How to Activate Lounge Passes for AmEx Qantas Ultimate Card

Hi, I have the Amex Qantas Ultimate card and want to activate the 2 Qantas lounge passes for my next trip. What's the cheapest option I can purchase from Qantas instead of flights? If I purchase the $5 seat upgrade, does this count since it'll post as a Qantas transaction?

Here's the fine print on how to activate the passes:

*An important note is that in order to receive the Qantas lounge passes, you need to first make an eligible purchase with Qantas using the Card, which is defined as:

Qantas passenger airfares with a QF flight number purchased directly from Qantas Australia by you (or by a travel agent on your behalf) that appear on your Qantas American Express Ultimate Card statement as a Qantas transaction; Qantas Frequent Flyer and Qantas Club membership joining and annual fees; and Qantas Travel shop purchases.*

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Comments

  • The latest T&C dont include Qantas Travel shop purchases.

    Selected products and services are as follows:
    (i) Qantas passenger flights with a QF number, purchased directly from Qantas.com.au using your Qantas American Express
    Ultimate Card;
    (ii) Qantas Frequent Flyer and Qantas Club membership joining and annual fees.
    Excludes Jetstar, Qantas Holidays, Qantas Freight, Qantas Cruises, Qantas Box Office, Qantas Wine, Qantas Insurance, Qantas Shopping, Qantas Merchandise Store or any other Qantas branded goods and services other than those items outlined in (i) and (ii) above.

    https://icm.aexp-static.com/Internet/internationalcardshop/e….

  • I'm curious if buying the $5 seat upgrade for my Qantas flight would activate the lounge pass. In the past this worked with purchasing Carbon offset for the flight.

    Anyone had any success?

    • I just booked a flight to NZ using the Amex Travel credit. Then went on the QF website to select and pay for seat selection and it did not activate the lounge passes.

      • I just bought seat upgrades for my flight as well. The email from Qantas with lounge invitation may take up to 2 weeks to arrive. Let's see :)

    • Hey OP, so wanted to confirm $5 seat upgrade is the only way to activate lounge pass with AMEX Qantas Ultimate card? I've just made a booking to utilise the $450 travel credit and struggling to find the option of adding/purchasing carbon offset to activate the lounge passes.

  • Just want to update the thread that purchasing the $5 seat upgrade worked to activate the lounge invitation! I didn't receive any email but saw new invite showing up in my lounge invitation management page!

    @Meho2026, did this work for you?

    • What's the $5 seat upgrade you mention? I've got two passes I want to activate for an upcoming trip. Did your passes come through quickly?

      • You need to have the flight purchased. When you're selecting seats there's normally an option to buy a $5 seat that's in the front part of the plane. It's not extra legroom or exit rows. Make sure you purchase using the Amex card.

        Once you've made the purchase, keep checking this page: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/the-qantas-club/…

        Your lounge invites will show up there. For me it was about a week after purchasing the $5 seat.

        Good luck!

        • Thanks!

    • Yes, it did work. I didnt realise until today. I didnt get email confirmation but I just stumbled on the comp. lounge invitations page. I only came back to this thread to let you know.

  • buy a classic reward ticket and cancel for free

  • Anyone know if these tricks still work? In the same boat

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