Revealed: who’s inside the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge

afr.com:

Qantas says it has extended a Chairman’s Lounge membership to every secretary and deputy secretary in the federal bureaucracy, as well as the chair and chief commissioners of key government agencies.

While the airline has declined to reveal the membership list for the exclusive – and notoriously secretive – club, Qantas confirmed in written responses to a Senate inquiry that it included “secretaries and deputy secretaries of Commonwealth departments, the chairs, chief commissioners and CEOs of key agencies and senior members of the military”.

There are six Qantas Chairman’s Lounge locations – in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth airports – and they have been designed to bring the luxury of the international first-class lounges to the airline’s domestic travellers. Membership of the Chairman’s Lounge is for two years, renewed at Qantas’ discretion. No fees are charged.

The Qantas Chairman’s Lounge in Brisbane. Lucas Muro

Both Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb – and several commissioners – and Australian Securities and Investments Commission chair Joe Longo, and his two deputies – are members of the Chairman’s Lounge despite regulating the airline.

The airline also declined to say how many free upgrades have been given to politicians as part of their membership over the past 12 months, suggesting politicians should disclose these.

“For privacy reasons, we are unable to disclose personal information regarding flights taken by individuals,” it said. “It is up to members and senators to update their register of interests, as appropriate.”

The Australian Financial Review‘s Rear Window column revealed that Anthony Albanese’s son Nathan was conferred membership to the