Qantas Economy Plus Launching Feb 2026

[MEL_Traveller]

• So in short, WP and above get free access to paid extra legroom seats at time of booking.
• No more T-80
• SG access paid extra legroom at T-24 (check-in)
• Does this mean those extra legroom seats are blocked? What if there are more economy plus seats than people are willing to pay for and status pax?
• This would be a dilution of benefit for P1
• Priority boarding for those without status could be group 3

We don’t know, T-80 might still be in effect.

It’s possible only a portion of the extra legroom seats will be available on a paid basis on any given flight, depending on the expected loads. Max 48, but could be less for a one hour MEL-SYD.

Would be interesting to see somewhere down the track if Y+ domestic was made available for free for international PEY pax!

 

[elanshin]

We don’t know, T-80 might still be in effect.

It’s possible only a portion of the extra legroom seats will be available on a paid basis on any given flight, depending on the expected loads. Max 48, but could be less for a one hour MEL-SYD.

Would be interesting to see somewhere down the track if Y+ domestic was made available for free for international PEY pax!

That would be a solid consumer friendly move that I bet Qzf hasn't even thought of. If they did it'd be part of this announcement

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Would be interesting to see somewhere down the track if Y+ domestic was made available for free for international PEY pax!

Good catch. Looking at the US, AA and DL do; UA does not (unless it books the Y sector in the highest fare class which it usually does not).

 

[aikman]

If its free for SG and above then presumably these rows will always be full and shadows will be rare to non existent. I assume that most SG and above will pick these rows, even middle seats, because they are free and perceived to be better.

 

[justinbrett]

If its free for SG and above then presumably these rows will always be full and shadows will be rare to non existent. I assume that most SG and above will pick these rows, even middle seats, because they are free and perceived to be better.

It depends whether SGs would rather a middle seat in Y+ vs standard window / aisle seat. I’m guessing not. SGs can’t select their seat until check in.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

If its free for SG and above then presumably these rows will always be full and shadows will be rare to non existent. I assume that most SG and above will pick these rows, even middle seats, because they are free and perceived to be better.

It will be interesting to see --- giving away to SG for free vs. a shadow for top tiers doesn't result in more revenue, so the decision is whether to make top tiers even happier or maximise the opportunities for SGs to get a treat, too.

That in mind, the optics if a SG finds themselves stuck behind the wing and realises there are seats going out empty towards the front.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

If its free for SG and above then presumably these rows will always be full and shadows will be rare to non existent. I assume that most SG and above will pick these rows, even middle seats, because they are free and perceived to be better.

I certainly wouldn't. I think most SGs will see these seats for what they are --- standard seats with a bit more legroom, and I'm not convinced the majority will move to a middle just for that (perhaps the very tall may feel differently).

 

[mviy]

I try to get aisle/window in row 4 but if I can’t get that I will take a middle seat as the leg room is important to me.

 

[elanshin]

That in mind, the optics if a SG finds themselves stuck behind the wing and realises there are seats going out empty towards the front.

That's already somewhat changed. The 321XLR is split so only 2 rows are bigger up front (6/7) the others are immediately after the emergency exit rows behind the wing.

 

[Aeryn]

I dislike row 4 and exit rows for the simple fact you cant have essential items under the seat in front, so it will be nice to have other rows with extra leg-room where not everything has to go in the overhead bin. I don't like my handbag out of my direct line of sight.

I too would rather be further back than in a middle seat; I've not had displeasure of middle seat in over a decade. I always select an aisle at time of booking, could handle a window but middle seats is a special form of hell unless the passengers either side of you are family members.

 

[Doctore1003]

According to The Age, “It will be available in the new Airbus A321XLR and A220s across the airlines’ network in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. It will also be added into Boeing 737s cabin refits”

Signage on overhead bins will indicate what space is reserved for the Economy Plus passengers.

 

[Mr_Orange]

I assume that most SG and above will pick these rows, even middle seats, because they are free and perceived to be better.

No way that I would choose a middle seat over an aisle/window just for the leg room. Being jammed in between two other people is a far worse prospect, even for a short flight, than the standard leg room.

 

[Flyerwin]

No way that I would choose a middle seat over an aisle/window just for the leg room.

I agree. Unless the aisle/window seat is really far back - I would suffer a middle seat to be close to the front.

 

[dylarr]

I dislike row 4 and exist rows for the simple fact you cant have essential items under the seat in front, so nice to have other rows with extra leg-room where not everything has to go in the overhead bin. I dont like my handbag out of my direct line of sight.

Row 4 has under seat storage. You can place items underneath the J seats in front.

 

[justinbrett]

No way that I would choose a middle seat over an aisle/window just for the leg room. Being jammed in between two other people is a far worse prospect, even for a short flight, than the standard leg room.

I think you’ll find it’s a very small minority of pax who would chose a middle seat just to get a bit of extra leg room. It’s more of an incentive on AA as it gets you free booze, but I don’t think QF will have any difference to inflight service.

To be honest, if I was upgraded to premium economy and it was a middle seat, I would have to think pretty carefully. I think I’d decline it.

 

[HS-TQE]

It would be closer if they removed free alcohol from Y and kept it for Y+.

Personally I think this is more to combat VA.

QF and VA are different markets though, QF being corporate and high yield leisure, whilst VA are largely 'value' passengers with some SMEs and medium/lower yield leisure.

I'd say QF are after some of the medium yield leisure/SMEs from VA.

 

[Daver6]

We don’t know, T-80 might still be in effect.

If Y+ is available to everyone at T-80 then what benefit is there to SG at T-80? Ok. Never mind. As I type this out I realise my mistake. T-80 doesn't open up what are currently paid extra legroom seats.

 

[justinbrett]

QF and VA are different markets though, QF being corporate and high yield leisure, whilst VA are largely 'value' passengers with some SMEs and medium/lower yield leisure.

I'd say QF are after some of the medium yield leisure/SMEs from VA.

That’s what I was saying. Remove as many barriers as possible for someone preferring VA over QF, they probably have research saying Y+ was one of them.

 

[TheInsider]

The challenge is where does the extra legroom come from? Moving EVERY Y seat in the plane back a few cm seems an unlikely solution. So they would have to delete a row of Y somewhere rear of row 4. to create the space... or could QF do something weird like delete a few rows of Y, add another row of J, and split the difference across a few rows of Y+?

They will be removing row 30.

 

[Mr_Orange]

To be honest, if I was upgraded to premium economy and it was a middle seat, I would have to think pretty carefully. I think I’d decline it.

I'd be fine with an international PE middle seat. There is no shoulder rubbing in PE so it's only the issue of getting past the adjacent pax to leave your seat which also afflicts a window seat. No biggie from my perspective.