Maximise your frequent flyer benefits by learning how the Qantas and Emirates alliance works.
With their seamlessly integrated frequent flyer programs and extensive flight network catering over 800 weekly flights, the Qantas and Emirates alliance offers Qantas Frequent Flyer and Emirates Skywards members more ways to earn and spend points. On top of that, you can also enjoy the luxurious comfort of two of the world’s largest A380 fleets and their combined airport lounges worldwide.
What is the Qantas and Emirates partnership?
This alliance started in 2013 and was renewed in 2015 for a five-year period that could be extended beyond 2020. With this partnership, all Qantas long-haul flights have stopovers in Dubai before travelling on to destinations in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Meanwhile, Emirate travellers can use the Qantas domestic and international short-haul network in this part of the world.
As well as opening up a wider network of travel destinations for Qantas and Emirates flyers, this partnership 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.
A “Qantas operated by Emirates” flight refers to an Emirates-operated flight with a QF flight code. Booking an Emirates codeshare flight with a QF code lets Qantas frequent flyers maximise the number of Qantas Points and Status Credits you can earn on eligible flights. Eligible frequent flyers can also enjoy access to Emirates lounges where available.
What are the benefits of the Qantas-Emirates partnership?
Here are the benefits frequent flyer members enjoy with this partnership:
- Frequent flyer status recognition. Premium frequent flyers from both programs can enjoy matching benefits, such as priority check-in and boarding, when travelling with either airline.
- Maximise frequent flyer points. The ability to both earn and redeem points on codeshare flights operated by Qantas or Emirates allows you to get the most out of your frequent flyer rewards.
- Status credits. With codeshare flights between these airlines, you can continue to accumulate status credits that will enhance your frequent flyer status and premium benefits.
- Reward flight options. Qantas frequent flyers can use Qantas Points to redeem Classic Awards and Any Seat Awards on Emirates flights worldwide. Emirates frequent flyers can also use their Skywards Miles to redeem flights operated by Qantas with a QF code.
- Emirates lounge access. Qantas frequent flyers and premium class ticket holders can access Emirates lounges using your Qantas frequent flyer card as long as your frequent flyer number was quoted when booking the ticket.
- Dubai airport experience. Enjoy the Dubai airport experience on long haul flights from Australia, where the Emirates’ state-of-the-art Concourse A in Terminal 3 boasts luxurious First and Business class lounges, spa, dining, hotel and shopping.
- Matched baggage policies. Enjoy similar baggage allowances on either airline since both programs share the same weight system for international checked baggage on eligible flights.
What else do I need to know about the Qantas and Emirates alliance?
You should also keep the following details in mind to make the most out of this partnership:
- Earning Qantas Points on Emirates flights. You may earn Qantas Points on all eligible Emirates flights except Emirates codeshare flights operated by airlines other than Qantas. Note however 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 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 constituting part of a continuous international journey. Where the flight is coded EK, you’ll earn miles as per travel on Emirates flights, but where 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 EK coded flights but not QF coded flights.
- Qantas Club lounge benefit limitations. Qantas Club members won’t have access to all Emirates lounges. Instead, 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. This means that even if you’re a member of both the Qantas Frequent Flyer and Skywards Miles programs, you can still only earn points and status credits in one program for the flight.
If you are an existing member of either the Qantas or Emirates frequent flyer program, you may find that this alliance opens up more ways for you to earn and spend points on global travel. For long-haul flights, you can also enjoy more convenient stop-overs, flight connections and luxe airport lounges tailored to help ease your otherwise tiring journey.
Frequently asked questions
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 flight using Qantas to go from Australia to Dubai, and then book a flight on Emirates 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, Emirates Skywards Gold members can access Qantas Club Domestic Lounges in Australia while Emirates Skywards Platinum members can access Qantas Club Domestic Lounges and Qantas Domestic Business Lounges where available.
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I am a Qantas Club member (silver) – can I use the Lounge in Melbourne when flying on Emirates to Auckland?
Hi Peta,
Thank you for your inquiry. Please note that we are not affiliated with any company we feature on our site and so we can only offer a general advice.
Although Qantas and Emirates FF members can have access to the lounges of both airlines, please note that there are limitations when accessing the Emirates lounge. As stated above and I quote:
Qantas Club members won’t have access to all Emirates lounges. Instead, 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.
Nonetheless, you may contact Emirates to confirm if you can possibly use their lounge at the Melbourne airport.
Hope this information helped.
Best regards,
Rench