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The Chairman's Lounge: The inside story of how Qantas sold us out
From the must-read journalist on how power, money and influence work in this country, the full story of how one of the nation's favorite brands brought itself to ground.
Before Covid, both Qantas and its CEO Alan Joyce were flying high, the darlings of customers, staff and investors. After Covid hit, only money mattered – in particular, the company's share price and extraordinary executive bonuses. Illegally redundant workers, unethical flight credits, abysmal customer service, antique these became Qantas' new brand.
How did things go so badly wrong? Why were customers at the end of the queue? And how did an increasingly autocratic Joyce constantly get his own way, with the Qantas board and with both Liberal and Labor governments, which handed out over billions in subsidies and protected lucrative flight routes from foreign competition? For the first time, The Chairman's Lounge tells the full story of how one company banked the nation's loyalty and then cashed in on it.
In his celebrated Rear Window column for the Australian Financial Review , Joe Aston's reporting of the ethical failings of Qantas spurred the early retirement of its CEO and the resignation of its chairman. With fresh interviews and revelations, written in Aston's trademark swashbuckling style , The Chairman's Lounge is the definitive account of how Qantas was brought to the ground and who did it. It is a parable of our times.
'A masterclass in investigative journalism... A scathing, unflinching takedown of greed, delusion and a shameless abuse of power, both jaw-dropping and brilliantly incisive'
Adele Ferguson
Before Covid, both Qantas and its CEO Alan Joyce were flying high, the darlings of customers, staff and investors. After Covid hit, only money mattered – in particular, the company's share price and extraordinary executive bonuses. Illegally redundant workers, unethical flight credits, abysmal customer service, antique these became Qantas' new brand.
How did things go so badly wrong? Why were customers at the end of the queue? And how did an increasingly autocratic Joyce constantly get his own way, with the Qantas board and with both Liberal and Labor governments, which handed out over billions in subsidies and protected lucrative flight routes from foreign competition? For the first time, The Chairman's Lounge tells the full story of how one company banked the nation's loyalty and then cashed in on it.
In his celebrated Rear Window column for the Australian Financial Review , Joe Aston's reporting of the ethical failings of Qantas spurred the early retirement of its CEO and the resignation of its chairman. With fresh interviews and revelations, written in Aston's trademark swashbuckling style , The Chairman's Lounge is the definitive account of how Qantas was brought to the ground and who did it. It is a parable of our times.
'A masterclass in investigative journalism... A scathing, unflinching takedown of greed, delusion and a shameless abuse of power, both jaw-dropping and brilliantly incisive'
Adele Ferguson
367 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2024
556 people are currently reading
1106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
December 2, 2024
i usually don’t read very dense, non-fiction books like this, but i thoroughly enjoyed myself reading this, in a twisted sense. joe aston is refreshingly witty, and balanced this with careful attention to detail and evidence; a true marvel of journalism. he oscillates between narrative-like prose and the damning facts against one of australia’s biggest institutions.
i deducted half a star only because, to be *****completely***** honest, i did get the slight impression that joe is a bit…. arrogant? although i think this impression kind of fizzled away as i kept reading. i think the start of the book is a bit rocky, but he really finds his groove in the middle of the book. amazing writing!!
i think i’m gonna be the only person who’s read this book to say this but: i think he went a bit it **too** soft on alan joyce and richard goyder. every time he really dug into them i was screaming from the sideline, “whack him again for me!” i also think he was too lenient to the liberal MPs, ESPECIALLY scott morrison. most of his ire was turned toward albanese (which was warranted and i wouldn’t have him take ANYTHING away from it!) but i feel that joe aston himself probably wasn’t even aware he was doing it. anyway. who am i but a 17 year old recent high school graduate, joe aston if you’re reading this don’t take anything i’ve said to heart. although you probably haven’t anyway. i really admire you and your work!!!
this is lowkey making me re-consider my decision to study political science in canberra next year. i think canberra is unsalvageable
i deducted half a star only because, to be *****completely***** honest, i did get the slight impression that joe is a bit…. arrogant? although i think this impression kind of fizzled away as i kept reading. i think the start of the book is a bit rocky, but he really finds his groove in the middle of the book. amazing writing!!
