Sept. 15, 2026 • 20 min read Jump to section Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL Email The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Quick take: Qantas continues to offer a solid business-class experience for long flights across the Pacific, but inflight Wi-Fi can't come soon enough.
The first Airbus A380 I ever flew was a Qantas aircraft way back in 2009, shortly after the airline started taking delivery of these double-decker jumbo jets.
Since then, I've seen these planes evolve from newfangled novelties into long-haul workhorses not just for Qantas, but with several other carriers, too, including Emirates and Singapore Airlines. I have tracked its shifts from a time when it was hailed as the future of long-haul aviation, thanks to its enormous passenger capacity and flight range, to an uneconomic boondoggle that many thought was doomed to the fossil heap during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The A380 endures , though, and Qantas currently has 10 of them in service, so it still holds a special place in my heart. I've been able to fly it dozens of times on many trips between the U.S. and Australia. My most recent flight was actually from Los Angeles to Melbourne at the kickoff of my honeymoon, when I got to experience Qantas business class for the first time in a few years.
Here's how I booked my ticket and how the experience rates these days.
The cost of a Qantas long-haul, business-class ticket depends on the route, dates and whether you're flying round-trip or one-way.
My one-way flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Melbourne Airport (MEL) would have cost between $4,600 and $5,800 the week I flew. I was able to book an award ticket, though, with the option to use Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points or American Airlines AAdvantage miles.
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Here's a quick look at how my award ticket was priced across the two programs and Qantas' own Frequent Flyer program.
Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards 85,000 plus $36 American Airlines AAdvantage 80,000 plus $24 Qantas Frequent Flyer 151,800 plus $364 Given the cost savings, I normally would have booked my ticket using American AAdvantage miles. However, I actually had many more Alaska Atmos Rewards points at the time, so I used those instead.
Alaska Airlines is a 1:1 transfer partner of Bilt . You can also transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Alaska at a 3:1 ratio.
The best way to stock up on Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points quickly, however, is to apply for one of the following cobranded credit cards:
If you do want to use American Airlines miles , the following cobranded credit cards are a great way to accrue miles quickly:
The information for the AAdvantage Platinum Select has been collected inde…