Qantas Domestic Business Lounge, Canberra

Canberra’s Qantas Domestic Business Lounge isn’t the newest in the Roo’s network. But it’s nonetheless a solid space that provides a welcoming environment for Business passengers and Platinum-grade frequent flyers. The lounge can get busy during Parliamentary sitting weeks, but at other times, it’s surprisingly quiet and peaceful.

There are many noticeable tweaks to elevate the experience over and above what travellers would find in the Qantas Club next door. Here’s a look at what Qantas offers to pointy-end passengers and top-tier frequent flyers here in Canberra.

Location, layout and seating

Qantas offers a trio of lounges at Canberra Airport. Canberra’s Domestic Business Lounge resides after security in the same precinct as the Qantas Club and Chairman’s Lounge. You’ll find the complex by turning right after security and keeping your eyes peeled for signs pointing you towards the Qantas lounges. A quick escalator ride upstairs has you sorted.

For the most part, Canberra’s Qantas Domestic Business Lounge gets a good degree of natural light. Windows run from one end of the space to the other. However, the view here isn’t as impressive as from the Roo’s two other Canberra lounges. Or, for that matter, from the competing Virgin Australia Lounge in the national capital.

Those other lounges all face toward the airfield. The Business Lounge, on the other hand, looks toward an office building and the airport’s public roads. It seems, of Qantas’ three lounges, the Business Lounge gets the fewest passengers. Normally, the Chairman’s Lounge would be quietest. But this is the home of Parliament House, so Canberra’s private lounge is particularly expansive. At the end of sitting weeks, it can fill up.

Long story short, Business Class passengers and Platinum frequent flyers slot into the rectangular space at the back of Qantas’ lounge complex. For this reason, I’ll sometimes ‘downgrade’ myself to the Qantas Club to enjoy the airport views. Especially if I’m just working on a laptop and am only in need of a coffee.

This isn’t Qantas’ newest style of lounge, but it’s comfortable all the same.

Some of this style later carried through to the Qantas International Business Lounge in Singapore.

It’s not a Parliamentary sitting week, so there are plenty of places to sit here.

You’ll find this lounge across from the Qantas Club.

There’s plenty of space to work where the computers used to be.

There’s lots of natural light – just not airport views.

These seats face towards Canberra Airport’s arrivals road.

If you want to be right near the food, these seats are for you.

The same can be said of these chairs and tables in the far corner.

The Business Lounge’s style is similar to Qantas’ previous generation of lounge design. But the space is well maintained—and, in my book, perfectly acceptable. A variety of seating types cater for those travelling on business or for leisure. It doesn’t have the same feel as the Domestic Business Lounge in Sydney, where it’s really time for a refurbishment.

Food and beverage in Canberra’s Qantas Domestic Business Lounge

This visit to the Qantas Domestic Business Lounge in Canberra comes towards the end of breakfast. For me, that makes the barista station my first port of call, where a skim latte is promptly prepared. From there, I find a selection of pastries and other breads – perfect for a toasted sandwich. There’s also whole fruit and a fruit salad for something fresh.

The morning options continue with cereals, yoghurt, muesli and a juicer. Hot items include scrambled eggs, sausages and baked beans. By comparison, visiting the nearby Qantas Club at the same time finds only the baked beans. By late morning, an array of salad ingredients make an appearance.

Is it really a morning visit to the lounge if you don’t settle in with a coffee?

Breakfast options begin with the basics, so you’ll find everything you need for a toasted sandwich.

The selections continue with pastries and fruit.

Assemble a toastie from the ingredients here.

For a light and healthy option, help yourself to the salad and muesli.

You’ll also find cereal choices in the jars nearby.

Make custom juices via the juicer next to the soft drink fountains.

Visiting the Qantas Club next door finds only baked beans at the same time, not eggs and sausage as well.

Make a salad, or perhaps, a more elaborate toasted sandwich.

These bites are easy for a quick ‘grab and go’.

Curry and rice seems to be a regular staple in Qantas’ domestic lounges. I do wish there were some more imaginative choices from time to time.

Have a sweet tooth? Have a bite of these.

Barista-made coffee is available throughout the day.

Lollies, cookies and chocolate are all on standby for a snack.

These chocolates are good. Go on, take a few…

All-day dining continues with a ‘grab and go’ item. Today, it’s an open-face bagel topped with salami, cheese and pickles. There’s also a hot option for lunch – but it’s curry and rice. To be honest, I wish Qantas’ menus were a bit more creative in this respect. I’m a regular domestic flyer, and almost always, the hot option in the Domestic Business Lounge is ‘curry and rice’. It’s not just a Canberra thing – it seems to follow me around the country. When you’re always in the lounge, and the menu is largely always the same, there’s a regular sense of déjà vu.