i think i’m gonna be the only person who’s read this book to say this but: i think he went a bit it **too** soft on alan joyce and richard goyder. every time he really dug into them i was screaming from the sideline, “whack him again for me!” i also think he was too lenient to the liberal MPs, ESPECIALLY scott morrison. most of his ire was turned toward albanese (which was warranted and i wouldn’t have him take ANYTHING away from it!) but i feel that joe aston himself probably wasn’t even aware he was doing it. anyway. who am i but a 17 year old recent high school graduate, joe aston if you’re reading this don’t take anything i’ve said to heart. although you probably haven’t anyway. i really admire you and your work!!!
this is lowkey making me re-consider my decision to study political science in canberra next year. i think canberra is unsalvageable
November 4, 2024
Absolutely amazing work from Aston and absolutely appalling work from Joyce on every page
November 4, 2024
TLDR: Alan Joyce is a bad baaahd man but made an awful lot of kesef selling QANTAS up the river - turns out the ‘spirit of Australia’ is Jameson
May 19, 2025
What can I say, a brilliant and gripping story of the downfall of one of if not Australia’s most notorious companies. A fascinating insight into the break down of governance within a large organisation and the detrimental effects on all Australian consumers at the hands of a few parties in kahootz.
March 2, 2025
Wow! The content was fascinating. I say content, as I devoured this via audiobook rather than physically reading (I found it too dense to read, but fantastically presented on audio).
Myself, like many people I know, have been fed up with QANTAS and I’m glad they have been exposed for their tricks.
It touched on a variety of aspects of our current Australian airline industry, and looked at the influence of international carriers (I personally love Emirates, and despite their alliance with QANTAS will continue to support them. Nothing beats the warm towels they provide!)
I would recommend this book to all, particularly the audiobook. Those living in Australia should be aware of what our big companies are up to, and any airline enthusiast will likely find it insightful
Myself, like many people I know, have been fed up with QANTAS and I’m glad they have been exposed for their tricks.
It touched on a variety of aspects of our current Australian airline industry, and looked at the influence of international carriers (I personally love Emirates, and despite their alliance with QANTAS will continue to support them. Nothing beats the warm towels they provide!)
I would recommend this book to all, particularly the audiobook. Those living in Australia should be aware of what our big companies are up to, and any airline enthusiast will likely find it insightful
November 3, 2024
A must read.
December 29, 2025
I enjoyed the first half very much, it is completely eye-opening. However I skimmed the last third as I was ready to move back to fiction (I was losing interest with all of the statistics, and felt I had the general gist).
December 29, 2024
Book Review 40 (2024) - 4.5/5 - 'The Chairman's Lounge: The inside story of how Qantas sold us out', Joe Aston - Non-Fiction - Exposé
A long-standing client of mine, known for uncovering hidden gems, recommended this book—and I’m glad I took their advice.
In The Chairman's Lounge, Joe Aston gives us an eye-opening look into the dramatic rise and fall of Qantas in the post-COVID era. Having been a loyal Qantas customer for years, like so many Australians, I found myself glued to every twist and turn of the airline’s saga—especially as Alan Joyce, its CEO, seemingly cemented his place in history as one of the most infamous and arguably disastrous executives the company ever had.
Aston, a seasoned The Australian Financial Review journalist and former Qantas employee, pulls back the curtain on the airline’s corporate world with an insider’s perspective. He dives deep into the scandals that plagued Qantas during Joyce’s tenure—holding millions of dollars in refundable fares, canceling flights at will, charging customers even more, and laying off thousands of employees under harsh, uncompetitive contracts. It’s a shocking portrayal of how a company, once revered, was slowly brought to its knees by arrogance, hubris, and a toxic culture of old-boy networks.
What makes The Chairman's Lounge so compelling is how Aston doesn’t just expose the wrongdoings. He digs into the psyche behind the decisions and the motivations that drove Joyce and his inner circle. What emerges is a story of power gone unchecked, and ultimately, a company that was brought to heel by its own mismanagement.
