Thai Airways International is Thailand's flag carrier, based at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, and Qantas is Australia's, with hubs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Travellers compare them mainly for Australia to Thailand flights and for Asia to Europe or Pacific journeys. Both are full-service airlines, but they belong to different alliances.
Quick verdict
Both are full-service carriers, so the choice comes down to route, alliance and cabin. Thai suits travellers heading to Bangkok or connecting onward through Asia and Europe, and anyone collecting Star Alliance miles. Qantas suits travellers flying within Australia or onward from there to North America, and those who want a long-haul First option on the A380 or oneworld status. Check the exact aircraft and fare rules for your flight, as products vary by plane.
Choose Thai Airways International if…
- You are flying to or via Bangkok, with onward links across Asia and Europe.
- You collect Star Alliance miles through Royal Orchid Plus.
- You want a pre-selectable Thai or international meal on international flights, up to 72 hours before departure.
Choose Qantas if…
- You need connections inside Australia or onward to North America, Africa or South America.
- You want a First cabin (A380 only) or a wide lounge network, including First Lounges in Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore and Los Angeles.
- You collect oneworld miles through Qantas Frequent Flyer.
At a glance
Search your flight
Key differences
Network and hubs
Thai's hub is Bangkok Suvarnabhumi. As of January 2026 it served 51 international and 9 domestic destinations in 29 countries, focused on Europe, Asia and Oceania. A return to North America is under discussion. Qantas has hubs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, serves more than 60 domestic destinations, and flies to Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and South America. On Sydney to Bangkok, compare both airlines' schedules and fares before booking.
Cabins and seats
Thai offers Royal Silk (business), Premium Economy and Economy, depending on aircraft; Royal First appears for some routes. Qantas internationally offers First (A380 only, 14 suites in a 1-1-1 layout), Business, Premium Economy and Economy. Qantas Economy pitch is usually 79 cm (31 in). Thai's seat details vary by aircraft, so check the seat map when booking. Thai has planned a cabin overhaul for 2027, per TTG Asia.
Fleet
Thai's long-haul flying relies on the Airbus A350-900, Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 787 family, with 89 aircraft on order as of June 2026, including A321neos and 787s. Qantas lists a mainline fleet of 132 aircraft, with large orders for A220, A320neo family, A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft to replace older types. Qantas operates seat-back entertainment on A330, 787 and selected A380 aircraft; check the type on your flight.
Baggage
Thai allows one 7 kg cabin bag. For tickets issued from late November 2025 and travelling from 2 March 2026, HappyFares reports Economy Saver and Standard include 1 x 23 kg, Flexi 2 x 23 kg and Royal Silk 2 x 32 kg. Older tickets keep the weight-based allowance. Qantas allowances depend on fare type and route, so confirm on qantas.com before booking.
Loyalty, lounges and reliability
Thai is a Star Alliance founder with Royal Orchid lounges and the Royal Orchid Plus scheme. Qantas is a oneworld founder, with First Lounges in Auckland, Melbourne, Singapore, Sydney and Los Angeles, and Business Lounges in cities including Hong Kong and London. Cirium recorded 79.29% on-time arrivals for Thai in June 2025. Qantas has had no jet fatalities, and its last fatal accidents were in 1951.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thai Airways better than Qantas?
Neither is better across the board. Both are full-service flag carriers; Thai is stronger for Bangkok and Asia connections, Qantas for Australian domestic links and routes beyond Asia to the Americas and Africa.
Do Thai Airways and Qantas both fly Sydney to Bangkok?
Both are commonly compared on this route. Check current schedules and frequencies with each airline before booking.
Which has the better business class or First Class?
Qantas offers First on the A380 only, as well as Business; Thai offers Royal Silk business class, with Royal First on some routes. Cabin quality varies by aircraft, so check the aircraft type and seat map.
About Thai Airways International Read more
Overview
Thai Airways International is the flag carrier of Thailand. According to Wikipedia, it was founded in 1960 as a joint venture with Scandinavian Airlines and began operating in its current form in 1988 after merging with Thai Airways Company. The Ministry of Finance holds 42.94% of the shares, and the airline is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Its headquarters are in Chatuchak, Bangkok. Thai is a founding member of Star Alliance. Its regional subsidiary Thai Smile was merged back into the mainline carrier from 2023.
Network and hubs
The main hub is Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. As of January 2026 the airline served 51 international and 9 domestic destinations in 29 countries, with a network focused on Europe, Asia and Oceania. A return to North America is under discussion, according to Aviation A2Z (July 2026).
Fleet
Wikipedia lists a fleet of 80 aircraft as of January 2026, with a large order book (see the fleet page). In July 2026 Aviation A2Z reported a Boeing 787 fleet of 45 aircraft, including those on order. TTG Asia (25 September 2026) reports that long-haul flying will rely on the Airbus A350-900, Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 787 family as older wide-bodies retire. It also reports that the Airbus A321neo fleet will grow from nine to 15 by the end of 2026, with a target of 32. The fleet is to be streamlined to four types, with a cabin overhaul planned for 2027.
On board
- Cabins: Royal Silk (business), Premium Economy and Economy, depending on aircraft. Royal First is listed in some baggage tables.
- Meals: Thai and international dishes, which vary by route and month. Pre-selection is available up to 72 hours before departure.
- Seat pitch, entertainment and Wi-Fi: not confirmed in the sources reviewed, and these vary by aircraft. Check the airline before booking.
Good to know
- Cabin baggage: Thai's official page allows one hand-carry bag of up to 7 kg.
- Checked baggage: third-party sources such as HappyFares report a piece-based allowance for tickets issued from 25 November 2025 for travel from 2 March 2026. Economy Saver and Standard include 1 x 23 kg, and Royal Silk includes 2 x 32 kg. Older tickets keep the weight-based allowance. Check the official site for your fare.
- Punctuality: Cirium reported 79.29% on-time arrivals for June 2025.
- Lounges: Royal Orchid and Royal Silk lounges. The loyalty programme is Royal Orchid Plus.
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.
Sources (3)
Ranking
Related airline comparisons
VSTrending
Thai Airways International VS Vietnam Airlines
VSTrending
Qantas VS Virgin Australia
VSTrending
Thai Airways International VS Etihad Airways
VSTrending
Thai Airways International VS Vietjet
VSTrending
Thai Airways International VS Singapore Airlines
VSTrending
Singapore Airlines VS Qantas
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.