Gold Coast Qantas Club lounge

Straddling the Queensland-New South Wales border, Gold Coast Airport is one of Australia’s busiest transit hubs. It’s a gateway for those seeking sunshine and surf, not to mention the fresh dining scene and ultra-luxe hotels to boot.

With the domestic terminal now sporting a fresh look thanks to an ongoing upgrade, that’s a good excuse as any to revisit one of its two frequent flyer hangouts: the Qantas Club.

And while it too could do with a refresh, it’s still an improvement on the last time we reviewed it, with seating rearranged to make better use of the footprint.

Squirrelled to the left after security, prior to entering the main departures hall, the Gold Coast Qantas Club entrance is easy to miss, even with signage pointing the way.

Last renovated for the restart of QF flights to the Gold Coast back in 2012, the former Jetstar Lounge (which was a Qantas Club long before that) the L-shaped space is divided into zones for dining and relaxation. 

Its position, smack bang in the middle of the terminal, means there are no windows or view, unlike the Virgin Australia Lounge overlooking the runway.

High ceilings and wood panelling throughout do well to counteract the boxed-in feel though, while skylights provide much-needed natural light.

Mostly-abstract artworks provide welcome colour on the white walls, though imagery is a tad dated.

Turn left after reception and you’ll encounter a broad mix of lounges and armchairs to settle into, together with a long workbench featuring built-in power points.

And at the far end, a private meeting room (currently used as an overflow seating area).

The dining area extends alongside a lengthy buffet counter, with a barista coffee station – a popular hangout, on our visit – and secondary work bench at the rear of the space.

Upright dining tables and stools line the wall opposite (with plenty of power points too), book-ended by a handful of timber dining tables, chairs and low leather lounges.

Rounding out what we’d consider baselines for lounges are two showers, each fitted with a hairdryer.

Overall, the Qantas Club covers all the usual bases you want from a lounge, though with the Gold Coast Airport steadily growing (and a detailed master plan predicting even further expansion), it does feel overdue for a refurbishment and expansion.

It was also incredibly busy during our early morning visit (a queue was waiting for it to open ahead of the first flight) with empty tables and chairs a scarce commodity. A delay only amplified this feeling.

That said, staff did a fine job keeping the buffet stocked, tables clear and coffee orders ticking over at a rapid pace. Customer service remained friendly and polite.

Open one hour before the first Qantas-operated service until the last Qantas departure, the Qantas Club services both domestic and international flights.

On top of Qantas and QantasLink business class passengers, it’s open to:

• Qantas Club members
• Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold, Platinum, Platinum One or Chairman’s Lounge members
• Qantas Club Annual Guest Cards on Qantas or Jetstar flights
• Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald, Emirates Skywards Gold and Platinum members flying on Qantas
• Travellers connecting to a same-day international flight in first or business class on Qantas, QantasLink, Emirates, or a Oneworld alliance member, even if their initial domestic flight is in economy (Jetstar excluded)

Our early morning visit saw the breakfast menu in full swing. This spanned hot dishes such as frittata, scrambled eggs, bacon, baked beans and pancakes, plus an assortment of cereals and breads for toasting.

Cold choices were limited to fruit salad, greek yoghurt, granola and yoghurt with mango, and chia pudding. Whole fruit and chocolate muffins completed the short list.

Barista-made coffee and an automatic coffee machine were on hand to put some pep in your step, alongside a drink station with juices, soft drinks and teas. 

Bar service with beers, wines and spirits opens from midday.

Those hoping to work or download a few movies before the flight are in luck, with several seating options close to power outlets and free Wi-Fi beamed throughout.

Internet speeds hit an appreciated 94Mbps download.

Verdict

All things considered, the Gold Coast Qantas Club does a reasonable job with its compact footprint, but it struggles with multiple flights on the books and may be time to find a bigger location, particularly as the airport grows.

The nearby Virgin Australia Lounge runs rings around Qantas Club at present, with better seating and lighting, a more inviting feel and that all-important view of the tarmac.

The writer visited as a Qantas frequent flyer.