Qantas Economy Plus Launching Feb 2026

Goodness ... I have had 5 flights since this was introduced and never had to pay. My future bookings all show $0.

How soon before the flight?
This Friday so 3 days. I have also submitted an upgrade request and there’s a few business seats still available so hoping that comes through.
But I am surprised that I can’t select the seat without paying, I tried and it asked for a credit card number so didn’t proceed.
It’s a reward booking so maybe that makes a difference.
 
Even if it shows $0 if you try to select the front row of economy it may still ask for payment.

I think P1/CL is still given some preferential treatment over WP for these seats.
I have not experienced any request for payment, although for my two most recent ones I did receive email receipts for $0.
 
I guess what happens could also vary depending on your PCV. A Platinum that easily retains with minimal/no help from DSC and that has a very high lifetime status tally may have a much higher PCV than someone who just scrapes in relying heavily on DSC and has far fewer LTSC
 
Even if it shows $0 if you try to select the front row of economy it may still ask for payment.

I think P1/CL is still given some preferential treatment over WP for these seats.
So far, I’ve not seen front row seats even open for a fee well outside T-80 as WP. I’m assuming only CL/P1 have free access.

A few of us have had the opportunity to get front row just outside T-80, and I’d encourage anyone to take it - as @serfty said, once T-80 ticks over, those front row seats are locked down.
 
I guess what happens could also vary depending on your PCV. A Platinum that easily retains with minimal/no help from DSC and that has a very high lifetime status tally may have a much higher PCV than someone who just scrapes in relying heavily on DSC and has far fewer LTSC
I'd suggest that PCV has more to do with what seats are available to actually select.

I have noticed in my recent experience (and as I indicated upthread), front row seats may become available to me (as a WP) shortly after T-80, but some hours later they become blocked again.
 
I was sitting in 24J on Monday’s flight and when we landed I overheard the elderly lady in 23K saying to the man in 23J that her husband either worked or used to work for Qantas (I didn’t quite hear) so perhaps the front row seats are also available for staff travel bookings.
 
I was sitting in 24J on Monday’s flight and when we landed I overheard the elderly lady in 23K saying to the man in 23J that her husband either worked or used to work for Qantas (I didn’t quite hear) so perhaps the front row seats are also available for staff travel bookings.
If seats are not filled with paying customers staff travellers would get allocated from whatever’s left over.
 
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If seats are not filled with paying customers staff travellers would get allocated from whatever’s left over.
I understand however that seat was never available for me to purchase (as a Platinum) which it probably should have been if not already allocated to CL/PL1.
 
so perhaps the front row seats are also available for staff travel bookings.

All Y+ seats are available to staff travel. They can usually only pick a seat about 30 minutes to an hour from departure anyway, so it's unlikely they would really impact commercial pax.
 
Data point just had an equipment swap from 321XLR to 737. Seats went from 17 F > 9F (both still Y+). Interestingly i think i watched it happen in real time.

My BP went from normal to "See staff" to Normal and when I looked at the seats, I noticed the aircraft swap. I had maybe another 5mins to move around before all seats filled.
 

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