Qantas Economy Plus Launching Feb 2026

[aikman]

Once Qantas releases what will no doubt be a high price premium for Y+ and social media starts publishing "How I booked Y+ for FREE!" I think a lot of SGs will put up with middle seats.

 

[elanshin]

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.

Ive definitely chosen row 4 middle on a flight i suspect would be quite full before. I think if you fly enough, you know which flights are likely 98% full on heavy traffic routes even if it looks "empty" 24h ahead of time.

 

[DejaBrew]

Sidebar question....

With Qantas having introduced a product called Economy Plus which - for obvious reasons - we've already begun referring to in this thread as Y+, does that now mean that AFF needs a new abbreviation for Premium Economy (which has otherwise historically/commonly been referred to on site as.... well.... Y+)?

Should Premium Economy now be abbreviated simply to PE? Or for a bit of fun, should we just start affectionately referring to it as PrincE (you know - as in "the artist formerly known as....")

 

[moa999]

Premium Economy now be abbreviated simply to PE?

I'd say I've seen it more commonly referred to as PE rather than Y+

Arguably to fit with F/J/Y it might be better referred to as W which I've only seen occasionally.
Being the typically highest fare class for PE fares among most airlines inc Qantas

 

[DejaBrew]

I'd say I've seen it more commonly referred to as PE rather than Y+

And yet....

Google Search

 

[dairyfloss]

Sidebar question....

With Qantas having introduced a product called Economy Plus which - for obvious reasons - we've already begun referring to in this thread as Y+, does that now mean that AFF needs a new abbreviation for Premium Economy (which has otherwise historically/commonly been referred to on site as.... well.... Y+)?

Should Premium Economy now be abbreviated simply to PE? Or for a bit of fun, should we just start affectionately referring to it as PrincE (you know - as in "the artist formerly known as....")

View attachment 480306

Ha - was thinking about this too! It will be too easy to confuse Y+ between extra legroom (DOM) and the real deal (INT).

Just as with 'Y' & 'J', some have used 'W' to refer to PE/Y+ in the past, taking from the full fare class commonly used for Premium Economy. It's perhaps not as intuitive as Y+, but then without knowing about how airfares work, I'm sure at some point Y & J were total mysteries to us as well!

It eventually becomes second nature after hanging out on AFF and similar places, but I talk to my family and friends in this language half of the time; and most of that half of the time they have no idea what I'm talking about

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[SYD]

Ha - was thinking about this too! It will be too easy to confuse Y+ between extra legroom (DOM) and the real deal (INT).

Just as with 'Y' & 'J', some have used 'W' to refer to PE/Y+ in the past, taking from the full fare class commonly used for Premium Economy. It's perhaps not at intuitive as Y+, but then without knowing about how airfares work, I'm sure at some point Y & J were total mysteries to us as well!

It eventually becomes second nature after hanging out on AFF and similar places, but I talk to my family and friends in this language half of the time; and most of that half of the time they have no idea what I'm talking about

Cheers,
Matt.

Until now, PE and Y+ have been used interchangeable to refer to QF W. Although a few acronym police have picked up those using Y+…

 

[RooFlyer]

does that now mean that AFF needs a new abbreviation for Premium Economy

Just don't call it the dress circle or some such ...

 

[justinbrett]

Until now, PE and Y+ have been used interchangeable to refer to QF W. Although a few acronym police have picked up those using Y+…

IMO Y+ fell out of favour referring to premium economy years ago - most likely as a result of many airlines having both a Y+ and a premium economy product.

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.

Even if you had an aisle with a shadow in Y?

I was in this situation last year, aisle with a NFS, was upgraded to W mid flight, but fortunately had an aisle and a window to myself in W.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Even if you had an aisle with a shadow in Y?

Yep. The wider seat and deeper recline outweighs a shadow. It's been a long time since I held sufficient status to be granted a shadow though .

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Just don't call it the dress circle or some such ...

I'm afraid that's what it's called now.

 

[RooFlyer]

Apologies if posted already, but FinReview story today covering 2 issues. Did anyone notice the AGM being on today

Qantas says corporate travel weaker in some areas as it cuts capacity

“Corporate travel continued to grow, although less than previously forecast,” chief executive Vanessa Hudson said in an address to the company’s annual general meeting. “We are adjusting domestic capacity in the second half to match the demand profile we are seeing.”

Qantas is expected to cut capacity by 1 per cent in the second half to maintain its flying margins.

Also reports on the Y+, but nothing too exciting.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Apologies if posted already, but FinReview story today covering 2 issues. Did anyone notice the AGM being on today

Qantas says corporate travel weaker in some areas as it cuts capacity

"Qantas is expected to cut capacity by 1 per cent in the second half to maintain its flying margins."

Not exactly material but still interesting. Given the aircraft shortage, surely there are opportunities to redeploy some aircraft.

Removing 8 seats from some 737s to make way for Y+ is >1% reduction, so speeding up the refurb might help.

Gotta keep those fares sky high, folks!

 

[J-P]

This is exactly what a Frequent Flyer program should be doing. It is rewarding those who Frequently Fly with the airline and thus have status.

Seems very sensible

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I don’t see the point of all of this as a Qantas Gold. We already get priority boarding and we can pick any seat onboard a Qantas plane free of charge (including the coveted row 4 on the 737) at T-80. What am I missing here? Also I love how Qantas is copying CoUniHound’s Economy Plus strategy. Could this mean the beginning of basic economy at Qantas?

 

[clifford]

(including the coveted row 4 on the 737) at T-80.

Not true. Those are paid extra legroom seats and only become availabe at T-24. Ask me how I know...

 

[justinbrett]

What am I missing here?

About 4 inches.

 

[elanshin]

I don’t see the point of all of this as a Qantas Gold. We already get priority boarding and we can pick any seat onboard a Qantas plane free of charge (including the coveted row 4 on the 737) at T-80. What am I missing here? Also I love how Qantas is copying CoUniHound’s Economy Plus strategy. Could this mean the beginning of basic economy at Qantas?

Row 4 was lost at T80 last year even for Platinum. Its currently a P1 benefit only. Only at OLCI does it open up for free. But this isn't opened up to just gold at that point. Most people have the ability to snipe that seat.

The main change here if im reading it right is that those seats can't be taken by people under gold without a fee unless QF runs out of seats.

 

[jase05]

I hope I never need it but seems like a good idea overall and will benefit many people.

 

[Flyerwin]

PE

Y+

W

I think I prefer W. Single letter like Y or J.