Qantas is Australia's flag carrier and a founding member of oneworld, while Virgin Australia is its main domestic rival, based in Brisbane. Travellers compare them mostly on the trunk routes between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, where both sell frequent flights.
Quick verdict
Which is better: Qantas or Virgin Australia?
Qantas is the better fit if you want a true long-haul network, international First, Premium Economy and Business, oneworld connections or a checked bag on every domestic fare. Virgin Australia suits domestic and short-haul travellers who want a cheaper, simpler product and are happy to add a bag only when needed. For flights beyond Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Bali, Qantas flies its own long-haul services, while Virgin Australia relies on partners.
Choose Qantas if…
- You are flying long-haul to Asia, Europe, North America or beyond on one airline, with First, Business or Premium Economy available.
- You want oneworld status benefits and lounge access, including First Lounges in Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Auckland and Los Angeles.
- You want checked baggage to be part of every domestic Economy fare.
Choose Virgin Australia if…
- You are flying domestically or to Bali, New Zealand or Fiji and want a lower-priced Lite fare without a checked bag.
- You want a two-cabin 737 product (Business and Economy) with streaming entertainment on your own device.
- You collect Velocity points, or want Velocity Gold/Platinum lounge access across Australian airports.
At a glance
Search your flight
Key differences
Network and hubs
Both airlines use Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as hubs. Qantas also has Perth as a main hub and flies to Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and South America. Virgin Australia treats Adelaide and Perth as secondary hubs and is Australia's largest domestic airline by passenger share (December 2024). Its international flying is short-haul only, including Bali, New Zealand and Fiji. For longer trips it sells partner flights, with codeshares including Qatar Airways and Air Canada.
Qantas vs Virgin Australia: Cabins and seats
Qantas offers First (A380 only, 14 suites), Business, Premium Economy and Economy on international flights. International Economy pitch is usually 79 cm (31 in). Virgin Australia flies Boeing 737s with a small Business cabin of 8 seats plus Economy, with 126–182 Economy seats depending on aircraft type. It has no international Premium Economy or First. If cabin choice on a long route matters, Qantas is the only one of the two with a full range.
Baggage and fares
Checked baggage is a clear dividing line on domestic routes. Point Hacks lists a 23 kg checked bag on all Qantas domestic Economy fares, while Virgin Australia's Lite fare has none and Choice and Flex include 23 kg. Allowances change, so check the rules for your fare when booking. Lite can be the cheaper option if you travel with hand luggage only, but a bag added later can reduce the saving.
Onboard entertainment and Wi-Fi
Qantas has seat-back entertainment on A330, 787 and selected A380 aircraft. It has offered free Wi-Fi on domestic flights since 2016, and announced free Wi-Fi on international aircraft from the end of 2024, to be on all international flights by 2026. Virgin Australia streams movies, TV, podcasts and books to your own device. Its Wi-Fi was on 80% of Boeing 737s in December 2025, with 90% targeted by the end of 2026. It is free for Business and Velocity Platinum only.
Loyalty and lounges
Qantas runs Qantas Frequent Flyer. Its higher tiers and oneworld status give lounge access, with First Lounges in five cities and Business Lounges in Brisbane, Hong Kong, London and elsewhere. Virgin Australia is in no global alliance. Its Velocity programme gives lounge access to Business Class passengers and Gold and Platinum members, at airports including Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast, Darwin, Perth and Wellington. Paid membership and day passes are also available.
Frequently asked questions
Is Qantas better than Virgin Australia?
Qantas offers a wider network, long-haul cabins including First, and oneworld benefits, so it suits international and premium travellers. Virgin Australia is a strong domestic option, often with lower Lite fares.
Does Virgin Australia include checked baggage?
Not on Lite fares. Choice and Flex fares include a 23 kg bag for non-members, so confirm your fare conditions before booking. Qantas includes a 23 kg bag on all domestic Economy fares.
Which airline flies internationally?
Qantas flies to Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and South America. Virgin Australia's own international flying is short-haul, such as Bali, New Zealand and Fiji, with partner airlines covering longer routes.