The book also sheds light on the remuneration practices, highlighting how cost-cutting measures and government COVID payments were seemingly redirected to benefit upper management. While staff faced layoffs and customers endured service cuts, the upper echelons enjoyed financial perks, reinforcing a stark disconnect between those at the top and the broader workforce. This systemic prioritization of executive coffers over operational integrity raises critical questions about corporate ethics and accountability.
Aston’s sharp wit and candid style make this book not just informative, but also incredibly engaging. His firsthand account is a must-read for anyone who’s followed Qantas’ downward spiral, and for those looking to understand how unchecked corporate power can lead to disastrous results. I was especially intrigued by the courtroom transcripts, where barristers expertly grilled Qantas Senior Executives. It was striking how, under oath, each one seemed to conveniently forget key details when questioned. My legal clients and network will no doubt appreciate the barristers’ skill in 'closing the gates' during these hearings—a term I recently learned from leading banking and finance barrister Jonathan Abednego.
On a personal note, I recall flying from Sydney to London with my wife. As we walked past first class (we were in Economy), out walked Alan Joyce. I couldn’t help but think, “Well, that must be the safest flight in the world.” It’s a contrast that perfectly encapsulates The Chairman's Lounge—a juxtaposition between the security of the flight I was on, and the non-safest management style in the world. Joyce's leadership, marked by hubris and a disregard for accountability, had the opposite effect: while I felt safe in the skies, the airline’s future was anything but secure under his watch.
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5) ✈️
What are your Qantas stories—horrors or high praise? Share your experiences—I’d love to hear them!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Enjoy,
CPH
Have you read The Chairman's Lounge? Can a company’s success or failure truly rest on one individual, or do we, as a collective, share responsibility for the outcomes? Reply to this newsletter or share your review with me on LinkedIn. Let’s keep the conversation going, Reader Leaders!
And if you haven’t yet, be sure to subscribe for more book reviews, reflections, and recommendations:
📖 Subscribe here 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/...
Ready to master LinkedIn? Pick up a copy of my new book, out now on Amazon in Paperback and Kindle!
📚 Grab your copy for The New Year 📖🥳
👉 Laws of LinkedIn on Amazon - Paperback https://amzn.asia/d/f7bhkgw
👉 Laws of LinkedIn on Amazon - Kindle Edition https://amzn.asia/d/8Vkn25J
#Books #BookReview #ReadRatedReviewed
A long-standing client of mine, known for uncovering hidden gems, recommended this book—and I’m glad I took their advice.
In The Chairman's Lounge, Joe Aston gives us an eye-opening look into the dramatic rise and fall of Qantas in the post-COVID era. Having been a loyal Qantas customer for years, like so many Australians, I found myself glued to every twist and turn of the airline’s saga—especially as Alan Joyce, its CEO, seemingly cemented his place in history as one of the most infamous and arguably disastrous executives the company ever had.
Aston, a seasoned The Australian Financial Review journalist and former Qantas employee, pulls back the curtain on the airline’s corporate world with an insider’s perspective. He dives deep into the scandals that plagued Qantas during Joyce’s tenure—holding millions of dollars in refundable fares, canceling flights at will, charging customers even more, and laying off thousands of employees under harsh, uncompetitive contracts. It’s a shocking portrayal of how a company, once revered, was slowly brought to its knees by arrogance, hubris, and a toxic culture of old-boy networks.
What makes The Chairman's Lounge so compelling is how Aston doesn’t just expose the wrongdoings. He digs into the psyche behind the decisions and the motivations that drove Joyce and his inner circle. What emerges is a story of power gone unchecked, and ultimately, a company that was brought to heel by its own mismanagement.
The book also sheds light on the remuneration practices, highlighting how cost-cutting measures and government COVID payments were seemingly redirected to benefit upper management. While staff faced layoffs and customers endured service cuts, the upper echelons enjoyed financial perks, reinforcing a stark disconnect between those at the top and the broader workforce. This systemic prioritization of executive coffers over operational integrity raises critical questions about corporate ethics and accountability.
