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If you’re a Qantas Frequent Flyer member, you can use your points to request an upgrade on eligible flights you’ve already booked. As well as getting extra comfort on your flight, upgrades usually give you good value for your points. The downside is that not all requests for upgrades get approved, with factors such as flight demand, your existing ticket price, your frequent flyer membership status and timing all playing a role.
Here, you can learn how the Classic Upgrade Reward option works for both domestic and international Qantas-operated flights (with a QF flight number), including how many points you’ll need for an upgrade. We also go through Bid Now Upgrades and other key details to help you make the most of Qantas Frequent Flyer’s upgrade options.
You can request an upgrade to business class on domestic Qantas flights that have a QF flight number (shown on your ticket or online booking). If you’ve booked your ticket using Points Plus Pay or the Classic Flight Rewards option, you may also be able to upgrade, although this option is only available on selected flights.
The number of points you’ll need largely depends on your existing fare class, flight distance and zone of travel. As a quick guide, here’s how many points you’d need to upgrade from discount or flexible economy if you were travelling on one of the top 10 domestic flight routes (based on 2017 data from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics).
Flight route | Discount economy upgrade | Flexible economy upgrade |
---|---|---|
Melbourne to Sydney | 10,000 points | 5,000 points |
Brisbane to Sydney | 10,000 points | 5,000 points |
Brisbane to Melbourne | 17,500 points | 7,500 points |
Gold Coast to Sydney | 10,000 points | 5,000 points |
Adelaide to Melbourne | 10,000 points | 5,000 points |
Melbourne to Perth | 25,000 points | 10,000 points |
Gold Coast to Melbourne | 17,500 points | 7,500 points |
Adelaide to Sydney | 17,500 points | 7,500 points |
Perth to Sydney | 25,000 points | 10,000 points |
Hobart to Melbourne | 10,000 points | 5,000 points |
In simple terms, the higher your existing fare class, the fewer points you’ll need to upgrade. For example, if you were flying between Sydney and Perth (zone 3), it would cost you 25,000 Qantas Points to upgrade from a discount economy ticket to business class, while upgrading from flexible economy would cost 10,000 Qantas Points.
You’d need even fewer points if you were upgrading to business class from premium economy or flexible premium economy. You can see full details of all the different point requirements below.
Zone | Miles | Classic Flight Reward – Economy | Discount Economy | Flexible Economy | Classic Flight Reward – Premium Economy | Discount Premium Economy | Premium Economy | Flexible Premium Economy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0-600 | 12,000 | 10,000 points | 5,000 | 7,000 | 5,500 | 5,000 | 4,500 |
2 | 601-1,200 | 18,000 | 17,500 | 7,500 | 10,500 | 8,500 | 7,500 | 6,500 |
3 | 1,201-2,400 | 26,000 | 25,000 | 10,000 | 16,000 | 11,000 | 10,000 | 9,000 |
4 | 2,401-3,600 | 35,000 | 34,000 | 15,000 | 22,500 | 16,500 | 15,000 | 13,500 |
If you’re not sure of your flight’s distance, you can use the Classic Rewards Upgrade calculator on the Qantas Frequent Flyer website to find out how many points you’ll need. Just enter your flight details and existing fare class to get the results.
If you’ve used the Classic Rewards Upgrade calculator to check how many points you’ll need, you can also click on “Request Upgrade” to start this process.
Domestic upgrade requests are prioritised based on your frequent flyer membership status. So platinum members get first preference, then gold, silver and bronze.
If you’re a platinum or gold member, you also have the option of requesting a reward upgrade at the airport between 3 hours and 20 minutes before your flight’s scheduled departure time.
How to get higher Qantas Frequent Flyer status
International flight upgrades are available on Qantas-operated flights with a QF flight number between 1 and 199. Occasionally, you may also be able to use points for an upgrade on a codeshare flight that’s operated by another airline, as long as it still has a QF flight number.
