Qantas Economy Plus Launching Feb 2026

[DejaBrew]

Just got an email about Qantas Economy Plus due to launch next year…

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/seat-selection/qantas-economy-plus.html

Say hello to Qantas Economy Plus, our new seating option designed to give you more comfort and more choice when booking in Economy.

Landing from February 2026, Qantas Economy Plus will initially be available on our B737, A220 and A321XLR fleets, on flights across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

You’ll be able to purchase a Qantas Economy Plus seat during booking, or at any time prior to check in.

Qantas Economy Plus is a new seat type in Economy, offering extra legroom, priority boarding and priority access to overhead lockers.

Access to Economy Plus is complimentary for WP and above, and complimentary at check in for SG.

 

[Volando]

Beat me to it!!!!

I felt it was only a matter of time until something like this emerged given the rows of extra legroom seats on the port side of the A220 fleet and the year or two of monetising row 4.

It's somewhat heartening to see that Golds get a little bit of love from this seeing as most other OneWorld carriers provide access to preferential seating to OWS members. Though I wonder if CL and P1s are less enthused about WPs potentially also having access to row 4 from the time of booking.

Another question: will this be the end of T-80? Even back in my PS days I could usually get rows 5 - 8 at T-80, occasionally even row 4 outside of peak golden triangle flights.

 

[Flyerwin]

Interesting. I just got the email too. Would this add more people to the premium queue? Or it won't as people already in the premium queue will take this up?

 

[WilsonM]

"Qantas is enhancing the onboard experience" - the first line in the presser

They did it! They said the thing!

But I think this is a good change for Qantas elites, a less good one for those without status.

EDIT: Woah, just looked at the seat counts. 48 Y+ seats on the 738s, 36 on the 321s and the A220s get 20. 48. On a 737??? Is the entire cabin forward of the exit rows just all Y+ then?

 

[JoeyKangaroo]

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

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Beat me to it!!!!

I felt it was only a matter of time until something like this emerged given the rows of extra legroom seats on the port side of the A220 fleet and the year or two of monetising row 4.

It's somewhat heartening to see that Golds get a little bit of love from this seeing as most other OneWorld carriers provide access to preferential seating to OWS members. Though I wonder if CL and P1s are less enthused about WPs potentially also having access to row 4 from the time of booking.

Another question: will this be the end of T-80? Even back in my PS days I could usually get rows 5 - 8 at T-80, occasionally even row 4 outside of peak golden triangle flights.

Anything is better than nothing for us SGs.

P1s and CLs may not love WPs getting immediate access, but Row 4 will no longer be as meaningful if there are now multiple rows with additional legroom.

Agree it's still rather lame that I'm given better seat access on, e.g., AA, than my own airline.

Presumably this means they're removing a row to increase legroom in this new section.

I assume it's indeed the end of T-80 for the masses. I imagine they'll operate as United does with Economy Plus --- chargeable even at check-in and only assigned to non-paying pax if flight is otherwise full and they're the last options available. They could also perhaps go the Delta route where you "request" upgrade as Gold and it auto-clears (perhaps with similar option not to upgrade if only middle seat available --- I suspect QF's tech is too stupid for any of this and that it will require the SG manually choosing the seat).

 

[PineappleSkip]

Got the email. Just looking at the FAQ. Exit rows appear to be economy plus, potentially you can burn points on the seat, and no extra points or SCs

Will there be any limitations or restrictions when booking a Qantas Economy Plus seat?​

Some Qantas Economy Plus seats will be located in an Exit Row.

Will I be able to use Qantas Points to reserve a Qantas Economy Plus seat?​

Yes, you will need to be logged in as a Qantas Frequent Flyer member at the time of seat selection for this option to be available.

Will there be any changes to how Status Credits or Qantas Points are earned when booking Qantas Economy Plus?​

You will continue to earn Qantas Points and Status Credits as per your fare type.

 

[henrus]

As a WP I’m impressed and like the idea. I’ve got WP with both VA and QF so this makes VA a even less attractive given Economy X was a major benefit of VA.

 

[justinbrett]

Now to see if QF has an inner circle of partners it will extend these privileges to and leave the others ineligible.

