Qantas Economy Class Review: Comfort, Food, and In-Flight Experience

Flying with Qantas in economy class is something many travellers look forward to, given the airline’s strong reputation for quality service. However, my recent experience was mixed—there were some positives, but also several areas where the airline fell short.

In this review, I’ll share the highs and lows of flying Qantas economy, from seat comfort and entertainment to food, cleanliness, and service.

Seat Comfort: A Positive Surprise

One of the highlights of flying with Qantas was the comfort of the seats. Compared to many budget airlines, the seats felt relatively spacious, with good padding and a decent amount of legroom.

The adjustable headrests made it easier to relax, and while I would have appreciated a deeper recline—especially for long-haul flights—the overall seating was comfortable enough to make the journey bearable.

Entertainment: A Major Letdown

In today’s age of air travel, personal in-flight entertainment screens are almost a given, especially on longer routes. Unfortunately, Qantas economy class offered no such feature.

Instead, there was a shared cabin screen with limited programming, which was hard to see depending on where you were seated. The lack of personal entertainment made the flight feel much longer and more monotonous.

Adding to the disappointment was the absence of magazines or reading material in the seat pockets. On most flights, you can expect at least a basic in-flight magazine, but here, there was nothing to pass the time.

Cabin Cleanliness: Room for Improvement

Another noticeable issue was the cleanliness of the seat pockets. While the overall cabin looked okay at first glance, the seat pockets were dirty, with debris and stains inside.

This lack of thorough cleaning between flights was surprising—especially at a time when passengers expect higher standards of hygiene and sanitisation. For an airline of Qantas’ reputation, this felt like a significant oversight.

Food Quality: Below Expectations

When it comes to food, I don’t expect luxury dining in economy, but I do expect meals that are edible and reasonably enjoyable. Unfortunately, the food served on this flight was bland, poorly textured, and difficult to eat.

The portion sizes were small, and while there were a few options, none of them seemed appetising. It was clear that little effort had been put into flavour or presentation, which made the meal one of the most disappointing aspects of the flight.

Cabin Crew and Service

The Qantas cabin crew were polite and professional, but they seemed stretched thin. While they did complete drinks and snack rounds, the service felt rushed and somewhat impersonal.

To their credit, the crew remained courteous and efficient, but the experience lacked the warmth and attentiveness you might expect from Qantas’ reputation.

inal Thoughts on Qantas Economy

Flying with Qantas in economy class comes with a few positives—most notably the comfortable seating. However, the experience was undermined by the lack of personal entertainment, the absence of reading materials, unclean seat pockets, and poor food quality.

For an airline that is often considered Australia’s flagship carrier, this flight didn’t quite live up to expectations. I hope Qantas addresses these issues in the future to ensure a more enjoyable experience for economy passengers.

Until then, while the seats were a redeeming factor, the overall journey left much to be desired.