Coalition MPs have hit out at independents Allegra Spender and Helen Haines over their moves to publicly quit the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge, insisting regional MPs need a space for work during long-haul travel.

Queensland Liberal-National Party members Warren Entsch and Keith Pitt said metropolitan MPs, such as Ms Spender, could travel quickly to Canberra without cumbersome flight connections and delays, while regional politicians faced long journeys to get to parliament.