Whilst most frequent flyers and leisure travelers alike associate airport lounges to be used before a flight, a question we hear quite often is however can you access them after arrival? Whilst it is absolutely true the vast majority of travelers are only assessing lounges prior to departure it is certainly not outside the realms of possibility to visit the lounge after arrival.

Really the correct answer is that it very much depends and when it is possible meeting the same entry criteria to enter the lounge before takeoff doesn’t necessary mean you’ll be still eligible after arrival. The layout of the airline terminal especially concerning whether arriving or departing flights are sterile to each other, which terminal building the lounge is located and of course whether you have a same on-ward same day flight are also other factors which may have considerable bearing on the outcome of this question.

Select the right airline and a particular flight which offers on arrival lounge access to either business class passengers or your high level of airline status and you may very well be on your way to freshening up over a coffee, meal or even a shower whilst you wait for your bags to come of the belt.

Accessing Virgin Australia lounges on arrival at final destination

Virgin Australia very much provides the most extensive lounge on arrival perks with the majority of Virgin Australia customers flying with native Virgin Velocity Gold status and above, paid up lounge members and guests and also Business class guests afforded access to Virgin Australia lounges within 60 minutes of arrival.

Access to the lounge on arrival is not considered a given however, and is subject to space availability with Business Class guests and Velocity Platinum members given first priority. Flashing your Velocity Gold or paid up lounge membership should also get you in the door although first preference will be given to Business Class and Platinum Velocity guests should space be tight.

Whilst Virgin Australia is undoubtedly more generous on its criteria for accessing the lounge on arrival do keep in mind however that Virgin Australia’s single tier lounge network is considerably smaller than Qantas’s multi tiered extensive lounge network which is present in all Australian domestic capital airports, numerous regional airport and select international terminals in Australia and abroad. When flying Virgin if your flight doesn’t land at one of its 7 domestic only airport lounge locations of Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney you’ll be out of luck regardless of any eligibility you might have otherwise held.

Accessing Qantas lounges on arrival at final destination

When it comes to Qantas if you thought flashing your business class tickets alone would get you through the door of one of its lounges from its extensive lounge network on arrival would get you through the door you could unfortunately be in for disappointment. One can argue this is rather disappointing considering Virgin Australia’s business class flights can often be on sale at a fraction of that of Qantas.

Currently only Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers are granted entry to Qantas Clubs and Domestic Business Lounges on arrival and this does not extend to international flights nor elite members of partner airlines.

Accessing REX lounges on arrival on arrival

The answer of whether you can access a REX lounge on arrival is a little more perplexed. If your journey ends with REX at the arrival airport business class passengers are not enitlted to enter REX’s Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide lounges on arrival as part of their ticket inclusion and without REX having any frequent flyer program to moot using status to enter the lounge is also clearly of the agenda.

REX lounges are however apart of the Priority Pass Program and with the terms and conditions of the program simply stating that you need a ‘valid boarding pass’ to enter its a bit vague as to whether you will be admitted. With Priority Pass If you have any on ward same day flight with REX or any other airline from the same airport you should be admitted.

As for those ending there journey at the arrival airport, one could argue that a boarding pass is no longer valid once you have landed at your final destination but it could also to the contrary be argued that your travel with the airline is not completed until they deliver your bags to the belt for collection so there’s no harm in rocking up and trying your luck on arrival. It may come down to the discretion of the lounge attendant on the day.

Assessing International lounges on arrival at final destination

Generally speaking it is not possible to access airline lounges on arrival at international airports if your are finishing your journey at that airport. This is very much the case for flights arriving into Australia whereby international departing and arriving passengers are segregated by both security and customs and immigration clearance. Even if airlines wanted to offer lounge on arrival at final destination in Australia these considerations make it impossible unless they built a dedicated arrivals lounge kerbside which currently no airlines offers in Australia although several airlines aboard do offer lounges in select destionas for certain preimum and elite status passengers so it may be possible abraod.

