Now that quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand is right around the corner, our national carrier is celebrating by reopening all Qantas First Class lounges.
Ahead of the trans-Tasman bubble, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce has confirmed that on April 19th, the airline will unlock the doors to their top-tier lounges allowing business class travellers, Gold-grade Qantas Frequent Flyers, and Qantas Club members heading to New Zealand to indulge in the airline’s pinnacle offering.
It’s been just over a year since Qantas shuttered all their international lounges and grounded all overseas flights. Thanks to the successful suppression of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and New Zealand, that decision is now starting to reverse.
Sydney and Melbourne business class lounges will remain closed for the time being, which is why business class travellers will be welcomed into the first class lounges for the very first time. Yes, that means you won’t necessarily need to have the usual status to access these highly sought lounges, at least for now. You’ll just need Gold.
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“If you’re making a comeback, you should do it in style,” Joyce said of the decision to allow a wider range of passengers to experience the First Class lounges.
“Our lounges are a second home for many frequent flyers when they’re on the road, and we know their reopening will be well-received.”
Both Sydney and Melbourne first class lounges will be reopened on April 19th, offering an a la carte menu with some of their best known dishes like the unparalleled salt & pepper calamari, as well as the signature pavlova with seasonal fruit, mascarpone, and Persian fairy floss.
Also on the menu for each of the Qantas first class lounges reopening will be seasonal fruit salad, croissants, house made muffins, Neil Perry’s healthy Bircher muesli with apple, cranberry, and hazelnuts, buttermilk pancakes, Brunch bowls, primo ham & gruyere toasted sandwiches, and scrambled eggs.
It’s worth noting that while Qantas’ first class lounges in New Zealand will remain closed for the time being, the airline has confirmed that Platinum and Gold-grade frequent flyers and Qantas Club members will be offered access to Air New Zealand international lounges in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown.