Aston’s sharp wit and candid style make this book not just informative, but also incredibly engaging. His firsthand account is a must-read for anyone who’s followed Qantas’ downward spiral, and for those looking to understand how unchecked corporate power can lead to disastrous results. I was especially intrigued by the courtroom transcripts, where barristers expertly grilled Qantas Senior Executives. It was striking how, under oath, each one seemed to conveniently forget key details when questioned. My legal clients and network will no doubt appreciate the barristers’ skill in 'closing the gates' during these hearings—a term I recently learned from leading banking and finance barrister Jonathan Abednego.
On a personal note, I recall flying from Sydney to London with my wife. As we walked past first class (we were in Economy), out walked Alan Joyce. I couldn’t help but think, “Well, that must be the safest flight in the world.” It’s a contrast that perfectly encapsulates The Chairman's Lounge—a juxtaposition between the security of the flight I was on, and the non-safest management style in the world. Joyce's leadership, marked by hubris and a disregard for accountability, had the opposite effect: while I felt safe in the skies, the airline’s future was anything but secure under his watch.
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5/5) ✈️
What are your Qantas stories—horrors or high praise? Share your experiences—I’d love to hear them!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Enjoy,
CPH
Have you read The Chairman's Lounge? Can a company’s success or failure truly rest on one individual, or do we, as a collective, share responsibility for the outcomes? Reply to this newsletter or share your review with me on LinkedIn. Let’s keep the conversation going, Reader Leaders!
And if you haven’t yet, be sure to subscribe for more book reviews, reflections, and recommendations:
📖 Subscribe here 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/...
Ready to master LinkedIn? Pick up a copy of my new book, out now on Amazon in Paperback and Kindle!
📚 Grab your copy for The New Year 📖🥳
👉 Laws of LinkedIn on Amazon - Paperback https://amzn.asia/d/f7bhkgw
👉 Laws of LinkedIn on Amazon - Kindle Edition https://amzn.asia/d/8Vkn25J
#Books #BookReview #ReadRatedReviewed
May 9, 2025
Joe Aston is a force to be reckoned with in The Chairman’s Lounge. This is a supremely well-researched piece, really dense but sufficiently punctuated with wit and salaciousness that it's borderline addictive.
This book naturally begs the question ‘how do things even get to this point?’, which one might be tempted to answer by looking to market conditions, internal structures etc, which, judging by KPMG's and Deloitte’s omnipresence in this book, is exactly the trap Qantas fell into. The real strength of Aston’s account is his ability to look beyond all that, directly into the psyche of his main characters and how ego and money affect their behaviour. Aston covers so much ground in this book and it’s all valuable, but that insight into the actors' motivations is why he particularly shines in discussing the soft power that permits Qantas to get away with its anti-competitive practices.
The bottom line is this is both really fun and informative. Who knew the spirit of Australia was actually Qatar Airways all along!!
I listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend and which was narrated excellently by Aston himself. I suspect the actual book might be a little dense, particularly for someone (like me) with a very rudimentary understanding of microeconomics.
This book naturally begs the question ‘how do things even get to this point?’, which one might be tempted to answer by looking to market conditions, internal structures etc, which, judging by KPMG's and Deloitte’s omnipresence in this book, is exactly the trap Qantas fell into. The real strength of Aston’s account is his ability to look beyond all that, directly into the psyche of his main characters and how ego and money affect their behaviour. Aston covers so much ground in this book and it’s all valuable, but that insight into the actors' motivations is why he particularly shines in discussing the soft power that permits Qantas to get away with its anti-competitive practices.
The bottom line is this is both really fun and informative. Who knew the spirit of Australia was actually Qatar Airways all along!!
I listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend and which was narrated excellently by Aston himself. I suspect the actual book might be a little dense, particularly for someone (like me) with a very rudimentary understanding of microeconomics.
November 30, 2024
Break out the popcorn, and grab a giant slurpee for a look behind the gold plated PRIVATE sign and velvet ropes of corporate privilege.
Getting your hands on a hard copy of this book is as hard as getting an invitation to the Chairman’s Lounge and now I know why. It’s a blistering assessment of what happens when you put an overconfident CEO without impulse control in charge of an iconic brand and match him with a board so weighed down in perks and a government in so deep they dare not so much as tip the wings lest they have to sit in the back of the plane.
