Nathan's Insights

When visited: May 2017
Time of day: Evening (7.20 pm to 8.30 pm)
Rating: 4.5 / 5

ACCESS RULES
– Flying Business class on a Qantas or QantasLink flight later that day.
– Qantas Platinum member or Oneworld Alliance
– Emirates Skywards Platinum member whose next onward flight that day carries a QF or EK flight number and is operated by Qantas or QantasLink
– Individuals under 18 must be accompanied by an adult given this is a licensed area.

I accessed the Business Lounge as a QANTAS Platinum member and as Business Class passenger.

LOUNGE LOCATION
The QANTAS Canberra Domestic Business Lounge is in the main terminal located between Gates 10 and 11.  After passing security turn left and follow the signs to the Qantas Club.  Up the Escalators and you can either turn left for the super secret Chairman’s Lounge, straight ahead for the Business lounge or right for the Qantas Club Lounge.

LOUNGE AREA
The QANTAS Business Lounge area is a very large area, probably the second largest in the country only behind Sydney Business Lounge.  This is likely due to high number of senior public servants flying around the country so beware this is not a place to discuss Tax Avoidance Schemes or how to gaming the welfare system!

You need to pass a security desk at the front entrance.  Many passengers who only have access to the Qantas Club end up getting redirected to that lounge so Qantas staff are on the lookout for your boarding pass and / or boarding pass. The lounge does not really provide tarmac views but does have some natural light.

After entering you can turn left for the bathroom facilities and seats and tables or right for tables and seating areas and the all important bar and food stations.  This lounge area is more formal than most business lounges I’ve visited although you only need to wear neat casual (jeans yes, singlets no) you do stand out if not in business attire.  As this is a huge lounge I had not difficulty finding either a single seat area or multiple grouped seating areas.  I suspect it might be a bit harder just before 6 pm departures.

FOOD
There is a main food station which you can use to make up nice sandwiches and take various cakes and bread based products.  You will find some hot food, on this visit it was a curry and rice option.  The more formal tables also have apple selections on them.  You can get apples and oranges from the main food station as well.

DRINKS
There is a dedicated bar that serves up espresso coffee throughout the day and wine and other alcoholic drinks from noon.  Before noon you could get coffee service, juices, tea and water.  There is a self-serve soft drink station you can use whenever the lounge is open but they only use smaller glasses (staff will provide longer 330 ml glass at the main bar).

FACILITIES AND SERVICES
There are several showers (you don’t need to book), toilets, several TVs which have either Pay TV Station Sky News or free to air Channel Nine, many iMac computers (which you can select PC mode on), printing/photocopying facilities, multiple tea / coffee stations and charging stations for most cable connections.

There are a number of power outlets to plug in your laptop or other equipment but grab these spots quickly as they are in high demand. Free Wi-Fi is offered but I didn’t test the speed but I have heard it is really only good for basic internet browsing and e-mail.

WHAT’S GOOD
The Qantas Business Lounge in Canberra provides a huge area to relax in with multiple different seating options and a quite ‘non mobile phone’ area.  The lounge is right outside the main gates used for Melbourne and Sydney bound flights.  The lounge is very clean with lots of food and drink options which far exceed anything you will be offer in economy on short flights from Canberra (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane).

WHAT’S NOT SO GOOD
Having no real tarmac views and more power outlets would be great.

SUMMARY
When of the best domestic Qantas Business Lounges in the country, Qantas obviously want to keep the Senior Public Servants and any CEOs visiting the National Capital happy.   There is no charge for food or drinks nor is tipping expected (or anywhere in Australia).  A good way to spend 30 to 90 minutes (any less just go to the Gate, any more spend more time in Canberra).