Change to Qantas Lounge Pass Transfers Effective July ‘26

[HMcM]

It’s the Priority Pass Business Model. If every customer used the lounge 365 days of the year they would lose money, they rely on a large number of their subscribers not using their annual entitlements

Not quite, because priority pass makes nothing on the flight when you fly, but QANTAS does. The problem here is that for their infrequent flyers who they gain very little money from nothing really changes. If you fly once a year and you get 2 lounge passes from a credit card then you'll either use one each way or use one and give one to your wife. Either way you're still taking up the lounge. For the frequent flyers who are putting cash into QANTAS's pockets they already get lounge access from the status so their passes become worthless to the majority of them.

If everyone kept paying for priority pass but not using them then they would love it, if everyone stopped flying QANTAS and so their lounge usage went down they would be in big trouble.

 

[exceladdict]

I wonder if QF might remove the ability for credit card providers to supply lounge passes as part of their offering?

I wonder if it could be making space for other offerings e.g. credit cards with lounge access included a la US

 

[kevrosmith]

I wonder if it could be making space for other offerings e.g. credit cards with lounge access included a la US

Hmm... interesting thought. That is what the Velocity Amex card has done, isn't it? (provided access to VA lounges).

 

[TheCollecter]

I'm having a Homer Simpson moment, and just worked this one out for myself:

if I transfer my passes to Mrs C before July, she can add them to whatever flight she likes... life's good.

But when my new year ticks over on July 1st, my 2 x brand new passes from PC are then kinda not so useful?

 

[tinkybelle]

Starting to
Not be worth PC

 

[SYD]

Starting to
Not be worth PC

PC is being "Enhanced" totally anyway. So we won't get a lot of choice come the end of the year. Some of us will have residual benefits grandfathered thru 2027/28 - whatever that'll look like.

 

[arrow]

Not quite, because priority pass makes nothing on the flight when you fly, but QANTAS does.

I agree there’s a nuance around it, however equally Qantas does have a cost saving if lounge passes expire without being used. They have banked the points transfers (for PC), the credit card payments (for the points) for the applicable credit cards and prior years of sales for those at LTS. Provided it doesnt impact forward bookings, they benefit from the lack of use of these passes.

 

[Csk]

Yes it does have the best earn rate, but QFF is a bit of a so so program, particularly as Premium redemptions have been getting harder. I think programs like Asia Miles are probably better than Qantas.

Amex with its limited acceptance is an issue and there are quite a few visa/mc cards that are 1:1. You can't also get domestic sale tickets prices through the amex travel portal.

I'm not happy about the changes on gifting and even if they were concerned about gifting to too many random people (which I don't do), this could be solved by having say a maximum of say 3 different flyers a year.

I've already lodged a complaint with Qantas as if they don't get negative feedback then it's unlikely they will do any carve out for people with lounge access.

I've changed to the alternative amex cards from qff

The other cards also has $450/$450 fee / flight credit but eligible on more airlines, and the amex points more flexible to other carriers
I found the qantas limited 450 a real hassle to holiday destinations because qantas abandoned those routes to jetstar that was ineligible

And booking through amex 'travel agent' caused chaos when contacting qantas as they were less helpful since not a direct booking

 

[CorporateFlyerMEL]

Bit confused on 1 July date - can I transfer to JnrCorporateFlyer now and can they link to QF flight that departs after 1 July (but before pass expires)?

 

[SYD]

Bit confused on 1 July date - can I transfer to JnrCorporateFlyer now and can they link to QF flight that departs after 1 July (but before pass expires)?

Consensus seems to be to transfer everything you can’t use by 01 July.

 

[CorporateFlyerMEL]

Consensus seems to be to transfer everything you can’t use by 01 July.

So if I transfer now, they should be able to link to Qf flight even if departure is after 1 July

 

[SYD]

So if I transfer now, they should be able to link to Qf flight even if departure is after 1 July

Yes, up until the Oct date seems to be the thinking.

 

[MG1]

Other than Adelaide, I don't think there are any PP lounges in Australian domestic terminals. Actually maybe Darwin too.

It's not a bad lounge that one.

It's quite small (doesn't even have it's own toilets) but, IMO, the food options are better than VA.

 

[OATEK]

There are also passes for people with LTS.

LTS annual pass, due to rise to 2 x annual passes in 2027, are useless at SYD T1 while the lounge upgrade takes place.