Australia's flag carrier — safety record, premium lounges, and long-haul expertise
Qantas is the world's oldest continuously operating airline and Australia's flag carrier. The airline holds an outstanding safety record and is widely considered the safest commercial airline. Known for pioneering ultra-long-haul routes (including Project Sunrise — direct Sydney to London), Qantas provides a premium experience particularly in business class and through its domestic and international lounge network.
Economy offers 31-inch pitch on domestic flights and 31-32 inches on international widebodies. Seats are standard width. Complimentary meals and entertainment on international flights. Domestic economy is no-frills with buy-on-board snacks on shorter routes. The A380 economy is the most comfortable in the fleet.
International business class on the A330 features a 1-2-1 suite with direct aisle access and a fully flat bed. The product is modern and competitive. Domestic business class is a recliner seat — comfortable for daytime but not flat-bed level. The Qantas First Lounge and Chairman's Lounge elevate the pre-flight experience significantly.
First class is available on A380 routes (Sydney–London, Sydney–Singapore, Melbourne–Singapore). It features a 1-1-1 layout with fully flat beds, Neil Perry-designed menus, and premium Australian wines. The product is solid but getting dated compared to newer Gulf carrier suites.
Economy: 30 kg (international), 23 kg (domestic). Business: 40 kg (int'l), 32 kg (domestic). First: 50 kg. Carry-on: 7 kg plus personal item.
Personal screens on all international and most domestic flights. Good selection of movies, TV, and music. Wi-Fi on international A380s and domestic 737/A330 fleet (free for Frequent Flyer members on domestic).
International catering is overseen by celebrity chef Neil Perry (Rockpool). Economy meals are decent with Australian wine selections. Business and first class feature multi-course menus with premium Australian produce. Domestic catering is minimal in economy.
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Search Qantas flights →Qantas has an on-time performance rate of approximately 73-76% for domestic flights and slightly higher for international services. Australian domestic aviation is affected by weather events and the sheer distances involved — a Sydney to Perth flight covers more distance than London to Moscow. Qantas is famously one of the safest airlines in the world, often cited as the safest — it has not had a fatal accident since 1951 and holds a 7/7 safety rating. The fleet of approximately 130 aircraft has an average age of around 14 years, with Boeing 787 Dreamliners and planned Airbus A350s for the upcoming Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul flights.
Qantas operates from dual hubs in Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL), with significant operations in Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. As a founding member of the Oneworld alliance, Qantas partners with American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines for global connectivity. The airline dominates Australian domestic aviation and operates key international routes to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Flagship routes include Sydney–London (via Perth or Singapore), Sydney–Los Angeles, Sydney–Tokyo, and Melbourne–Singapore. Qantas' planned Project Sunrise will introduce direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to New York and London — a game-changer for the kangaroo route. The airline's subsidiary Jetstar provides low-cost services throughout Asia-Pacific.
Qantas fares from Australia are often expensive due to the country's geographic isolation and high operating costs, but the Qantas Frequent Flyer program is one of the most popular and well-regarded loyalty programs in the world. Classic reward seats offer good value when available — a one-way economy award from Sydney to London costs 55,800 points plus taxes. Qantas regularly offers Points Planes (entire flights available as awards) and Red Tail promotions with bonus points. For standard fares, book 8-14 weeks ahead for domestic flights and 3-6 months for international. Look for Qantas sale fares during Easter and Christmas sales. Perth departures to Asia and Europe can be significantly cheaper than flying from the east coast due to the Qantas Perth hub strategy.
Qantas Frequent Flyer is one of the most popular loyalty programs globally with 15+ million members. Points can be earned on flights, credit cards, supermarket shopping, and 400+ partners. Tiers: Bronze, Silver (extra baggage, priority check-in), Gold (lounge access, Oneworld Sapphire), Platinum (Oneworld Emerald, complimentary upgrades), Platinum One (Chairman's Lounge access).
Fly Qantas if: Travelers flying to/from/within Australia who value safety, strong lounges, and reliable service.
Consider alternatives if: Budget-conscious travelers on Australian domestic routes — Jetstar (Qantas's LCC) is significantly cheaper.
Qantas receives a 4.2/5 rating in our review. It offers solid service based on cabins, baggage, entertainment, food, and loyalty program.
Qantas is based at Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL). It is a member of Oneworld.
Economy: 30 kg (international), 23 kg (domestic). Business: 40 kg (int'l), 32 kg (domestic). First: 50 kg. Carry-on: 7 kg plus personal item.
Use our flight comparison tool to compare Qantas prices across booking platforms including Kiwi.com. Booking 6-8 weeks in advance and flying mid-week typically yields the cheapest fares.
Qantas is frequently cited as one of the safest airlines in the world. The airline has not had a fatal accident involving a passenger since 1951 — a record spanning over 70 years. Qantas holds a 7/7 safety rating from AirlineRatings.com and has been instrumental in aviation safety innovations, including early adoption of satellite-based navigation systems.
Project Sunrise is Qantas' plan to operate the longest nonstop commercial flights in the world — direct from Sydney and Melbourne to London and New York, lasting approximately 19-20 hours. The airline has ordered Airbus A350-1000 aircraft for these routes, with the first services expected to begin in 2025-2026.
Yes. Jetstar Airways is Qantas' low-cost subsidiary, operating domestic flights within Australia and international services to destinations across Asia-Pacific including Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, and New Zealand. Jetstar offers significantly lower base fares than Qantas but charges separately for baggage, meals, and entertainment.
Qantas Frequent Flyer points are incredibly versatile in Australia — you can earn them on Woolworths grocery shopping and credit card spend. Even if you don't fly Qantas often, the program is worth joining for points earn potential.