SYD · Lounges
Lounge access changes in 2026: Qantas, Jetstar and Amex
Two of the main free routes into an Australian airport lounge got narrower this year. A business class ticket on a Qantas flight is untouched, but the side doors are closing.
Kaviqa5 min read
What did not change
If you hold a business class ticket on a Qantas-operated international flight, you still get the Qantas Business Lounge. Nothing we found in this year's announcements takes that away. The changes target the side doors: free invitations that members hand out, status benefits on one airline's international flights, and credit card lounge programs. They matter if you rely on one of those to reach a lounge, and not if the ticket gets you in by itself. Our guide to every way into a lounge sets out the full list.
Qantas, from 1 July 2026
Qantas published new lounge terms effective 1 July 2026, with two separate changes. Point Hacks reported both in March. The rules below are as reported by Point Hacks, 2PAXfly and Australian Frequent Flyer, and we have not checked them against the Qantas terms directly. That is the position as of October 2026, so read the current Qantas terms before you rely on a specific case.
| Change | What it means | Who is exempt |
|---|---|---|
| Invitations transfer only to someone on the same flight | You can no longer send a complimentary invitation to a friend or relative for their own trip | Platinum One invitations, which Point Hacks reports can still go to anyone |
| No invitations before international Jetstar flights | Complimentary invitations cannot be used for Jetstar international departures, including from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland, according to 2PAXfly | Qantas codeshares flown by Jetstar, and Business Max fares. Reporting differs on Jetstar flights with a domestic flight number, so check the terms |
| Status access on international Jetstar flights | Point Hacks reports that Gold, Platinum and Qantas Club members also lose their usual lounge access on these flights | Platinum One, per the Qantas wording as reported |
Some of the rules around using an invitation are also worth knowing. It must be linked to an eligible flight at least 24 hours before departure. It admits one person, not guests or children. And entry depends on capacity: if the lounge is full you can be refused, though you can ask Qantas to reinstate the invitation for another flight. One point Qantas had not clarified at the time of the Point Hacks report is whether the person receiving a transferred invitation also needs to be on the same booking, not only the same flight.
Amex Platinum, from 1 October 2026
The second change took effect on 1 October. American Express Australia's Platinum Personal and Platinum Business cards now limit complimentary Priority Pass access to the main cardholder. Additional and employee cardholders lose it. The free guest allowance at Plaza Premium lounges also drops from two guests to one on those cards, and the guest does not need to be on your flight. Corporate Platinum cards keep two guests. Separately, Point Hacks reported that from 8 July 2026 guests at Centurion Lounges must be on the same flight as the cardholder.
Amex runs its programs by country, so this is the Australian position. If your card was issued overseas, read your own terms. For households that used a partner's additional card to get in, it is a real cut. If you are the primary holder travelling alone, almost nothing changes.
What to do about it
- Check your fare, not just your status. On Jetstar international flights, Gold and Platinum status no longer guarantees a lounge. Qantas-operated flights are unaffected.
- Link your invitation early. The 24-hour deadline is firm, and last-minute plans can miss it.
- Stop planning around gifted passes. If a friend was relying on you sending an invitation, tell them that route has narrowed.
- Count the card again. If one of Amex's changes removes the benefit you were paying the annual fee for, that is worth knowing before renewal. Our status changes guide covers the loyalty side.
- On a long connection, the lounge is still worth it. The value is highest with a shower on a long-haul leg, as covered in our business class vs premium economy comparison.
This page is general information, not financial or loyalty advice. The Qantas lounge terms and American Express Australia's benefit pages are the sources that count, and both can change.
Common questions
- Can I still use Qantas lounge invitations in 2026?
- Yes, with limits. From 1 July 2026 a complimentary invitation can only be transferred to a passenger travelling on the same flight as the holder, and it must be linked to an eligible flight at least 24 hours before departure. Platinum One invitations are treated differently.
- Can Qantas Gold or Platinum members use a lounge on Jetstar international flights?
- Not on most of them from 1 July 2026, according to Point Hacks reporting on the Qantas terms. Exceptions include Qantas codeshares operated by Jetstar and Business Max fares, and Platinum One is reported to be exempt. Check Qantas's current terms for your flight.
- Does a Qantas business class ticket still include a lounge?
- Yes. The 2026 changes affect invitations, status access on international Jetstar flights and card programs. A business class ticket on a Qantas-operated international flight still includes the Qantas Business Lounge.
- What changed for Amex Platinum lounge access on 1 October 2026?
- Complimentary Priority Pass access is limited to the main cardholder, so additional and employee cardholders lose it. The free guest allowance at Plaza Premium lounges falls from two guests to one on Platinum Personal and Platinum Business cards, while Corporate Platinum cards keep two. This is the Australian position, and overseas cards differ.
- Is a lounge worth it on a short connection?
- Rarely, in our view. Under about ninety minutes you barely settle before boarding. The value rises past three hours, especially overnight, which is also when a shower on a long-haul connection earns its place.
