Your complete guide to travelling with QantasLink

Whether you’re a regional flyer or jetting to places like Cairns and Canberra, here’s what you need to know about QantasLink.

Operating a wide range of domestic flights across Australia spanning short regional hops to journeys to and from the major capitals, QantasLink’s fleet and network are equally varied.

With many of the perks travellers have come to expect – including Qantas Frequent Flyer Points, airport lounges and other perks for frequent flyers – here’s your guide to travelling with QantasLink.

QantasLink fleet, seat maps

QantasLink operates a variety of aircraft to suit various routes and passenger numbers, as below.

QantasLink Bombardier Dash 8

Within the Bombardier ‘Dash 8’ family, QantasLink counts three types of turboprops: the 200 Series, the 300 Series, and the Q400 series.

The Dash 8 200 Series , shown below, can seat 36 passengers across nine rows, in a 2-2 layout. This makes it the smallest member of the QantasLink fleet.

All seats are Economy class, with Row 4 designated as the exit row seats, with a further exit at the rear and one lavatory at the front.

Larger in size, the Dash 8 300 Series makes room for 50 passengers, again in a 2-2 configuration, with Row 10 marked as exit row seats and exits at the front and rear beyond that. There’s one lavatory at the front available to all passengers.

As the biggest member of QantasLink’s Dash 8 family, the Dash 8 Q400 can accommodate 74 passengers, once again in a 2-2 setting.

This time, you won’t find exit rows in the middle of the plane, with exits at the front and rear only, with one lavatory at the front.

An advantage of these planes is the absence of a middle seat, with everybody on board enjoying either an aisle or a window seat.

QantasLink Fokker 100

The jet-powered QantasLink Fokker 100 model seats 100 travellers, in an all-economy, 2-3 layout.

These planes have two exit rows in the middle of the plane and two lavatories at the rear.

While QantasLink has three different Fokker 100 configurations (the A Series, G Series and T Series), the primary differences are only to the aircraft galleys and closets: the seats remain in the same 2-3 layout across 21 rows.

Notably, there’s no row 13 on any QantasLink Fokker 100s – the row numbers jump from 12 straight to 14 – although other QantasLink planes do have a 13th row. .

QantasLink Boeing 717

Not unlike the Fokker 100, which also has its engines back near the aircraft tail, the QantasLink Boeing 717 also accommodates economy travellers in a 2-3 cabin.

On some QantasLink Boeing 717s, economy stretches from tip to tail on the aircraft, with 125 seats in total. Two exit rows are in the middle of the aircraft, with two lavatories at the rear.

On others, business class is available in addition to economy. Here, 12 business class seats adopt a 2-2 layout, and 98 economy seats remain in a 2-3 configuration, for a total of 110 seats.

You may notice with this variety that the 98 economy passengers must share one lavatory at the rear, while the 12 in business class have a loo for exclusive use at the front.

QantasLink Embraer E190-100

The newest plane to join the QantasLink fleet is the Embraer E190-100 : another jet aircraft originally operated by Alliance Airlines on QantasLink’s behalf – that is, with Qantas service and a Qantas livery painted on the plane.

These aircraft offer 10 seats in business class in a 1-2 layout, and 84 seats in economy in a 2-2 configuration, with a single exit row and a lavatory at both ends of the aircraft.

With a total of 94 seats, this also means nobody ends up in a middle seat: everybody is by the aisle or a window.

In 2022, this fleet will become a wholly owned part of the Qantas fleet once Qantas completes a full acquisition of Alliance Airlines.

QantasLink Airbus A320

The largest member of the QantasLink fleet, the Airbus A320 is most often seen flying within Western Australia, such as between Perth and Broome.

Formerly of the Jetstar fleet and later transitioned to QantasLink, these jets retain Jetstar’s all-economy layout, offering seating for 180 travellers in a 3-3 configuration.

Two exit rows can be found a few rows in front of the halfway point, with two lavatories at the rear and one at the front available to all passengers.

QantasLink carry-on baggage allowance

All QantasLink passengers receive a carry-on baggage allowance, but exactly how much you can bring aboard depends on the aircraft operating your flight.

On Dash 8 services (including 200, 300 and Q400 Series turboprops), the maximum allowance is one, 7kg bag per passenger, with total dimensions of up to 105cm.

This reflects the storage limitations on these Dash 8 flights – and some bags, including most with wheels, will often be tagged as ‘Premium Hand Luggage’ at the gate: taken from you as you board, and returned to you upon arrival.

