Business class compared: Qantas vs Virgin vs Rex

Premium travellers are spoiled for choice, but which airline is best in business class?

By Staff Writers, March 19 2024
Business class compared: Qantas vs Virgin vs Rex

Competition for business class flyers in Australia has never been more fierce, with Qantas, Virgin Australia and now Rex all fighting for a share of the domestic travel pie.

Despite all three largely relying on Boeing 737 aircraft, that’s where the similarity ends, with the experience on and off the ground, as well as pricing, resulting in vastly different offerings across the board.

Here’s how the business class compares in eight areas frequent flyers value most.

Priority perks: check-in, security, boarding

Priority check-in and boarding for business class passengers are standard perks across all three airlines. Here, it’s the security process where things take very different paths.

Qantas offers priority screening at a number of airports including Brisbane (via Premium Lounge Entry), Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, in addition to Adelaide and the Gold Coast, where the priority lane is shared between airlines.

Bypass the main queue at Qantas' Brisbane Premium Lounge Entry.
Bypass the main queue at Qantas' Brisbane Premium Lounge Entry.

Virgin Australia, on the other hand, has two Premium Entry options: Sydney and Brisbane. Both deliver a direct path from the kerb to the lounge – bypassing the main security area. However, opening times are limited to only a few hours on weekdays: 5am to 10am.

Rex business class passengers can skip the main security queue at Adelaide and Gold Coast.

Winner: Qantas takes the gong with fast-track security at Australia’s six busiest airports.

Checked baggage

Qantas and Virgin Australia allow 2 x 32kg bags (64kg total) for business class passengers, or 3 x 32kg (96kg total) for Platinum-grade frequent flyers and above. This includes Oneworld Emerald cardholders on Qantas, too.

Rex instead provides a flat 32kg baggage allowance for all business class passengers.

Winner: First place is shared by Qantas and Virgin Australia.

Carry-on allowance

Here’s where things get interesting: both Qantas and Virgin Australia allow up to 14kg of cabin baggage in business class. Qantas permits one bag to weigh up to 10kg, while Virgin Australia caps that at 7kg per bag.

Rex instead provides 10kg for those on Biz Saver fares, but a higher 15kg on Biz and Biz Plus tickets (with up to 10kg in a single item).

Winner: With very little difference between the three, we’re calling this one a draw.

Business class lounges

With Qantas welcoming business class flyers in over 20 domestic airports around Australia, the Flying Kangaroo really is unmatched here.

It’s also the only one with dedicated business class lounges, found in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Qantas' business class lounge in Perth.
Qantas' business class lounge in Perth.

Naturally, these sit a rung above Qantas Clubs – with Qantas also the only domestic airline to afford business class passengers one complimentary lounge guest, without also requiring frequent flyer status or a paid lounge membership.

Virgin Australia is the Roo’s nearest competitor in the lounge stakes, but offers a smaller network of seven domestic lounges, found in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Virgin Australia's Sydney lounge.
Virgin Australia's Sydney lounge.

Rex has just three established lounges – located in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

Rex's lounges cater to a lower volume of travellers.
Rex's lounges cater to a lower volume of travellers.

Winner: Qantas nabs this trophy with over three times the lounges of its closest competitor.

The business class seat

On domestic flights, Qantas offers business class across its Boeing 737 and Airbus A330 fleet, in addition to its newer regional Airbus A220s via QantasLink. 

Business class onboard a Qantas Boeing 737.
Business class onboard a Qantas Boeing 737.


Aboard these single-aisle jets you’ll find 10-12 business class recliners, many of which allow you to keep devices charged up thanks to inbuilt AC and USB outlets.

On Airbus A330 flights, you’ll instead have a flatbed at your disposal – much appreciated on longer Perth to Sydney flights, plus the odd hop between Sydney and Melbourne.

Virgin Australia offers business class across its Boeing 737s, with eight reclining seats at the pointy end, as does Rex Airlines.

Virgin Australia's latest 737 business class.
Virgin Australia's latest 737 business class.

Except for the embossed logo, the seats across most of Rex’s 737 fleet are the same as Virgin, which makes sense given Rex took over the leases on some of Virgin’s planes.

You’ll find AC power outlets on most Virgin Australia aircraft, though rarely on Rex Airlines.

A newly-refurbished Rex Airlines 737.
A newly-refurbished Rex Airlines 737.

Winner: While all three offer comfortable seating, Qantas’ wider seat and the addition of flatbed seating on select routes gives it the edge.

Business class food and beverage

Travellers taking to the skies are offered meal service aboard all three carriers, though there are a few distinct differences.

Qantas generally skips the pre-departure drink on short hops but delivers a meal with drinks after take-off, offering a bread plate, sweet item, and a hot or chilled main. Beer, wine and spirits are also part of the deal.

Lunch time service on a Qantas 737.
Lunch time service on a Qantas 737.

It’s also the only airline catering to dietary needs with diabetic, gluten-free, vegan, Kosher, Halal, and children’s meals available for pre-order on all domestic business class flights.

Virgin Australia dishes up a more café-style offering in business class. But what it lacks in presentation and finesse, it makes up for with flavour. 

Lunch time service on Virgin Australia.
Lunch time service on Virgin Australia.

In addition, pre-departure drinks are typically provided, ahead of a full meal service – where spirits feature on the menu too – but without the ability to request a dietary meal in advance, meaning some travellers may go hungry depending on the day’s menu.

