Qantas Tightens Jetstar Lounge Access and Pass Transfer Rules

From 1 July 2026, you may notice quieter international Qantas lounges.

A range of Jetstar passengers will no longer be able to utilise their Qantas Frequent Flyer status or complimentary lounge passes before their flights for Qantas lounge access. In addition, you will also find it much harder to give their lounge passes away to family and friends.

The changes which may affect you, and your upcoming travel plans, are as follows…

Changes for Jetstar passengers

Platinum and Gold Frequent Flyers, and Qantas Club members, traveling on international Jetstar (JQ) flights will no longer have Qantas lounge access from 1 July 2026. This is an unwelcome blow for loyal Qantas passengers who may use Jetstar for cheaper overseas holidays (like to Bali, where Jetstar offers by far the most direct flights from Australia to Denpasar of any airline).

Complimentary lounge passes will also no longer be available for use before an international Jetstar flight from the same date.

Qantas stipulates this change doesn’t apply to Qantas codeshare flights operated by Jetstar and Jetstar domestic flights.

This change completely removes the ability to visit the international Qantas Business (and First) lounges for all Jetstar passengers before their overseas travel, unless they purchase a Business Max fare.

This change also affects any Jetstar domestic flight that departs from an international terminal. However, there is no change to access for Platinum One members at this time.

Changes to lounge pass transfer rules

Qantas has also changed to whom you can transfer your complimentary lounge invitations. From July, they will only be transferrable to someone travelling on the same flight as you. However, this change does not apply to Platinum One lounge invitations.

Soon the days of transferring to a friend or family member to make the start of their international travel a little bit easier will be no more, if they’re not travelling on the same flight as you.

If you want to gift your complimentary lounge pass, make sure to do so before the 1st July 2026!

Where to get a lounge pass (if you still want one)

These complimentary Qantas lounge passes are awarded to Qantas Silver Frequent Flyer members and are included in the sign-up offer of a few Qantas co-branded credit cards.

But, if you already have Gold status or higher, the lounge passes may be of limited use. The passes can still be useful for larger families all travelling together, or for those who focus on earning points rather than status.

What do you think of these changes? Some of our members have already made their feelings clear in our forum!