Arrival Access: How to Use Airport Lounges After Landing

You’re probably aware that a Business Class ticket – or elite airline status – can get you into airport lounges before your flight. But your airline, status and class of travel may also entitle you to lounge access when you arrive at your destination.

Arrivals lounge access could be useful if you’re meeting somebody at the airport or your flight arrives early. But it’s most useful after an overnight flight. Access to an airport lounge provides a welcome opportunity to freshen up with a shower and grab some breakfast on arrival, allowing you to maximise your sleep on board.

Both Qantas and Virgin Australia offer access to their regular airport lounges on arrival under some circumstances. Some airlines even have dedicated lounges that are specifically designed for arriving passengers.

Qantas lounge access on arrival

Qantas does not offer lounge access on arrival as a benefit of flying Business or First Class. But frequent flyers with Platinum, Platinum One or Chairmans Lounge status may visit any Qantas domestic Business lounge after arriving on a Qantas or Jetstar flight.

For airports without a domestic Business lounge, you can use a Qantas Club if there’s one available.

You can bring up to two guests with you who are also flying that day with Qantas or a partner airline.

You’re still eligible even if your flight arrives in a different terminal to the Qantas lounge. For example, you could fly with Jetstar into Sydney Terminal 2 and then walk over to the Qantas lounges in Terminal 3. Technically, you can even access the domestic Business Lounge after an international flight, although this is not practical at most Australian airports as the domestic and international terminals are separated.

It’s not possible to use Qantas international lounges on arrival.

AFF member experiences using the Qantas lounges on arrival

Personally, I’ve had no issues using Qantas lounges on arrival as a Platinum member, even after arriving on a Jetstar flight. Guesting other passengers who did not have status was also seamless.

Other AFF members have reported similar success using Qantas lounges on arrival:

Yep. Have arrived on JQ NRT-CNS and used the CNS domestic QP [Qantas Club] shower before heading into town for the day.

sudoer on the AFF forum

However, some others have faced difficulty in getting access thanks to a “misinterpretation” of the lounge rules:

I just got rejected on-arrival access at the Sydney QP [Qantas Club]. Lounge dragon had “never heard of on-arrival access”.

No problems at the Dom J [Domestic Business] lounge, where the attendants agreed that I should have been allowed in the QP as well.

sap1L on the AFF forum

Virgin Australia Lounge access on arrival

Virgin Australia is more generous than Qantas when it comes to arrivals lounge access.

All Virgin Australia Business Class passengers can use any of Virgin Australia’s domestic lounges when arriving at their destination.

Gold, Platinum and Beyond members, as well as Virgin Australia Lounge members can also access any Virgin Lounge within Australia when arriving on any Virgin Australia or partner airline flight. The usual guest allowance also applies when using the lounge on arrival, and the guests do not necessarily need to be flying.

Entry into a Virgin Australia Lounge must be within 60 minutes of your arriving flight.

This benefit is also available to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold and invite-only UNIQ members, with up to one guest, when travelling on a domestic flight operated by Virgin Australia.

Dedicated arrivals lounges

Some airports also have dedicated arrivals lounges! These facilities are often at the hub airports of major airlines, and are either operated by airlines or third-party providers such as Plaza Premium. They are typically located in the airport arrivals hall, after the customs and immigration checkpoints.

Most airline-operated arrival lounges are open in the morning, allowing travellers to freshen up after long-haul overnight flights. Arrivals lounges typically offer shower rooms, buffet breakfast, coffee and work stations.

Sydney Aiport has the only dedicated arrivals lounge in Australia – the Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge in Terminal 1. Located landside after customs, the lounge has a buffet breakfast and drinks, as well as showers (for an extra fee). You can pay to access this lounge, or get in with a Priority Pass membership.

How to access airline-operated arrival lounges

Generally speaking, you’ll need to be flying in Business or First Class with the airline operating the lounge to gain access. Some airlines also offer arrival access to their own top-tier frequent flyers.

The reciprocal lounge access rights offered to frequent flyers with Oneworld, Star Alliance and SkyTeam airlines do not automatically extend to arrivals lounges. For example, your Qantas Platinum status won’t get you in to the British Airways arrival lounge in London. However, there are exceptions.

Also, invite-only status such as American Airlines Concierge Key and United Global Services can often get you access to partner lounges not available even to premium passengers.

Below is a list of lounges operated by airlines that can be used on arrival. Lounges which require a departing ticket (regardless of whether that ticket needs to be on the same carrier/alliance or not) are not included.

Oneworld Arrivals Lounges

Lounge	Access
Qatar Airways Arrivals Lounge (Doha)	Business and First Class passengers only
British Airways Arrivals Lounge (London Heathrow T5)	British Airways Business and First Class passengers British Airways Gold and Gold Guest List passengers American Airlines Business Class, First Class and Concierge Key passengers
American Airlines Arrivals Lounge (London Heathrow T3)	American Airlines Business and First Class passengers Oneworld Emerald members and above travelling on American Airlines or British Airways
TIAT Shower Rooms (Tokyo Narita and Haneda)	Japan Airlines passengers with JMB Sapphire and above status
Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounges (Kuala Lumpur)	Business Suite passengers Malaysia Airlines Enrich Platinum members on a Malaysia Airlines flight

Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members, except Alaskan and American elite status holders, can also access American Airlines and Alaska Airlines lounges after arriving on a domestic flight. This includes Qantas Gold and Platinum frequent flyers.

Star Alliance Arrivals Lounges

Lounge	Access
Lufthansa Welcome Lounge (Frankfurt)	Lufthansa long-haul Business and First Class passengers Miles & More Frequent Traveller members and above on long-haul Lufthansa flights Miles & More HON Circle members arriving on Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian flights United Global Services on United flights
South African Airways Arrivals Lounge (Johannesburg)	Business Class passengers on South African Airways Voyager Gold and above passengers on South African Airways
United/Air Canada Arrivals Lounge (London Heathrow T2)	United and Air Canada Business Class passengers Aeroplan Super Elite members on Air Canada United Global Services members on United
Swiss Arrival Lounge (Zurich)	Swiss Business and First Class passengers Miles & More Frequent Traveller members and above United Global Services on United flights
SilverKris First Class Lounge (Singapore)	Solitaire PPS Club and First Class passengers
The Private Room (Singapore)	Singapore Airlines First Class passengers only

Note: The SilverKris First Class Lounge and The Private Room are not dedicated Arrivals lounges, but they can be used without an onwards ticket.

Other Arrivals Lounges

Lounge	Access
Virgin Atlantic Revivals Lounge (London Heathrow T3)	Upper Class and Flying Club Gold on Delta or Virgin Atlantic Velocity Platinum on Virgin Atlantic Delta One passengers, Delta Platinum members and above on Delta or Virgin Atlantic
Etihad Arrivals Lounge (Abu Dhabi)	Business and First Class passengers on Etihad Airways Etihad Guest Platinum members

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)