Qantas Is Betting Big On Ultra-Long Flights – Should You Care?

Qantas is quietly reshaping long-haul travel with new nonstop US routes, cabin upgrades, and a huge fleet refresh. But are the sky-high fares, delays, and service issues worth it for you? Here is what actually matters.

Bottom line: If you fly between the US and Australia, Qantas Airways Ltd is about to change how long-haul feels for you with ultra-long nonstop flights, new cabins, and massive fleet upgrades - but there are tradeoffs you need to know before you book.

You are getting more direct US-Australia routes, newer jets, and better premium cabins, while social feeds are full of people dragging Qantas for delays, customer service, and baggage drama. So is Qantas a flex or a fail for your next big trip?

What users need to know now about Qantas and US flights...

Analysis: What's behind the hype

Qantas Airways Ltd is Australias flag carrier, but a ton of its biggest moves hit US-based travelers directly. From Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Honolulu, and Dallas, Qantas is pushing harder into ultra-long-haul and premium travel.

Recent investor updates and aviation coverage from outlets like Reuters, the Sydney Morning Herald, and industry blogs show three big plays that matter to you in the US:

• Ultra-long-haul expansion: New nonstop routes planned between the US and Australia using next-gen jets like the Airbus A350, targeting New York and more city pairs.
• Cabin and fleet refresh: Qantas is spending billions on new aircraft with upgraded business, premium economy, and refreshed economy cabins aimed at long-haul comfort.
• Network reset + reliability push: After a brutal wave of complaints on social and in the press about delays, refunds, and lost bags, Qantas is under pressure to tighten on-time performance and service quality.

For you, this translates to potentially smoother, more comfortable nonstops between the US and Australia - but also higher fares, especially if you want premium or nonstop instead of connecting through Asia or the Pacific on a rival airline.

Key Qantas details for US travelers

Factor	What it means for you (US-based)
Main hubs into Australia	Major Qantas long-haul flights link Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), New York (JFK, via intermediate stops), Honolulu (HNL), and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW, via American codeshares) to Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL), and Brisbane (BNE).
Target traveler	Long-haul leisure, digital nomads, students, and high-yield business travelers moving between US cities and Australia, plus connecting to Asia-Pacific.
Cabin options	Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and on some flagship routes, First. Newer aircraft emphasize Business and Premium as revenue drivers.
Typical US-Australia pricing (USD)	Economy often ranges roughly from high hundreds to low four figures round-trip in off-peak, Premium and Business can jump into the multiple thousands. Exact fares shift constantly by season, sales, and demand, so always compare live pricing.
Loyalty & partners	Qantas is part of oneworld, partnering with American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and others, so you can use or earn miles across networks for US domestic connections.
Ultra-long-haul strategy	Qantas is positioning nonstop New York and expanded US links as a premium play, using new long-range jets with extra comfort up front and squeezed but modernized cabins in the back.

Why the US market actually matters to Qantas

Qantas is not just chasing Australian travelers. The airline is aggressively marketing itself to US-based flyers who want a clean, one-ticket, one-brand experience across the Pacific.

Through its investor site and public statements, Qantas highlights the US as a key long-haul revenue pool thanks to:

• High-spend leisure: Americans heading to Sydney, Melbourne, and the Great Barrier Reef for long trips will pay extra for nonstops and better cabins.
• Corporate contracts: US-Australia business travel, especially tech, media, energy, and finance, is ripe for premium fares and loyalty lock-in.
• Network feeding: With American Airlines and Alaska, Qantas can pull passengers from dozens of US cities into its LAX, SFO, JFK, and DFW flows.

For you, this shows up as more schedule choice and better connectivity on the US side, but also rising competition for award seats and more aggressive pricing in premium cabins.

What people actually say online

Scroll through Reddits travel and aviation subs, or look at YouTube trip reports, and you will see a split personality for Qantas.

On the positive side, US-based travelers praise:

• Nonstop convenience: Avoiding multiple stops to get from the US to Australia is a big win, especially from LAX and SFO.
• Business & Premium cabins: Lie-flat seats, decent bedding, and often solid food on the long flights are repeatedly called out.
• Australian crews: Many users say Qantas cabin staff are friendly and laid-back when flights go smoothly.

On the negative side, the pain points are loud:

• Delays and cancellations: US-based passengers complain about late departures, missed connections, and chaos when things go wrong.
• Customer service: Getting refunds, rebookings, or call center support is a recurring frustration, especially for people trying to fix issues from the US time zone.
• Baggage and disruption handling: Lost bags and slow reimbursement are common complaint themes in US forums.

