Qantas Airbus A321XLR
Qantas A321XLR · 200 seats · Business / Economy
Qantas Airbus A321XLR
The A321XLR reshapes Qantas's domestic and short-haul flying. Current domestic configuration: 200 seats: 20 in Business and 180 in Economy (including 36 Economy Plus). Business pitch is 37 inches with 5 inches of recline. Qantas has 48 of these on order, and the first are already flying Sydney-Melbourne (32 weekly), Sydney-Perth (up to 27 weekly), and Sydney-Brisbane (16 weekly). From 2028, 16 of these will get lie-flat business seats, enabling Perth-India and Adelaide-Singapore service that narrowbodies couldn't reach before. The aircraft's 8,700 km range (3,000 km more than the 737) makes these previously impossible.
Best Seats on the Qantas A321XLR
Business rows 1-3 are comfortable at 37 inches with good recline. Economy Plus in rows 4-9 is the value pick -- you get extra pitch and priority service without paying business fares. Exit rows 12-13 offer the most legroom in economy. On the Sydney-Perth route (about 5 hours), paying for Economy Plus or exit rows is worth every cent. Fast free WiFi is available on the international-configured aircraft.
Seats to Avoid
Rows 28-32 are right in front of the rear lavatory block. On a 5-hour Sydney-Perth flight, the door noise and foot traffic get old fast. The middle seats (C and D) are standard narrowbody discomfort, but on the longer routes this aircraft flies, that discomfort compounds. If you're on a Perth transcontinental, avoid the middle at all costs.
Cabin Specifications
This Qantas Airbus A321XLR features 200 seats in a Business / Economy configuration. Our analysis has identified 50 seats rated as "Best" or "Good" for comfort and convenience.
Business class offers 20 seats with 40" seat pitch and 21" width. Economy class offers 180 seats with 31" seat pitch and 18" width.