Qantas Club Brisbane Review: Great for Wifi, Not Wine
Silver status on Qantas doesn’t get you into the Qantas Club permanently — it gets you periodic lounge invitations instead, and I had one sitting in the app for a stopover between Townsville and Sydney via Brisbane. So that’s how I ended up in the Qantas Club at BNE rather than paying my way in or walking past.
The short version: friendly staff, a lounge that’s clearly due for a refresh, food that’s fine rather than exciting, wine that didn’t clear my own bar, and — genuinely — the best thing in the place was the licorice allsorts.
Location: Domestic Terminal, Level 2 (departures level), near Gate 22 — part of the Qantas Lounge precinct alongside the Qantas Domestic Business Lounge. Premium Lounge Entry (dedicated security on Level 1) is also available if you’re starting your trip in Brisbane, rather than going through the main security line and up to Level 2.
Hours: From around 4:30–5:30am until the last Qantas domestic departure of the day.
Who gets in: Qantas Club members, Qantas Domestic Business Class passengers, Qantas Gold/Platinum/Platinum One frequent flyers, and Oneworld Sapphire/Emerald members on a Qantas or Oneworld domestic flight. Qantas Silver doesn’t get standing access — but as I found, Silver members are issued periodic lounge invitations that get you in the same way.
Cheapest way in: a Qantas Club lounge invitation if you’re Silver, or a single-visit Lounge Pass bought against an eligible Qantas flight if you’ve got no status at all — price isn’t fixed, so check your own booking rather than assuming a cost.
How do you get into the Qantas Club Brisbane with Silver status?
Qantas Silver members don’t get standing Qantas Club access — you’re issued a set number of lounge invitations instead, and each one has to be linked to an eligible flight at least 24 hours before departure through the app. Mine showed one invitation available, tagged as a Silver benefit, expiring in 2027.
Linking it wasn’t smooth. The app’s passkey verification kept failing — “There was a problem verifying your passkey, please try again” — right when I needed it sorted. I got there eventually, but it ate into the buffer I’d have rather spent in the lounge.
Can you buy access to the Qantas Club Brisbane?
Yes — you don’t need status or membership to get in. Qantas sells single-visit Lounge Passes to anyone with an eligible Qantas flight booking, not just frequent flyers. You log into your Qantas account (or enter your details as a guest) with your flight reference, and if a pass is available for that lounge on that day, you can buy it with cash or Qantas Points.
There’s no fixed, published price — it varies by lounge, airport and demand, and isn’t always available for every flight. Points redemptions tend to be poor value (often under 1 cent per point), so paying cash is usually the better option if you’re weighing it up. If you fly through Qantas lounges often enough to make it worthwhile, an annual Qantas Club membership is the other route in — worth comparing the membership cost against how many single-visit passes you’d otherwise buy in a year.
What’s the Qantas Club Brisbane lounge like inside?
Large, and it shows its age. Nothing was broken exactly, but the finishes are tired — worn power outlets at the seats being the clearest example, the kind of detail you notice once you’re looking for it. Staff were genuinely friendly throughout, which goes some way to offsetting a room that’s overdue a refurbishment.
One of the worn power outlets — the clearest sign the lounge is due a refresh.
What food is available at the Qantas Club Brisbane?
Soup, bread rolls and biscuits from the self-serve station.
Standard Qantas Club territory — the same toasties you’ll find in most domestic lounges — plus a self-serve soup station with bread rolls, and fresh tuna sandwiches on the day I visited, which was a step up from what I’d expected. A barista was on hand, though I didn’t end up trying it.
Licorice allsorts: the real highlight of the lounge
The real highlight of the visit — licorice allsorts from the lolly station.
Don’t skip past the lolly station. The licorice allsorts here are an irresistible sugar hit — genuinely the best thing in the lounge. They’re so good I don’t keep them in the house at home, so the Qantas Club is where I let myself have them.
What drinks are available at the Qantas Club Brisbane?
What was on offer in the drinks fridge on the day.
The fridge showcased a solid spread of what’s on offer: James Squire Ginger Beer, Heineken 0.0, James Squire Orchard Crush Apple Cider, Qantas’s own AVRO Gin Spritz, Hahn Premium Light, XXXX Ultra Zero Carb, and a Felons Brewing Co Australian Pale Ale. I skipped the beer either way — I don’t like mixing it with altitude, and I’d rather not be needing the bathroom once I’m airborne.
