Qantas is making minor changes to its Guest access policy for Qantas Clubs and Domestic Business Lounges. The move, at least in theory seems to be an attempt to reduce overcrowding at these facilities, although there is no guarantee it may amount to much as I explain a little later in the post.

So what exactly is changing?

Current Guest Access Policy

Let’s go through the present guesting policy before I talk about the upcoming changes. As of the time of writing this post, Qantas Gold elites and above are able to bring-in certain number of guests into the lounge depending on their status.

• Gold elites can guest-in 1 other person into Qantas Club.
• Platinum elites and above can guest-in up to 2 people into Domestic Business Lounge.

These guests do not need to be flying Qantas, in-fact they don’t need to be flying at all. As long as someone is willing to go through the hassle of passing through security, they are able to walk into the lounge no questions asked.

Qantas Domestic Business Lounge, Sydney Airport

Some people argue that this policy lures-in too many non-flying guests into the lounge just for a free feed and drinks, which not only causes overcrowding and imposes significant costs on Qantas but also cheapens the experience for a lot of travellers who spend tens of thousands of dollars on Qantas flights.

It is this policy that the red-roo is targeting with changes announced yesterday.

New Guest Access Policy

Qantas have announced that beginning 15 June 2023, Qantas elites will be able to bring in guests only if the guests are also travelling on Qantas operated or eligible partners flights departing on the same day. In other words, freeloaders are no more welcome.

Note that there is no change to the number of people you are able to guest-in, just the fact they also need to be travelling on eligible flights.

Is this a Good Move?

Anybody who travels with any kind of frequency will be aware of the state of the Domestic Business lounges and Qantas Clubs. You don’t even need to enter the lounge to find out how busy they are, a peek at the priority boarding queues at departure gates which are often just as long as the regular queue, is enough to lay bare the state of affairs.

In that sense, this is a positive move that will please many frequent flyers although it may also disappoint some. But is this really going to make a meaningful difference to the issue at hand?

My feeling is that majority of frequent flyers are unaware of the current guesting policy, let alone take advantage of them. Personally speaking, I have never guested anybody with the kind of profile the new policy appears to be targeting, nor do I know anyone who regularly does it.

There is probably only a tiny minority who actually understand the current guest access policy, and an even tinier minority who regularly bring-in freeloaders with them.

In Conclusion

Qantas is changing Guest access policy for Qantas Clubs and Domestic Business Lounges. Starting 15 June 2023, only those flying Qantas or on eligible partner flights departing on the same day will be permitted into the lounge as guests.

Nobody can argue with the intent of the new policy as it is clearly meant to improve the lounge experience of Qantas elites and other eligible passengers. Unfortunately, I just don’t see it yielding the desired results.

Lounges aren’t busy because they are inundated with the type of guests the new policy purports to weed out, it is because airlines all over the world have been handing out elite status like cheap confetti to anybody who wants it. And I say that as someone who has immensely benefited from this policy over the years.

What do you make of the lounge access changes announced by Qantas? Leave a comment below.