Jetstar

Jetstar is the Qantas Group's budget arm, and it doesn't pretend to be anything else. It operates about 110 aircraft from Melbourne Avalon and every major Australian capital, covering domestic routes plus international services to Bali, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Hawaii, and a growing list of destinations. The business model is textbook low-cost: the base fare gets you a seat and not much else. Baggage, meals, seat selection, and entertainment are all extras.

What makes Jetstar interesting is the range. The 787-8 Dreamliners give it long-haul reach at budget prices, and the A321LR now flies routes like Perth-Bangkok and Sydney-Rarotonga (one of the longest A321LR routes flown commercially anywhere). Jetstar is also adding Melbourne-Colombo from August 2026. The pricing on these routes regularly beats full-service carriers by 40-60%. The trade-off is real: 29-inch seat pitch on the narrowbodies, no included extras, and business class on the 787 isn't lie-flat. But for the price, a lot of Australian travellers are happy to make that deal.

The domestic fleet is A320s and A321s in all-economy configurations. The A320 carries 180-186 passengers, the A321 over 220. Seat pitch across both is 29 inches -- and that's tight. For context, Qantas economy on the 737 gives you 30 inches, and Virgin gives you 31. That single inch difference compounds over a 3-hour flight. The seats are non-reclining on the A320, which is either a blessing (nobody reclines into your lap) or a curse (you can't recline either), depending on your perspective.

The A321LR is the expansion play. With a range of 7,400 km, it's opening international routes from Perth (Bangkok, Singapore, Phuket, Manila) and from Sydney to the Cook Islands. A fifth A321LR will be based in Perth by March 2026. The 787-8 fleet (11 aircraft) is getting a major refit through 2026: business class doubles from 21 to 44 seats with new Recaro seats (same manufacturer as Emirates Premium Economy), and every economy seat gets 60W USB-C outlets that can charge a laptop. They're also adding ViaSat WiFi -- the same system Qantas uses. Each aircraft takes about six weeks in maintenance for the refit.

Let's be direct about the narrowbody experience: 29-inch pitch, no seatback entertainment, no power outlets, and no WiFi on the A320/A321 fleet. You bring your own entertainment and you pay for everything beyond the seat. If you're 5'10" or taller, flights over two hours will be uncomfortable. That's the deal with budget airlines, and Jetstar doesn't try to dress it up.

The 787-8 is a different story. Even in economy, you get the Dreamliner benefits: lower cabin pressure (equivalent to 6,000 feet instead of the usual 8,000), bigger windows with electric dimming, better humidity, and quieter cabins. The current economy pitch is 30 inches with Recaro CL3710 seats (the same seats Qantas uses in 787 economy). After the refit, the new business class will have 44 seats in a 2-3-2 layout with proper recline, device holders, and enhanced meal service -- but still no lie-flat. If you've flown actual lie-flat business class on other airlines to Asia, temper your expectations. Jetstar "business" is closer to what other airlines call premium economy. The value is in the pricing, not the product.

On the A320/A321, exit row seats cost about A$25 extra but here's an important detail: they don't actually offer more pitch than standard seats on Jetstar. The regulatory requirement is met through other means. So you're paying for the exit-row label, not extra legroom. Standard seats are all essentially identical at 29 inches.

The front rows (1-3) are worth selecting because you board first and deplane first. On a budget carrier, that might be the most valuable "upgrade" available. On the 787-8, the calculus changes. Business class (especially after the refit with 44 seats) is good value on routes to Japan, Bali, or Thailand -- you get proper service, checked bags, and a much wider seat for what's typically A$300-500 more than economy on international routes. For economy on the 787, window seats are worth picking specifically for the electric dimming windows. The rear third of the cabin on any Jetstar aircraft gets louder and slower to deplane -- avoid rows 25+ on narrowbodies if you can. Perth-Bangkok on the A321LR (about 6 hours 40 minutes) is the sweet spot route: long enough that the budget savings matter, short enough that 29-inch pitch won't destroy you.