Qantas vs Virgin Australia: Airline Comparison Guide

Choosing between Qantas and Virgin Australia isn’t always straightforward. They’re two of the biggest airlines in Australia, with strong domestic networks and plenty of loyal flyers. Whether you’re heading from Melbourne to Sydney or flying further afield, you’ll likely see both on your search.

This guide breaks down the key differences - from seats and service to loyalty schemes and travel perks. If you're booking soon and want to know which one fits your plans best, you're in the right place.

Let’s get into it 👇

✨Which is Better: Qantas or Virgin Australia?

• Qantas is a strong pick for international travel. It’s part of the Oneworld alliance and has a wide global network. If you’re flying business class or using frequent flyer points, you’ll likely rate the premium service.
• Virgin Australia is known for its domestic routes. It’s efficient, well-priced and has lower cancellation rates. With flexible fares, you only pay for what you need.

So, which is better? It depends on your plans. Qantas gives you full-service flying with global reach. Virgin keeps things simple and cost-effective within Australia.

At a Glance

Qantas and Virgin Australia are the two biggest players in Australian aviation. They fly millions each year across wide domestic networks. If you're booking flights within Australia or heading overseas, chances are one of them will show up in your search.

Airline size and reach 📏

• Qantas runs a larger fleet - over 300 aircraft - flying to 80+ international destinations across six continents, plus 60+ domestic routes.
• Virgin Australia keeps things more focused, with around 100 aircraft serving 40+ domestic destinations and a few international routes in the Asia-Pacific.

Alliances 🤝

• Qantas is part of the Oneworld alliance, giving you access to global partners like British Airways, American Airlines and Cathay Pacific.
• Virgin Australia isn't part of a major alliance but has strategic partnerships with Singapore Airlines, United Airlines and Qatar Airways.

Major hubs 🛫

• Qantas hubs include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, with extra regional coverage via QantasLink.
• Virgin Australia also operates out of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with Adelaide as another key hub.

Reputation 🗣️

• Qantas is often seen as the premium option, especially for international travel and full-service perks.
• Virgin Australia is known for efficiency, flexible fares and competitive pricing, and held the largest domestic market share at 34.4% as of December 2024.

Economy Fare Comparison

Economy fares look similar on the surface, but what’s included can vary, and knowing the details can help you avoid surprise fees.

Carry-on rules 🎒

• Qantas includes one carry-on bag and a personal item on all economy fares, and is usually more relaxed about weight.
• Virgin Australia’s Economy Lite also includes both, but they strictly enforce the 7kg limit.

Seat selection 💺

• Qantas lets you choose your seat for free from 24 hours before departure on most fares.
• Virgin’s Economy Lite charges for advance seat selection, though higher fare types include it.

Other inclusions ⛔

• Virgin Australia’s Economy Lite removes extras like checked baggage and meals to keep prices low.
• Qantas includes 23kg of checked baggage on domestic flights (30kg international) and offers meals on all economy fares.

Which one's better? 🤔

• Virgin gives you choice - pay less for the basics or upgrade for extras. Their higher fares include most of what Qantas gives as standard.
• Qantas is better if you want it all included up front. It’s a more traditional full-service option with fewer add-ons to think about.

✨Our thoughts: If you're travelling light and don't mind paying for extras, Virgin Australia's Economy Lite can save money. For friction-free travel with everything included, Qantas delivers better value and fewer surprises.

Business Class and Premium Options

Both airlines offer upgraded cabins, though the experience varies significantly depending on whether you're flying domestic or international routes.

Domestic Business Class ✨

Both Qantas and Virgin Australia feature leather recliners on domestic routes.

• Qantas leans into premium touches, with full-service hospitality and menus from chef Neil Perry.
• Virgin Australia also offers hot meals and local wine, though the overall experience feels more casual.

International Business Class ✨

The difference is more noticeable on long-haul flights.

• Qantas offers fully flat-bed seats, premium dining and wines selected by an onboard sommelier, available on all wide-body aircraft.
• Virgin Australia has lie-flat seats on a few international routes, but the network is smaller and the service less polished.

Premium Economy and Upgrades ✨

• Qantas includes premium economy on A380s and B787s, with 42" seat pitch, better lighting and upgraded meals. It’s a clear step up from economy.
• Virgin Australia only offers premium economy on select international flights. For domestic routes, their Economy X upgrade gives you more legroom (34-38" pitch), which Qantas doesn’t currently offer.

✨Our thoughts: Qantas is the clear winner for international business and consistent premium economy. Virgin Australia does the job on domestic business and offers helpful flexibility with Economy X - ideal for longer domestic trips or extra legroom when you need it.

Seat Comfort and Cabin Experience

Seat size is similar on both airlines, but design choices and aircraft age make a difference to how comfortable your flight feels.

