Since 2016, we’ve been able to request an upgrade for Qantas Classic Flight Reward bookings. These are reward seat bookings you’ve already made with your Qantas Points, which you can upgrade using even more Qantas Points.
This ability to upgrade Classic Flight Rewards has introduced another layer of complexity when looking to redeem your points. But it’s also a great opportunity to extract some value from your hard-earned frequent flyer balance.
And with the new Classic Plus rewards entering the fray, it changes the playing field slightly. Here’s how the upgrade process works and how it stacks up against redeeming for a premium cabin flight outright.
What’s new with Qantas Classic Upgrade Rewards?
From 20 May 2024 onwards, Qantas Classic Plus Business fares can be upgraded to First Class.
In April 2024, Qantas introduced a higher tier of reward seats called Classic Plus Rewards. Unlike traditional Classic Rewards, Classic Plus offers a fixed value. You’ll get 1.5 cents per point in Business Class against the current cash fare.
If you’ve booked a Business Classic Plus Reward on Airbus A380 flights between Sydney and Singapore, London, Johannesburg, or Los Angeles, you can now apply for an upgrade to First.
- Between Sydney and Singapore: 46,000 points
- Between Singapore and London or Sydney and Johannesburg: 64,000 points
- Between Sydney and Los Angeles: 83,000 points
- Between Sydney and London: 110,000 points
As usual, you can’t upgrade a standard Business Classic Reward to First.
What is a Classic Upgrade Reward?
‘Classic Upgrade Rewards’ is fancy-speak for the ability to upgrade your Qantas flights using Qantas Points. The same system covers both cash fares and reward seat bookings.
The points needed to upgrade varies on the type of fare. For example, cheaper fares will need more points to upgrade than flexible fares. Classic and Classic Plus Flight Reward fares command the highest upgrade rate, as you haven’t paid for a cash fare in the first place.
For an Economy to Business Class upgrade, here’s what you can expect:
- Economy Flex fares: lowest points upgrade cost
- Economy Red e-Deal/Saver fares: medium points upgrade cost
- Economy Classic Reward fare: highest points upgrade cost
It’s important to remember that you’ll use more points booking a Classic Flight Reward in a lower class and later upgrading it, compared to booking a Classic Flight Reward in the higher class outright.
There is no difference in upgrade costs between a Classic and a Classic Plus Reward fare. However, Classic Plus fares are prioritised over Classic in the waitlist.
How many points do I need to upgrade a Qantas Domestic flight?
There are two Qantas Domestic tables available, one for upgrades to Premium Economy and the other to Business. While domestic aircraft do not include a Premium Economy cabin, the former is used for domestic segments of international flights that offer Premium Economy (such as QF9/10 between London, Perth and Melbourne).
| Zone | One-way miles | Original Economy Cost | Cost to upgrade to Premium Economy | Total Cost of upgraded flight | Cost of outright Premium Economy redemption | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0-600 | 8,000 | 8,700 | 16,700 | 13,800 | 2,900 |
| 2 | 601-1,200 | 12,000 | 13,000 | 25,000 | 20,600 | 4,400 |
| 3 | 1,201-2,400 | 18,000 | 19,600 | 37,600 | 31,000 | 6,600 |
| 4 | 2,401-3,600 | 20,300 | 28,300 | 48,600 | 42,200 | 6,400 |
| Zone | One-way miles | Original Economy Cost | Cost to upgrade to Business | Total Cost of upgraded flight | Cost of outright Business redemption | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0-600 | 8,000 | 13,000 | 21,000 | 18,400 | 2,600 |
| 2 | 601-1,200 | 12,000 | 19,600 | 31,600 | 27,600 | 4,000 |
| 3 | 1,201-2,400 | 18,000 | 28,300 | 46,300 | 41,500 | 4,800 |
| 4 | 2,401-3,600 | 20,300 | 38,100 | 58,400 | 57,000 | 1,400 |
You’re definitely using more points booking a Classic Flight Reward in a lower cabin and then upgrading, compared to booking into the higher cabin directly as a reward seat.
Therefore, if you’re looking to redeem points for a flight and have an inkling that you may wish to travel in a premium class, make sure to redeem for the premium class seat directly.
Remember that Qantas domestic reward flights are upgraded instantly where reward availability exists. So if you do find yourself in a domestic Economy seat but there is a Business Reward available, you can upgrade straight away.
How many points do I need to upgrade a Qantas International flight?
