Qantas Review: Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, and More

Qantas, which turned 100 in 2020, is Australia’s flag carrier. It operates a large domestic network and offers more international flights from Australia than any other airline.

Its relatively close proximity to Asia means most of Qantas’ nonstop international destinations are on that continent, though the U.S. and Europe are becoming a greater focus for the airline. It plans to start nonstop flights from Sydney (SYD) to London (LHR) and New York (JFK) once it receives the ultra-long-range Airbus A350-1000s.

Thanks to its membership in the Oneworld airline alliance, Qantas Points in the Frequent Flyer program can be earned and redeemed when you pay cash for flights with other member airlines, such as American Airlines, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific.

Basic Information

• Airline: Qantas
• Alliance: Oneworld
• Category: Legacy international airline
• Frequent flyer program: Frequent Flyer
• Tagline: Spirit of Australia
• Daily flights: Over 300 domestic and international flights (including regional subsidiaries)
• Fleet: About 135
• Main hubs: Sydney Airport (SYD), Melbourne Airport (MEL), Brisbane Airport (BNE), and Perth Airport (PER)
• Destinations: Over 100 destinations in 20 countries

Frequent Flyer Program

Members of Qantas’ Frequent Flyer program earn Qantas Points flying Qantas and other Oneworld airlines, such as American Airlines. Thanks to several additional codeshare and interline agreements, Frequent Flyer members can also earn Qantas Points when flying non-Oneworld airlines such as Air Tahiti Nui, Bangkok Airways, and LATAM. The amount of Qantas Points earned varies depending on the ticket type (discount, regular, flexible), cabin class, destination, and the airline you’re flying with.

Qantas Points can then be used to book future flights, upgrades, and hotels, including on other Oneworld airlines such as Alaska Airlines, American, and Hawaiian Airlines.

Qantas has a handy calculator that tells you how many points and Status Credits each flight would earn you. Status Credits are the name Qantas gives to its status-earning currency. Working through the program’s status levels of Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Platinum One unlocks a variety of perks and benefits. These become progressively more valuable as status levels increase, offering priority check-in and boarding, bonus miles earning, and lounge access.

There are no Qantas co-branded credit cards available in the U.S. However, you can transfer Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou Points, and American Express Membership Rewards points to Qantas Frequent Flyer.

Ticketing

Like many airlines these days, Qantas has unbundled its fares. This applies to every cabin class, whether you’re booking economy, premium, business, or first class. The higher the booking class within each cabin class, the more Qantas Points and Status Points you earn. Here’s what’s included when flying between the U.S. and Australia.

Economy Fares

Economy Sale Fares

These aren’t sale fares in the usual sense. They’re the equivalent of an economy basic ticket in the U.S. Change fees are $250, they’re fully nonrefundable, and you pay from $40 to pick a seat when flying between Australia and the U.S. Upgrades with points are also not permitted.

Despite the restrictions, a checked bag of up to 32 kilograms (70 pounds) is included.

Economy Saver Fares

Qantas’ Saver fares are often considerably more expensive than Sale fares. Paying the premium waives your change fees, gives you free seat selection, and reinstates the option to upgrade with points, along with the inclusions in a Sale fare. However, the fare is still fully nonrefundable.

Economy Flex Fares

Flex fares offer the same as Saver fares, but are also fully refundable.

Premium Economy Fares

Premium Economy Sale Fares

Unlike Qantas economy Sale fare equivalent, premium economy Sale fares do include complimentary seat selection and can be upgraded using points. Change fees are $600.

Premium Economy Saver Fares

Premium Economy Saver fares can be changed without a fee but may still incur a fare difference.

Premium Economy Flex Fares

Qantas’ most flexible premium economy fares often cost more than a business class ticket.

Business Class Fares

Complimentary seat selection, checked bags, and the ability to upgrade using points apply to Qantas’ 3 business class fare types. The main differences on an example ticket from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD) are detailed in the table below.

First Class Fares

Complimentary seat selection and checked bags are included with both of Qantas’ first class fare types. The main differences on an example ticket from Los Angeles to Sydney are detailed in the table below.

Qantas Baggage and Other Fees and Add-Ons

Qantas is one of the few airlines still offering a generous checked bag policy, even on domestic flights. For specific allowances per route and aircraft, you can check out our full guide to Qantas baggage fees.

Free carry-on bags are standard across all Qantas flights. However, there is a strict size and weight policy for all QantasLink flights operated by its small regional Dash 8 aircraft. It will be interesting to see if this policy changes once they’re completely replaced by Airbus A220s.

Qantas doesn’t allow baggage allowance weights to be combined, and no piece of luggage weighing more than 70 pounds (32 kilograms) will be accepted, regardless of cabin class or frequent flyer status.

Other Fees and Add-Ons

Change fees (cash tickets): $40 (only when made through a Qantas Contact Center, travel outlet, at the airport, or via web and social media)

Cancellation: Cancellation policies vary by fare type.