Space and comfort 📏

Both airlines offer around 31-32 inches of legroom in economy, with seat widths between 17.2-17.5 inches - pretty standard across the board. The real differences come down to seat design, layout and the feel of the cabin.

Design and atmosphere 🛋️

• Qantas updates its cabins more often - it opts for newer materials, ambient lighting and modern seatback screens that are standard on many routes.
• Virgin Australia’s bold purple branding gives the cabin a more modern vibe. Some aircraft feel fresh, while older ones can feel more stripped back.

Cabin quality 🛫

• Qantas tends to feel more premium overall, even in economy, with extra attention to finishes and small details.
• Virgin Australia is solid for the price, but the experience varies more depending on the aircraft.

Which feels more comfortable? 🤔

For short domestic flights, the difference is minimal. But if you’re flying long-haul, Qantas’s newer cabins and added design touches offer a noticeably better experience.

✨Our thoughts: Qantas has the edge for comfort and consistency, especially on longer flights. Virgin Australia holds its own on shorter routes, with enough comfort to match the price.

Frequent Flyer and Loyalty Programs

Qantas Frequent Flyer and Virgin Australia’s Velocity are both changing in 2025, with new ways to earn and redeem benefits. Here’s what you need to know.

Earning points💰

Both programs now reward you based on how much you spend, not how far you fly. Higher fares earn more points, and both offer extras through co-branded credit cards and partner shopping.

Status tiers and benefits ⬆️

• Qantas keeps the classic tier system: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. You earn Status Credits through flights and eligible spend.
• Virgin Australia switched things up in April 2025. Status is now fully spend-based (1 Status Credit per $12), with new Platinum Plus and Forever Gold tiers.

Airline partnerships 🌐

• Qantas is part of Oneworld, so you get perks across 15 partner airlines and access to 650+ lounges worldwide.
• Virgin Australia isn’t in a major alliance, but its growing partnership with Qatar Airways (25% owned as of 2025) opens up 100+ destinations via Doha.

Award redemptions 💸

Neither airline uses fixed award pricing.

• Qantas bumped up Classic Reward prices by 10-20% in August 2025, but also made more seats available.
• Virgin’s updates focus on high spenders, which could make elite status harder for budget travellers to keep.

Long-term value 🏆

• Qantas suits international flyers who want wide-reaching alliance perks and global redemption options.
• Velocity is better for those flying within Australia or spending more on flights. And with the Qatar partnership, you still get solid international coverage, often without the higher price tag.

✨Our thoughts: Go with Qantas if you’re flying internationally and want reliable access to partner perks. Pick Virgin Australia if you mainly fly domestic and prefer a loyalty program that rewards spend over flight frequency.

Credit Cards and Extra Perks

Co-branded credit cards can do more than earn points - they can unlock travel perks that make flying smoother and more rewarding.

Qantas credit card benefits 🔴

• Qantas partners with several banks to offer Frequent Flyer cards. Many include extras like priority boarding, free checked baggage and lounge access.
• Annual fees are usually higher, but top-tier cards come with fast-track status perks and bonus point offers.

Virgin Australia Velocity cards 🔵

• Virgin Australia’s credit cards often give you more value on everyday spend. The American Express Velocity Platinum earns 1.25 points per dollar and includes a free domestic return flight each year.
• Annual fees are lower overall, though you’ll get fewer luxury perks compared to Qantas.

Which one makes more sense? 🤔

• Qantas cards are better suited to frequent flyers looking for premium benefits and help reaching elite status.
• Virgin Australia cards are great for those who want strong earning rates and practical extras like flight vouchers.

✨Our thoughts: Choose a Qantas card if you want full-service travel perks and faster status upgrades. Go with Virgin Australia if everyday value and simple rewards are your priority.

Routes, Destinations and On-Time Performance

Both airlines offer strong domestic coverage in Australia, but differ when it comes to international reach and operational performance.

Where they fly 🌎

• Qantas flies to 80+ international destinations across six continents, plus over 60 domestic routes, including smaller regional areas through QantasLink.
• Virgin Australia serves 42 domestic destinations and a few international ones. Its partnership with Qatar Airways extends reach to 100+ destinations via Doha.

Domestic vs international 🏠

• Qantas leads on international routes and regional coverage within Australia.
• Virgin Australia holds the largest share of the domestic market, especially strong on key city-to-city routes.

On-time performance ⏱️

• In June 2025, Virgin Australia had fewer cancellations (1.7% vs Qantas’s 2.8%) - a good sign for reliability.
• Qantas, however, led on punctuality with 83.2% of flights arriving on time, compared to 78.1% for Virgin Australia.
• Both are still tracking below the historical average of 80.7%, showing the wider challenges across the industry.

✨Our thoughts: Fly Qantas for global reach and regional access. Choose Virgin Australia for strong domestic routes, better reliability on cancellations, and a more affordable path to international travel through Qatar Airways.

