Qantas A380 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
✈️ Quick Verdict
| Aircraft | Airbus A380-800 (388) |
| Fleet | 10 aircraft, all refurbished post-2019 |
| Config | 14F · 70J · 60W · 341M (485 total) |
| Layout | First 1-1-1 · Business 1-2-1 staggered · PE 2-3-2 · Economy 3-4-3 |
| Version lottery? | No — fleet now consistent post-refurb |
| Best overall | First 3A/3K · Business 17E/17F (couples) or 11A/11K (solo throne) |
| Best in Economy | 51H, 52D–G (bulkhead), 74A/74K, 84A/84K |
| Avoid | Row 1 (First), 27–28 (Business), 38–40 (PE), 63–65 and 85–88 (Economy) |
| IFE | Panasonic eX2, on-demand |
| Power | Universal AC + USB-A throughout |
| WiFi | Rolling installation across fleet |
Cabin Layout at a Glance
Qantas' A380 is dual-deck with an unusual split:
- Main deck: First Suites (rows 1–5) at the front, then a long Economy cabin (rows 48–88) behind the staircase.
- Upper deck: Business Suite (rows 11–28) at the front, Premium Economy (rows 31–40) at the rear.
There is no longer any Economy on the upper deck — the small upper-deck Economy mini-cabin that existed pre-refurbishment was removed when the fleet was reconfigured. If a guide tells you otherwise, it is out of date.
First Suites (Main Deck, rows 1–5)
Fourteen Marc Newson "open suites" in a 1-1-1 layout. The 22.5" swivel chair converts to a fully flat bed, and the ottoman doubles as a buddy seat for dining with a companion. Refreshed in 2020 with new cushioning and finishes.
Note: Row 1 has only two seats (1A and 1K) — there is no 1F. Total count is 14.
Best First seats
| Use case | Seats | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | 3A, 3K, 4A, 4K | Mid-cabin, furthest from the front galley and lavatory |
| Best centre suite (couples/solo dining) | 3F, 4F | Centre suite uses the ottoman as a buddy seat |
| Acceptable | 2A, 2F, 2K, 5A, 5F, 5K | Fine, but Row 2 is closer to front galley noise and Row 5 may sit near a bassinet |
🚫 Avoid in First
1A and 1K — these seats are immediately adjacent to the forward lavatory and crew workstation. Expect light, traffic and intermittent noise throughout the flight.
Business Suite (Upper Deck, rows 11–28)
70 Thompson Vantage XL suites in a staggered 1-2-1 arrangement, identical to the seat on the refurbished Qantas 787. The key A380-only bonus: window suites have a large under-window storage bin big enough for shoes, mattress pad, pillows and a handbag.
The layout splits into two cabins separated by a mid-deck bar and lavatory bank. Row 16 has only two seats — 16A and 16K — with the bar/lounge filling the centre space.
Understanding the stagger
In Thompson Vantage XL, A and K alternate between "true window" and "aisle-side window" positions:
- Odd-numbered rows (11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23) — A/K sit close to the window with a narrower footwell. More privacy.
- Even-numbered rows (12, 14, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) — A/K sit closer to the aisle with a wider footwell. Less private, more floor space.
Centre pairs work the opposite way: in some rows E/F are honeymoon-close together; in others they're separated by consoles ("cocooned" solo centres).
Best Business seats
| Use case | Seats | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best solo throne | 11A, 11K, 16A, 16K, 17A, 17K | Bulkhead — wider footwell + extra storage drawer. 16A/K are the standout solo seats on the deck |
| Best for couples | 11E + 11F, 17E + 17F | Bulkhead centre pair with divider and more space |
| Privacy-first solo | Any odd-row A or K (13, 15, 19, 21, 23) | True window, snug footwell |
| Floor space-first solo | Any even-row A or K (12, 14, 18, 20, 22, 24) | Aisle-side window, wider footwell, easier to stretch |
🚫 Avoid in Business
Rows 27 and 28 — closest to the rear galley and the Premium Economy curtain. Some service noise; less of a true rear-cabin issue than usual because the galley is small, but if you want the quietest sleep, stay forward of row 25.
Premium Economy (Upper Deck, rows 31–40)
60 David Caon–designed seats in a 2-3-2 layout. 38" pitch, 20.5" width, 9" recline, bi-fold tray table in the armrest and a 13" HD touchscreen. Two USB-A per seat plus a shared AC outlet.
The cabin sits on the upper deck behind the Business curtain — quieter than Main Deck Economy and a meaningful step up on long sectors.
⚠️ Critical layout note: the cabin tapers at the rear as the upper-deck fuselage narrows.
- Rows 31–37 are full 2-3-2.
- Row 38 has no A or B seats (left side closes off).
- Row 39 has no A, B, or D seats.
- Row 40 has only 40J and 40K.
- Rows 38, 39 and 40 also lose the side storage bins, and 38K and 39K have no window at all — just cabin wall.
Best Premium Economy seats
| Use case | Seats | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | 31A, 31K | Bulkhead window pair seats — extra legroom, wall-mounted suspended footrest, true windows |
| Best for couples | 31A + 31B, 31J + 31K | Bulkhead, no middle seat, true couple's pair |
| Best window alignment | 36A, 36K | Cleanest window position in the cabin |
| Solid choices | 32A/K, 33A/K, 34A/K, 35A/K, 37A/K | Standard window seats with bins |
🚫 Avoid in Premium Economy
- 31D, 31E, 31F — bulkhead centre row, but this is the bassinet position. Expect infant noise.
- 38K and 39K — no window. You're paying Premium Economy money for a wall view.