Ticket reservations: $30 (only when made through a Qantas Contact Center, travel outlet, at the airport, or via web and social media)

Seat selection: From $40 (Economy Sale Fares only)

Onboard Wi-Fi

All newly delivered Airbus A321XLRs and Airbus A220s feature fast, free Wi-Fi with streaming capabilities.

Only some Boeing 737s, Boeing 787s, and Airbus A330s feature Wi-Fi. The only aircraft guaranteed to have no Wi-Fi is the Airbus A380.

Onboard Food and Drinks

Qantas does not charge for food and drinks on any of its flights.

Unaccompanied Minor

Booking a ticket for an accompanied minor traveling on a domestic flight can be done online, via a travel agent, or at a Qantas booking office. Fees are in addition to the child’s ticket, and are more expensive if paid at the airport:

• Prebooked: $39 (including tax)
• At the airport: $78 (including tax)

Bookings for international flights or domestic flights departing from an international terminal (QF1 to QF399) can only be booked via a Qantas ticket office or a travel agent.

• Prebooked: $64
• At the airport: $128

Lap infant: 10% of the adult fare on international flights

Pet Transportation

Qantas does not allow pets, including dogs and cats, in plane cabins unless they meet service dog criteria.

How To Avoid Paying Excess Fees and Expenses

You can offset excess fees and expenses incurred when flying Qantas with certain travel rewards credit cards. For example, a benefit of the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is an annual $300 travel credit. Airline fees for baggage, seat selection, and ticket changes are automatically reimbursed up to $300 annually.

Elite status with Qantas and Oneworld member airlines, such as American Airlines AAdvantage, and even Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue, can also help save money. Depending on the status, ancillaries such as premium seat selection and checked bags may be complimentary.

Qantas Lounges

Qantas has 50 lounges worldwide, the majority of which are in Australia. It also has lounge presence at some of its most important international gateways. Where it doesn’t have its own lounges, Qantas passengers have access to partner lounges.

Until the end of 2026, Qantas is updating some of its major lounges worldwide, including its primary hub in Sydney. A brand-new lounge at Auckland (AKL) was also part of the project, which is great for passengers traveling on Qantas’ Auckland-to-New York (JFK) service.

Qantas’ first class lounge at Sydney is the airline’s most premium lounge.

Inflight Inclusions, Amenities, and Seat Specs

Economy

• Standard seat with complimentary meals or snack offering
  • Full meal on long-haul international flights
  • A smaller meal on Trans-Tasman and South Pacific routes
  • A hot meal on domestic flights over 3 1/2 hours
  • A hot food item on flights between 2 and 3 1/2 hours
  • A snack on flights less than 2 hours
• 1 checked bag up to 70 pounds, depending on the route
• A good entertainment system and free Wi-Fi on some aircraft

Premium Economy

• Wider seat, more legroom, with leg and footrests
• 2 checked bags up to 70 pounds, depending on the route
• Priority boarding
• Noise-canceling headphones, a small amenity kit, and premium drinks

Business

• Lie-flat (wide-body aircraft), or premium recliner seats (narrow-body aircraft)
• Lounge access and priority check-in and boarding
• Full amenity kit, noise-canceling headphones, pajamas and slippers (overnight flights only)
• Better meal and beverage service
• Up to 4 checked bags or a combined weight limit of 132 pounds, depending on route and elite status

First

• Suites with lie-flat seats
• First class lounge access (where available)
• First to board the aircraft
• Personalized service and fine dining
• Up to 4 checked bags or a combined weight limit of 154 pounds, depending on route and elite status

Seat Specs

Qantas Customer Satisfaction

Consumer Rankings and Ratings

• Skytrax ranking: 4-Star Airline (out of 5)
• Tripadvisor airline review rating: 3.5 out of 5 (from 21,915 reviews)
• Kayak customer rating: 7.5 out of 10 (from 1,000 verified ratings)

Safety and Performance

Having had no incidents since 1956, Qantas has earned the title of one of the safest airlines in the world. In fact, AirlineRatings.com, a company that evaluates airlines on a whole host of safety criteria, ranked Qantas as the third-safest airline in the world for 2026.

Recent Awards

Skytrax awards from 2025:

• Winner of best airline in Australia/Pacific (out of 10)
• Ninth-best inflight entertainment
• 11th-best first class
• 14th-best airline in the world
• 18th-cleanest airline

Most Common Passenger Complaints

The most common complaints concern frequent cancellations and delays when flying Qantas.

Final Thoughts

As Australia’s flag carrier, Qantas operates the most international flights of any airline in the country. It also offers the most routes between the U.S. and Australia, making it a popular airline for travelers on both sides of the Pacific.

Additionally, Qantas is known for its stellar customer service and competitive inflight experience. While cash fares to and from the U.S. can be pricey, it’s fairly common to find bargains using points and miles.

With the soon-to-launch nonstop Project Sunrise flights from Australia to New York and London, Qantas is certainly one to watch.