Baggage, WiFi and Lounges

Beyond the ticket price, these extras can impact your travel experience and your wallet.

Baggage rules 🧳

• Qantas includes checked baggage on most economy fares.
• Virgin Australia's Economy Lite doesn’t - you’ll need to add baggage separately.
• For extra bags on domestic flights, Virgin charges less: $50 per piece vs $130 with Qantas.

WiFi on board 📡

• Qantas offers free WiFi on all domestic flights - a big win if you need to stay connected.
• Virgin Australia charges $9.75 for 30 minutes or $19.95 per flight, unless you're flying business or hold Platinum status.
• Both airlines provide stable connections across their fleets.

Lounge access 🛋️

• Qantas runs 24 domestic lounges, with tiered access (Qantas Club, Business and First). Oneworld membership gives you access to 650+ lounges worldwide.
• Virgin Australia has 7 domestic lounges in major cities and no international lounges of its own, relying on airline partners for global coverage.
• Virgin’s lounge membership is cheaper ($420 + $99 joining fee) than Qantas ($699 + $129), but you’ll get fewer locations and more basic facilities.

✨Our thoughts: Qantas leads on lounge access and free WiFi, making it better for frequent travellers and those flying long-haul. Virgin Australia is fine for occasional flyers, but if lounges and WiFi matter to you, the savings might not be worth the trade-offs.

Family and Child-Friendliness

Travelling with children means more to think about - from bassinets and meals to what you can bring onboard. Here's how each airline supports families.

Infant policies 👶

• Both airlines let infants under two fly free on domestic routes (when seated on a parent’s lap). For international travel, expect to pay around 10% of the adult fare.
• Qantas uses leather/vinyl seats - easier to wipe down after spills. Virgin Australia uses fabric seats, which might feel scratchy for kids with sensory sensitivities.

Bassinet availability 🛏️

• Qantas offers bassinets on international flights and some A330 domestic routes. They don’t supply milk, but hot water is available for formula.
• Virgin Australia doesn’t offer bassinets at all, but they do provide milk cartons and can warm bottles if requested.

Meals and entertainment 🍴

• Qantas provides child meals and kids’ packs on key routes (must be pre-ordered). Most planes have seatback screens.
• Virgin has snacks for sale, but child-friendly options often sell out - it's worth packing extras just in case.

Baggage policies 🎒

Both airlines allow extra carry-on for baby gear. Virgin Australia gives an extra 7kg and up to three infant items checked free (not included on Economy Lite fares).

Which works better for families? 👨🏾‍👩🏻‍👧🏽‍👦🏽

• Qantas is better for families with infants, especially if you need a bassinet or want meals and entertainment included.
• Virgin Australia suits families with older kids who don’t need as much - just bring your own snacks and screen time.

✨Our thoughts: Choose Qantas for infants under 12 months and traditional family service. Pick Virgin Australia for cost flexibility with older children, but pack extra supplies for comfort and entertainment.

Safety, Support and Overall Experience

Both airlines have strong safety records, but their customer support and overall experience offer two very different approaches.

Safety and trust 🔐

• Qantas ranks #2 in the world on AirlineRatings.com (2025) with no fatal accidents in the jet era since 1951.
• Virgin Australia ranks #4 globally.
• Both airlines meet high safety standards and maintain modern, well-managed fleets.

Customer support 📞

• Qantas scores higher in formal satisfaction surveys but has faced criticism for long wait times and slow issue resolution.
• Virgin Australia is investing in tech - their app rating has jumped from 2.8 to 4.7. But phone support still lags, with only 7% of customers saying their issue was fully resolved through a call.

💡Need help with your booking? Our 24/7 Customer Service team is here before you fly - just reach out.

Overall experience 🧑‍✈️

• Qantas delivers a classic full-service feel: meals, drinks and entertainment are included.
• Virgin Australia keeps things lean and efficient - you’ll get lower fares, but may need to pay for extras that Qantas includes.

✨Our thoughts: Qantas offers a more traditional, premium experience with reliable service and safety at the core. Virgin Australia keeps things simple, affordable and tech-forward - this is ideal if you’re after value without too many frills.

Qantas vs Virgin Australia: Which Should You Choose? 🤔

Both airlines serve Australia well, but they offer different strengths depending on where you're flying and what matters most to you.

Choose Qantas if you want:

• A wide international network and Oneworld alliance perks
• Full-service flying with meals, baggage and entertainment included
• Lounge access across Australia and free WiFi on domestic routes
• Premium economy and a more refined business class experience on long-haul flights

Choose Virgin Australia if you're after:

• Lower domestic fares and flexible fare types
• Fewer cancellations and solid day-to-day reliability
• Access to 100+ international routes through Qatar Airways
• Spend-based loyalty and upgrade options like Economy X

Both airlines are safe, trusted and well-established. The better pick comes down to your travel plans, budget and what you value most onboard.

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