An exclusive, invite-only Qantas high-flyers club now includes more than half of the new NT government frontbench, with the politicians all receiving membership as gifts from the airline.

It comes amid accusations Qantas and other major airlines are price gouging travellers in Darwin, where an interstate return trip can cost upwards of $1,500.

The spotlight has also been on Qantas perks shared among federal politicians in recent months, following claims the prime minister personally solicited flight upgrades from former Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce.

Five Country Liberal Party (CLP) frontbenchers — Lia Finocchiaro, Gerard Maley, Josh Burgoyne, Jo Hersey and Robyn Cahill — have declared Qantas Chairman's Lounge memberships since their party came to power in August.

Opposition Leader Selena Uibo and former deputy chief minister Chansey Paech have also declared they are members of the luxurious club.

The ABC understands the airline invites all state and territory ministers to join the lounge.

Geoffrey Watson SC, a director of the Centre for Public Integrity, said while the lounge membership and its perks were largely kept secret, it offered members access to flight upgrades, free food and beverages.

He said the club had long been used to influence politicians to "smile more favourably upon Qantas".

"The invitations are extended only to the richest and most powerful people in our community," he said.

"It is a really tremendously valuable gift, which has been given, apparently by Qantas, to a very select few.

"In terms of the upgrades and other advantages you get, it could be worth tens of thousands.

When asked if members should have accepted the invites and on what grounds they were received, a CLP government spokesperson only said: "members have appropriately disclosed memberships as part of the transparent declaration process".

The interests register shows five members of the previous Labor government were Chairman's Lounge members.

It also shows several members of the NT Parliament, including independent MLA Robyn Lambley, declared free Qantas flight upgrades.

Last year, the previous NT government launched a $20 million subsidy to lure more flights and carriers to the territory — a scheme that has had little impact on driving prices down.

Mr Watson claimed politicians who had been given the "generous favour" of a lounge membership would struggle to effectively lobby for cheaper airfares.

"Bringing those airfares down should be the good policy behind any good thinking and good and decent government."

A Territory Labor spokesperson acknowledged two of its party's memberships, but said the opposition would continue to fight for a better deal from all airlines.

"When in government and now in opposition, Territory Labor has always lobbied hard on behalf of Territorians for cheaper airfares and more flights at decent times," they said.

Darwin hostel manager Debbie Turner has had to shut seven hostels in the city in recent years due to a lack of tourists coming to the Top End.

She blamed the downturn largely on prohibitive airfare prices and said NT politicians did not understand "what we go through for the prices we pay".

"How would they know? With what [salaries] they're on and the perks they receive, you lose touch with reality."

Mr Watson said politicians should instead transit through public airport spaces and "brush elbows" with those "struggling with cost of living issues".

"They should be talking to the people, they're the people who vote for them after all, they're the people who pay their salaries," he said.

Qantas declined to comment.