas Clubs and Qantas Regional Lounges in Australia, including in major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and at international Qantas business class lounges except for the Qantas-run Los Angeles ‘Oneworld lounge’.
You’ll just need to opt-in for these passes via the Westpac website and then make a transaction directly with Qantas in Australian dollars – such as booking your next flight – after which these passes will appear in your mailbox and again at the same time every year you keep the card.
Qantas American Express Premium Card
Next in line: the Qantas American Express Premium Card and its two complimentary lounge passes, usable in the same places as with ANZ and Westpac.
The card carries a $249 annual fee, but also promises 30,000 bonus Qantas Points for eligible new American Express Australia cardholders who spend at least $1,500 on the card in the first three months.
(If you currently hold an American Express card with the likes of ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB or Westpac, you’re still considered a ‘new’ customer to American Express Australia being a separate card issuer.)
These passes don’t need to be requested manually, instead being electronically loaded into your attached Qantas Frequent Flyer account within 1-2 weeks of using your card to book a Qantas flight.
That’s different to both ANZ and Westpac which provide physical lounge invitations which are easy to share with friends and family, but you can still share these digital invites with anybody you choose by transferring them online:
St. George, Bank of Melbourne, BankSA Amplify Signature
Also promising Qantas Club lounge perks with two complimentary visits per year: the St. George Amplify Signature Visa, Bank of Melbourne Amplify Signature Visa and the BankSA Amplify Signature Visa when you select the ‘Amplify Qantas’ rewards option and pay an annual fee of $279.
Being Westpac-backed banks, the process for acquiring your lounge invites is the same: simply register to receive them via the appropriate bank's website and then use your Amplify Signature card to make any purchase of $1 or more and you’ll find them in the mail soon after.
Also on offer when you apply and are approved with St. George or Bank of Melbourne (not BankSA): 60,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend at least $3,000 on the card within 90 days of approval, plus 30,000 bonus Qantas Points in the second year when you pay the card’s annual fee once more.
Qantas Premier Mastercard
As the newest kid on the block, the Qantas Premier Mastercard again provides two complimentary Qantas Club airport lounge visits each year which are electronically attached to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account – but as with the Qantas AMEX Premium Card, these can be shared with your friends and family.
You'll pay an annual fee of $149 in the first year and $299 per year thereafter, with 60,000 bonus Qantas Points on offer to cardholders who apply, are approved and spend at least $3,000 within 90 days of card approval.
Disclaimer
Executive Traveller may receive a commission when you apply for these credit cards via our links.
The information provided on this page is purely factual and general in nature. You should seek independent advice and consider your own personal circumstances before applying for any financial product.
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
14 Oct 2016
Total posts 8
Unfortunately, I was rejected entry from the AA lounge in London Heathrow with the Qantas club passes. I even double checked with Qantas staff at Heathrow and they confirmed that the passes are useless outside of Australia.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2431
You can use these passes to gain access to domestic Qantas Club lounges and international business class lounges run by Qantas (except for Los Angeles which is technically a Oneworld Lounge). Qantas has no lounge of its own in London (but is currently building one), therefore you can not use them in London.
(Paid Qantas Club members normally get airport lounge access overseas in airports that Qantas flies to, but one-off Qantas Club lounge invitations can only be used in actual Qantas lounges.)
Internationally, you can use them in Auckland, Wellington, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo (Narita) and Honolulu, plus in Australia prior to international flights, because all of those lounges are run by Qantas.
For more info: Where can you use Qantas Club lounge passes?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 467
Why would you think you were hoodwinked? The AA Lounge is not a Qantas Club.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Jun 2015
Total posts 46
Hi, Idon't believe you need to purchase anything with Qantas to get your lounge pass with St George/Bank of Melbourne. Can you please confirm. Thanks
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2431
Hi Kitch, with St. George, once you have registered for the passes you'll receive them in the mail within a few weeks, provided you've used the card to make a purchase of at least $1 in the last 12 months, and then every year thereafter when the same is true. With Westpac, the passes are given only after your first purchase with Qantas after registering, rather than your first purchase period as with St. George. We've clarified our text to make this clearer. :)
09 Feb 2012
Total posts 23
I can't see any mention on the ANZ FF Black page of the discounted Qantas Club membership. What am I missing?
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2431
Hi ajobbins, the Qantas Club discount is tucked away in the fine print. From ANZ's site:
Get two complimentary Qantas Club lounge invitations... each year, and if you get accustomed to that luxury, you could save up to $475 in your first year if you purchase a Qantas Club membership with your ANZ Frequent Flyer Black card.
Offers are only available to ANZ Frequent Flyer Black cardholders who are Australian residents and who purchase Qantas Club membership using their ANZ Frequent Flyer Black card. Offers are non-transferable and are not available in conjunction with any other offers or discounts. No discounts are available in respect of fees already paid. $475 saving in the first year is based upon a joining fee waiver and a discount to the standard one-year individual membership rate. The joining fee waiver is for a new one year individual Qantas Club membership purchased using an ANZ Frequent Flyer Black card by contacting the Qantas Frequent Flyer Service Centre on 13 11 31. Quoted joining fee savings are based on the joining fee for an individual Qantas Club membership application by an Australian resident. Different rates may be available for those with access to the Qantas Club Corporate scheme. The membership fee offer is for a one year individual Qantas Club membership which is purchased or renewed using an ANZ Frequent Flyer Black card by contacting the Qantas Service Centre. Quoted membership fee savings are based on the difference between the published corporate membership rate and the fee applicable to an individual Qantas Club membership held by an Australian resident. Only one joining fee waiver, and one membership fee discount per year, are available per cardholder. Qantas Club membership is subject to approval by Qantas and to the terms and conditions of The Qantas Club.
13 Jul 2017
Total posts 2
Hi, did you find anything on ANZ website about Qantas Club membership? I still can't find it!
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2431
MJ21: See my reply to your previous question below.
13 Jul 2017
Total posts 2
Hi Chris, I just checked the T's and C's and couldn't find any reference to the above. Has this been removed from the deal you were referring to?
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2431
Hi MJ21, I'm not sure where you're looking but it remains on the ANZ website (click to expand):
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 55
I'm still amazed that Qantas only gives out two lounge passes with its own Premier card, that's no more than other partner credit cards.
23 Feb 2015
Total posts 260
With ANZ keep in mind you have to contact them and ask for the passes - ie they don't just show up each year. Thanks for the article, a timely reminder (for me)!
23 Jun 2017
Total posts 1
the westpac card most certainly isn't that easy. I signed up in Feb. made sure I signed up for the 2 lounge passes, booked $1800.00 worth of travel and hotels with them on the cards, 5 months later, still waiting. altitude say they know nothing about it speak to qantas, qantas say unless altitude activate the passes, they can't do anything about it. already spent multiple hours on hold trying to sort this, and I'd like the passes before the end of the year, but I just can't be bothered sitting on hold for hours again.
03 Aug 2017
Total posts 5
I recently cancelled my 3 day old Qantas Premier Card, simply because their MoneyApp and Web-Portal does not have scheduling and periodic BPay payments. Also you can only download the statement, as oppose to downloading transactions for CSV, MYOB or QuickBooks formats. The scheduling was the deal breaker for me. While I could live with going back to highlighting the transactions on my statements.
I guess I've been spoilt by AMEX, ANZ and CBA on that front for functionality.
I asked QANTAS Money Support if these features was planned for the future and they responded it would be but would not commit to any dates.
01 May 2018
Total posts 1
The 'electronically loaded' passes from AMEX, are they visible on my frequent flyer page?
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