Qantas unveils new $99 a month lounge pass for greater ‘flexibility’

The aviation giant reveals a new way to access its lounges in the form of a 28-day pass for $99 plus a sizeable ‘joining fee’.

Qantas is giving the customers a new way to access their lounges, in the form of a 28-day pass costing $99 plus a $129 joining fee.

The “Qantas Club Flexible” product will be available from Wednesday July 10, providing access to up to 30 Qantas lounges in Australia and overseas.

Unlike annual Qantas Club memberships, the flexible product will not be recognised by partner airlines and members will not be able to bring in a guest.

The $129 joining fee will remain current for 90-days after a membership expires — so customers can opt back within three months for $99 instead of $228.

It’s understood the 28-day duration of the membership was chosen because it reflected other subscription-style arrangements.

A Qantas spokeswoman said the new product was in response to customer feedback over the past 12 months.

“We have been focused on listening and responding to customer feedback and we know our customers are looking for flexible options when it comes to lounge access,” said the spokeswoman.

“Qantas Club Flexible gives customer the choice to enjoy the benefits of our Qantas lounges in a time frame that suits them – the perfect option for travellers who don’t fly every month.”

Those signing up to the new product will get a digital membership pass only, to align with the Qantas Group’s sustainability goals.

How the new Qantas Flexible membership stacks up against annual membership.

The new option follows a substantial increase in annual Qantas Club memberships, with prices jumping from $699 to $828 for newcomers and renewal fees climbing from $540 to $629.

Qantas said the increases would help cover a $100m upgrade to its lounge network, including the redevelopment of the Adelaide lounge precinct, a new lounge in Hobart and the refurbishment of the Broome facility.

Single-entry passes are also available for purchase to Qantas lounges, depending on availability, with prices varying depending on location.

Worldwide there are 30 Qantas-branded lounges, including seven at overseas ports such as London, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Auckland, Wellington and Singapore.

Virgin Australia joined Qantas in upping its lounge membership fees this month, and reintroduced a $99 joining fee.

Annual memberships rose from $399 to $450 on July 1, but single-entry passes remained at $65 and child passes were reduced in price from $65 to $45.

Frequent flyer experts generally advise travellers to do their sums before shelling out for lounge entry, which can prove very costly if used infrequently.

Originally published as Qantas unveils new $99 a month lounge pass for greater ‘flexibility’