Qantas Airbus A321XLR Business Class Review

Qantas’ Airbus A321XLR has been flying since September 2025 on domestic flights, primarily between Sydney to Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane routes. Consequently, these flights have been successful as they provide an overall more comfortable passenger experience.

From late 2026, Qantas will begin operating the single-aisle plane internationally between Brisbane and Manila. The Qantas Airbus A321XLR Business class flights to Manila will utilise the same domestic configuration, which in all is a questionable move.

Matt has previously reviewed Qantas’ Airbus A321XLR in economy class, so I was keen to find out what the experience is like to fly in Business class.

Flight Details

Flight number	QF432
Origin	Melbourne
Destination	Sydney
Aircraft type	Airbus A321XLR
Class of travel	Business Class
Seat number	2C
On-time performance	We arrived 4 minutes early
Star rating

The route

Flight Cost

I used my Qantas Points to redeem a Business Class Classic Reward Seat. This redemption cost 19,300 Qantas Points + $80 in taxes & carrier charges. You can expect to pay around $590 one-way for this flight, with fares increasing closer to departure.

Airport Experience

I arrived to Melbourne Airport at about 8.30 am for my 10am departure to Sydney. Being a Saturday morning, the terminal was quiet. There were plenty of self check-in kiosks and bag drop machines available. There were minimal queues for security which made the process a breeze.

My Business Class ticket granted me access to the very well regarded Qantas Business lounge in Melbourne. Qantas Platinum members can also access the lounge regardless of their travel class.

The airport is currently undergoing renovations, and the Qantas lounge entrance and exit look a little different. Only one set of escalators is operating, so you’ll need to use the stairs or lift to leave the lounge. I guess a good way to keep your daily steps going!

The lounge was renovated in 2018. It still feels modern, spacious and with plenty of natural light.

The breakfast buffet offered a good selection of hot dishes, baked goods, salads, cereals, yoghurts and fruit. Paired with excellent barista coffee, it made for a decent pre-flight meal.

My favourite aspect of this lounge was the impressive tarmac views. I enjoyed watching another Airbus A321XLR being towed while I waited for my flight.

Boarding started right on time and it was done through groups. As a Business class traveller, I was able to board in Group 1. Since Qantas started doing boarding through groups, the process seems a lot more organised.

The Hard Product

I was onboard the “oldest” aircraft in the fleet (VH‑OGA), named Great Ocean Road. Despite being in service for only five months and operating with high utilisation, the aircraft still felt fresh. The cabin showed minimal wear and tear, and the seats were in excellent condition.

In comparison to the Boeing 737, the Qantas’ Airbus A321 XLR offers 60% more of overhead baggage comparment space. Even on my full flight, it appeared that everyone was able to stow their bags without difficulty.

Qantas Airbus A321XLR Business Class seats

The Business cabin features a 2‑2 configuration with 20 seats, an increase from the 12 seats available on the Boeing 737. The seats mirror those on the Airbus A220 which are a modernised version of the Boeing 737 Business Class seats.

These recliner style seats offer 37 inches of legroom and approximately 5 inches of recline. Qantas advertises 25 inches of seat width, although this includes both armrests – usable seat width is closer to 20-21 inches. All in all though, a very comfortable seat for this short flight.

The seat includes a device holder on the seatback, along with dual USB‑A and USB‑C ports.

A second set of USB ports is located in the armrest, alongside an integrated wireless charging pad which I thought it was a discreet and clever addition.

The tray table features a flip‑up metal bracket designed to hold your device upright, which is particularly handy if you want to watch something while eating.

Qantas has been widely criticised for installing only two lavatories in Economy Class on this aircraft; luckily, this is being rectified. In Business Class, the ratio is somewhat more reasonable at one toilet for 20 passengers.

Overall, there were two aspects of the product that I wasn’t particularly fond of. Firstly, the absence of AC outlets in Business class. Secondly, the small water bottle holder positioned beneath the centre console was awkward to reach, so I didn’t end up using it. The design is identical to the one found on the Qantas Boeing 787 Premium Economy seats.

Inflight entertainment and Wi-Fi

Unfortunately, Qantas has opted to skip inflight entertainment screens – instead, it’s a BYO device affair. Entertainment is available through the Qantas app or via the free inflight Wi‑Fi which is free for all customers. Several announcements during boarding explained how to access the system.

The app has a guide range of entertainment options which include movies, TV shows and wellness meditations. You can browse the options prior your flight through the Qantas app.

Wi-Fi on board was very easy to connect to. I tested the speeds which were reasonable. However; the Wi-Fi kept dropping out at times, which was disappointing.

For a new aircraft that will operate new international routes, the absence of IFE screens feels like a missed opportunity. While I understand that this is on trend with their Airbus A220 and a lot of their Boeing 737s aircrafts, it’s decision I am definitely not a fan of, especially as these planes will operate medium-haul routes in the future.

The Soft Product

The pre-departure drinks were noticeably absent on this flight. Typically, Qantas provides a small bottle of water before takeoff, which is already less than what Virgin Australia offers. I’m not sure whether the absence of drinks was unique to my flight, but it is worth noting.

Food and Drinks

Once the seat belt sign was switched off, the crew started preparing the meal service. Depending on the time you fly, your meal offering will vary. My flight departed at 10am which is within the refreshment meal or morning tea window.

There were two options: a white omelette or prosciutto with pecorino cheese and bread. By the time the crew reached my row (row 3), the omelette option had run out, so I chose the prosciutto dish. The meal also had a muesli bar and a piece of toast which I skipped. I was also offered tea, water or coffee.

Unfortunately, this is where the experience fell really short. While I understand that it is a refreshment service, this has to be one of the weakest food offerings I have seen on a domestic Business Class service. I believe Qantas could do a lot better with its Business Class catering.

Although I used my points for this flight, the meal left me questioning whether the redemption was worth it at all. Two things stood out: First, when you consider that Qantas’ airfares are consistently higher than Virgin’s, the comparison becomes almost embarrasing. Virgin’s passengers receive a proper pre-departure drink and a more substantial meal at this time of the day, while Qantas served something that felt more like an afterthought.

For Qantas Platinum and Gold frequent flyers who can select economy plus seats for free, it raises a fair question: is upgrading even worth it? As Matt mentioned in this review, the meals in economy are perfectly acceptable and appropriate for what passengers booked for.

Meals were collected promptly and we were offered drink top-up before our commencing our descent into Sydney. Overall, the service was friendly and efficient.