Find cheap Qantas Airways flights

Qantas is Australia’s flag carrier and main airline, flying several long-haul routes, including between Sydney and London Heathrow every day. And here’s a fun fact to kick things off: the name QANTAS isn’t a nod to a cute Aussie animal. It’s actually an acronym for the original, very formal name: “Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Services."

Since you’re likely settling in for a journey that can top 17 hours, knowing the aircraft and picking the right seat is key. Here’s our expert advice to make the most of your trip Down Under.

Qantas aircraft types

Qantas uses a mix of Airbus A380s, A330s and Boeing 787 Dreamliners for its non-stop flights from the UK to Australia and New Zealand.

Currently, Los Angeles and Dallas Fort Worth are the main US hubs for the double-decker A380, Honolulu uses the A330, while other routes typically use the Dreamliner. For its huge domestic network in Australia, the airline uses a whole range of planes, including smaller turboprops for quick regional hops.

The A380s are the giants of the fleet, seating a whopping 485 passengers across four classes: First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy. The upper deck is reserved for Business and Premium Economy, and it even has a self-service bar and lounge area up front. The A330s, which you’ll find on the Honolulu-Sydney route, offer a simpler two-class setup with Business and Economy.

The Dreamliners are a bit more intimate, with 236 seats across three classes: Business, Premium Economy and Economy. No matter which plane you’re on, a long flight is a long flight, so let’s get into what really matters: the seats.

Qantas cabins and seat classes

Here’s a breakdown of what Qantas offers in each of its cabin classes, so you can choose the right fit for your trip and budget.

First Class

Qantas ultra-premium First Class seating is only available in the A380 flights from Los Angeles and Dallas Fort Worth, with fourteen pods (they’re basically office cubicles for sleeping) arranged in a 1-1-1 layout at the front of the plane’s lower level.

The 22-inch-wide seats convert to a fully lie-flat bed at the touch of a button. When you’re ready to sleep, the crew will make it up with a mattress pad, plush Sheridan sheets and pillows. You also get a pair of Qantas’s signature pyjamas to keep.

Meals are a big deal here. Aussie celebrity chef Neil Perry designs them, and you can order what you want, when you want. Excellent wines from Australia, New Zealand and France complement the menu. Your pod even has a little guest seat, so a friend from First can join you for a meal.

While it might not have the fully enclosed private suites of some other airlines, Qantas First is a luxurious way to cross the Pacific. If you can afford the price or upgrade, I’d recommend it as a luxurious, restful and relaxing way to transit the Pacific.

Qantas Business Class

The Business Class seats on the A380s and 787 Dreamliners are identical, which keeps things simple. The A380 has 70 of these seats, while the 787 has 42, all in a 1-2-1 layout that gives everyone direct aisle access.

Here’s a pro-tip: the staggered setup means only the odd-numbered window seats are truly next to the window, with a console separating you from the aisle. The even-numbered seats are closer to the aisle. For maximum privacy, I always book an odd-numbered window seat.

The seats are about 23-24 inches wide and go fully flat, and the crew provides a mattress pad and duvet. I can personally vouch for the pyjamas, the cotton kangaroo logo is a comfy souvenir that I’ve worn for years. At over six feet tall, I had plenty of room to stretch out and get hours of sleep on the journey.

The food in Business Class is also excellent, with another menu from Neil Perry’s team. Expect generous portions of grilled Aussie beef or lamb paired with great wines. If you need to arrive ready for a meeting or just want to start your holiday without jet lag, the upgrade to Business is worth it for the bed alone.

Qantas Premium Economy

Qantas’s Premium Economy seats are a big step up from Economy and feel a lot like domestic first class in the US. The airline arranges them in a 2-3-2 configuration, and they’re 22.8 inches wide with a generous 38 inches of pitch (that’s the space between your seat and the one in front).

I’d recommend Premium Economy as the Qantas sweet spot in terms of comfort for the price. You get a much better experience than Economy without the Business Class price tag.