These items are stored separately to checked baggage but aren’t accessible at any point during the flight, so remember to first take out any book or personal entertainment device you might wish to use while in the air.

Consider travelling with a smaller carry-on bag for your reading material and electronic devices, for access during flight.

Unlike checked bags, which are deposited at the check-in counter and retrieved from baggage claim, ‘Premium Hand Luggage’ bags can remain with you up until boarding, including in the lounge: and you won’t need to wait at the carousel to collect the bag afterwards as it is returned to you when disembarking the aircraft.

On all other flights, including QantasLink Fokker 100, Boeing 717, Embraer E190-100 and Airbus A320 flights, Qantas’ normal domestic carry-on baggage allowance applies.

This provides for up to two bags at a combined total weight of 14kg, with one of those items being up to 10kg.

QantasLink checked baggage allowance

As well as a carry-on baggage allowance, all QantasLink passengers receive a complimentary checked baggage allowance.

As well as a carry-on baggage allowance, all QantasLink passengers receive a complimentary checked baggage allowance.

How much you can pack depends upon your cabin, frequent flyer status, and in some cases, the type of plane operating your flight and your destination, as below.

QantasLink checked baggage allowance to/from Lord Howe Island

On these flights, all passengers – regardless of frequent flyer status or connecting flights – can pack two checked bags.

The first bag can weigh up to 14kg, with the second weighing up to 9kg: a total of 23kg combined weight.

QantasLink notes that due to aircraft weight restrictions, it’s sometimes necessary that the second bag (of up to 9kg) may travel on a later flight, so if travelling with two pieces of luggage, pack any essentials either in your carry-on baggage, or in your first checked bag.

QantasLink checked baggage allowance on all Dash 8 flights

Except on flights to and from Lord Howe Island as above, the baggage allowance on all Dash 8 flights is strictly set at 1x23kg bag per passenger.

This applies regardless of status, Qantas Club membership, or other connecting flights on the same ticket, again due to limited storage space and weight restrictions on Dash 8 flights – including 200 Series, 300 Series and Q400 Series turboprops.

Checked baggage on all other QantasLink economy class flights

Given most QantasLink planes don’t offer business class, it’s no secret that almost all QantasLink passengers travel in economy: and unless you’re zipping to Lord Howe Island, or taking a Dash 8 flight, the baggage allowance below will apply.

• Standard allowance: 1x23kg bag
• Qantas Club members, Qantas Silver frequent flyers: 1x32kg bag
• Qantas Gold, Platinum and Platinum One: 2x32kg bags
• Oneworld Sapphire and Oneworld Emerald (other than Qantas): 2x23kg bags

Importantly, the allowances don’t ‘stack’ – so a Qantas Club member who is also a Silver frequent flyer can pack only 1x32kg bag (as opposed to the base allowance of 1x23kg.

Similarly, the allowance noted above for Oneworld Sapphire and Oneworld Emerald cardholders applies only to frequent flyers of programs other than Qantas Frequent Flyer: such as Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, and so on.

The checked baggage limits applied to Qantas’ equivalent Gold and Platinum frequent flyers, of course, are more generous than for Sapphire and Emerald cardholders from other airline programs.

QantasLink business class checked baggage allowance

For those travellers flying business class on a QantasLink Boeing 717 or Embraer E190 flight, the checked baggage allowance is as follows:

• Standard allowance: 2x32kg bags
• Qantas Club, Qantas Silver and Gold: 2x32kg bags (no increase)
• Qantas Platinum, Platinum One and other Oneworld Emerald: 3x32kg bags

As highlighted above, there’s no increase in checked baggage allowance for Qantas Club cardholders or for Qantas Silver and Gold frequent flyers when travelling in domestic economy class, nor do other Oneworld Sapphire members receive a boosted baggage allowance.

On the other hand, the allowance for Qantas Platinum and ‘non-Qantas’ Oneworld Emerald members is the same on these flights, with these travellers gaining one additional checked bag, over and above the standard allowance of 2x32kg.

QantasLink routes

Across Australia, QantasLink operates a broad network of flights, connecting remote destinations to the major capital cities, as well as with each other.

Sometimes, QantasLink also flies between those major cities, including on many Canberra flights, as well as operating many flights between Brisbane and Cairns.

Here’s a snapshot of just some of the routes served by QantasLink. For brevity, most routes listed below operate on a return basis.

