Hobart Qantas Club Review

The Hobart Qantas Club has long fallen short of expectations, as has the rest of Hobart’s terminal, struggling under the weight of five times its intended capacity. While the capital city terminal does look somewhat pleasant these days, the lack of undercover walkways or aerobridges is baffling in rainy Tasmania, and seating is still woefully inadequate.

The good news is that Hobart’s terminal upgrade is now in full swing after being just around the corner for years. As construction continues, the Qantas Club has been relocated to a temporary location, which used to be a public seating area. Essentially, the nice part of the departures lounge has been gated off, with a few more chairs and a sandwich press installed.

Here’s a look at Hobart’s temporary Qantas Club. But first, a reminder of what Qantas used to offer in the previous lounge, from our 2019 review.

Location & Access

The Hobart Qantas Club is hard to miss, located airside adjacent to Gate 5, to the right of the main terminal waiting area and close to Liv Eat. Given there are only six gates, you won’t be more than a minute's walk to boarding once leaving the lounge.

As is usually the case, the Qantas Club is open to those who hold Qantas Gold status or above, selected partner airline loyalists, and Qantas Club members. As there is no Business Lounge, Qantas Business Class passengers departing Hobart also gain access. It’s important to keep in mind that customers travelling with Jetstar or those holding single-entry passes might be turned away, due to capacity restrictions in this tiny space.

Hobart’s Qantas Club opens one hour prior to each Qantas flight, until the last Qantas departure.

Lounge Overview

While terminal construction continues, the Hobart Qantas Club has been relocated to what was once a public seating area. It’s essentially a gated-off portion of the main departures hall, with a sandwich press and frosted glass door. Qantas hasn’t so much built a temporary lounge as repurposed the most presentable corner of the terminal.

At the centre sits a rectangular banquette, surrounded by tables and chairs. There’s another row of armchairs further back, with bar seating squeezed into the far wall, and cafe seating by the window.

While on paper the space is smaller than the previous lounge, I will admit that it feels larger, brighter and is a more comfortable place to relax. There’s more greenery, which fits with Hobart Airport’s eco-vibe, plus a handful of indigenous artworks.

I had arrived right on opening before my 6:05am flight, with a line gathering outside. Within half an hour of opening, the entire lounge was comfortably full. According to staff, guests are routinely turned away during peak periods due to lack of space.

Food & Beverage

Hobart Qantas Club catering is best described as limited but functional. Depending on the time of day, you’ll find a rotation of snacks - muffins, yoghurt, cheese and crackers, and sometimes soup or fried items. There’s also a DIY sandwich press if you want something warm, though the options are basic.

The beverage list does hit the mark, with a self-serve fridge containing soft drinks and juice, plus a selection of wine, beer, and cider that is unlocked from midday. There's also a DIY cocktail station, with all the spirits you’d need to get denied boarding.

Finally, you will find a selection of teas plus an automatic coffee machine, standard for a lounge of this tier.

Amenities

Amenities are where the Hobart Qantas Club really falls short. First up, there are no bathrooms. The public toilets aren’t far away, but that’s not the point for a space branded as a premium lounge. Of course, this is a temporary space during major terminal construction, so allowances must be made. But it’s hard to overlook how inconvenient it is when guests are regularly being asked to exit and re-enter the lounge just to use the bathroom.

Wi-Fi is available, but patchy. The service worked fine during my visit, apart from on the Qantas website, where I received multiple “access denied” errors. At least that feels thematically on-brand.

There are no showers, no quiet zones, no printers, and very limited power points - but at this point, you probably weren’t expecting them. Amenities are limited to the basics: power (if you can find it), Wi-Fi (if it works), and bathrooms (if you don’t mind a walk).

Service & Staff

One area in which I finally have nothing bad to comment on is the staff. Qantas lounge attendants in Hobart are consistently friendly and manage the space as best they can, even when it’s wildly full. During my visit, one of the kitchen staff, Rachel, was super friendly for 5am, striking up a genuine conversation with nearly every guest.

Our Verdict

The Hobart Qantas Club was never a standout, and this temporary version doesn’t do much to raise expectations. What Qantas offers during the long-overdue upgrade is a functional improvised space, and it's worth mentioning that the previous lounge has now reopened for public seating. The all-new Hobart Qantas Club will be located in a new location, so I don’t actually understand the need for this temporary reshuffle.

The relocated lounge is brighter and arguably more pleasant, but there’s no getting around the basics of no bathrooms, not enough seats, and just enough catering to get by. Here's hoping for a jaw-dropping glow-up sometime in 2027.