On the A380, the Premium Economy cabin is on the upper deck, which comes with access to that open bar and snack lounge. I felt pretty special up there (at least until I walked past the nicer Business Class pods).

Qantas Economy class

It’s hard to look forward to sitting in an economy class seat for a 17-hour flight, but I think Qantas has made its budget seating and experience about as pleasant as it can be. You get decent meals, free drinks (including Australian wine), a snack bar for mid-flight cravings and an amenity kit on selected international flights.

The seats themselves are about 17.2 inches wide on the 787 with 32 inches of pitch, which is pretty standard for long-haul flights. At over six feet tall, my knees still had a bit of breathing room. The seatback entertainment system is also packed with movies and shows to help the time fly by.

On the A380, the Economy cabin is large, with a 3-4-3 layout. If you’re in the back, don’t expect a quick exit upon landing. On the 787, it’s a 3-3-3 configuration. My advice? Book as early as you can to snag an aisle or window seat and avoid the dreaded middle.

Qantas lounges

Flying Qantas in a premium cabin or with the right frequent flier status gets you access to a network of solid lounges around the world. In the US, Qantas passengers use the Greenwich, Soho and Chelsea Lounges (jointly operated by American Airlines and British Airways) at New York JFK, American Airlines Flagship Lounges in Dallas Fort Worth, the Cathay Pacific Lounge in San Francisco, and Qantas operates its own Business Lounge in Honolulu.

The Qantas US lounge highlight is its Los Angeles First Lounge. I really enjoyed this expansive space and sampled yummy menu highlights including salt and pepper squid and seared seabass, paired with Australian wines.

The lounge is spacious with comfy seating, self-service bars and a full-service cocktail bar. There are also showers stocked with toiletries if you need to freshen up before your flight.

Once you get to Australia, the Qantas First Lounge in Sydney is impressive. It has striking architecture, runway views, a strong restaurant, showers and even spa services. I’ve shown up to the airport hours early just to hang out there. Qantas has also announced a $100 million programme to upgrade its global lounge network, including redevelopment of the Sydney International Business Lounge (with construction starting soon), so expect more good things to come.

Baggage

For international flights, Economy travellers can bring one cabin bag up to 7 kg (15 pounds), while premium classes get two bags with a combined weight of 14 kg (30 pounds). The size limit is the standard 45 linear inches (114 cm in total). A 22 × 14 × 9 inch bag (approximately 56 × 36 × 23 cm) fits perfectly. There’s technically a 7 kg (15 lbs) weight limit for Economy, but I’ll be honest — I’ve never seen them weigh a cabin bag.

For checked bags, Economy gets one bag up to a hefty 32 kg (70 lbs). Premium Economy and Business get two bags, and First Class gets three. If you have elite status with Qantas or a oneworld partner airline, you’ll likely get an extra allowance too.

Qantas Wi-Fi

Here’s something to plan for if you happen to be flying from the US: Qantas long-haul flights from the US currently don’t have Wi-Fi. The airline has announced future international Wi-Fi expansion with new Wi-Fi-equipped A321XLR, A350 and 787 aircraft, plus A330 retrofits, but for now, you should download your films and playlists before you board. On domestic flights within Australia, Wi-Fi is available on many routes.

Qantas frequent flier programmes

Qantas is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, which works well for UK-based travellers because it partners with British Airways and other European airlines like Finnair and Iberia. This means you can earn and redeem miles across all these airlines.

Unless you fly to Australia a lot, I’d recommend crediting your Qantas flights to your American AAdvantage or Alaska Mileage Plan account. It’s just easier to manage your points with a US-based programme.

That said, Qantas has been making its own frequent flier programme more valuable recently, launching “Classic Plus Flight Rewards” which adds over 20 million reward seats with dynamically priced points that can be upgraded to premium cabins - though traditional Classic Reward redemption rates did increase recently.