The Latest from Qantas

For Americans traveling to Australia and New Zealand, Qantas offers around 40 flights per week from the United States to Australia and New Zealand, with more on the way due to strong demand. Through its Passenger Perks and Explorer fares, Qantas passengers can unlock savings for experiences and regional flights Down Under. The flag carrier and largest domestic and international airline in Australia gears up for a busy 2024 with some new routes and perks.

Expansion of Flight Offerings

• Flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Melbourne (MEL) grew from daily to nine per week. Qantas also boosted capacity on the route by about 60 per cent with more Airbus A380 aircraft flying.
• Flights from New York (JFK) to Sydney (SYD) via Auckland (AKL), launched in June 2023, increased from three to four per week and will increase to daily in mid-2024.

New to the Airlines: Neighbour Free Seating

• Available on select international routes, the airline is trialing Neighbour Free Seating on several routes from Los Angeles, Dallas (DFW) and San Francisco (SFO). Starting at $143 on flights from North America, economy passengers can now have the option to keep the seat next to them free when capacity allows.
• Customers booked on a flight with spare capacity will be emailed 48 hours before their flight with the option of selecting a Neighbour Free seat.

Upgrades to Be Aware Of

• Qantas is investing $100 million to upgrade its network of lounges in Australia and overseas, including a new flagship First Lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport and new Auckland International Lounge featuring an edible herb garden.
• For all international travelers, Qantas rolled out a significant menu enhancement (alongside its robust wine program) in March with new dishes and larger portions across all cabins — including plant-based dishes — using high-quality ingredients from premium Australian producers.
• Qantas is investing up to AUD $400 million in a Climate Fund to develop new technologies to help the airline cut carbon emissions by 25 per cent by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.
• Other sustainability initiatives include a commitment to zero single-use plastics by 2027 and zero general waste (excluding quarantine waste) to landfill by 2030.

The airline is also poised to debut the world’s longest flight from New York to the east coast of Australia from late 2025. Dubbed Project Sunrise, the airline has worked with a multidisciplinary team of scientists from University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre including sleep scientists to reduce jet-lag and shape the look and feel of travel.