- Qantas proved highly family-friendly on a Melbourne–Los Angeles trip, with free checked bags across fare classes and strong lounge access for status-holding parents. - Award strategy highlighted: 4 business seats at 80,000 AAdvantage miles + $110 taxes each, 1 first at 110,000 miles + $110 taxes; domestic legs via Atmos Rewards at 7,500 points per person; alternative redemptions via Finnair Avios (95k) or BA Avios; holds and free cancellations via AAdvantage. - Open skies: Australia–Canada agreement took effect Mar 29, 2026, boosting capacity and ease of access; expect flexible timing and monitor award space as premiums remain dynamic.

Why Qantas Is Now One of My Favourite Airlines for Families When you travel as a family of five often enough, you start to develop a mental shortlist of airlines that just get it. The ones where the crew seems happy to have your family on board, and where the little details, a free checked bag, a snack on a 40-minute flight, add up to something that feels effortless. After our March Break trip to Australia, Qantas has firmly earned a spot on that list. If you read my earlier piece on last-minute pivots, you'll know this trip came together quickly. When the war in the Middle East broke out, we had under a month to rethink our plans entirely. Australia ended up being the call, and Qantas ended up being the airline that made the whole experience feel seamless from start to finish. Qantas: Australia's Flagship Airline For those less familiar, Qantas is Australia's flagship carrier. Founded in 1920, it's one of the oldest airlines in the world and a member of the oneworld alliance, which is great news for Canadians who collect points with programs like Aeroplan, AAdvantage, or Avios. The airline has a strong reputation for safety, premium service, and an excellent lounge network across Australia and beyond. From Canada, Qantas currently operates daily flights between Sydney and Vancouver on Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with additional connections available through LAX and SFO. And...