So if you are planning on using Qantas for a bucket-list Australia trip, the consensus from frequent travelers is: book smart, protect yourself, and do not assume everything will be perfect just because it is a flagship carrier.

How Qantas is trying to win you back

After waves of social media backlash and media investigations into performance and refunds, Qantas leadership has publicly pledged to invest in operational reliability and customer experience.

Based on cross-checked reporting from financial news and aviation media, key moves include:

• Massive fleet renewal: New aircraft with better fuel efficiency and upgraded cabins to reduce mechanical delays and improve comfort.
• Schedule smoothing: Fewer hyper-optimistic turnarounds and more realistic block times, which should translate into fewer knock-on delays.
• Tech and staffing upgrades: Improving digital tools, check-in flow, and crew resources to better handle disruptions.

For a US traveler, what you should expect is a slow, not overnight, improvement. Do not expect every flight to suddenly be perfect, but watch for more consistent performance stats on major US-Australia routes over time.

Is Qantas worth your money compared to rivals?

If you are flying from the US to Australia, you are probably comparing Qantas to airlines like United, Delta (via partners), Hawaiian, Air New Zealand, Fiji Airways, ANA, JAL, and others that route you through hubs in the Pacific or Asia.

Qantas tends to differentiate itself with:

• Nonstop routes on key city pairs like LAX-SYD and SFO-SYD.
• Local Aussie brand feel in food, entertainment, and crew vibe.
• Integration with oneworld for mileage nerds and status chasers connecting from US domestic flights.

But it can lag or fall short on:

• Pricing sensitivity: You will often pay a premium for the Qantas nonstop or for premium economy and business seats compared with one-stop competitors.
• Customer service reputation: Rivals like Japanese or some Middle Eastern carriers often appear in traveler reviews as more consistent in service recovery.

Your decision often comes down to this tradeoff: Is shaving hours off your journey with a nonstop worth potentially higher fares and mixed service reviews? For many Americans on a once-in-a-lifetime Australia trip, the answer is yes. For price-sensitive or flexible travelers, a one-stop routing on a rival can be better value.

Practical tips if you are in the US and considering Qantas

• Compare total travel time vs price. Nonstop from LAX or SFO on Qantas can save hours of layovers. Decide what those hours are worth to you in dollars.
• Use points strategically. If you have American, Alaska, British Airways, or Qantas points, look for Qantas awards or upgrades. Award seats to and from the US are limited but hugely valuable on those ultra-long legs.
• Check aircraft type. Newer Qantas jets generally have better entertainment, USB/power, and more modern seating. On long flights, that matters a lot.
• Protect yourself with insurance or flexible tickets. Given the track record of disruptions, it is smart to build in buffer days and have coverage for delays or cancellations.
• Track performance trends. Before you book, look at recent on-time performance and reviews for your specific route and flight number, not just generic airline ratings.

What the experts say (Verdict)

Aviation analysts, travel writers, and financial journalists largely agree on one thing: Qantas Airways Ltd is in a high-stakes bet on ultra-long-haul and premium travel.

From an expert standpoint, the verdict usually breaks down into pros and cons like this:

• Pros
  • Strategic nonstop routes: The push into longer, direct flights between the US and Australia is seen as a big differentiator that competitors cannot easily copy at scale.
  • Fleet modernization: New aircraft with better cabins and efficiency are a positive for comfort, costs, and future reliability.
  • Strong brand at home: Qantas still holds strong loyalty in Australia, which helps keep aircraft full on major US routes.
  • Oneworld connectivity: Deep integration with American Airlines and Alaska gives Qantas reach into many more US cities.
• Cons
  • Trust and reputation damage: Service issues, disruption handling, and refund controversies have hurt Qantass image, especially online.
  • Premium pricing pressure: Charging top-tier fares means customers expect consistently top-tier service, which Qantas has not always delivered.
  • Operational complexity: Ultra-long-haul flights are sensitive to weather, crew, and maintenance; when one thing breaks, the knock-on effect is huge.

So, should you fly Qantas from the US?

If you prioritize nonstop convenience, want an Aussie-flavored onboard experience, or can snag a good fare or award seat in Premium or Business, Qantas is absolutely worth considering. You will appreciate the direct routing and the upgraded cabins, especially on the newest jets.

If you are super price-sensitive, hate risk, or care more about consistent, ultra-polished customer service than about flying nonstop, you might find better value routing via another hub with a competitor.

The move Qantas is making is clear: it wants to be your go-to, premium, non-stop bridge between the US and Australia. Whether that works for you comes down to your budget, your risk tolerance, and how much those extra hours saved in the air are worth in your real life.