Guide to the Qantas and Emirates alliance

The Qantas and Emirates alliance gives you access to over 2,000 flight routes and 100 codeshare destinations. It also offers you more ways to earn and use Qantas Points or Emirates Skywards Miles, as well as matched frequent flyer status on eligible flights. Use this guide to learn more about the partnership and the benefits you can get as a Qantas or Emirates frequent flyer member.

What you'll find in this guide

What is the Qantas and Emirates alliance?

Launched in 2013, this airline partnership offers Qantas and Emirates customers more seamless travel between Australia, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe. This includes Qantas flights that connect to Europe through Dubai, as well as Emirates flights to Australia and New Zealand.

If you're a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer or Emirates Skywards loyalty programs, this alliance also allows you to earn and spend points on flights operated by either airline through codeshare bookings. Depending on your membership status and fare class, you can also enjoy access to airline lounges operated by both Qantas and Emirates.

What frequent flyer benefits can I get from the Qantas-Emirates alliance?

If you’re a Qantas Frequent Flyer or Emirates Skywards member, highlights of this partnership include:

• Earning points and status. The Qantas and Emirates alliance allows you to earn points and frequent flyer status on codeshare flights operated by either airline. This gives you more ways to be rewarded for flights around the world.
• Reward flight options. Qantas frequent flyers can use Qantas Points to redeem Classic Awards and Any Seat Awards on Emirates flights, and Emirates frequent flyers can use their Skywards Miles to redeem flights operated by Qantas.
• Frequent flyer status recognition. If you have silver, gold, platinum or equivalent frequent flyer status with either Qantas Frequent Flyer or Emirates Skywards, you can get matching status benefits – such as priority check-in and lounge access – when you’re travelling with either airline.
• Lounge access. If you’re an eligible Qantas or Emirates frequent flyer, or if you have an eligible business or first class ticket, you could enjoy access to a lounge operated by either Qantas or Emirates during your trip. Note that lounge terms and conditions will still apply, so it’s worth checking these details in advance.

How do Qantas and Emirates codeshare flights work?

A codeshare flight gives you a way to book with your preferred airline, even if it doesn’t operate the plane you’re actually flying on. As an example, say you booked a Qantas flight from Sydney to Barcelona with a stopover in Dubai. Your flight from Sydney to Dubai could be on a Qantas plane, while the flight from Dubai to Barcelona could be on an Emirates plane.

Despite the different planes, your tickets would include a QF flight number for the whole journey (with a note that the second plane is operated by Emirates). This flight number shows that you booked with Qantas, giving you access to the fare entitlements and frequent flyer benefits you’d get on any Qantas flight.

What else do I need to know about the Qantas and Emirates alliance?

These types of partnerships often come with a lot of fine print – especially for frequent flyer members looking to make the most of them. To help you figure it out, here are some key details to keep in mind.

• Earning Qantas Points on Emirates flights. You can earn Qantas Points on all eligible Emirates flights, except Emirates codeshare flights operated by airlines other than Qantas. However, note that your flight code determines the amount of points you earn, as well as any status credits. For instance, if you are a Qantas Frequent Flyer, booking the same codeshare flight under the Emirates EK code would earn you zero status credits and just under half the number of Qantas Points that you’d earn by booking the same flight under the QF code.
• Earning Qantas Status Credits on Emirates flights. If you’re a Qantas Frequent Flyer member and you want to earn more Status Credits on long-haul flights, you can book codeshare Emirates-operated flights with a QF code to earn your maximum status credits for flights to a wide range of destinations across the Qantas-Emirates network.
• Earning Emirates Skywards Miles on Qantas flights. Skywards Miles members can earn miles on Qantas flights, including domestic legs that are part of a continuous international journey. For flights coded as EK, you’ll earn Skywards Miles at the same rate as you would on Emirates flights. But if the flight is coded QF, you’ll earn miles at a less favourable rate based on distance travelled. Qantas codeshare flights operated by airlines other than Emirates are not eligible for earning Skywards Miles.
• Earning Emirates Skywards Tier Miles on Qantas flights. You may earn Skywards Tier Miles on flights with an EK booking code, even if they are operated by Qantas. You won’t earn Skywards Tier Miles for flights with a QF code.
• Lounge benefit limitations. If your Qantas Frequent Flyer or Emirates Skywards membership status gives you lounge access, you’ll only be able to access lounges operated by either airline when you include your frequent flyer number on your booking. Meanwhile, if you’re a Qantas Club member, you will only have access to the Emirates lounge in the Dubai International Airport when your next onward flight that day has a QF flight number.
• No double-dipping. If you’re a member of both the Qantas Frequent Flyer and Skywards Miles programs, you can only earn points and status through one program per flight or booking. So make sure you add the frequent flyer number for your chosen program to your booking before you leave.

The Qantas and Emirates partnership gives you more options for flights, as well as a wider range of frequent flyer benefits when you’re travelling with these airlines. To get the most out of this alliance, make sure you double-check the requirements for bookings or frequent flyer benefits so that you know exactly what’s required to get them.

FAQs about the Qantas and Emirates alliance

• Are there additional baggage allowances for frequent flyers?

  Yes. Qantas Silver, Gold, Platinum and Platinum One members all have additional baggage allowance options. Similarly, Emirates Skywards Silver, Gold and Platinum frequent flyer members have additional baggage allowance options.

  Note that the availability of additional checked baggage allowances will depend on your flights and fares, so it’s a good idea to check when booking to make sure you can make use of this benefit.

• How can I book a Qantas flight from Australia to Dubai, and then book a flight to go from Dubai to Europe?

  You may book your entire journey altogether at once. Depending on which frequent flyer program you belong to, log into your account online and search for flights from your Australian city to your destination in Europe.

  Your search will return all possible flight options available which will reflect the one stop in Dubai. Select your flight, bearing in mind which flight code will maximise your points and status credits earned. If you intend to stop over in Dubai for a time, use the “Multi-City” function in the search bar to indicate your journey parameters.

• If I book a flight on the Qantas website, how will I know which carrier I’ll be flying with?

  While selecting and booking your flight, look for the term “Operated by...” under the flight code, which indicates which carrier you will fly with. For “Qantas operated by Emirates” flights, you will also usually see the Emirates logo next to the QF flight code in place of the Qantas one.

• As a Qantas Frequent Flyer, am I still able to use the Australian domestic lounges if I am connecting from an Emirates international flight?

  Yes, you may still enjoy Qantas lounge access where your ticket or membership tier permits regardless of whether your trip contains flights with both airlines.

• If I am a member of the Emirates Skywards program and I’m travelling on the Qantas domestic network, can I use the Qantas domestic lounges?

  Yes, if you’re an Emirates Skywards Gold member, you can access Qantas Club domestic lounges in Australia. If you're an Emirates Skywards Platinum member, you can access Qantas Club domestic lounges and Qantas domestic business lounges where available.

Pictures: Qantas and Shutterstock

Amy Bradney-George

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Amy is an editor and writer at finder.com.au with more than 10 years experience covering credit cards, personal finance and various lifestyle topics. When she’s not sharing her knowledge on money matters, Amy spends her time as an actress.