Joyce denies Qantas lounge was used for political influence in new memoir
Alan Joyce’s book Riding the Jet Stream details how the airline’s exclusive chairman’s lounge operated, asserting it was a commercial arrangement with strict oversight rather than a tool for political leverage.
Former Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has released a memoir titled Riding the Jet Stream, in which he firmly denies allegations that the airline’s exclusive chairman’s lounge was utilised as a mechanism to influence politicians. Joyce characterises the lounge as a commercial arrangement subject to rigorous oversight, noting that membership approvals were managed by a small group of senior executives rather than by himself or the Qantas chair.
In the book, released on Tuesday, Joyce provides his most detailed account of how access to the private facility in Australia’s major airports was administered. He states that neither he nor the chair personally handled invitations, with core membership extending to federal and state politicians, high court and federal judges, editors of national newspapers, and high-profile celebrities. Companies spending approximately $1 million annually on Qantas flights likely received one lounge membership, which could be rotated among executives.
Joyce refutes suggestions that the lounge served as a lever of control, describing such assertions as the “wildest assertion”. He argues that if the facility were used to exert influence, Qantas would not have lost cases in the High Court or Federal Court. Instead, he describes the lounge as a relationship tool, emphasising that membership was invitation-only and could not be purchased or earned through frequent-flyer points.
Addressing specific allegations, Joyce denies claims that he granted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese free flight upgrades, a claim the prime minister previously denied in 2024. Joyce writes that he has no recollection of receiving such requests from the prime minister or his staff and describes the allegations as “bunkum”. He notes that while he would typically arrange upgrades for politicians from all major parties via his personal assistant, there is no record of him authorising an upgrade for Albanese.
The memoir also highlights the airline’s enforcement of conduct standards, citing the six-month ban imposed on Senator Jacqui Lambie following a “rant” in the Melbourne chairman’s lounge. Joyce acknowledges that membership numbers once grew “out of control” due to “inconsistent oversight”, leading to rescinded memberships, though he does not specify when this occurred. He maintains that the lounge’s exclusivity and discretion were its defining features, rather than the perks of free food, alcohol, and priority services.
