MEL-LAX A380 Ending October 2026: Your Window to Book (or Switch Programs)

On 24 October 2026, Qantas permanently ends A380 operations on Melbourne–Los Angeles. First Class disappears from the route. Business class seats drop from 70 to 42. Every A380 redemption between now and that date is a closing window — and anyone sitting on Qantas or Velocity points needs to decide quickly: book the last A380s while they're still bookable, or pivot to a different program for the long game.

What's actually changing

From late October 2026, Qantas replaces the A380 with the 787-9 on MEL–LAX. That's not a minor equipment refresh — it's a completely different trip:

How much does the last A380 cost in points?

Classic Reward pricing MEL–LAX one-way on Qantas, as of April 2026:

First Class on the A380 at ~6 cents per point is the best redemption on the route, full stop. The problem is availability — F award seats have been tightening since the retirement was announced, and the 14 seats per flight are now routinely booked months in advance.

Velocity points? Still in the game

Velocity doesn't fly MEL–LAX directly, but the Delta partnership is where Velocity holders can still land premium seats on the US West Coast:

• Delta One SYD/MEL → LAX:159,500 Velocity points + ~$250 taxes. A350-900 with Delta One Suites — arguably the most reliable lie-flat J product on the route.
• Transfer from Amex MR:Amex → Velocity at 1:1. Useful if you're short on Velocity but have an MR stash.

What to do after October 2026

Once the A380 retires from MEL–LAX, the direct Qantas 787 product is fine but unremarkable. For anyone willing to connect, the alternatives are materially better:

The Cabin Confidence angle

MEL–LAX is the cleanest illustration of why aircraft reliability matters for point redemptions. Until 24 October 2026, the A380 route scores high on Cabin Confidence — Qantas is committed to the aircraft and can't substitute down, because there's nothing else in the fleet big enough. After that date, MEL–LAX becomes a single-aircraft 787 route with no seasonal or capacity buffer. If Qantas needs the 787 elsewhere, the options are limited. Expect swap risk to tick up, and check the score before you transfer points.

Decision framework

1. Have Qantas points and want First Class?Book now. Availability has been thin for months and will only get worse. MEL–LAX F at ~6 cpp is the best QF redemption on the route and the only way to sit in a Qantas First suite out of Melbourne.
2. Have Qantas points and want Business?You can book the A380 now or wait for 787 availability after October. The 787 J product is genuinely good — lie-flat 1-2-1, direct aisle access — but with only 42 seats, competition for award availability will intensify.
3. Have Velocity points? Delta One via SYD is the clean play. Consistent product, reliable aircraft, no fuel surcharge nonsense. 159,500 points is competitive.
4. Have Amex MR or Asia Miles? Cathay via HKG is the best cpp on premium cabin and lands you in a newer business product than Qantas 787. The catch is the connection.
5. No strong preference, just want the cheapest J to LA?JAL via NRT. 150,000 miles, ~$80 in taxes, Sky Suite III both sectors, Cabin Confidence reliably high on JL routes to both Tokyo and LA.

What we'd avoid

• Qantas MEL–LAX business class after Octoberunless you specifically want the direct flight. The 787 J product is fine, but at 144,600 points and ~$280 in carrier charges, the partner routings via NRT or HKG offer a better seat for similar spend.
• Qatar via DOH for West Coast US unless you love Qsuite enough to absorb $420+ in fuel surcharges. The product is excellent but the cash burn is hard to justify when JAL exists.
• Holding Qantas points for a F upgrade on the 787.There's no 787 First Class. That cabin is gone. If you've been saving points for MEL–LAX First, the window to use them is now.