Qatar lobbyist spotted in Qantas Chairman’s Lounge

Membership to Qantas’ Chairman’s Lounge is both a means by which the airline shows favour to those whose favours it may one day need, and a mechanism through which it keeps the wealthy and the powerful wholly cordoned off from its (declining) broader service levels.

For frequent fliers, its lures are irresistible. And it seems not even those working for the Flying Kangaroo’s chief rivals are immune.

On Instagram last week, Qatar Airways’ energetic lobbyist Eamonn Fitzpatrick took a break from posting selfies with Labor politicians to instead feature an image of some highly distinctive hexagonal flooring.

“Retro carpet vibes” he wrote, below a picture of what Canberra insiders immediately recognised as a view of Sydney’s Qantas Chairman’s Lounge, the membership list of which marks the pinnacle of Qantas’ own lobbying efforts.

Fitzpatrick was deep behind enemy lines. And it didn’t pass unnoticed.

After all, in the war that’s erupted since the government blocked Qatar’s bids for more flights into Australia’s major capitals at Qantas’ urging, Qatar’s PR response has involved flying hot air balloons across Canberra while being the first to ferry Australians home from Israel in time for the nightly news. But it seems no one can beat Qantas for sheer perks in domestic!