Qantas Airlines Sales

It depends on how you travel. Qantas economy fares include checked baggage, meals, entertainment, and seat selection — extras that add up fast on budget carriers. On a short domestic flight the price gap can be small once you factor in add-ons. For longer flights, the included meals, seatback entertainment, and generous 30kg international baggage allowance make Qantas hard to beat on value. If you're travelling carry-on only on a short hop, a budget fare may still come out ahead.

All Qantas economy fares include checked baggage, complimentary meals or snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, seatback entertainment on most aircraft, and a seat selection at check-in. On domestic flights over two hours, beer and wine are also complimentary after 9am, and on shorter flights after 12pm. International economy fares include full meal service and a 30kg checked baggage allowance. The cheapest Red e-Deal fares have more restrictions on changes and cancellations, while Flex fares offer greater flexibility.

Domestic economy fares include one checked bag up to 23kg. International economy fares are more generous at 30kg across multiple bags. Carry-on is two items totalling 14kg on domestic flights, with no single item exceeding 10kg. This is a major advantage over budget carriers where checked baggage costs extra. Additional bags can be pre-purchased online at a lower rate than at the airport.

Yes. Most Qantas aircraft have seatback screens with over 2,500 hours of movies, TV, music, and games — all free. On aircraft without screens, you can stream to your own device via the Qantas Entertainment app. Free Wi-Fi is available on select domestic and international routes, fast enough for streaming services like YouTube and Netflix. This is a significant step up from budget carriers where entertainment is typically bring-your-own.

Qantas is widely regarded as one of the safest airlines in the world. It holds a 7/7 safety rating from AirlineRatings.com and was ranked the third-safest full-service airline globally for 2026. Qantas has never had a fatal accident in the jet era, a record unmatched by most airlines of its size and age. The airline meets all CASA regulatory standards and is a founding member of the oneworld alliance.

Qantas has an extensive domestic network connecting capital cities and major regional centres. Internationally, it flies to over 35 destinations across Asia, Europe, North America, Africa, the Pacific, and New Zealand. Key long-haul routes include non-stop flights to London, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Johannesburg. Through its oneworld alliance and codeshare partners, Qantas connects to hundreds more destinations worldwide.

Qantas Frequent Flyer has a joining fee, but frequently runs promotions that allow you to sign up for free. It lets you earn points on flights, credit card spending, shopping, and everyday purchases. Points can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and rewards. You also earn Status Credits that determine your tier — Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Platinum One — unlocking perks like lounge access, priority boarding, and bonus baggage. From late 2026, members can roll over excess Status Credits and earn them through everyday spending for the first time.

Economy Plus is Qantas's extra-legroom economy product, offering up to 40% more legroom than standard economy, priority boarding, and priority overhead locker access. Prices start from around $30 on short routes like Sydney to Melbourne. It's available on A220, A321XLR, and select 737 aircraft on domestic, New Zealand, Pacific, and Bali routes, expanding to the A330 fleet for Asia routes from mid-2026. Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers get Economy Plus seats for free, and Gold members receive them complimentary from 24 hours before departure, subject to availability.

Track Qantas fares on IWantThatFlight and set up fare alerts to get notified when prices drop. Qantas runs regular Red e-Deal sales on domestic routes and larger international Red Tail sales every month or two. Key sale periods include Boxing Day, Black Friday, and End of Financial Year. Unlike Jetstar, Qantas doesn't run weekly sales, so when a good fare appears it's worth acting on quickly.