Qantas cracks down on exclusive Chairman’s Lounge after Alan Joyce backlash about why Anthony Albanese’s son was gifted full access

Qantas has investigated its exclusive Chairman’s Lounge after it emerged that Anthony Albanese’s son had been granted access.

The Chairman’s Lounge, which is by invitation only, is reserved for Members of Parliament, celebrities and business people who can enjoy plush leather sofas, à la carte steaks or a buffet feast, a complementary bar serving Perrier Jouet champagne and, above all, peace and quiet.

Outgoing airline chief Alan Joyce, appearing before a Senate committee in Melbourne on Monday, declined to speak about the Chairman’s Lounge when questioned.

Qantas has since cracked down on members of the exclusive club to ensure they spend money with the airline.

This was revealed in an email exchange between a member of the Chairman’s Lounge and a Qantas regional manager, who was reportedly seen by The Daily Telegraph.

The email stated that both My Joyce and the management team had conducted the investigation.

“Recently, our Chief Executive Officer, Alan Joyce, and his executive team reviewed the Chairman’s Lounge membership roster and the criteria required to be a continuing member,” the manager wrote.

“New criteria now require the member to be affiliated with organizations to have a commercial airfare agreement with Qantas and agree on revenue and market share targets.”

While executives spend money to join the top club, Ethics Center director Simon Longstaff expressed concern about what politicians would need to access after their election.

“The public is concerned that politicians are getting something for what is expected of them,” he told the publication.

EIt was reported earlier this month that Nathan Albanese, the 23-year-old son of Mr Albanese and his ex-wife Carmel Tebbutt, has been granted access.

This happened when Qantas, a prominent supporter of the Voice to Parliament, lobbied the government to stop Qatar Airways is not allowed to bring extra flights to Australia.

It highlighted Joyce’s relationship with the prime minister and the Albanian government.

At the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Mr Joyce was asked if he has spoken to the Prime Minister about granting his son access to the Chairman Lounge.

“Again, I’m not going to comment on membership in the Chairman’s club, I have privacy concerns where we don’t want to comment on who’s in, who it’s been offered to and why they’re there,” he replied.

“I won’t comment on that, confirm or deny it.”

Mr Joyce also declined to confirm whether family members of MPs had been offered free membership to the Chairman’s Lounge, following continued questioning by Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne, the deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee.

“Again, I will not comment on the Chairman’s Lounge, I will not comment on who is or is not there,” he said.

“There are privacy issues with that.”

Mr. Joyce refused to even say how membership in the Chairman’s Lounge is awarded.

“I’m not referring to who or who is in the lounge or by what criteria that is allowed,” he said.

National Senator Matt Canavan interrupted to suggest Mr Joyce could answer the questions beforehand, and called out the Qantas CEO for using privacy as an excuse to avoid scrutiny.

“I realize there is confidentiality here,” he said.

“I’m not entirely sure this falls into a category where that information shouldn’t be provided.”

Liberal Senator Jane Hume, chair of the Senate Committee on the Cost of Living, suggested that Joyce answer questions beforehand and provide written answers.

“Perhaps this is beyond the limits of that mandate, but perhaps you, Mr. Joyce, will return to committee in time on the grounds that … you have refused to answer the questions,” she said.

Mr. Joyce, who received $2.272 million in 2022, agreed that written answers would be provided to the committee.

“I’m happy to do that, Chairman,” he said.

Senator Hume also suggested that senators declare whether they were members of the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge.

The Invitation-Only Chairman’s Lounge is so exclusive that Qantas has only recently acknowledged its existence on its website.

There are six airports with lounges in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra, discreetly hidden from the traveling public.

Daily Mail Australia questioned Qantas about who arranged for Mr Albanese’s son to join this club, but received no response.

Mr. Joyce was also questioned during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the $370 million in outstanding flight credits owed to Qantas customers.

Customers were originally required to redeem these credits before December 31 of this year, which caused a stir.

Qantas has now reversed the expiration decision and scrapped the limit following growing public outcry.

The massive travel credit backlog had emerged during the Covid pandemic, when flights were canceled worldwide due to widespread border closures.

The rollback will allow customers whose flights are canceled before October 2021 to keep flight credits indefinitely for refund, Qantas confirmed on Thursday.