Compare / QF vs NZ
Qantas vs Air New Zealand
Two very different offers for the same job. Here is what actually separates Qantas and Air New Zealand for cabin crew — pay, roster, rules and who each one suits.
Qantas
QF · Sydney
7.6
crew score
Air New Zealand
NZ · Auckland
7.4
crew score
Choose Qantas if…
- ✓Starting pay is higher — about 37% more per month
- ✓Actively hiring right now
- ✓Bigger network: ~85 destinations vs ~50
Choose Air New Zealand if…
- ✓Visible tattoos may be accepted — a hard stop at the other airline
Side by side
| Qantas | Air New Zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry pay / month | $2,600-$3,300 | $1,900-$2,400 |
| Senior pay / month | $4,000-$6,000 | $2,800-$3,800 |
| Tax-free | No | No |
| Housing | Not provided | Not provided |
| Base | Sydney | Auckland |
| Type | Full-service | Full-service |
| Fleet | ~130 | ~105 |
| Destinations | ~85 | ~50 |
| Alliance | oneworld | Star Alliance |
| Minimum age | 18 | 18 |
| Reach / height | 210 cm reach | — |
| Visible tattoos | Not allowed | Some allowed |
| Language beyond English | None required | None required |
Crew scores compared
Qantas
Air New Zealand
Apply
Qantas
Cabin crew roles posted regularly across Australian bases through 2026, including recruitment linked to A350 Project Sunrise and A321XLR/787 fleet growth; applications are online and heavily oversubscribed.
Air New Zealand
Expressions of interest open for Auckland and Wellington flight attendant intakes across 2026; hiring pace flexes with fleet availability, so registering early in the pipeline matters.
Still torn? Let the data decide.
Tax-free money or home every night? Fast promotion or a calm roster? Seven questions, ranked against pay, lifestyle, career and hiring data.
Frequently asked questions
Does Qantas or Air New Zealand pay cabin crew more?
Qantas pays more at entry level: about $2,600-$3,300 a month against $1,900-$2,400. Remember to weigh tax status and housing before comparing headline figures.
Which is easier to get into, Qantas or Air New Zealand?
Qantas is actively hiring (Cabin crew roles posted regularly across Australian bases through 2026, including recruitment linked to A350 Project Sunrise and A321XLR/787 fleet growth; applications are online and heavily oversubscribed.) while Air New Zealand is periodic intakes (Expressions of interest open for Auckland and Wellington flight attendant intakes across 2026; hiring pace flexes with fleet availability, so registering early in the pipeline matters.) Requirements differ too — check both requirement pages before deciding where to spend your effort.
Qantas or Air New Zealand — which is better for a first cabin crew job?
Qantas scores higher overall in our index (7.6 vs 7.4), but "better" depends on what you want: money, roster, promotion speed or where you live. The reasons listed above split it by priority.