Qantas Launches New Cabin Class

Qantas Economy Plus launches this week, marking a significant change to the flying experience on the 737, A321XLR, and A220.

The new cabin class comes as the Australian flag carrier continues its turnaround efforts to raise customer satisfaction levels and boost revenue where possible.

The latest changes, initially affecting three aircraft with a fourth to come, add ticket costs for interested passengers, reduce cheaper seating options, but offer more space and premium options across services.

Qantas Economy Plus Launch Details

The product was first announced in November 2025, when the airline unveiled it to provide not only more choice but also greater comfort and legroom, marking an evolution in how it offers Economy class.

Now that bookings have officially opened, seat availability in Qantas Economy Plus varies by aircraft type. This is based on the existing jet’s configuration.

The Boeing 737 fleet has been reconfigured to offer 48 seats in the forward and mid-cabins, with the A321XLR offering 36 seats in select zones for purchase.

From mid-2026, Qantas Economy Plus will also be expanded to the Airbus A330 fleet, which will not only cover more routes but, more importantly, give customers access to the product across destinations such as those in Asia.

With seating remaining a top priority for Frequent Flyers, those with high-tier memberships will receive complimentary access to Qantas Economy Plus from today; there’ll be a charge associated with flying in this class.

The Economy Plus Cabin Experience

Qantas Economy Plus will fundamentally change how economy class is offered to customers, effectively a premium-lite option at a fraction of the cost of the upper classes.

One of the more obvious benefits of purchasing these seats is the legroom offered, with a modest 34″ to 38″ pitch, which represnets an increase over the standard Qantas Economy seat.

That extends even further for the first row of the economy cabin, where there’s even more room to stretch out across the Boeing 737, Airbus A220 and A321XLR aircraft, with up to 51-52″ on the Boeing single-aisle.

Beyond the additional legroom, the wholesale changes will also include priority boarding and, as the airline describes it, priority access to the luggage bins directly above the selected Economy Plus seat.

With customers bringing more luggage than ever aboard Qantas services, even with next-generation overhead bins, there’s pressure to secure space. The Australian flag carrier is looking to address this by offering customers the option to pay to reserve this space.

What This Means For Qantas Customers

Qantas’ planned launch of Economy Plus this week represents a shift in how it’ll offer service across its fleet, with more choice and comfort for passengers, domestically and internationally.

While the Australian flag carrier is ultimately increasing revenue per flight with this measure, it’s also aiming to provide customers with additional legroom and other benefits at a fraction of the cost.

With a starting price of $30 per segment and pricing that varies by distance, it offers another option for customers who feel the pressure of overhead and seat space on journeys but are not willing to commit to Business Class.

However, in some of the revamped cabins, many more seats are Business Class or Economy Plus, which incur additional costs. The standard economy class selection has become scarcer on aircraft such as the Boeing 737, with the entire front half now costing extra.

Bottom Line: More Premium & Choice

After much anticipation, Qantas will launch its Economy Plus from February 6, 2026, aboard three aircraft types, the A321XLR, A220 and 737, with bookings now available starting at $30 per segment.

In what is yet another overhaul of how the airline configures its aircraft, the goal is to offer more premium and more choice for customers, which in turn should drive additional revenue and higher passenger satisfaction.