Seven Ways To Actually Get Into The Airport Lounge Before Your Flight
Ah, the airport. The purgatory between you and that trip you’ve been dreaming about for months. As much as it’s a relief to know you’re (almost) on your way, it can be tough getting into vacay mode when you’re dealing with long lines, expensive yet tasteless airport food, glitchy wifi and uncomfortable chairs. Of course, that changes if you manage to snag yourself a coveted spot in an airport lounge.
[related_articles]67086,67107,62903[/related_articles]The airport goes from a necessary evil to a mecca of free food and drinks, cushy lounge chairs and – if you happen to be at the Qantas Dreamliner lounge in Perth – free yoga classes.
“What trip? I think I’ll just stay here!” you may (probably not) find yourself saying between mouthfuls of crackers and brie.
But how do you actually manage to get into the airport lounge before your flight? The good news is, you don’t necessarily have to be a corporate globetrotter or win a golden ticket like in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Read on for seven ways you can get into the airport lounge and start your journey in style.
#1 With your Frequent Flyer status
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So, you’ve been racking up rewards points like there’s no tomorrow and now you’ve reached baller (err.. we mean, Gold or Platinum) status. Not only do you now have major bragging rights, but you can also live it up in the airport lounge.
For instance, Platinum members have guaranteed access to all of Qantas’ lounges while Gold members can hit up the Domestic Club Lounge (but not the Domestic Business Lounges) and the Qantas International Business Lounges.
#2 With a business or first class ticket
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If you’re flying Business or First class, access to the lounge is often included in your ticket. If you’re flying with Qantas, you can also get into the lounge with a Jetstar Business Max bundle.
So, whether you’re treating yourself to a fancy ticket or are using your rewards points to upgrade, the pre-flight luxury is just the icing on the cake.
#3 With your Oneworld status
If you find yourself flying on a few different airlines, that’s okay – it can actually work in your favour it comes to getting into the lounge. The Oneworld Alliance is made up of 13 airlines worldwide, including Qantas, American Airlines, British Airways and Cathay Pacific.
[related_articles]58561,60711[/related_articles]By becoming a Oneworld member, you can earn rewards points across any of these airlines and redeem them at any of their 650 airport lounges worldwide.
#4 Join the club
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Even if your rewards point situation is looking a bit double-digits dismal, you can still get into the airport lounge. Many airlines have private clubs you can join that give you access to their lounges, as well as a bunch of other fun perks.
The Qantas Club not only gives you unlimited club lounge access but also priority check-in, extra baggage allowance and a free guest pass every time you travel. You’ll also earn three Qantas points for every dollar you spend on your membership fee. Normally, it’ll set you back around $400 a year, but they sometimes have deals on this – keep your eyes open.
#5 As a guest of a member
If you’re lucky enough to be flying with someone with a Qantas Club membership, you can also weasel your way in as their plus one. You just both need to be flying to the same destination. A word of warning though – once you experience the glory of the airport lounge, it’s hard to go back to that pleb life.
#6 With passes
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Want to experience the luxury but aren’t ready to commit to a membership? Some airlines allow you to buy single passes to their lounges. A couple of years back, Qantas began offering single passes to Silver and Gold frequent flyer members. While that’s not offered right now, you can get passes through several initiatives, including receiving annual lounge passes as a benefit of an airline credit card.
[related_articles]72295,68018,59034[/related_articles]Occasionally Qantas will offer passes for purchase in the lead up to your flight departure, too, so keep an eye on your email.
#7 Via the Loungebuddy app
If you’re a frequent traveller who values flexibility, the Loungebuddy app can be an absolute game-changer. With no lock-in membership, you find and book airline lounges around the world. Prices start at around $50 per lounge pass and they currently have more than 30 lounge partners worldwide to choose from. You can check out Loungebuddy here.
