SYDNEY- The close ties between Qantas (QF) and top Australian politicians have come under renewed scrutiny recently with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie among those questioned over special privileges, like receiving flight upgrades through an elite club—Qantas’s exclusive Chairman’s Lounge.
This lounge offers more than just upgrades, and it’s worth examining the full scope of perks Qantas has made available to political figures. But what exactly is the Chairman’s Lounge, and who has access to its exclusive offerings?
Qantas Chairman Lounge
Unlike typical VIP experiences, access to the Chairman’s Lounge doesn’t require any usual forms of networking or backstage maneuvers.
The “Flying Kangaroo” lounge is a private sanctuary within Qantas, reserved for an elite group and surrounded by a sense of mystery and prestige.
Who Are Invited and How is it?
The Qantas Chairman’s Lounge is an exclusive, members-only space for VIP clients traveling domestically in Australia. This invitation-only lounge operates in the domestic terminals of Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, and Perth airports.
Access to this lounge is tightly controlled, requiring personal approval from the airline’s chairman, with memberships renewed every two years at Qantas’s discretion. Members typically include senior politicians, union leaders, prominent figures in sports, media executives, and high-profile entertainers.
Former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce once described it as
The most exclusive club in the country.”
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce
Unlike standard airport lounges, the Chairman’s Lounge offers a secluded, luxurious setting within Australia’s airports. Members avoid typical waiting areas and instead enjoy plush, private spaces designed for relaxation and convenience.
If you’re a top executive in a company with a significant Qantas account, you might receive one of these coveted black membership cards. Membership also allows a “plus one” guest, similar to other Qantas status tiers, including Platinum and Silver.
Entrance is through a discreet, unmarked door, leading into a space filled with amenities that include private rooms, individual bathrooms, reading areas, bars, buffets, and dining options.
Each lounge has unique features, like the Mondrian-inspired dividers and leather seating in Melbourne, and green lacquered walls in lounges designed by Marc Newson in Sydney, Canberra, and Perth. Amenities include spa-level showers and meeting rooms, catering to business needs and leisure alike, reported Escape
Lavish Lounge
The Qantas Chairman’s Lounge surpasses standard VIP lounges in luxury, akin to comparing a Ritz-Carlton to a Hyatt. In the Brisbane lounge, for instance, guests encounter a timber-paneled reception and large windows overlooking the runway. Dark wood partitions, brass accents, and plush neutral carpeting create a refined, Scandinavian-inspired setting.
The lounge, with its 5,000 exclusive members, offers an a la carte menu alongside buffet options and a fully stocked open bar. “You can get anything you want, any time of day,” a former guest told the ABC. This includes items like medium-rare steaks available from afternoon until late at night, and premium offerings such as oysters.
The bar boasts an extensive range of high-end spirits and approximately 30 upscale wines. Preferences are even recorded and communicated to onboard staff for personalized service.
Membership comes with exclusive perks, including free upgrades to business or first class when available and access to a dedicated VIP service line. Members also hold priority for frequent flyer upgrades for family members, with requests given the same weight as if they were flying themselves. Inside the lounge, there are no flight announcements; instead, staff quietly inform members when their flight is boarding.
The Chairman’s Lounge isn’t accessible by financial means or frequent flyer points. Membership approval is reserved for Qantas chairman John Mullen and Chief Executive Vanessa Hudson, and beyond this, entry requirements remain closely guarded by the airline.
Free Upgrades?
Recent reports as flagged by 9news reveal that Qantas has provided free flight upgrades to federal parliament members through their Chairman’s Lounge memberships.
While most members declared these upgrades in their interest registers, Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie recently apologized for failing to disclose 16 upgrades received from Qantas and Virgin over the past nine years.
Controversy erupted after former Australian Financial Review columnist Joe Aston claimed in his book, The Chairman’s Lounge, that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese contacted former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce for personal travel and received “guaranteed” upgrades only Joyce could authorize.
All members of Australia’s parliament receive an invitation to the Chairman’s Lounge, allowing them to bring a guest of their choice. Though participation is optional, the vast majority accept.
Notable exceptions include Labor Senator Tony Sheldon, a former union leader and Joyce critic, along with Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie and Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather. In August 2023, it was reported that Qantas extended membership to Albanese’s 23-year-old son, Nathan.
The lounge’s membership also includes A-list celebrities and top corporate executives. Large corporations that book extensive travel with Qantas often secure memberships for their chairman, CEO, and, occasionally, their CFO.
Critics argue the Chairman’s Lounge serves to cultivate favorable relationships between Qantas and influential figures in business and politics. However, Joyce has previously maintained that membership is solely “a commercial arrangement.”
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