Qantas Premium Economy: What You Get and Need to Know

Looking to book a Qantas Premium Economy ticket? Keep reading for everything you need to know from the seat details to the extra benefits and beyond.

Qantas' class-leading Premium Economy seats offer comforts seen in some carriers’ business-class cabins – we’re talking more premium than economy.

How is Qantas Premium Economy different from Business Class?

Premium Economy is a little like brunch. It sits between Economy and Business, fulfilling a much-needed in-between. It’s a great compromise, offering a very nice upgrade from Economy without the price tag of Business. Currently, Qantas Premium Economy is available on Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A380 aircrafts on select routes around the world.

What are the seats like in Qantas Premium Economy?

The A380's Premium Economy cabin features 60 seats and is laid out in a two-three-two configuration to allow maximum aisle access to passengers.

Each seat has an ergonomic headrest that can be fitted with a purpose-designed pillow. The seat-back is supremely comfortable with superior lower lumbar support and the armrests of aisle seats lower completely so there’s no need to return the seat to the upright position to get up.

The pièce de résistance, as long-haul passengers will note, is the recline function of the seat. As the passenger pushes back in the seat, several sections of the seat shift, not just the back. Rather than shifting backwards, the seat shuffles forward and up, holding the passenger in a z-position and preventing the body from sliding down in the chair. The function also means that although there’s a full nine inches of pitch, the intrusion of the seat in front is minimal – less than four inches.

Other features of the Qantas Premium Economy seats include enormous Panasonic seatback screens, two USB charging points for every seat, as well as a shared AC power-point and five storage areas for your books, cosmetics and devices.

What do you get in Qantas Premium Economy?

Besides an ultra-ergonomic seat designed for long flights, Qantas Premium Economy ticket-holders also enjoy several additional benefits, including: a dedicated check-in counter, priority boarding lane and disembarkation process, dedicated cabin crew, noise-cancelling headphones, a complimentary amenity kit, large cotton pillows and a 100% wool blanket.