Possibly the reason AA MCE now extends to QF members.

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

Like saying QF is charging extra for dedicated lockers in business. Leaving out the bit the main point of the product…

QF has charged for extra leg room for many years.

 

[Mr_Orange]

I thought exit row seats were always paid for if selected at time of booking. This just adds priority boarding which QF have consistently shown they cannot manage and probably just makes the priority lane even longer.

Also, it's not a new seat with extra leg room, it's the same seats with the same leg room that row 4 and exit rows have always had!

 

[themaiz]

Also just got the email. Can't find ANYTHING that describes what is meant by "extra legroom". Would all Economy Plus seats be the same as exit rows?

 

[SYD]

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

Or recognising FFs?

VA have had Y+ for ages. No complaints there.

EDIT: Woah, just looked at the seat counts. 48 Y+ seats on the 738s, 36 on the 321s and the A220s get 20. 48. On a 737??? Is the entire cabin forward of the exit rows just all Y+ then?

Wow! Where are you seeing that? Is Row 4 included? Or still EL?

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

EDIT: Woah, just looked at the seat counts. 48 Y+ seats on the 738s, 36 on the 321s and the A220s get 20. 48. On a 737??? Is the entire cabin forward of the exit rows just all Y+ then?

Looks very much like United. Makes sense. The duopoly means lots of status-holders and offering a good chunk of seats in this sub-cabin gives them a reasonably good chance of snagging one, even as SG. As VA fares creep up but still remain below QF, this helps close the gap. Also great timing as VA finishes ripping out one of the three piddly rows of Economy X they have.

I love to dump on QF for legitimate reasons and sometimes just as catharsis but so far I only see this as a good thing. I don't love as a SG that I'm not guaranteed a row closer to the front, but I suspect I'll benefit frequently enough from being able to move up and get more legroom that it's worth that trade-off.

 

[SYD]

I thought exit row seats were always paid for if selected at time of booking. This just adds priority boarding which QF have consistently shown they cannot manage and probably just makes the priority lane even longer.

Also, it's not a new seat with extra leg room, it's the same seats with the same leg room that row 4 and exit rows have always had!

The A220s do have EL seats but yep, nothing to suggest that QF will remove a row or two on the 737s to increase legroom forward of the exits.

 

[Volando]

EDIT: Woah, just looked at the seat counts. 48 Y+ seats on the 738s, 36 on the 321s and the A220s get 20. 48. On a 737??? Is the entire cabin forward of the exit rows just all Y+ then?

Where have they published those numbers @WilsonM ?

48 seats on a 737 would be row 4 (6 seats) two exit rows (another 12) and then somehow an additional 30 seats (5 rows).

Seeing as they promise extra legroom, they will either need to pull a row out of Y (as if!!), or more likely in my opinion, put in slimmer seats at JQ pitch in most of the Y cabin, "enhance" row 4 to have much less space from the J seats in front and jenga the rest mostly with smoke an mirrors rather than actual centimetres.

Edit: My cynicism isn't completely merited based on the more detailed info in the posts that follow!

 

[WilsonM]

Or recognising FFs?

VA have had Y+ for ages. No complaints there.

Wow! Where are you seeing that? Is Row 4 included? Or still EL?

The fact sheet that accompanied the presser - https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/m...nd-more-legroom-qantas-launches-economy-plus/

 

[TheInsider]

Rumour is that the refurbed 737s will have one less row in Y and therefore will have a couple of rows of extra leg rooms seats.

 

[Steady]

This just adds priority boarding which QF have consistently shown they cannot manage and probably just makes the priority lane even longer.

In my experience this is no longer the case - they board in groups now and if your group hasn't been called your boarding pass will not scan so I see quite a few turned away now

 

[ChrisMars]

Can seats pitch be reconfigured easily? Remove 1 inch for the one at the back, add 1 inch for economy plus seats, tadaaaaa

 

[WilsonM]

Rumour is that the refurbed 737s will have one less row in Y and therefore will have a couple of rows of extra leg rooms seats.

This makes sense. My guess for the A321s would be Y+ in rows 6, 7 and 15-18 - Other users have also done this.