• Adelaide to Kangaroo Island (Kingscote), Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln, Whyalla
• Alice Springs to Adelaide, Darwin, Uluru (Ayers Rock).
• Barcaldine to Brisbane and Longreach.
• Blackall to Longreach.
• Brisbane to Barcaldine, Bundaberg, Cairns (some flights) Emerald, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Hamilton Island, Longreach, Mackay, Moranbah, Newcastle and Rockhampton.
• Cairns to Horn Island, Townsville and Weipa.
• Canberra to Brisbane (some flights), Melbourne (some flights) and Sydney (some flights).
• Lord Howe Island to Sydney.
• Melbourne to Devonport, Hobart and Mildura.
• Mount Isa to Cloncurry and Townsville.
• Perth to Broome (some flights), Darwin (some flights), Geraldton, Kalgoorlie (some flights), Karratha (some flights), Newman, Paraburdoo and Port Hedland.
• Rockhampton to Mackay.
• Sydney to Albury, Armidale, Ballina (Byron Bay), Broken Hill, Bendigo, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Griffith, Hobart, Merimbula, Mildura, Moree, Orange, Port Macquarie, Sunshine Coast, Tamworth, Toowoomba (Wellcamp) and Wagga Wagga.
• Townsville to Cloncurry and Mackay.

The list above doesn’t include every route served by QantasLink, and some routes listed may run seasonally, in one direction only, or as a charter service on behalf of a state or territory government.

QantasLink lounges

QantasLink doesn’t operate its own network of ‘QantasLink Lounges’. However, as a subsidiary of the Qantas Group, eligible QantasLink passengers can access Qantas lounges – including Qantas Regional Lounges – as though they were travelling on a regular Qantas flight.

Lounge access for QantasLink passengers

Passengers on QantasLink flights who are Qantas Club members, Qantas Gold frequent flyers or Oneworld Sapphire frequent flyers of other airlines are welcome to visit domestic Qantas Clubs, where available.

Travellers flying in business class, or holding Qantas Platinum, Platinum One or another Oneworld Emerald frequent flyer card, can visit the Qantas Club, or where available, the separate Qantas Business Lounge.

Members of Qantas’ invitation-only Chairman’s Lounge program can visit all of the above, as well as Chairman’s Lounges in available locations.

Access is the same for QantasLink passengers as it is for ‘regular’ Qantas passengers.

Additionally, holders of single-use lounge passes can use these for lounge access prior to a QantasLink flight, in the same way as they can prior to a Qantas (or Jetstar) flight.

Lounge locations for QantasLink passengers

Lounges for Qantas and QantasLink passengers can be found across Australia, as below.

• Qantas Clubs can be found in Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Broome, Cairns, Canberra, Coffs Harbour, Darwin, Devonport, Emerald, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Hobart, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Launceston, Mackay, Melbourne, Perth, Port Hedland, Rockhampton, Sydney, Tamworth and Townsville.
• Business Lounges are located in Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne.
• Chairman’s Lounges are tucked away at Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne airports.

At the time of writing, Qantas Club lounges in Port Hedland and Rockhampton are closed.

Passengers who have access to a higher-tier lounge can also visit lower-tiered lounges. This also applies at airports where a higher-tier lounge is not available.

For example, a business class passenger or Platinum frequent flyer would use the Qantas Club in airports that don’t have a Business Lounge – and at those that do, they can choose to visit either the Business Lounge or the Qantas Club.

Be mindful that the list above includes all lounges across the Qantas domestic network.

At airports where a lounge isn’t provided – or where a lounge exists, but it remains closed – no alternative is available.

QantasLink WiFi

At the time of writing, there are no QantasLink aircraft equipped with inflight Internet access allowing general web browsing.

QantasLink’s jet aircraft (Boeing 717, Fokker 100 and Embraer E190) are expected to be fitted with WiFi by the end of 2022, however, this only provides inflight entertainment via the Qantas app: not general web browsing, as is available on many of Qantas’ other mainline aircraft.

There are currently no plans to fit smaller QantasLink aircraft, such as its Bombardier turboprop fleet, with inflight WiFi or entertainment.

QantasLink service

Depending on the route you’re taking, the time of day, the duration of your flight and your cabin of choice, you could be offered anything from a quick drink and snack through to a full inflight meal.

Wine and beer are also often complimentary in economy class on evening flights, although this again will vary by route and by day of the week.