Qantas International Lounge, Perth Terminal 3

UPDATED REVIEW 2024 | When a lounge is built from the ground up for one specific flight, you know it’s going to be a good one. After all, it boasts a dedicated wellness studio. And an outdoor open-air terrace.

Opening back in 2018, the Qantas International Lounge (formerly the Transit Lounge) in Perth is tailor-made for passengers travelling on the 17-hour long trek to London and back.

But the guest list is much longer today, in line with Qantas ditching the ‘Transit’ moniker from its name. The lounge now welcomes passengers jetting from Perth to:

• London (QF9) and Melbourne (QF10, until July 2024 then it ceases)
• Rome (QF5) and Sydney (QF6)
• Singapore (QF71)
• Starting from July 2024, Paris (QF33) and Sydney (QF34)

Lounge location and details

Perth Airport’s Terminal 3 was originally a domestic-only affair before Qantas converted part of it for its international operations. So even though you might walk past this lounge before an early-morning domestic flight, the doors will only swing open when that side of the terminal switches to ‘international mode’.

You’ll still need to check-in at Terminal 4, which is just next door. While domestic flights are self-serve, you should check-in for Qantas’ international flights at the staffed counters on the right. We suggest clearing domestic security at Terminal 3, which has next-gen CT baggage scanners and is a shorter walk to the lounge.

Once you’re through, keep an eye out for the International Departures sign, which will take you through immigration and a second security check for liquids, aerosols and gels. (Those must remain under 100mL or 100g for international flights).

Pop out the other end and look to your right – the gleaming entrance to the Qantas International Transit Lounge will be there. Head down the stairs or take the gilded lift one floor below to arrive at the lounge properly. Your overseas journey begins in style here.

Let’s hop inside the Qantas Perth International Lounge.

You can take the stairs or the lift.

If you’re starting your journey in Perth, the Qantas International Lounge is open roughly three hours before each departure. And if you’re transiting in Perth on the London, Rome or Paris flights, then the space will already be in full swing when you arrive.

Passengers on QF10 to Melbourne will usually need to wait in the Domestic Business Lounge until QF71 passengers to Singapore leave the International Lounge and board their flight. For a full tour check out the video below.

Lounge layout and seating

The main lounge room is one large space, subtly divided into smaller sections by various seating. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves – there are communal and individual sofas, bar stools, dining tables and more. Fresh greenery, light wood tones and deep colours give the space a modern and sophisticated look.

It’s a testament to Australian designer David Caon and Sydney-based SUMU Design, which both spearheaded the fit-out of this lounge. As Caon’s website explains, the lounge is designed with a ‘light, yet vibrant palette’ to ‘celebrate the laid back, joyful Western Australian lifestyle’.

The lounge is a good-looking space.

Plenty of seating choices.

Groups might want to settle here.

There are also many individual seats.

And if the thought of spending up to 17 hours on a plane has left you feeling breathless, you can recharge on the outdoor terrace – a first for an Australian international lounge. I’m impressed by the roof, which is made of clever louvres which will shut at the first hint of rain. And trust me, there was plenty of rain on this day.

The outdoor terrace is a breath of fresh air.

The louvres automatically shut if it rains.

But in the early afternoon, they are open.

The opposite side of the lounge houses shower suites, a ‘Refresh’ bathroom area, and a Wellness Studio. But I’ll go over those in more detail later. Because right now, it’s time to eat!

A glimpse of the buffet.

I see plenty of vibrant treats.

Food & beverage

The dining

I find that the dining options in the Transit Lounge are thoughtful. Sure, it’s not the same as a Qantas International First Lounge with fancy a la carte menus. But the choices here – designed in collaboration with the Charles Perkins Centre – are fresh, healthy, and delicious.

The ‘light bites’ bar includes a salad, veggie dips with baba ganoush and a cheese board. If you want to eat well before heading to Europe, this is the place to do it. Fittingly, the dessert choice is as Aussie as it can get – a plate of fresh lamingtons. They look so tempting.

A healthier way to eat before a flight.

A cheese board offers plenty to graze on.

A mountain of fluffy lamingtons is sure to tempt.

Some of the food options in January 2024.

Moving over to the next station, there are more substantial bites here. Options include toasted sandwiches, a curry and rice, and a divine bruschetta with goat’s cheese. There’s always a soup and grilled vegetable skewers with salsa for something warmer. Out of this lot, the bruschetta is the star. It’s evidently freshly made.

The lounge’s bruschetta is a standout.

Don’t forget to eat your daily greens as well.

Chicken tikka masala with steamed rice.

The lounge’s signature grilled hot dogs.

For something even more substantial, head outside. The BBQ bar plates up a delicious gourmet ‘sausage sandwich’ (i.e. a hot dog). Today’s offering is a pork and fennel snag with caramelised onion and relish. You can also add seeded or Dijon mustard, along with Tabasco. For vegetarians, they’ll also grill up a mushroom version for you.

The drinks

The beverages side is equally thought out. Qantas’ popular ‘Quench’ station is a mainstay here, featuring the usual assortment of Bickford’s cordials. But one standout unique to this lounge is the addition of kombucha and coconut water, for those who want to enjoy a lighter non-alcoholic drink. As someone who loves both bevvies, this goes down well with me.