- Rows 38, 39, 40 — fuselage narrows, no side storage bins, reduced headroom on window seats, and Row 40 has only the J/K pair with a galley/lavatory bank immediately behind.
Economy (Main Deck, rows 48–88)
341 seats in 3-4-3. Standard Qantas Recaro shells with 32" pitch and 18" width. 12" HD touchscreens. Shared 110V AC plus USB-A.
The cabin is divided into two sections by the mid-cabin lavatory bank, with a third small mini-cabin at the very front behind the staircase.
Layout quirks
- Rows 48–50 have only the A/B/C trio on the left. The right side of these rows is the staircase to the upper deck — there are no H/J/K seats here.
- Row 51 is bulkhead — 3-_-3 with no middle four.
- Row 52 is the front of the main cabin, with all middle (D–G) bulkhead seats backing onto the lavatory wall. Generous legroom — measured at about 30in (77cm) to the wall, the deepest bulkhead pitch on the aircraft.
- Row 66 is the mid-cabin exit row.
- Rows 79–80 sit at the second mid-cabin exit (L4/R4), with Row 80 as bulkhead.
- Rows 87 and 88 have only the centre 4 seats (D–G) — fuselage narrows.
Best Economy seats
| Use case | Seats | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best single seat in Economy | 51H | Bulkhead, no neighbour on the aisle side, partial wall, extra legroom |
| Best legroom (pair) | 52D + 52G or 52E + 52F | Deepest bulkhead pitch on the aircraft, ~30in to the wall |
| Best bulkhead window | 51K, 80A, 80K | Extra legroom, true window |
| Best window alignment | 74A, 74K, 84A, 84K | Cleanest window position in their respective sub-cabins |
| Best exit row aisle | 66B, 66C, 66H | Exit row legroom (note: tray in armrest, slightly narrower seat) |
| Best couples pair (no middle) | 80A + 80B or 80J + 80K | Three-seat bulkhead trio behind exit row 79 |
🚫 Avoid in Economy
- Row 63 — this is a lavatory row, not an exit row. Three or four lavatories sit immediately behind. All seats rated avoid.
- Rows 64 and 65 — adjacent to the same mid-cabin lavatory bank. Row 64 has no centre seats (lavatories fill the middle); Row 65 has only A/B/C on the left.
- 66A and 66K — exit row, but the door eats into the seat position and there is no window. Take 66B, 66C, 66H or 66J instead.
- 79B and 79J — exit row aisle seats but no window, and the tray table is in the armrest.
- Rows 85, 86, 87, 88 — rear lavatory zone. Row 85 and 86 outer seats are lavatory-adjacent; rows 87 and 88 are the last centre rows with limited recline and lavatories on three sides.
Quick-Pick Summary
| Travelling as… | Pick |
|---|---|
| Solo, want maximum privacy in Business | 16A or 16K (solo throne, lounge between) |
| Couple in Business | 11E/11F or 17E/17F (bulkhead centre pair) |
| Solo in First | 3A, 3K, 4A or 4K |
| Couple in First | 3F + 4F (centre suites, can dine using the ottoman buddy seat) |
| Couple in Premium Economy | 31A/31B or 31J/31K |
| Family with infant | 31D/E/F (PE bassinet row) or 51J / 80C / 80H (Economy bassinet) |
| Solo in Economy who wants quiet | 51H — bulkhead, no aisle neighbour |
| Maximum Economy legroom, willing to lose recline | 52D–G (bulkhead, deepest pitch) or 66 exit row (except 66A/K) |
| Best Economy window for photos | 74A/K or 84A/K |
How to Tell Which Version You're On
All ten of Qantas' active A380s have been refurbished to the current configuration (1-2-1 Business Suite, refreshed Premium Economy, refreshed First). There is no longer a meaningful version lottery on this aircraft type — if you're booked on a QF A380, you're on the refurbished product.
If you see a Qantas booking that shows a 2-2-2 Business layout, treat it as a system error and check the operating aircraft type — it's most likely been swapped to a 787-9 or a partner aircraft.
Routes Currently Using the A380
Qantas deploys the A380 on its highest-density long-haul routes, typically:
- QF1 / QF2 — Sydney–Singapore–London
- QF9 / QF10 — Melbourne / Perth–London (rotational)
- QF11 / QF12 — Sydney–Los Angeles
- QF93 / QF94 — Melbourne–Los Angeles
- QF7 / QF8 — Sydney–Dallas (seasonal)
Schedules change — verify on qantas.com before booking based on aircraft type.
FAQs
Is First Class on the A380 better than the 787?
Yes — the 787 has no First Class. If you want Qantas First, the A380 is the only option for now (the A350-1000ULR Project Sunrise aircraft will offer a new First Class from 2027 onwards).
Is Business on the A380 different from Business on the 787?
The seat itself is identical (Thompson Vantage XL). The A380 wins on two counts: it has under-window storage bins on A/K seats that the 787 doesn't, and the upper deck is noticeably quieter than the 787's main-cabin Business position.
Is there still Economy on the upper deck?
No. The small upper-deck Economy mini-cabin was removed during the 2019–2020 refurbishment. All Economy is now on the main deck.
Which seat has the best windows for photography?
74A and 74K in the main cabin, or 84A and 84K in the rear cabin — both rows align cleanly with windows. In Premium Economy, 36A and 36K. In Business, the odd-row A/K seats sit closest to the windows.
Are there bassinets in every cabin?
Yes — First (between 4/5), Business (upper deck bulkhead positions), Premium Economy (31D/E/F) and Economy (51J, 52D, 52F, 80C, 80H, 82D–G).
Comparable Guides
Emirates A380 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
Singapore Airlines A380 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
Qantas 787-9 Seat Selection Guide (2026)