Qantas is the flag carrier and by far the largest airline of Australia. They operate a large fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft, including the A380. Their main hub is Sydney International Airport, but they also operate a significant number of flights from Melbourne and Brisbane. Qantas owns a number of smaller airlines including the low cost carrier Jetstar which operates domestic flights in New Zealand, as well as many Asian countries.
The Difference
- Want to experience the worlds biggest passenger plane? Qantas has 12 of the aircraft operating from Australia.
- Having never had a fatal accident, Qantas is regarded as the safest airline in the world.
- Qantas is the world's third oldest airline.
- Qantas' Sydney to Dallas flight is one of the longest in the world.
The Classes
TRANSTASMAN BUSINESS CLASS. IOn TransTasman flights, Business Class passengers have access to the airport lounges, a larger seat (22 inches wide), a personal storage area for water bottles/laptops etc, and priority luggage return.
PREMIUM ECONOMY EX AUSTRALIA. In addition to the benefits of Economy Class, Premium Economy travellers have a dedicated check in lane, larger seats (32-40 inches wide), a personal storage area for water bottles/laptops etc, advance menu service which allows you to order prior to your flight, amenities kit with toothbrush, toothpaste and eyeshades, priority disembarkation and priority luggage return. Checked luggage allowance is one piece at 40 kilograms, cabin is one piece at 7 kilograms.
BUSINESS CLASS. In addition to the benefits of Premium Economy above, in Business Class you can book a complimentary private airport transfers, a two metre lie flat bed/seat, duvet and turndown service (selected routes), access to the onboard lounge (A380 only), a larger screen with your entertainment system and a larger amenity kit with additional products. Checked luggage allowance is one piece at 40 kilograms, cabin is two pieces at 7 kilograms each.
FIRST CLASS. In First Class you’ll receive all the Business Class benefits above, but also have a larger seating area designed with partitions to separate you from the rest of the cabin, giving you a more private sanctuary and a larger amenity kit with additional products. Checked luggage allowance is one piece at 50 kilograms, cabin is one piece at 7 kilograms.
Destinations
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Pert and most major cities in Asia, Europe and North America, as well as Africa.
The Hubs
SYDNEY AIRPORT. Sydney Airport is Qantas' main hub and the largest airport in Australia. The airport has the distinction of being the oldest airport in the world, although it has of course undergone many renovations. That being said, the airport is overutilised and queues/delays are common. If you're just transferring through to another international flight, you'll have no worries. However if you are transferring to a domestic flight, you may need to catch a bus to another terminal which can be a process. We recommend a minimum of three hours between flights, as well as checking in three hours prior to your departure flight. Sydney does have Smart Gates for those with the new passports. Free WiFi is available.
MELBOURNE AIRPORT.
The second largest of Qantas' hubs is Melbourne. Unfortunately, much like Sydney, Melbourne has notoriously long queues (even worse than Sydney). Again, we recommend three hours for checking in. However transferring between flights is less cumbersome. One big thing to watch out for is that your flights are from the right airport. The main international airport is called Melbourne Tullamarine. There's another airport in the south of Melbourne called Avalon Airport which handles a small number of domestic flights, mainly with low cost carriers like Tiger and Jetstar. It takes a good two hours to travel between airports, and there is no direct public transport link. If you're staying in Melbourne, we recommend booking an airport shuttle as the taxi fare to the city is considerable.
BRISBANE AIRPORT. Brisbane Airport has been going through a bit of a boom recently and now has many international connections. At the moment it's probably the easiest airport to transfer through. Check in is also seamless and the normal two hours is plenty. There is train transport to the city and on down to the Gold Coast.
