LOUNGES: On Arrival access to Qantas and Virgin Australia lounges

For some, the airline Airport Lounge is sought only for pre-flight food and beverage, or for a quick freshen up. They form a little sanctuary to relax and recharge before your onward journey. However, for those who are familiar with the rules, they can also provide benefits upon arrival.

Lounge Access After Landing? Yes, Please!

A lounge can be the perfect spot for those times to get a bit of work done, whether tapping out some emails, or completing a quick Zoom call (but use headphones or AirPods for politeness’ sake!). Alternately, you might need a pick-me-up coffee after a soporific trip, or a sugar hit in preparation for your next task.

Some construct their routine, with a quiet restful flight catching a bit of shuteye, and then grabbing a coffee and cake in the arrival lounge before heading off.

Arrival Lounges are not a worldwide feature, but here in Australia, if you are in the know, and have the right status, they are offered by Qantas and Virgin Australia.

Here’s what you need to know about Qantas and Virgin Australia’s ‘on arrival’ lounges and how to gain access.

Qantas ‘On Arrival’ Domestic lounge access

Qantas provides a domestic arrival lounge, but it’s only available to top-tier frequent flyers, that is, Qantas Platinum, Platinum One, and Chairman’s Lounge members.

Travelling merely in Business Class? Sorry, not good enough. You won’t be eligible without the status outlined above. It’s unfortunate, but true. If you want this, then consider travelling in Virgin Australia Business Class — see below.

Qantas international arrivals

You can get ‘on arrival’ access if you are a Qantas international traveller arriving in Australia. However, you still need to have a status — Platinum, Platinum One, or Chairman’s Lounge.

Eligibility is a little wider than just Qantas. Jetstar, Emirates, and OneWorld member flights, or Qantas codeshares (like one example is Fiji Airways booked using a QF flight number), also qualify.

One complicating factor is the usual division between domestic and international terminals at Australian airports. So, to access on arrival, you will need to account for the time and bother of changing terminals after that international flight.

Dealing with luggage collection and terminal transfer might form a disincentive to access your eligible arrival lounge.

Virgin Australia’s ‘On arrival’ Lounge access

The policies offered by Virgin Australia are slightly more generous than those of Qantas. Their lounges are available for ‘on arrival’ access to a wider group of loyalists.

You can access Virgin lounges as a Business Class passenger or a Velocity Gold or above member, including the invitation-only Beyond program. Paid Virgin Australia lounge members also get access.

Generous in admission, they are a little more restrictive elsewhere. You can only access ‘on arrival’ lounges withing 60 minutes of landing. They also prioritise loyalty, like Business Class passengers, Platinum and Beyond members over everyone else who might be eligible to enter. That means at busy times, others might be excluded.

If you are travelling on a partner airline of Virgin Australia, say Qatar, Singapore or United, forget it. You are not eligible.

2PAXfly Takeout

Eligibility for ‘on arrival’ use of an airline loyalty lounge is worth considering when you are planning your travel.

Access to a quick shower, a bite to eat, or a cup of coffee before you head into the rest of your day is worth considering to make your travel experience more enjoyable.

There is nothing better than a quick shower to refresh you after a long-haul flight, before you start your domestic leg, in my experience.