Qantas Airbus A380-800
Qantas A380-800 · 485 seats · First / Business / Premium Economy / Economy
Qantas Airbus A380-800
The A380 is Qantas's flagship: 485 seats across four classes on two decks. First Class (14 seats) is on the lower deck in a 1-1-1 layout. Business (70 seats) is on the upper deck in a 1-2-1 lie-flat configuration. Premium Economy (60 seats) sits in its own upper deck cabin with 39-42 inches of pitch. Economy (341 seats) fills the rest in a 2-4-2 layout at 31-inch pitch. The fleet of 10 aircraft (averaging 15 years old) flies Sydney-London, Sydney-LA, and Sydney-Singapore, with Dallas/Fort Worth and Johannesburg planned. They won't retire until 2032, when the A350-1000 takes over.
Best Seats on the Qantas A380-800
First Class suites (rows 1-5 lower deck) don't have sliding doors like Emirates or Singapore -- instead, shell-like partitions and automatic privacy shields create a cocoon effect. The left-side 'F' seats get automatic shields that rise at cruising altitude. Bedding is by Sheridan with an air foam mattress. Business on the upper deck is spacious and quiet -- the 1-2-1 layout with lie-flat beds is the best Qantas has to offer. Premium Economy's upper-deck cabin (rows 42-52) is physically separate from economy and worth the upgrade on overnight flights. In Economy, the upper deck (rows 60-75) is quieter than the lower deck.
Seats to Avoid
Rows 78-87 on the lower deck rear are the worst seats on any Qantas aircraft. Four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines create real noise back there, you're far from everything, and deplaning from the back of a 485-seat aircraft takes a long time. Lower deck economy middle seats (D and E) are miserable on a 20+ hour flight to London. Upper deck economy is the better choice if you're in economy class.
Cabin Specifications
This Qantas Airbus A380-800 features 485 seats in a First / Business / Premium Economy / Economy configuration. Our analysis has identified 123 seats rated as "Best" or "Good" for comfort and convenience.
First class offers 14 seats with 79" seat pitch and 22" width. Business class offers 70 seats with 60" seat pitch and 21.5" width. Premium Economy class offers 60 seats with 38" seat pitch and 19.5" width. Economy class offers 341 seats with 31" seat pitch and 17.4" width.