Qantas Flight QF93 (Melbourne – Los Angeles)

Qantas flies daily between Melbourne and Los Angeles, with QF93 providing an easy connection between Australia’s east coast and the west coast of the US. The direct flight may take just over 14 hours, but with Business Class and Premium Economy available on all flights, and First Class on select flights, it’s a comfortable and seamless way to soar to LAX.

This guide covers what you can expect when flying QF93, including lounge access and how you can book a seat on this flight using Qantas Points.

QF93 flight time

QF93 operates on a few different schedules, depending on whether an Airbus 380 or Boeing 787 is in use on this route, and to account for daylight savings. The total flight time doesn’t change – it’s still 14 hours and 20 minutes from Melbourne to Los Angeles – though the time of departure does vary throughout the year. This is particularly relevant when the seasonal service QF95 runs alongside the daily QF93 flight. Here’s the schedule at the time of writing, which is subject to change:

• Until 3 November 2023: QF93 is operated by a Boeing 787.
• From 4 November 2023 to 13 July 2024 (inclusive): QF93 is operated by a Boeing 787 five days a week, while an Airbus A380 flies from Melbourne on Mondays and Saturdays.
• From 14 July 2024: QF93 is operated by an Airbus A380 six days a week, while a Boeing 787 services the flight on Tuesdays.

QF93 aircraft type and seating

As mentioned, Qantas rotates an Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 on its Melbourne to Los Angeles flights. There are some minor differences between the two planes – notably that the A380 offers First Class, while the Boeing 787 does not. Aside from this, both aircraft offer near-identical Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class products. Here’s the breakdown of what to expect in each cabin.

First Class on QF93

First Class is only available on flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles when an Airbus A380 is in use, as the 787 isn’t fitted with a First Class cabin.

The First Class cabin has 14 suites and is located at the front of the main deck onboard Qantas’ A380. The seats are configured as 1-1-1, with all but four seats located next to a window. As expected, the luxuries include a cushy flatbed plus a set of designer pyjamas for First Class passengers.

If you’re lucky enough to nab a First Class seat on this 14-hour flight, you’re in for a treat. You can kick back with a glass of Champagne and peruse the onboard à la carte menu designed by Neil Perry. Snacks and light meals are also available throughout the flight, along with a selection of beer, wine and spirits.

And did we mention that First Class passengers can access the Qantas International First Lounge when departing from Melbourne? We’ve got more on this below – and also how you can book this luxurious cabin for less using Qantas Points.

Also read: Qantas A380 First Class overview

Business Class on QF93

Qantas’ long-haul Business Class cabin is the same on the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787. This means that regardless of which plane you’re flying from Melbourne to Los Angeles, you’ll experience the same Business Class product.

Seats in the Business Class cabin are in a 1-2-1 configuration, with each passenger having direct access to the aisle. In terms of comfort, the seats are 23 inches wide – and yes, they all convert into a fully flat bed. For the long flight, there’s individual USB-A and AC power sockets, plus an open storage section for small items. And if you’d prefer some privacy from your neighbour, there’s an adjustable screen divider between seats E and F.

The only addition to the Business Class offering in the A380 is access to the lounge area and snack bar at the front of the deck, which is exclusively for First Class and Business Class passengers.

Also read: Qantas Airbus A380 Business (Sydney – Singapore)

Premium Economy on QF93

Similar to Business Class, both the A380 and 787 are fitted with identical Premium Economy products. Though it’s not the pointiest of pointy ends, Premium Economy is still an good way to fly long haul.

The seats are arranged in a 2-3-2 layout, meaning you’re never more than one seat away from an aisle. Given that the A380 is larger, there are more Premium Economy seats available than on the 787 – 60 and 26, respectively. And on the A380, the Premium Economy cabin is located on the quieter upper deck, while on the 787 it sits between Business Class and Economy.

As for the size of the seats, there’s no difference across the two aircraft. Premium Economy seats are 20.5 inches wide with a 38-inch seat pitch, and offer a comfortable nine-inch recline plus a suspended footrest.

Also read: Qantas Airbus A380 Premium Economy (Sydney – Los Angeles)

Economy Class on QF93

QF93’s Economy Class product has some slight variations across the two aircraft that fly this route. On the A380, the Economy Class cabin is located on the main deck behind First Class. The seats are arranged in a 3-4-3 layout, offering a 17.7-inch width and 32-inch row pitch. Each passenger has access to a USB-A socket, and universal AC power sockets are available between seats.

The Economy Class seats on the 787 boast a newer design. Laid out in a 3-3-3 configuration, the seats offer the same row pitch as on the A380, but have a slightly smaller seat width of 17.2 inches. Individual USB-A ports are available for each passenger, as well as shared universal AC sockets to charge up your devices in flight.