About Qantas Read more
Overview
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. According to Wikipedia, it was founded in Winton, Queensland, in November 1920 and began operations in 1922. It is one of the world's oldest airlines still operating. It is listed on the ASX, majority Australian-owned under Australian legislation, and headquartered in Mascot, Sydney. It is a founding member of the oneworld alliance. Vanessa Hudson is chief executive.
Network and hubs
Qantas has hubs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, with focus cities including Adelaide, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin and Hobart. It serves more than 60 domestic destinations and flies to Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and South America. It describes itself as the only airline to fly to all seven continents. Subsidiaries include Jetstar (low-cost) and QantasLink (regional).
Fleet
Wikipedia lists a mainline fleet of 132 aircraft (retrieved September 2026). In November 2024 the wider Qantas Group, including Jetstar, QantasLink and freight operations, operated 308 aircraft. The group has large orders for A220, A320neo family, A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft to replace older types. Seat maps for each type are on the Qantas fleet page.
On board
- First: A380 only, with 14 suites in a 1-1-1 layout.
- Business, Premium Economy and Economy: offered internationally. Economy seat pitch is usually 79 cm (31 in).
- Entertainment: seat-back audio-video on demand on A330, 787 and selected A380 aircraft.
Meal and Wi-Fi details vary by route and aircraft; check the airline's website for your flight.
Good to know
- Lounges: international First Lounges operate in Auckland, Melbourne, Singapore, Sydney and Los Angeles, with Business Lounges in several other cities.
- Loyalty: Qantas Frequent Flyer. Its higher tiers and oneworld status give lounge access.
- Baggage and change fees: these depend on fare type and route. Check the airline's baggage and fees pages when booking.
- Safety: Qantas has had no jet fatalities. Its last fatal accidents were in 1951.
Sources: Wikipedia, Qantas; Qantas fleet and seat maps.
About Virgin Australia Read more
Overview
Virgin Australia was founded on 29 August 2000 as Virgin Blue and adopted its current name in 2011, according to Wikipedia. Co-founded by Richard Branson and Brett Godfrey, it combines features of low-cost and full-service airlines and is Australia's largest domestic carrier by passenger share (December 2024). Its headquarters are in South Bank, Queensland. The company relisted on the ASX in June 2025, with Bain Capital holding about 40% and Qatar Airways about 23%. The airline is not a member of a global alliance.
Network and hubs
The main hubs are Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, with Adelaide and Perth as secondary hubs. Wikipedia reports 33 Australian destinations as of June 2025. International services are limited and short-haul, and include routes to Denpasar (Bali), New Zealand and Fiji. Australian foreign-ownership rules mean international flights run through a separate corporate structure.
Fleet
The half-year results (27 February 2026) state that the fleet was 107 aircraft at 31 December 2025, plus 11 domestic wet-lease lines. Six Boeing 737-8 (MAX) aircraft were delivered in the half, taking that type to 14, with 12 more expected over the following year. Wikipedia lists Boeing 737-700, 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 aircraft in mainline service, with 737 MAX 10 orders. Virgin Australia Regional Airlines is replacing Fokker 100s with Embraer E190-E2s and Airbus A320s with Boeing 737s.
On board
- Cabins: Business (8 seats) and Economy on Boeing 737s, per Wikipedia's fleet table.
- Entertainment: movies, TV shows, podcasts and books can be streamed on personal devices.
- Wi-Fi: fitted to 80% of Boeing 737s at December 2025, with 90% expected by the end of the 2026 calendar year. Wikipedia says access is charged except for Velocity Platinum members and Business Class passengers.
Good to know
- Loyalty programme: Velocity Frequent Flyer.
- Lounges: Virgin Australia Lounges operate at airports including Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast, Darwin, Perth and Wellington. Access is included for Business Class and Velocity Gold and Platinum members; paid membership and single-use passes are also sold.
- Pets: since October 2025 small dogs and cats may travel in the cabin on selected routes, with Adelaide added from June 2026.
- Baggage allowances, fees and on-time figures were not confirmed from a source for this profile; check the airline website before booking.
Sources (3)
Ranking
Related airline comparisons
Compare the airlines
Compare two airlines side-by-side to see the real difference
We use cookies to keep the site working, understand how it is used, and show relevant content and ads. Choose Accept all to allow them, or Reject all to keep only the cookies the site needs. Read more in our Privacy Policy.