Rex offers pre-departure drinks as well (typically juice or sparkling water), followed by hot food options in the air, plus beer and wine. Sadly, spirits are not on the menu.

The meal on a lunchtime service with Rex Airlines.
The meal on a lunchtime service with Rex Airlines.

These are all served via single-use packaging and utensils, along with plastic cups for wine and cardboard cups for coffee, making the overall presentation more akin to traditional economy, rather than restaurant fare in the air.

Winner: This one is a tie between Qantas and Virgin. 

Business class fares compared

As a rule, Qantas business class is consistently the most expensive (though fares have dropped quite recently), while Virgin Australia and Rex hover in a similar bracket.

Obviously the fares vary between routes, and also depend on time of year – allowing for peak periods such as school holidays – so readers are advised to run their own comparisons to suit their travel habits and schedule.

Virgin Australia's refreshed business class.
Virgin Australia's refreshed business class.

For example, a search for a one-way fare between Sydney and Melbourne shows Qantas at $450, and both Virgin Australia and Rex starting from $369 (although the latter two ramp up quite a bit depending on the fare type, in Rex’s case as much as $300).

Winner: With Virgin Australia consistently price-matching Rex Airlines, though without the additional fees Rex charges for greater flexibility, we’d call this a win for Virgin.

WiFi and inflight entertainment

The importance of entertainment and connectivity no doubt depend on the length and timing of your flight: but where that’s a factor for your journey, here’s how the airlines stack up.

Qantas provides complimentary entertainment on all its Boeing 737 and Airbus A330 jets – either through seatback screen or streaming to your own device – along with free inflight Internet aboard selected Boeing 737s and Airbus A330s. 

Stay connected above the clouds with Qantas' free inflight WiFi.
Stay connected above the clouds with Qantas' free inflight WiFi.

Virgin Australia also streams content to your device across its Boeing 737s, while inflight Internet is available on select aircraft free of charge to business class passengers.

Rex beams WiFi across select Boeing 737s, with Business class passengers enjoying complimentary access above the clouds.

Winner: Though all carriers provide free WiFi to business class, Qantas and Virgin’s entertainment offering eclipses that of Rex Airlines, resulting in a tie to the duo.

Qantas vs Virgin Australia vs Rex business class: the verdict

Based on the above, Qantas trumps its rivals as Australia’s top airline for the business class traveller – especially on the core experience of seats, lounges, and airport priority services.

However, that premium service is reflected in the asking price: Qantas’ fares are higher than both Virgin Australia and Rex on every mainline domestic route we searched.

In keeping with its mid-market value positioning, Virgin Australia strikes a pleasing balance between the overall business class offering and the price you pay for it.

More affordable fares, a network of lounges in key airports and several aspects of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program result in a formula geared to appeal to small business owners and premium leisure flyers.

Though the smallest challenger in the business class battle, Rex isn’t to be ignored. With sharp fares alongside seats and aircraft mirroring its nearest rival, plus a frequent flyer program featuring standout perks ready to take flight, it’s certainly one to watch. 

Qantas has had spirits back in J for years....?

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

24 Aug 2011

Total posts 785

Domestic? I just want a comfortable seat, something to fight off the hangry and be exposed to less people. Rex wins if they have the route you need and you're paying with your own money. 

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

24 Jan 2018

Total posts 699

Good analysis by the Staff Writers (thank-you), only one benchmark I find myself disagreeing with - F&B.  In business class on VA flights I've never seen a meagre offering like that shown in the photograph above.  Never.  All of my meals have been better/closer depicted by the quality shown in the QF photo.  Perhaps I've been lucky.  

VA's business class seats on flights to/from Perth have always been perfectly comfortable (as I'm sure are those on QF).  In fact, the comfort factor has never even entered my consciousness on those flights.  But where I positively DETEST VA's business class seats, is the lack of them (only 8) compared to QF having 10-12.  I typically book airfares 2 weeks ahead of flying.  All too frequently I need to re-schedule return flights whilst in the destination city and, almost always, business class are full on the return flight.  That adds a layer on complication I could do without.   Rant over. 

The Virgin meal service does vary a bit, in our experience. We've switched out that original shot for another.  

Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer

04 May 2018

Total posts 8

I am a former rusted on Qantas FF, and last week i flew Rex (Hba to Mel, business class) for the very first time. 

The negatives of my Rex experience were -

Check in was a bit slow

No Rex lounge in Hobart (with only one departure a day, not surprising)

The guy sitting next to me and I both wanted the hot meal, but there was only one left

Even though my checked bag was priority tagged, several economy class passengers got their bags ahead of me

The positives were -

An economy class passenger tried to board during the business class boarding period, but was turned back

The hot meal was nice

The rope separating business and economy, thus not having to compete for the bathroom

When we arrived at the gate in Melbourne, a flight attendant removed the rope and stood at the rear of the business class cabin thus allowing business class passengers to get their carry on baggage in a relaxed manner and depart the plane

Price, price, price.

My overall impression was that Rex is significantly better than Qantas on this route. Even though Qantas has a lounge in Hobart, it is often overcrowded, the food offering is poor, and there are a lack of toilets. So i nearly always found sitting in the quiet part of the terminal. So, whilst i will never say. never, i cant see myself flying Qantas in a while. Even though I have never flown Virgin, from the reviews i have watched and read, they are my clear second choice.


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