Qantas Economy Plus Launching Feb 2026

[FlyingKangaroo]

Agreed, but if the question is <direct quote>
Will there be any changes to how Status Credits or Qantas Points are earned when booking Qantas Economy Plus?

Then the word “No” should be the first word of the answer.

Yes, the answer was defo written by someone in the comms/marketing team that's taken the "never say no" mantra too much to heart. "Yes, we have no bananas" comes to mind.

"No, purchasing an Economy Plus seat will not change your fare type and you will continue to earn the same Status Credits and Qantas Points as per your original booking." Clarity presented constructively.

 

[SYD]

Just another step towards the gutter for this so called full-service airline. They could have used the new 220's and 321's as an opportunity to actually increase pax comfort, but instead have decided take that space and turn it into another revenue opportunity, at the expense most pax.

Sure, Gold FF get to choose a Y+ seat for free if there are any left at check-in, but now sitting towards the front of the cabin becomes a less likely prospect when non-status pax can literally pay to jump the queue.

This new class should be named Jetstar+

In reality, not many pay for existing “Extra legroom” seats up front from what I’ve observed on typical SYD-MEL hops.

That may change with Y+. It’ll depend on how they roll it out. It might be part of the booking process that bestows access to Y+ vs paying the add on during the seat selection process. Sticking with the later is probably my guess.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

In reality, not many pay for existing “Extra legroom” seats up front from what I’ve observed on typical SYD-MEL hops.

That may change with Y+. It’ll depend on how they roll it out. It might be part of the booking process that bestows access to Y+ vs paying the add on during the seat selection process. Sticking with the later is probably my guess.

Yes - I suspect elites will benefit on shorter hops but may face fewer options (especially SGs) on longer sectors, especially if pricing is relatively reasonable and how well/aggressively QF is able to market it at or even after booking.

 

[SYD]

Yes, the answer was defo written by someone in the comms/marketing team that's taken the "never say no" mantra too much to heart. "Yes, we have no bananas" comes to mind.

"No, purchasing an Economy Plus seat will not change your fare type and you will continue to earn the same Status Credits and Qantas Points as per your original booking."

I suspect the answer was written first during the internal decision process on whether Y+ was a higher fare or just an add on. Then someone was tasked with writing the question…

 

[justinbrett]

Just another step towards the gutter for this so called full-service airline. They could have used the new 220's and 321's as an opportunity to actually increase pax comfort, but instead have decided take that space and turn it into another revenue opportunity, at the expense most pax.

Sure, Gold FF get to choose a Y+ seat for free if there are any left at check-in, but now sitting towards the front of the cabin becomes a less likely prospect when non-status pax can literally pay to jump the queue.

This new class should be named Jetstar+

It’s quite the opposite of Jetstar, JQ has no recognition of elites.

A full service airline providing perks to elites - pretty standard.

If it comes to the point where there’s not enough elites on a given flight and nobody wants to pay, some will get Y+ for free.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

It’s quite the opposite of Jetstar, JQ has no recognition of elites.

A full service airline providing perks to elites - pretty standard.

If it comes to the point where there’s not enough elites on a given flight and nobody wants to pay, you’ll get Y+ for free.

For years people criticised QF for not offering this and called it a cynical way to extract more revenue from packing in more seats and there will inevitably be some who criticise them for now offering it and call it a cynical way to extract more revenue.

Can't please everyone. On balance, seems more logical that a "premium" carrier would offer this than not.

 

[DejaBrew]

Just another step towards the gutter for this so called full-service airline. They could have used the new 220's and 321's as an opportunity to actually increase pax comfort, but instead have decided take that space and turn it into another revenue opportunity, at the expense most pax.

Sure, Gold FF get to choose a Y+ seat for free if there are any left at check-in, but now sitting towards the front of the cabin becomes a less likely prospect when non-status pax can literally pay to jump the queue.

This new class should be named Jetstar+

Paying passengers have always been able to jump the queue. Want immediate access to Row 4? Pay enough to attain P1 and you get immediate access, otherwise availability was democratised at T-80. Want an exit row? Become a P1 or pay extra for early/immediate access.

P1s are arguably the most "adversely" impacted by these changes as the benefit of free extra legroom seating is no longer an exclusive perk. If you're WP then you've just gained an additional benefit to status. If you're SG, then you've (arguably) been granted an additional status benefit. Otherwise, if you want to guarantee extra leg room, then you pay extra for it as has pretty much been the case for ages.