One option that I never tire of seeing – because they’re always enjoyed in bite-sized moderation – are the tasty slices and brownies. Yum. I also appreciate how the chocolates in Canberra are in the jar for easy enjoyment. In other domestic lounges, they’re usually hidden behind the coffee counter.

Lounge amenities

There’s a reasonable selection of reading material in Canberra’s Qantas Domestic Business Lounge. You’ll find a magazine wall by the window – and it’s good to see more than just the Qantas magazine here. It’s easy to remember you’re in the national capital, too, when the TVs on the wall show news from practically down the road at Parliament House.

One thing I appreciate about Canberra’s lounge is that there’s a dedicated work corner. You’ll find it over on the far left after passing reception. It’s a relic of the days of desktop computers in the lounge. These days, it’s more about laptop work – so it’s a spacious area for that. My only gripe? You have to crawl under the desk to plug in, as the power points are hidden. A short extension cord running from below to above the desk would make it easier to power up.

Printing facilities are available nearby. There’s also a phone charging station that’s helpful if you’ve forgotten to pack your charger. However, there’s no way of securing your device here, so you’ll have to stay close.

There’s plenty to read to help pass the time.

I look up and see a live cross from Canberra on the nearby TV.

To actually work in the work area, plugging in is quite a chore.

Here, the power points are hidden below the desk surface, back from the days where desktop computers were available.

You can print over the Wi-Fi.

I do like these light fixtures.

Shower facilities are shared between the Qantas Business Lounge and the Qantas Club next door.

The shower area has quite a relaxing design.

Another thing I like about the lounge in Canberra is the web-like lighting fixtures. They herald from Qantas’ last generation of lounge style, but as a long-time frequent traveller, I find they really convey an element of familiarity.

Shower facilities are also available in Canberra. They’re shared between the Qantas Club and the Domestic Business Lounge. Just ask reception staff for a towel pack and wander on through. There’s also high-speed Wi-Fi. Speeds are super fast today, with downloads averaging 266Mbps and uploads surpassing 300Mbps.

Accessing the Qantas Domestic Business Lounge, Canberra

With three Qantas lounges in Canberra, here’s a look at the travellers who’d call the Business Lounge home.

• Class of travel: departing in Business on a Qantas or QantasLink flight or on a QF codeshare flight operated by Fiji Airways.
• Connecting services: passengers with a same-day international flight in Business or First on Qantas, Emirates or any oneworld Alliance airline. This conveys access to the Domestic Business Lounge even if the domestic sector is in Economy. This perk doesn’t apply to Jetstar, though.
• Eligible Qantas Frequent Flyer status when departing or arriving on Qantas, QantasLink or Jetstar, or when departing on Fiji Airways when booked on a QF flight number:
  • Qantas Platinum (+2 guests for domestic, +1 guest on QF-coded Fiji Airways flights).
  • Qantas Platinum One (+2 guests for domestic, +1 guest on QF-coded Fiji Airways flights).
• Airline partner frequent flyer status, when departing on Qantas or QantasLink (not Jetstar):
  • oneworld Emerald (+1 guest).
  • Emirates Skywards Platinum and above (+1 guest).
  • China Eastern Miles Platinum (+1 guest).

Interestingly, Qantas’ partner Fiji Airways now flies from Canberra to Nadi. However, Fiji Airways doesn’t list Canberra as having an eligible partner lounge. Because Fiji Airways isn’t yet a full oneworld Alliance member, any partner lounge access is subject to negotiation and agreement. Based on Fiji Airways’ list of confirmed partner lounges, Business Class passengers on an FJ flight number wouldn’t qualify. However, there’s no harm in trying your luck!

The verdict

Canberra’s Qantas Domestic Business Lounge feels fresh, open and premium. Even though the style doesn’t match Qantas’ newer Business Lounge themes seen in Melbourne and Brisbane, it’s still a pleasant space. The food here is also noticeably a step above the Qantas Club next door, particularly when it comes to the hot selections.

The beverage selection also generally takes things up a notch. The bar opens at noon—as with the Qantas Club—but often, the spirits on offer are slightly more premium. This being a late morning visit on a work day, though, I was quite content with barista-made coffee.

It’s a shame about the view, given the vistas from the Qantas Club are much nicer. But, in fairness, there’s only so much space available in the terminal. In any airport, the entry-level Qantas Club is always going to be busier than the Business Lounge. Qantas Club access can be bought, and Gold is earned in half the time as Platinum – keeping the Business Lounge as a more exclusive space, and thus, requiring a smaller overall footprint.

It’ll be interesting to see when this lounge might be refurbished in the future. To be honest, though, it won’t be necessary for a number of years—and Sydney is in much greater need of a spruce-up.

Also reviewed: QantasLink Airbus A220 Economy (Canberra – Melbourne)

All photography by Chris Chamberlin, who accessed the lounge courtesy of (earned) frequent flyer status while travelling at Point Hacks’ expense.