One thing worth noting for spirits drinkers: no Campari here. It’s available in some of the Melbourne lounges, so if that’s your drink, don’t assume it’ll be on hand at Brisbane.
What wines are available at the Qantas Club Brisbane?
I used the Vivino app to rate the reds on offer while I waited. My own rule is 3.9 and above — nothing here got close.
Rating the Penfolds Koonunga Hill on Vivino — the best of a weak field.
| Wine | Vintage | Vivino rating | Retail price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Southerly Shiraz | 2021 | 3.5 ★ | — |
| Chain of Fire Pinot Noir | 2024 | 3.3 ★ (42 ratings) | A$17.77 |
| Penfolds Koonunga Hill Cabernet Sauvignon | 2024 | 3.7 ★ (323 ratings) | A$14 |
The Penfolds Koonunga Hill at 3.7 was the pick of a weak field — a bit better than average, and about what I’d expect from a wine that reliable, but still below what I’d pour at home. The other two surprised me on the low side: The Southerly Shiraz at 3.5 and the Chain of Fire Pinot Noir at 3.3 were both worse than what’s in my own rack. I ended up skipping the wine altogether and having soda water with the soup instead.
Is the Qantas Club Brisbane worth it?
Worth going if you want to charge your phone, get on the wifi, or you’re properly gagging for a drink — the staff make it pleasant enough. It’s not somewhere I’d go out of my way for the food or the wine, but the licorice allsorts alone are worth detouring past the lolly station for. The venue itself needs the refresh that’s presumably coming at some point. For a free stopover on a Silver invitation, it did exactly what it needed to.
For the full picture of every lounge at Brisbane Airport and how to get into each one, see our Brisbane Airport lounge guide. Flying through a different airport? Our Lounge Finder covers the full network — search by airport to see what you can get into with the cards and status you already have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy access to the Qantas Club Brisbane without status or membership?
Yes. Qantas sells single-visit Lounge Passes against an eligible flight booking to anyone, not just frequent flyers — log in with your flight reference to check availability and price, which isn’t fixed and varies by lounge and demand.
Where is the Qantas Club at Brisbane Airport?
Domestic Terminal, Level 2, near Gate 22 — part of the Qantas Lounge precinct alongside the Qantas Domestic Business Lounge. There’s also a Premium Lounge Entry option on Level 1 with dedicated security screening if you’re starting your trip in Brisbane.
What are the opening hours for the Qantas Club Brisbane?
Roughly 4:30–5:30am until the last Qantas domestic departure of the day.
How do I get into the Qantas Club at Brisbane with Silver status?
Qantas Club standing access is for members, Qantas Domestic Business Class passengers, Gold/Platinum/Platinum One frequent flyers, and Oneworld Sapphire/Emerald members on a Qantas or Oneworld domestic flight. Silver doesn’t get standing access, but Silver members are issued periodic lounge invitations instead — link one to an eligible flight through the Qantas app at least 24 hours before departure to get in the same way.
Is there food at the Qantas Club Brisbane?
Yes — standard toastie-style options plus a self-serve soup station with bread rolls, a lolly station, and on my visit, fresh tuna sandwiches. There’s also a barista on hand.
Is there wine at the Qantas Club Brisbane?
Yes, a self-serve selection of reds and whites. I rated three reds on Vivino, and none cleared my own 3.9-and-above bar — the Penfolds Koonunga Hill Cabernet Sauvignon at 3.7 was the best of the three, but still below what I’d pour at home.
What drinks are available at the Qantas Club Brisbane?
A fridge showcasing a mix of beer, cider, non-alcoholic options and Qantas’s own AVRO Gin Spritz, alongside the wine selection and a barista for coffee.
Is there Campari at the Qantas Club Brisbane?
No — I checked and it wasn’t available. It’s stocked in some of the Melbourne lounges, so if Campari’s your drink, don’t assume Brisbane will have it.
What’s the best thing about the Qantas Club Brisbane?
The licorice allsorts at the lolly station, unexpectedly. They’re good enough that I don’t keep them at home, so the lounge is where I let myself have them.
Is the Qantas Club Brisbane worth using?
If you’ve already got an invitation or membership, yes — for the wifi, a phone charge, and somewhere comfortable to sit, with genuinely friendly staff. I wouldn’t rate the food or wine as a drawcard on their own, and the space itself is due for a refresh.