If anything, this product increases the likelihood of scoring additional legroom seating for most passengers by simple virtue of the fact that there are more seats. It also affords additional value to purchasing the seating as it grants priority boarding and overhead locker access, which would be a "win" for most non-status folks.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Paying more for the privilege to cut the line to use the overhead locker before everyone else. This airline really is in the dumps.

6 fewer people on the plane (which is required to make this work) means better overhead access odds for all, full stop. They're not going to force someone down the back to check a carry-on if there's still room over row 6, just as they've always been willing to utilise excess space in the business cabin overheads once business is settled in and it's become clear there's no space left elsewhere.

 

[justinbrett]

Paying passengers have always been able to jump the queue. Want immediate access to Row 4? Pay enough to attain P1 and you get immediate access, otherwise availability was democratised at T-80. Want an exit row? Become a P1 or pay extra for early/immediate access.

P1s are arguably the most "adversely" impacted by these changes as the benefit of free extra legroom seating is no longer an exclusive perk. If you're WP then you've just gained an additional benefit to status. If you're SG, then you've (arguably) been granted an additional status benefit. Otherwise, if you want to guarantee extra leg room, then you pay extra for it as has pretty much been the case for ages.

If anything, this product increases the likelihood of scoring additional legroom seating for most passengers by simple virtue of the fact that there are more seats. It also affords additional value to purchasing the seating as it grants priority boarding and overhead locker access, which would be a "win" for most non-status folks.

Well P1 still has international exit rows, which are far more valuable.

Also nothing to say there won’t be blocks within Y+, perhaps reserve row 4 and 5 for P1s. WP can have row 6 and beyond.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

I'd add that the shift to group number boarding has been important to enable this without blowing out a single "priority" boarding lane. I suspect these pax will board with or just after SGs, so Group 2 or a new Group 3.

 

[Mattg]

Reading between the lines, it looks to me like the 737-800s might be getting a fourth row of Business.

If you add an extra row of Business, make rows 5-10 and the exit rows Economy Plus, and have one less row of seats forward of the exit rows, everything fits neatly like a perfect game of tetris. You end up with 29 rows in total on the plane.

 

[DejaBrew]

Well P1 still has international exit rows, which are far more valuable.

These Economy Plus seats will be offered on NZ and Pacific Islands flights so exit rows are no longer an entirely exclusive perk for P1s flying internationally, but yes, I take your point. For long haul / wide-bodies, then P1s still have an advantage (for now....).

Also nothing to say there won’t be blocks within Y+, perhaps reserve row 4 and 5 for P1s. WP can have row 6 and beyond.

That's a very good point and I wouldn't be surprised if we saw something like that happen.

 

[Flyerwin]

Also nothing to say there won’t be blocks within Y+, perhaps reserve row 4 and 5 for P1s. WP can have row 6 and beyond.

I suspect this will be the case.

 

[justinbrett]

I'd add that the shift to group number boarding has been important to enable this without blowing out a single "priority" boarding lane. I suspect these pax will board with or just after SGs, so Group 2 or a new Group 3.

Excluding the exit rows, these rows almost entirely make up group 3 already (first 1/4 of Y).

 

[SYD]

Well P1 still has international exit rows, which are far more valuable.

Also nothing to say there won’t be blocks within Y+, perhaps reserve row 4 and 5 for P1s. WP can have row 6 and beyond.

Yep, peeps are probably over looking that. Even as WP, Row 4 and 5 are blocked until T-80.

 

[Mattg]

I also can't help making the observation that this change comes after Doug Parker joined the Qantas board. Economy Plus looks quite a bit like Main Cabin Extra on AA.

 

[justinbrett]

These Economy Plus seats will be offered on NZ and Pacific Islands flights so exit rows are no longer an entirely exclusive perk for P1s flying internationally, but yes, I take your point. For long haul / wide-bodies, then P1s still have an advantage (for now....).


That's a very good point and I wouldn't be surprised if we saw something like that happen.

I don’t count NZ as international. Our constitution says otherwise!

I meant widebody.

 

[DejaBrew]

I don’t count NZ as international. Our constitution says otherwise!

Well there are provisions in our constitution for NZ to become a state of Australia, but we're still waiting on them to see the light....

But I digress.

 

[Doctore1003]

This change makes earning status more desirable for the masses, as points become less desirable. Smart move I think for locking people in to Qantas!

 

[justinbrett]

I also can't help making the observation that this change comes after Doug Parker joined the Qantas board. Economy Plus looks quite a bit like Main Cabin Extra on AA.

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.