Australia’s low fares airline Jetstar has unveiled a unique passenger lounge at Gold Coast Airport to be opened on Monday 15 June 2009.

Jetstar’s Gold Coast Lounge is a one-off passenger lounge concept at the low fare carrier’s major Australian leisure gateway.

The lounge will have capacity for 120 people and features a range of benefits, including a designated children’s play area and children’s cinema, complimentary food and beverages, Internet access and plasma screens showing movies, music videos and television news.

Jetstar Chief Executive Officer Bruce Buchanan said Gold Coast Lounge would be a welcome addition for Jetstar passengers travelling from Gold Coast Airport on one of the airline’s existing 120 weekly domestic and 23 weekly international return services to Japan and New Zealand.

“Gold Coast Lounge is the latest example of Jetstar’s commitment to offering even greater choice to our customers both in the air and now on the ground in our largest holiday port,” Mr Buchanan said.

“The unique opportunity at Gold Coast Airport allows us to offer Jetstar passengers the choice of a passenger lounge. This lounge will support our ever growing domestic and international services operating to and from our Gold Coast flying hub.

“The opening of our Gold Coast Lounge is part of our unique commitment to the Gold Coast, and is in addition to our support of the Jetstar Gold Coast Titans, our increasing flight network and our ongoing development of local employment through our recently expanded crew base here.

“Gold Coast Lounge is a great place to relax with plasma screens, magazines and newspapers, or conduct business where you can check your emails on your laptop or charge your mobile phone.

“At Gold Coast Lounge, Jetstar passengers canenjoy complimentary use of all the facilities including comfortable lounges, news and movie entertainment, Internet access laptops and an extensive food and beverage menu.

“With free entry for children six and under and a separate area where they can play and draw, or sit on beanbags and watch movies in the children’s cinema, the lounge is ideal for entertaining little ones before boarding a flight.”

Entry to the Gold Coast Lounge will be available for purchase at Jetstar.com as part of a seamless process when booking a flight from the Gold Coast. Entry can also be purchased via the Jetstar Telephone Reservations Centre or at Gold Coast Airport.

* Jetstar is launching Gold Coast Lounge with a special introductory rate of $5 when pre-purchased from Jetstar.com or from the call centre on 131 538 before travel, or $10 at the door (from 15 June 2009). The special introductory rate will be available until midnight Tuesday 30 June 2009 unless sold out prior and the offer may be extended.

Passengers flying StarClass on Jetstar’s direct flights to Japan from the Gold Coast will receive free entry into the Gold Coast Lounge.

“The new Gold Coast Lounge is another way in which we give our passengers choices when traveling, by offering great products and services for a competitive price,” Mr Buchanan said.

Key features of the Gold Coast Lounge include:

* Children six years and under will be admitted FREE

* Designated children’s play area and separate children’s cinema – the play area includes books, puzzles and a chalk blackboard. The children’s cinema features beanbags, and plays a range of kids movies

* Complimentary breakfast (including Japanese style breakfast), lunch, dinner and snack menu, with a wide selection of non-alcoholic beverages including soft drinks and juices

* Complimentary selection of wine and beer

* Plasma screens showing the television news, movies and music videos

* Complimentary wireless Internet access for passengers with laptops

* Variety of latest magazines and Australian newspapers

* Optus mobile phone connect stations to charge mobiles

The Gold Coast Lounge is located through security in the domestic departure lounge and will be open 45 minutes prior to the first scheduled Jetstar flight departure and closed at the boarding call of the last scheduled Jetstar flight departure daily.

Both international and domestic Jetstar passengers can access the lounge as the Gold Coast Airport security point is common for both international and domestic departures.