Qantas makes available four upgrade charts for International travel, covering the following upgrades: We’ve also highlighted the total cost of upgrading a Classic Flight Reward ticket against an outright redemption.
| Zone | One-way miles | Original Economy Cost | Cost to upgrade to Premium Economy | Total Cost of upgraded flight | Cost of outright Premium Economy redemption | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0-600 | 8,000 | 8,700 | 16,700 | 13,800 | 2,900 |
| 2 | 601-1,200 | 12,000 | 13,000 | 25,000 | 20,600 | 4,400 |
| 3 | 1,201-2,400 | 18,000 | 19,600 | 37,600 | 31,000 | 6,600 |
| 4 | 2,401-3,600 | 20,300 | 28,300 | 48,600 | 42,200 | 6,400 |
| 5 | 3,601-4,800 | 25,200 | 41,400 | 66,600 | 51,300 | 15,300 |
| 6 | 4,801-5,800 | 31,500 | 52,300 | 83,800 | 61,500 | 22,300 |
| 7 | 5,801-7,000 | 37,600 | 61,000 | 98,600 | 71,100 | 27,500 |
| 8 | 7,001-8,400 | 41,900 | 76,300 | 118,200 | 81,300 | 36,900 |
| 9 | 8,401-9,600 | 51,200 | 87,200 | 138,400 | 94,900 | 43,500 |
| 10 | 9,601-15,000 | 55,200 | 98,100 | 153,300 | 108,400 | 44,900 |
| Zone | One-way miles | Original Economy Cost | Cost to upgrade to Business | Total Cost of upgraded flight | Cost of outright Business redemption | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0-600 | 8,000 | 13,000 | 21,000 | 18,400 | 2,600 |
| 2 | 601-1,200 | 12,000 | 19,600 | 31,600 | 27,600 | 4,000 |
| 3 | 1,201-2,400 | 18,000 | 28,300 | 46,300 | 41,500 | 5,200 |
| 4 | 2,401-3,600 | 20,300 | 38,100 | 58,400 | 57,000 | 1,400 |
| 5 | 3,601-4,800 | 25,200 | 58,800 | 84,000 | 68,400 | 15,600 |
| 6 | 4,801-5,800 | 31,500 | 69,700 | 101,200 | 82,000 | 19,200 |
| 7 | 5,801-7,000 | 37,600 | 87,200 | 124,800 | 94,900 | 29,900 |
| 8 | 7,001-8,400 | 41,900 | 109,000 | 150,900 | 108,400 | 42,500 |
| 9 | 8,401-9,600 | 51,200 | 119,900 | 171,100 | 126,500 | 44,600 |
| 10 | 9,601-15,000 | 55,200 | 135,100 | 190,300 | 144,600 | 45,700 |
| Zone | One-way miles | Original Premium Economy Cost | Cost to upgrade to Business | Total Cost of upgraded flight | Cost of outright Business redemption | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0-600 | 13,800 | 7,600 | 21,400 | 18,400 | 3,000 |
| 2 | 601-1,200 | 20,600 | 11,400 | 32,000 | 27,600 | 4,400 |
| 3 | 1,201-2,400 | 31,000 | 17,400 | 38,400 | 41,500 | 3,100 |
| 4 | 2401-3,600 | 42,200 | 24,500 | 66,700 | 57,000 | 9,700 |
| 5 | 3,601-4,800 | 51,300 | 39,200 | 90,500 | 68,400 | 22,100 |
| 6 | 4,801-5,800 | 61,500 | 43,600 | 105,100 | 82,000 | 23,100 |
| 7 | 5,801-7,000 | 71,100 | 58,800 | 129,900 | 94,900 | 35,000 |
| 8 | 7,001-8,400 | 81,300 | 73,500 | 154,800 | 108,400 | 46,400 |
| 9 | 8,401-9,600 | 94,900 | 81,700 | 176,600 | 126,500 | 50,100 |
| 10 | 9,601-15,000 | 108,400 | 92,600 | 201,000 | 144,600 | 56,400 |
| Zone | One-way miles | Cost to upgrade to First |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3,601-4,800 | 46,000 |
| 7 | 5,801-7,000 | 64,000 |
| 8 | 7,001-8,400 | 83000 |
| 10 | 9,601-15,000 | 110,000 |
(Remember that Business Classic Plus fares are pegged at 1.5 cents per point of value against the current cash fare. As this is dynamically priced, we can only show the fixed figures for the upgrade to First).
As was the case with Domestic upgrades, there is a premium attached to upgrading your seat via a lower class reward redemption that booking a Classic Flight Reward directly into the upgraded cabin of choice.
An important point to consider is that international upgrades are not awarded immediately. Instead, it follows a waitlisting system where status is prioritised. It’s quite possible you won’t get the upgrade if the flight is busy.