“The disappointing part is that no matter how badly Qantas treats its customers, they still keep flying Qantas” - John Sharp, Rex airlines
Yeah, I’m prob of those. Qantas needs a shakeup at the top AND the “I Still
Call Australia Home” ads are guaranteed to get me all patriotic. We have only sustained two main airlines and the West-East flights are long. I’d love Qantas to return to be a high trust company. This book is a cautionary tale for corporations.
With all the wit of a (very) long form Rear Window* column this book essential reading for executives and directors and it’s a fun ride for everyone else.
Getting your hands on a hard copy of this book is as hard as getting an invitation to the Chairman’s Lounge and now I know why. It’s a blistering assessment of what happens when you put an overconfident CEO without impulse control in charge of an iconic brand and match him with a board so weighed down in perks and a government in so deep they dare not so much as tip the wings lest they have to sit in the back of the plane.
“The disappointing part is that no matter how badly Qantas treats its customers, they still keep flying Qantas” - John Sharp, Rex airlines
Yeah, I’m prob of those. Qantas needs a shakeup at the top AND the “I Still
Call Australia Home” ads are guaranteed to get me all patriotic. We have only sustained two main airlines and the West-East flights are long. I’d love Qantas to return to be a high trust company. This book is a cautionary tale for corporations.
With all the wit of a (very) long form Rear Window* column this book essential reading for executives and directors and it’s a fun ride for everyone else.
February 15, 2025
Winners:
Joe Aston (duh)
Gina Cass-Gottlieb
The Michaels (Justice Lee, Stutchbury, Kaine)
Michael Kaine
Sarah Ferguson
Bridget McKenzie (and the senate committee that one time)
Ian Oldmeadow (unfortunately)
Losers:
Alan Joyce (duh)
Anthony Albanese
The Andrews (David, Finch, McGinnes)
Todd Sampson
QANTAS
The Australian Public
Somehow subject to greater character assassination than even Alan Joyce:
Richard Goyder
Catherine King
Joe Aston please write a book about the AFL I am begging you please
Joe Aston (duh)
Gina Cass-Gottlieb
The Michaels (Justice Lee, Stutchbury, Kaine)
Michael Kaine
Sarah Ferguson
Bridget McKenzie (and the senate committee that one time)
Ian Oldmeadow (unfortunately)
Losers:
Alan Joyce (duh)
Anthony Albanese
The Andrews (David, Finch, McGinnes)
Todd Sampson
QANTAS
The Australian Public
Somehow subject to greater character assassination than even Alan Joyce:
Richard Goyder
Catherine King
Joe Aston please write a book about the AFL I am begging you please
May 1, 2025
My rating of 3 mostly stems from my never having flown Qantas, never having been to Australia, and not being familiar with the system of checks and balances for corporate oversight in that country. The book is well written and the author/reporter clearly completed a thorough and detailed investigation. He did indulge in a bit of "I told you so" and "that was exactly what I wrote in many of my articles" when revealing the course of events. However, he deserves the kudos for sticking with the story. Given the current status in the US of corporations being given free reign to think of the billionaires first and forget about the consumers, it was refreshing to read that in other countries there is a price to pay for mismanagement and corruption.
February 1, 2025
This was an eye opening book.
Aston’s clever writing, interspersed with his dry wit, made this a compelling read.
He paints a shocking picture of how the past CEO of Qantas , Alan Joyce, once hoped to be the saviour of the company managed to destroy over 100 years of good will and credibility in less than four years.
Joyce was shown to be a master manipulator driven by his self importance and greed.
He managed to groom Anthony Albanese and made him a puppet who bent to his plans for gutting Qantas.
Joyce reaped billions from Australian taxpayers both during and prior to the COVID pandemic. He unlawfully sacked 1700 baggage handlers and made Qantas one of Australia’s most toxic corporate brands.
To make matters worse the nasty little gremlin got away with millions and received little punishment.
A fine book worth a read.
Aston’s clever writing, interspersed with his dry wit, made this a compelling read.