But unlike domestic upgrades, you can’t request a Classic Upgrade Reward for international flights booked in discount economy (fare classes E, N, O and Q). It’s also worth noting that you won’t be able to request an upgrade with points for any booking with a ticket class of E, N, O, P or Q – which also includes some Classic Flight Rewards, Points Plus Pay and Red e-Deal fares.
Similar to domestic upgrades, the number of points you’ll need is calculated based on your existing fare, the distance and the zones of travel. As the miles you travel could be affected by stopovers, the full table of points will be the most accurate guide to how many points you’ll need.
Zone | Miles | Classic Flight Reward – Economy | Economy | Flexible Economy | Classic Flight Reward – Premium Economy | Discount Premium Economy | Premium Economy | Flexible Premium Economy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 0-600 | 12,000 | 10,000 | 5,500 | 7,000 | 5,500 | 5,000 | 4,500 |
2 | 601-1,200 | 18,000 | 15,000 | 8,500 | 10,500 | 8,500 | 7,500 | 6,500 |
3 | 1,201-2,400 | 26,000 | 20,000 | 11,000 | 16,000 | 11,000 | 10,000 | 9,000 |
4 | 2,401-3,600 | 35,000 | 30,000 | 16,500 | 22,500 | 16,500 | 15,000 | 13,500 |
5 | 3,601-4,800 | 54,000 | 50,000 | 27,500 | 36,000 | 27,500 | 25,000 | 22,500 |
6 | 4,801-5,800 | 64,000 | 60,000 | 33,000 | 40,000 | 33,000 | 30,000 | 27,000 |
7 | 5,801-7,000 | 80,000 | 70,000 | 38,500 | 54,000 | 38,500 | 35,000 | 31,500 |
8 | 7,001-8,400 | 100,000 | 90,000 | 49,500 | 67,500 | 49,500 | 45,000 | 40,500 |
9 | 8,401-9,600 | 110,000 | 100,000 | 55,000 | 75,000 | 55,000 | 50,000 | 45,000 |
10 | 9,601-15,000 | 124,000 | 120,000 | 66,000 | 85,000 | 66,000 | 60,000 | 54,000 |
As a general guide, here are a few examples of the number of Qantas Points you’d need for international upgrades from economy to business class on one of these flight routes. For the sake of simplicity, these routes are calculated based on the miles for a direct flight, as opposed to flights with stopovers:
If you want to use Qantas Points to upgrade to business class on an international flight, you’ll need to register your request by logging in to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account, going to “My Bookings”, selecting “Upgrades” and following the prompts to opt-in.
Unfortunately, this means the earliest you’ll typically hear about an approved international upgrade is 7 days before the scheduled departure time – and this is only for Platinum One Qantas Frequent Flyer members. Below is the full timetable of when you can expect to be considered for your upgrade request.
Platinum One members. Between 7 days prior to the scheduled flight departure up until check-in closes.
Platinum members. Between 48 hours before the scheduled flight departure up until check-in closes.
All other members. Within 24 hours of the scheduled flight departure.
If your upgrade is confirmed, you’ll see it noted on your booking when you log in to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account. You may also get a text message or be told of the successful upgrade request when you check-in for your flight. Points will only be deducted from your account if the request is confirmed.
If you’re travelling alone, you also have the option of getting a reward upgrade at the gate. While this could increase your chances of being upgraded to business class, there are some key details to consider before you opt-in for this type of reward:
Bid Now Upgrades are an invitation-only option that’s available on select domestic and international flights. If you’re eligible, you’ll be emailed an invitation around 7 days before your flight departure.
You can then use a combination of points and cash to “bid” for an upgrade to a more premium cabin class. If you’re not a Qantas Frequent Flyer member, you may also be invited to bid for an upgrade using only cash. Other requirements include:
Take note of these details when you want to use Qantas Points to upgrade to business class:
While flight upgrades are a popular way to use Qantas Points, they are subject to availability and may only be offered to you at the last minute. So, if you haven’t booked a flight yet, you may want to consider paying for business class or using a combination of cash and points to help guarantee your seat. Otherwise, you can always request an upgrade and hope for the best.
Pictures: Qantas
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