As always if transiting to another international flight those with the right status or flying in a premium class can usually access their airline’s lounge or partner lounge between flights in airports that allow mingling between arriving and departing passengers such as Singapore Changi Airport otherwise it may be necessary first to pass through the transit hall or even change termianls before reaching the lounge for the outbound flight.

Other considerations

Domestic transit passengers

If flying domestically in Australia with the same airline it is generally permissible to access that airlines lounge on arrival and in transit if you have a same day onward connection on that airline and of course meet the eligibility criteria for lounge access for the first flight. Be careful to keep in mind though that lounges on arrival if available may be located in a different terminal than that you have arrived, either before or after security or not open at the time of day you are transiting so it pays to plan ahead to ensure you have most seamless and pleasant transfer experience possible.

Domestic to International transit passengers (or vice versa)

When transiting between domestic and international flights it is certainly possible to access the airline’s lounge or partner’s lounge if offered whilst in transit. Be careful to keep in mind however enough time to transfer terminals, pick up luggage, clear inbound security and immigration and to complete any other international travel formalities. As always keep any eye for lounge opening times and locations to ensure the most seamless and pleasant transfer experience possible .

Travelling with checked baggage

Once you have determined that you are lucky enough to access a lounge on arrival it is also to important to consider whether you are travelling with luggage as it can impact on your experience and your ability to enjoy the lounge without being rushed knowing you have to collect luggage or burden by the fact of bringing it into the lounge or not being able to take it through security again if it its located airside!

If one is travelling with hand luggage only simply proceed to the lounge on arrival but carefully determine whether it is located before or after security to ensure you don’t miss out on the opporutnity to go back. Once at the lounge not withstanding any time limits imposed by the lounge you’ll be able to enjoy it without the hassle of needing to worry about picking up or lugging around check luggage.

If you have checked luggage don’t panic but you’ll probably wan’t to keep your visit brief especially if the lounge is located airside to ensure you can pick up your luggage without it been already pulled off the belts. Once you have picked up your checked luggage it is unlikely to be allowed through security again so make sure you access the lounge before picking up your luggage if it is airside.

Check where your lounge is located, before or after security?

If you intend to and are indeed eligible to visit the airline’s lounge on arrival carefully check whether the lounge at the said airport is located before or after security. Whilst most lounges are generally located after security this is not always the case so check carefully first before arriving to ensure you don’t accidently clear security either way unnecessary to avoid any inconvenience or difficulty in visiting the lounge. Case in point is the Virgin Australia Lounge at Melbourne Airport which has recently been relocated to after security as opposed to before where it used to be!

Priority Pass members

The Priority Pass lounge membership program is an interpedently run lounge program and network that is independent of the airlines and does not include access to Virgin Australia or Qantas lounges however does include Regional Express. This means any Priority Pass Members in possession of a valid ‘boarding pass’ can access participating lounges and or redeem a $36 credit for use at participating restaurants. This means if you arriving at an airport in transit to another flight you should have no problems accessing these lounges and restaurants although it is a little less clear cut if the arrival destination is your final destination for the day. There is however no harm in flashing your Priority Pass card anyway at a participating lounge or restaurant just in case they do consider your boarding pass to be still valid!

Summing up

Accessing airline lounges on arrival at the final destination airport contrary to common belief is certainly possible in Australia although keep in mind that the eligibility, terms and conditions vary widely between Qantas and Virgin Australia whilst lounge access does not extend to any other carrier except with with the possibility of when using Priority Pass lounges. Even when lounge access is possible entry criteria is often not as expansive as for that of pre flight access and your eligibility that may of have got you in the lounge prior to the flight might not make the cut for after the flight. Accessing the lounge at the final destination at international airports is generally not possible with most airlines or airports and certainly not the case in Australia although it can be possible with a small amount of airlines at select airports abroad.

In any case it is worth familiarizing yourself with the above guide to understand all the factors and considerations of on arrival lounge access to maximize your chances or successfully visiting the lounge on arrival at your next final destination!