He paints a shocking picture of how the past CEO of Qantas , Alan Joyce, once hoped to be the saviour of the company managed to destroy over 100 years of good will and credibility in less than four years.
Joyce was shown to be a master manipulator driven by his self importance and greed.
He managed to groom Anthony Albanese and made him a puppet who bent to his plans for gutting Qantas.
Joyce reaped billions from Australian taxpayers both during and prior to the COVID pandemic. He unlawfully sacked 1700 baggage handlers and made Qantas one of Australia’s most toxic corporate brands.
To make matters worse the nasty little gremlin got away with millions and received little punishment.
A fine book worth a read.
June 8, 2025
Just like the Mean Girls book; The Chairman’s Lounge is the corporate, adult world burn book. I felt satisfied that all that was revealed about who and what… revenge or shit talk it a nice feeling I must admit.
July 2, 2025
A shining example of why we need media that’s capable of keeping companies and governments in check. The book is a window into corporate Australia that is digestible thanks to the authors witty remarks and that the downfall of QANTAS is relevant to the average (Australian) reader.
January 5, 2025
Working in a big Aussie corporation myself, this book was so riveting. 4.5 stars rounded up.
January 31, 2025
Minus a star for being too lenient on the libs
May 12, 2025
Actually interesting with undertones of pettiness - ideal. 4 stars because he probably unleashed the pettiness a bit too much at times.
June 9, 2025
Felt like I needed a degree to read this
July 13, 2025
10/10 book. Scarier and more horrific than a Stephen King novel. Tldr: Never flying Qantas again and neither should anyone else.
March 14, 2025
Very detailed but a bit of a repetitive punish at times, though quite funny as well!
January 4, 2026
Joe Aston's writing is clear, well-researched, and extremely bitchy. This is a must-read for all Australians.
January 4, 2025
Compulsory reading for people in positions of power eg Directors, Management and Government or those aspiring to be . A good reminder that focussing on one stakeholder at the expense of others will ultimately lead to trouble and the importance of free (and fearless) press. Very well researched and Joe doesn’t hold back - I still miss his Rear Window columns!
April 3, 2025
TLDR: Alan Joyce during covid was appalling, and the qantas board was incompetent.
October 31, 2025
Interesting middle, but took me a little to get into and lost interest by the end. I am not the target audience for this (my partner's dad got this as a present and I read it so I could chat to him about it)
November 4, 2024
Demonstrates how making an elite few feel good and smug about themselves at the expense of good and decent people, be they company staff or customers. Not an easy read but an important one!
December 25, 2024
Although Joe himself comes across as a bit of an overindulged character, his unheralded knowledge of the behind-the-scenes dealings at Qantas and the clarity of his research in this book are fantastic. It’s one of the few non-fiction works I couldn’t put down
May 16, 2025
This took me awhile to finish, but incredible journalism and I found the Albanese and Joyce relationship/gifts incredibly interesting. What an awful leader Joyce was. Remarkable how he tanked a global brand.
December 13, 2024
The Turbulent Skies of Qantas: Navigating Through Management Failures delves into Qantas’ significant and cynical missteps, impacting staff and customers.
The book also highlights the lack of governance oversight and government oversight of Qantas management, where the Board and most government officials became "friends" of management instead of providing proper oversight. The competition regulator was a notable exception to this and is probably the most responsible for getting Qantas back on track and balancing the interests of customers, staff, and investors.
Little is acknowledged of COVID's devastating impact on hugely complex airline businesses. Personal attacks against staff and board members occasionally detract from the well-documented explanation of what happened, turning the critique into what sometimes appears to be a personal vendetta by the writer.
The book also highlights the lack of governance oversight and government oversight of Qantas management, where the Board and most government officials became "friends" of management instead of providing proper oversight. The competition regulator was a notable exception to this and is probably the most responsible for getting Qantas back on track and balancing the interests of customers, staff, and investors.
Little is acknowledged of COVID's devastating impact on hugely complex airline businesses. Personal attacks against staff and board members occasionally detract from the well-documented explanation of what happened, turning the critique into what sometimes appears to be a personal vendetta by the writer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews