Can I Use Qantas Points To Upgrade On Emirates? | Clear Upgrade Facts

Understanding the Relationship Between Qantas and Emirates

Qantas and Emirates have enjoyed a long-standing partnership, especially on routes between Australia and Europe or the Middle East. This partnership allows passengers to book codeshare flights and earn points across both airlines. However, despite this close collaboration, their frequent flyer programs remain distinct entities: Qantas Frequent Flyer and Emirates Skywards.

This distinction is crucial when considering upgrades. While you can earn Qantas Points on some Emirates flights and vice versa, the ability to redeem those points or use them for upgrades is limited by the terms of each program. The two airlines do not share a common upgrade currency or reciprocal upgrade policies that allow straightforward point transfers or upgrades across programs.

Why Direct Upgrades with Qantas Points on Emirates Aren’t Possible

The main reason you cannot use Qantas Points to upgrade on Emirates flights boils down to program separation and alliance memberships. Qantas is part of the Oneworld alliance, while Emirates operates independently outside of major alliances. This means:

• No reciprocal upgrade agreements: Unlike some airline partners within the same alliance, Qantas and Emirates do not have an arrangement allowing points earned on one to be used for upgrades on the other.
• Separate points systems: Qantas Points are designed for redemption within the Qantas network or its Oneworld partners, while Emirates Skywards miles are used exclusively within their own ecosystem.
• Booking class restrictions: Even if you book an Emirates flight through Qantas channels, your ticket remains subject to Emirates’ fare rules and upgrade policies, which typically require Skywards miles or cash payments for upgrades.

Because of these factors, any attempt to redeem Qantas Points directly for an upgrade on an Emirates flight will be unsuccessful under normal circumstances.

The Nuances of Earning vs Redeeming Points Between Qantas and Emirates

While direct upgrades are off the table, earning points across airlines in this partnership is fairly straightforward. You can earn Qantas Points when flying with Emirates by providing your Qantas Frequent Flyer number during booking or check-in, but only on eligible fare classes. Similarly, Emirates Skywards members can earn miles when flying with Qantas under certain conditions.

However, redemption options differ starkly:

Action	Earning Points/Miles	Redeeming for Upgrades
Earning Qantas Points on Emirates	You can earn points on eligible fare classes when flying Emirates by adding your QFF number.	N/A – earning only.
Earning Emirates Miles on Qantas	You can earn Skywards miles when flying select fare classes with Qantas.	N/A – earning only.
Redeeming Qantas Points for Upgrades on Emirates	N/A – no direct redemption possible.	No direct upgrades available using QFF points on Emirates flights.
Redeeming Skywards Miles for Upgrades on Emirates	N/A – no earning involved here.	You can use Skywards miles to upgrade eligible fares on Emirates flights only.

This table clarifies that while earning points across both airlines is feasible under certain conditions, redemption—especially for upgrades—is strictly confined within each airline’s respective program.

The Impact of Airline Alliances and Partnerships

Airline alliances such as Oneworld (Qantas) or Star Alliance offer integrated frequent flyer benefits including upgrades using points across member airlines. Because Emirates is not part of any major alliance, it operates a standalone loyalty program.

This independence means:

• No shared upgrade inventory: Unlike alliance members who may allocate seats specifically for partner upgrades, Emirates keeps its inventory separate from partners like Qantas.
• No cross-program point transfers: You cannot transfer your Qantas Points into Skywards miles or vice versa at competitive rates that would enable upgrades.
• No reciprocal elite status recognition for upgrades: While there are some elite benefits extended between partners, these rarely include free or point-based upgrades.

The lack of alliance membership limits opportunities to combine loyalty currencies between these two carriers.

The Alternative Ways to Use Your Qantas Points When Flying with Emirates

Even though you can’t directly use your points to upgrade an Emirates flight booked with cash or through their system, there are some indirect ways you might benefit:

Earning & Redeeming Through Codeshare Flights Booked via Qantas

If you book an itinerary through the Qantas website that includes an Emirates-operated segment (codeshare), you might be able to redeem your points towards award seats issued by Qantas using your accumulated balance.

