From July 1, Qantas will not allow passengers on international Jetstar flights into lounges unless they’re booked on a Business Max fare or have Platinum One status.
Sounds reasonable to me. Shared ownership aside, Jetstar is a budget airline. The previous rules were unusually generous compared to other oneworld airlines.
Aeroroutes has the details. 22 new domestic routes with BA including multiple Delhi and Mumbai routes. Three with Qantas; all from Singapore. The airline has codeshares with several oneworld and SkyTeam members, and oneworld’s former CEO implied it was a top target for membership late last year.
Robyn Ironside, writing for The Australian:
Qantas has quietly rolled out its new safety video which ditches the unlikely locations and frequent flyer cameos of past years, in favour of actual aircraft settings.
Introduced to flights over the weekend, the video runs just under four minutes and includes recent changes to rules about the use and carriage of power banks, delivered by cabin crew and pilots.
…“When developing safety videos, the primary objective is to ensure customers understand what the safety procedures are, but we also need to capture their attention so safety is front of mind, particularly for regular flyers who might otherwise tune out,” Qantas said.
Here’s the video, which curiously, Qantas hasn’t publicized on its own channels. The song you hear in the background is an updated instrumental of Alex Lloyd’s “Amazing.”
Qantas’ “magic place” video was gorgeous, but seems to have caused some anxiety at the airline and the unions for being too distracting. I’d argue that a more cinematic safety video gets people to look up from their phone in the first place, so I’d love to see what the research says.
These videos are also marketing tools, and on those grounds, the new video is effective. I’m convinced1 that the best advertisement for Qantas remains its impeccable safety record.
In any case, I don’t think this specific version of the video will last long. It prominently features the current Qantas uniforms, which the airline expects to retire next year. I’d expect at least a minor refresh soon after.
You may have seen a video this week of a man going to work on some check-in kiosks at Hong Kong International Airport.
The Telegraph reported that a British tourist was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and possession of pills without a prescription, and had been trying to purchase a plane ticket before he lost it.
Look a little closer, and you’ll see that his rampage started in Aisle J of the airport, and that he’s knocking down a Qantas check-in sign.
Pity. Had he booked his ticket online, he could have used in-town check-in to ease his stress.
Qantas, today:
Qantas is continuing with a major refresh of its Regional Lounge network, with upgrades set to commence for seven lounges across Australia over the coming weeks.
These are interior refreshes, not full-scale renovations:
…Each lounge will receive a refreshed interior featuring a distinct, new colour palette inspired by the region’s natural landscapes. Customers can expect modern furniture and improved seating options, refined finishes such as new flooring and updated surfaces, as well as upgraded technology including more charging points and entertainment displays.
Closure dates (and a reminder that Qantas’ regional lounge footprint runs deep):
Robyn Ironside in The Australian:
Qantas and Jetstar have indicated they will have a significant presence at the airport, while Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines have also signalled their intention to fly out of Western Sydney. As yet no firm contracts have been signed, but Qantas International chief executive Cam Wallace says it’s only a matter of time.
“We’re just working with them on how we manage the right cost base to allow us to grow in the years to come,” says Wallace of the protracted negotiations with management. “But Western Sydney in the medium term would be a good option for short-haul international travel. It’s just [a question of] when is that going to be and can we strike the right deal.”
No date yet for Western Sydney International, which is still expected to open some time this year.
Executive Traveller, on Instagram:
Qantas is following up its Aesop first class amenity kits with the rollout of these R.M.Williams business class amenity kits… Inside each kit, passengers will find a selection of Grown Alchemist skincare products including hydrating day cream, restorative hand cream, and nourishing lip balm.
(If you’re new here, welcome. Spheres is where I post news and commentary about flying with oneworld and whatever goes along with that. You can also get these posts in a free newsletter. One email per week.)
Here are the routes, planes, services, and other changes that caught my eye for 2026.
oneworld
Alaska
American
British
Cathay
Fiji
Finnair
Iberia
JAL
Malaysia
Oman
Qantas
Qatar
Royal Air Maroc
Royal Jordanian
SriLankan
—
Qantas previewed the lounge for Stuff.co.nz last week. A dramatic improvement over the old space:
The airline is calling it their best-in-the-network.
David Flynn, writing for Executive Traveller:
Available from February 2026, Economy Plus will see the most spacious ‘extra legroom’ seats – including those at the exit rows – bundled with practical perks of priority boarding and ‘priority access’ to the luggage bins above your seat.
Qantas is adding Economy Plus to the workhorse Boeing 737 fleet, as well as the new A321XLR and A220s. Free for Platinum and above from booking time, and free for Gold if there are still seats available with 24 hours until the flight.
