Qantas will limit Qantas lounge access for passengers flying on Jetstar and will no longer allow members to transfer single-entry passes to friends and family flying on different flights in sweeping changes for Frequent Flyers amid other updates for this year.
The biggest change will affect top-tier Qantas Frequent Flyers with Platinum or Gold status flying internationally with Jetstar and just as the low-cost carrier drops a new international sale.
From 1 July 2026, Qantas lounge access will no longer be available to Platinum and Gold Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members travelling on Jetstar’s international flights. Platinum One Frequent Flyers can still access the international lounge network.
Qantas said passengers can still access the lounges if booked on a Qantas codeshare flight operated by Jetstar, a Jetstar domestic flight or a Jetstar Business Max fare.
In addition, complimentary lounge invitations cannot be used for entry by passengers travelling internationally with Jetstar.
These single-entry passes can also now only be transferred to someone travelling on the same international flight as you, restricting access to lounges.
Passengers flying on Qantas-operated flights, QF codeshare flights operated by JQ and Jetstar domestic flights can still use complimentary lounge invitations where eligible.
This new single-visit lounge pass sharing rule also does not apply to Platinum One Frequent Flyers.
The moves will be welcomed by travellers fighting for space in Qantas lounges, while the changes will also alienate premium passengers who will no longer be able to access lounges, despite holding Platinum and Gold status.
For travel advisors, the Qantas lounge access changes reinforce the importance of carefully matching fare types and flight numbers to client expectations.
Advisors may need to clearly explain the differences between Qantas- and Jetstar-operated services, particularly for premium clients who expect lounge access as part of their journey.
It also comes as the airline’s redesigned Auckland Business Lounge is now open, alongside plans for a new Qantas Club in Hobart in late 2026 and construction is also underway on a new Sydney International Business Lounge, slated for early 2027.
Jetstar ‘Life’s a Beach’ Sale from $49
Jetstar has a new domestic and international sale, discounting more than 60,000 fares across select routes from AUD$49 one-way.
The ‘Life’s a Beach‘ sale flights include Sydney-Gold Coast, Brisbane-Cairns and Adelaide-Sunshine Coast one-way from $49, plus Darwin-Bali (Denpasar) from $164, Sydney-Port Vila (Vanuatu) from $189, Brisbane-Rarotonga from $259.
The sale ends 23 March 2026 for select travel dates in 2026 and 2027.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Qantas lounge access changes highlight growing demand pressures on premium spaces, reinforcing the need for advisors to manage expectations and align flight choices with client entitlements in an increasingly segmented airline landscape.