However:

• This applies mainly if the entire booking is ticketed by Qantas under their flight numbers.
• The availability of award seats depends heavily on what both airlines release into award inventory pools.
• This does not translate into simple “upgrade” redemptions but rather full award tickets booked with points in advance.

Award Tickets vs Upgrades Using Points

It’s important to distinguish between outright award tickets booked with points versus upgrading an existing paid ticket.

• Award tickets:You may redeem your points for full reward seats operated by either airline depending on availability and route eligibility.
• Tendering points for upgrades:This option requires specific fare classes and airline policies that permit point-based upgrading; unfortunately, this does not exist between these two carriers directly.

Therefore, if your goal is simply to fly business or first class using rewards from either program, booking a full award ticket may be a better strategy than seeking an upgrade.

The Role of Fare Classes in Upgrade Eligibility On Both Airlines

Airlines categorize tickets into fare classes (e.g., economy saver vs full flexible) which determine eligibility for upgrades.

For instance:

• Qantas:You can often upgrade from flexible economy fares using points if availability exists.
• Emirates:The airline allows mileage-based upgrades but only from certain fare buckets purchased directly through them; partner redemptions are limited.

If you hold a ticket purchased through one airline but operated by another (codeshare), the operating carrier’s rules usually govern whether an upgrade is possible.

Given this complexity:

• If you buy an economy ticket directly from Emirates at a discounted rate, you may be able to use Skywards miles for an upgrade but not your QFF points.
• If booked through Qantas codeshare with a flexible fare class eligible for upgrades within their system, you might be able to request a standard upgrade—but again only within the confines of their own network or partners in Oneworld—not including direct use of points on an actual Emirate-operated sector outside those rules.

The Financial Aspect: Cash Upgrades vs Point Upgrades on Emirate Flights Booked via Qantas

Even though point upgrades aren’t possible cross-programmatically, cash-paid upgrades remain an option in some cases.

If flying on an itinerary involving both airlines:

• You might be offered paid seat upgrades at check-in or via promotional offers from either airline depending on where you booked your ticket.
• This option provides flexibility but lacks the reward value that point-based redemptions offer since it requires out-of-pocket payment instead of loyalty currency usage.
• Certain credit cards linked with either frequent flyer program sometimes provide companion upgrade vouchers usable within restrictions—but these rarely extend across partner airlines like between QFF and Emirate flights outside their programs’ defined rules.

So paying cash remains a fallback method if upgrading is essential but unavailable via loyalty points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Qantas Points to upgrade on Emirates flights?

No, you cannot use Qantas Points directly to upgrade on Emirates flights. The two airlines have separate frequent flyer programs, and there is no reciprocal upgrade agreement between Qantas Frequent Flyer and Emirates Skywards.

Why can’t I use Qantas Points for upgrades on Emirates?

The main reason is that Qantas is part of the Oneworld alliance, while Emirates operates independently. This means their points systems and upgrade policies are separate, preventing direct upgrades using Qantas Points on Emirates flights.

Can I earn Qantas Points when flying with Emirates?

Yes, you can earn Qantas Points on eligible Emirates flights by providing your Qantas Frequent Flyer number during booking or check-in. However, earning points does not grant the ability to upgrade using those points on Emirates.

Is it possible to transfer Qantas Points to Emirates Skywards for upgrades?

No, Qantas Points cannot be transferred to Emirates Skywards miles. Both programs operate independently, so transferring points between them for upgrades or other redemptions is not allowed.

Are there any alternatives to using Qantas Points for upgrading on Emirates?

If you want to upgrade on Emirates flights, you must use Emirates Skywards miles or pay cash. Alternatively, consider booking through Qantas and using your points within their network or Oneworld partners where upgrades are supported.