Here are the best economy seats on domestic Qantas Airbus A330 flights
By Brandon Loo, October 10 2018
While the Boeing 737 forms the backbone of Qantas' domestic fleet, many of the east-west transcontinental routes – along with some shorter hops on the busy 'triangle' between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane – are flown by the twin-aisle Airbus A330.
Qantas has A330 jets in both domestic and international versions, with three economy layouts as shown below: there's relatively little difference between them, with a standard 2-4-2 layout and at least 31 inches of pitch.
The three most likely configurations you'll see on domestic flights
Some areas are better than others depending on your needs, so here are some broad rules you can apply to your next flight (the exact seat numbers will depend on what A330 configuration you’re on).
Qantas A330 economy seats with the most room
Seats A/B/J/K in rows 44 or 45 are the only actual ‘extra legroom seats’ on the plane, with no bulkhead partition in front of you.
Taller people will feel more comfortable here with unlimited legroom. We rate the B/J seats to be better than the A/K seats because the emergency exit slide protrudes from the door and may obstruct the legroom if you’re seated at the window.
The downsides: a narrower seat due to everything being stored in the armrest. During takeoff and landing, you can’t use the entertainment screens and have to stow all luggage in the lockers.
To avoid anyone reclining into you
If you don’t mind having a partition in front of you, then the rest of rows 44/45 and 23/24 are also suitable if you want some more knee and head space, but at the expense of being able to stretch your legs in front. D and G seats have slightly more legroom as you can extend them into the aisles, but risk getting them trampled by anyone walking along.
It shares the same downsides as above.
For colleagues/friends travelling together
Thankfully, Qantas has not followed other carriers in adopting a 3-3-3 layout in economy. If you’re flying as a pair, be sure to nab one of the window pairs.
Watch out: The eight A330’s with in-seat screens have a control box located under seats A and K, reducing available legroom for those window passengers.
For solo travellers
You’ll feel most at home perched in an aisle seat – that’s B/D/G/J seats in any row. You’ll be able to have a bit more elbow room to work on a laptop, and have easy access to anything stored overhead.
As passengers tend to avoid middle seats, sitting in a D or G seat closer towards the back of the plane might increase your odds of having a spare seat beside you.
For people with extra carry-on gear
54F or 55F also gets an honourable mention - this is where the middle four seats become three, so you’ll have a whole lot of extra elbow room on your right, plus might be able to store more items under the adjacent seat and in the seatback pockets. Perfect if you have lots of bits and bobs that you’d like to keep handy.
For guilt-free reclining
On long-range domestic flights (to/from Perth usually), the crew rest areas indicated in purple might be blocked off for selection.
If you’re seated one row in front (that’s rows 36, 54 or 55 depending on configuration), then you can utilise the space behind you and recline away for a better snooze.
Qantas A330 economy seats to avoid
Seats E and F in each row have the dubious honour of being middle seats, where you face being trapped by people on either side. It’s best to avoid these if possible. Even if you’re travelling in a group of four, it could be better to select two pairs of windows seats.
One row in each plane also doesn’t have a window, and you can see that indicated on the seat maps above (seats A and K in rows 23 or 25). If you feel claustrophobic, or merely want to enjoy a good view, then move somewhere else.
How to get the best Qantas A330 economy seats
Platinum One and Chairman’s Lounge members have the plum pick of any seat for free, including extra-legroom seats on domestic flights. Anyone else can purchase the extra-legroom row for a fee.
Otherwise, the seats you see depend on status, with higher ranking Platinums being able to pick most of the plane beyond the first few rows, to Bronze members who are stuck towards the back initially.
From three days before your flight, the seat maps might open up, so check back regularly during this time for a chance to get a better option.
Also read: The best economy seats on the Qantas Boeing 737, and how to get them
Upgrading to business class on the Qantas A330
If you're doing the transcontinental trek, upgrading from economy to business class on the A330 is a great use of Qantas points (especially if you're not a Platinum-grade frequent flyer, as the upgrade will also provide access to the Qantas Business lounge).
For example, a business class upgrade from Sydney or Melbourne to Perth (or back the other way) is priced at just 10,000 points if you're travelling on a flexible economy fare, or 25,000 points if you're booked on a lower-priced discount economy ticket.
Also read: Here are October's top Qantas Frequent Flyer credit card sign-up deals
Based in Perth, Brandon enjoys tucking into local delicacies, discovering new cocktails, and making aeroplane food look good on camera.
27 Aug 2015
Total posts 26
Um....3 toilets?!
10 Jul 2018
Total posts 104
There's another two at the back, but they got accidentally cropped out of the final image.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 580
QF
21 May 2014
Total posts 24
The actual photo is of the -300, which is the features the fully refurbed Y product. The -200 which is the variant that features on most of the 330 operated domestic flights currently has 3 different Y products (iPad, EBG/L, and Seat back IFE).
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 580
Yeah and the A330-300 is not nominally used domestically. The aircraft that are nominally used are as I said the ones without (fixed) seatbadk IFE.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Feb 2017
Total posts 3
Love seat 54/55F on the A330s. As a big fella, that extra space to stretch one leg out for most of the flight, plus not rubbing shoulders with the person next to me is an absolute blessing. Because of that gap, the drinks cart (& pax/staff) don't bump me at all. Its my first choice on every flight, dom or intl if in economy.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Sep 2017
Total posts 162
Paid the extra for 44 A/B to SIN and back on a recent vacation. As a taller bloke I thought it might help. Actually very annoying. The narrower seats, no screens or personal effect access during T/O and landing, plus seatbelt airbags were all uncomfortable or inconvenient. The screen was flaccid and stupid. Not to mention on the red-eye some drongo thinking the door 3 exit area was personal standing space, waking up in searing pain with him standing on my foot.
16 Mar 2014
Total posts 3
Regrettably Mr Loo misses a point on his layout plans. The important difference is between the 330-200 & 330-300.
10 Oct 2018
Total posts 1
Another important tip I give out to people is that if they’re traveling in a group of three and want to have some privacy, there are a few rows at the back with a 2-3-2 configuration which serves perfectly, and being at the back they’re often some of the last seats chosen by passeng
23 Jul 2017
Total posts 99
Platinum and up benefits - phooey. I've yet to experience any benefits other than the lounge. I'm a life member of that, so the "platinum offer" is no special benefit.
27 May 2017
Total posts 21
2-3-2 at the back
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