A latte comes out piping hot.

Quench the thirst with kombucha and coconut water.

There’s also a range of infused Bickford’s cordials.

As expected, you’ll sip on barista-made coffee here.

The teas selection is rather standard.

Of course, the tended bar is still very much alive and kicking. The red and white wines are familiar labels, though inexpensive. Still, I’m quite partial to Penfolds Koonunga Hill and the Squealing Pig Rosé.

Sparkling wine is served by default. But for those in the know, proper Champagne is hidden behind the bar and is poured exclusively for Platinum One and Chairman’s Lounge members.

Sorry for the tease… this is for P1 and CLs only.

But everything else on the bar is open to all.

Amenities and service

Wellbeing studio

Where else will you find a wellbeing studio in a lounge, with classes led by a yoga teacher? Here, the space is operated by Perth luxe spa group, Bodhi Wellness Spa Retreats. During my previous visit in 2022, Michelle takes the reins, leading passengers through a number of stretching and meditation exercises to prepare for the flight to Rome. Even though I’m not travelling, I can’t help but feel calmer by the end.

But maybe that’s just from the cold towel we’re offered, infused with essential oils such as lavender, geranium and rosewood. Classes are voluntary, of course, and go for 10-15 minutes. The teacher will roam the lounge beforehand, taking sign-ups from interested passengers.

Inside the soothing Wellbeing Studio.

The studio is run by Bodhi.

Shower suites

For a fairly small lounge, an astounding 15 shower suites are available at the Perth International Lounge. For reference, the Qantas Singapore Business Lounge is far larger and has 20 shower rooms.

Here’s an exclusive Point Hacks insider tip – shower room six is the biggest (and is usually reserved for VIPs)! But all the well-appointed rooms have a strong showerhead with premium LaGaia Unedited amenities. Interestingly, each room also boasts ‘light therapy’ to help adjust your body clock to an earlier timezone. With a press of a button, the lighting transforms from muted yellow to a brighter white, infused with a ring of blue.

This is shower suite six.

The light uses different wavelengths and colours.

Light therapy in action at the back.

There are 15 shower suites in total.

The amenities have changed over to LaGaia Unedited.

‘Refresh’ zone

If you just need to freshen up before the flight, the ‘Refresh’ zone is your one-stop shot. In the centre is a communal area with individual cubicles. Separate ladies’ and men’s toilets are located on either side.

LaGaia Unedited, which supplies the Qantas First Lounges, offers a four-step pre-flight ritual to help your skin get ready for the long journey ahead.

Give your skin a bit of a spritz pre-flight.

LaGaia Unedited have devised a four-step process.

Give it a try yourself!

Power and Wi-Fi

One minor downside is that this lounge has no dedicated area for travellers to bunker down and do some work if duty calls. But you can set up pretty much anywhere around the lounge, with plenty of power points hidden throughout. For example, most cocktail tables have an AC and USB plug at the bottom.

Qantas Lounge Wi-Fi is easy to connect to. Like the neighbouring Domestic Business Lounge, the speeds here are also very fast. I easily measure more than 150 Mbps down and 240 Mbps up. You shouldn’t have any problems with speeds like that.

Wi-Fi is blazing fast here.

Powerpoints are easily found around the lounge.

How do I access the Perth Transit Lounge?

The Perth Transit Lounge is an international Business Class-grade lounge when it comes to access. As long as you’re on the right flights, you can enter through quite a few ways. First of all, you must be on one of the flights departing from T3 International, as detailed at the start of this review.

Next, you need to meet one of the usual Qantas lounge access criteria:

• Eligible class of travel: Business Class on one of those Qantas flights.
• Qantas frequent flyer status: Qantas Gold, Platinum, Platinum One and Chairman’s Lounge members (+1 guest) travelling on one of those Qantas flights.
• Airline partner frequent flyer status: Emirates Skywards Gold and Platinum members (+1 guest) travelling on one of those Qantas flights.
• Alliance frequent flyer status: Sapphire and Emerald oneworld members (+1 guest) travelling on one of those Qantas flights.
• Qantas Club membership: Qantas Club members including from Points Club Plus (+1 guest) and Annual Guest Card holders (in the company of a member) travelling on one of those Qantas flights.

Note that complimentary single-use lounge invitations are not usually accepted in this lounge.

Summing up

The Perth Transit Lounge might just be one of Qantas’ best international premium lounges in Australia. Certainly, compared to Sydney and Melbourne, the Perth lounge is far more modern and functional. And the benefit of being located in a smaller city, serving specific (and flagship) flights, is that the service is very tailored.

I find the food and beverage execution is top-notch, hitting the trifecta of fresh, healthy and tasty. And there’s certainly nothing to complain about the amenities, with 15 shower suites, a ‘Refresh’ zone and even a Wellbeing Studio for preflight stretches.

The lounge could benefit from a quieter area to work or relax in and perhaps more hot food variety at the buffet. But overall, the Qantas International Lounge in Perth goes above and beyond merely ‘ticking the boxes’.

All photography by Brandon Loo, who visited the lounge as a guest of Qantas. Note some photos of the physical space remain from the 2022 visit while all food & beverage + amenities are from the 2024 visit.