Also read: Qantas Airbus A380 Economy (Singapore – Sydney)

Lounge access when flying QF93

Passengers taking off from Melbourne have a few options when it comes to lounges, with entry depending on your status, class of travel or lounge memberships.

Qantas International Business Lounge

The Qantas International Business Lounge in Melbourne is an ideal spot to unwind for eligible passengers prior to QF93. Though perhaps not as stunning as some of Qantas’ other international lounges, it serves its purpose well. There’s a hot buffet spread, a selection of wines, plus showers if you’d rather not jump on a 14-hour flight feeling groggy. The bottom line is, if you’ve got access to this lounge, it beats being out in the concourse. So here’s who makes the cut when flying QF93:

• Business Class passengers
• Qantas Gold, Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers
• oneworld Sapphire and Emerald frequent flyers
• Qantas Club members
• American Airlines Admirals Club members
• Qantas single-entry passholders

Notably, as this is a Qantas-operated lounge, complimentary single-entry passes can be redeemed here when flying on QF93. Each passenger requires their own pass, and you’ll need to ensure the passes are linked to the flight at least 24 hours beforehand. You can obtain a single-entry pass when you reach Qantas Silver, unlock Qantas Points Club, or from select credit cards like the Qantas Premier Platinum.

Qantas International First Lounge

If your status permits, we’d recommend skipping the International Business Lounge in favour of the far superior Qantas International First Lounge in Melbourne. The airy space delivers an à la carte menu, sprawling tarmac views and complimentary massage and spa treatments – a welcome treat before a long-haul flight. It’s no wonder so many Qantas frequent flyers chase Platinum status to access this lounge – it’s truly an experience in itself. Here’s how you can gain entry before QF93:

• Qantas Platinum and Platinum One members
• oneworld Emerald members
• Complimentary ‘Titanium’ single-entry passes from the Qantas Premier Titanium Card
• Gifted complimentary passes by Platinum One members to their friends and family

Other lounges

With an eligible credit card or lounge membership (such as Priority Pass), you could gain entry to other lounges in Melbourne Airport before your flight, including:

• American Express Centurion Lounge
• Plaza Premium Lounge
• Marhaba Lounge
• The House

Los Angeles

Unfortunately, there’s no lounge access on arrival in LAX for passengers on QF93.

However, oneworld lounges – including the Qantas International Business Lounge – are available for passengers with connecting flights on a oneworld airline that meet eligibility requirements.

Booking QF93 using points

Whether you’re heading on a family getaway to Disneyland or commencing an American road trip, flying to Los Angeles from Melbourne is easy with frequent flyer points. Here’s how many Qantas Points you’ll need to book QF93 as a Classic Reward.

Can’t see any reward seat availability? Qantas’ Melbourne to Los Angeles route is a popular one, and reward seats are often snapped up quickly. But if you’re a Qantas Platinum or Platinum One member, you can call Qantas to request reward seats to be released.

And if your search results show points totals higher than the table above, you may be seeing Points + Pay seats instead of Classic Rewards. Points + Pay converts the cash value of your fare to points, which can often be in the millions. This is exceptionally poor value for your points – especially when an Economy reward seat only costs 41,900 Qantas Points! Our guide explains how reward seats work and how you can search for them.

Need Qantas Points to fly to Los Angeles from Melbourne? Taking advantage of a credit card sign-up bonus – like the one below – could net you enough points for a return trip in Economy, or one-way in the comfort of Business Class.

Also read: How to fly to the US with Qantas Points

Alternative flights

Aside from Qantas’ daily QF93 service, there’s an additional seasonal flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles with the QF95 flight number. This route always uses a Boeing 787, with only Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class available.

If your journey commences elsewhere in Australia or there’s no availability on QF93, you could also consider these Qantas flights to Los Angeles:

• Qantas flight QF11 – Sydney to Los Angeles on an Airbus A380
• Qantas flight QF15 – Brisbane to Los Angeles on an Airbus A330
• Qantas flight QF17 – Sydney to Los Angeles (seasonal)

And if you’re taking a different route into North America, Qantas also operates these direct flights:

• Qantas flight QF3 – Sydney to New York via Auckland
• Qantas flight QF7 – Sydney to Dallas Fort Worth
• Qantas flight QF21 – Melbourne to Dallas Fort Worth
• Qantas flight QF73 – Sydney to San Francisco
• Qantas flight QF75 – Sydney to Vancouver

When flying home from Los Angeles to Melbourne, look for Qantas flight QF94. This flight also codeshares with American Airlines as AA7356.

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Featured image: Olenka Kotyk, Unsplash

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