Except for the shortest of routes, you’ll usually be better off paying the relevant change or cancellation fee and re-booking directly into the higher class of travel, where reward seats are available.
Qantas American Express Ultimate
- Sign-up Bonus:
- Up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points¹
- Rewards Earn Rate:
- 1.25 Qantas Points earned per $1 on eligible everyday purchases. 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on selected Qantas products and services in Australia. 0.5 Qantas Point per $1 at government bodies in Australia. After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent.
- Annual Fee:
- $450 p.a.
- Offer expires
- 5 May 2026
- Earn 70,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months, plus an additional 30,000 Qantas Points when you spend a minimum of $1 on your Card within 90 days of paying your second year annual Card Fee¹. (Offer ends 5 May 2026. New Amex Card Members only. T&Cs apply.) This card includes an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit, two Qantas Club Complimentary Lounge Invitations after eligible Qantas spend each year, complimentary international travel insurance, and Qantas Wine Premium Membership (valued at $99). Earn 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 on everyday spend, 2.25 on Qantas purchases, and 0.5 on government payments. The annual fee is $450.
Summing up
Although the points cost to upgrade Classic Flight Reward bookings is higher compared to redeeming those same points for the upgraded cabin class straight up, having this option is still welcome.
There are probably instances where you may have booked a non-upgradeable Economy Sale ticket and wished you had just spent that little more so you could upgrade the flight. With Classic Flight Reward redemptions, this option is at least always open.
But where possible, you are better off bypassing the option to upgrade your Classic Flight Reward to a higher class. The sole exception is a single-sector booking on the shortest routes, where using the upgrade process will cost you slightly fewer points.
Re J points on NH as Platin (equivalent QF gold), there are no reward seats all year anywhere put of SYD but previously have obtained J for less points than QF etc and now surcharges have imcreased.
As far as QF upgrades our of HK OVER 16 years,as even Qf Platinum I never could use points but as revenue was downgraded several times so regular travellers know it’s difficult but good luck.
Hey guys I’m having a hard time deciding how to use my points. I will be booking 3 return tickets for September from Melbourne to London. 2 adults 1 child under 11. I have around 440,000 points.
I’m not sure what is the best way to use them. I’d be happy for premium economy but business one way would be great.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated
Regards Cameron
Hi Cameron
Thanks for your message. It is hard for us to assist you here, as you know more than we do how much extra value you place on flying in Business rather than Premium Economy. Clearly, flying the former is a much more premium experience (including lie-flat beds), but will cost you more in points.
Note that the points requirements for each person return on the MEL-LHR route are as follows:
Business – 289,200 (867,600 for 3)
Premium Economy – 216,800 (650,400)
You can find further information on costs using points from the Qantas Calculator page https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/calculators.html#/usepoints.
Could you kindly explain a bit more about how you have to “cancel” and rebook if you want to stay on the same flight in a higher cabin, rather than just “change” the booking to another booking class?
I’ve recently had an experience trying to upgrade to J of the same flight by “changing” the booking, and the system cancelled the entire booking including onwards connection, which took forever to resolve.
Hi Phil
Making changesto flights is defined as changing either the date or time of the flight while keeping the same routing. If you need to change the route that you are flying, then this will require a cancellation of the ticket and a reissue.
However, if you are simply looking at changing the fare class on the sameflight, then this would also require a cancellation and reissue of the ticket, as you would not be technically changing your flight, given that you are staying on the same flight and the flight details are therefore also the same.
I have a Classic Award Economy booking MEL>LAX. I can see there is classic award availability to make a new booking in premium economy on this flight. However, when I go to ‘manage booking’ and attempt to ‘change’ the flight for a 5000pt fee, it only shows business class redemption available.
Has anyone else had this issue? Do you know a workaround?
Hi Simon Dortmans
I would give Qantas a call and see if they can make the change for you. Make sure to advise them that you tried to do this online, but the Premium Economy availability was not showing up in order to hopefully avoid the customer service fee.
A strange thing seems to have happened on the Qantas website following these changes.
If you are only a bronze QFF member, you can no longer see any J availability on any international route on QF in 2017. Availability for J award flights literally disappeared over night following this announcement. Only partner airline award space is visible.
Is this some unannounced policy change to significantly limit bronze member award availability and increase availability for elite tier point upgrades? Elites did previously have a “little” more availability but never this much of a difference.
That sounds strange, and very coincidental! Do you have any specific route examples you saw that had this changed?
I have been closely monitoring the BNE/SYD/MEL-SIN routes and US-BNE/SYD/MEL routes both before and after these changes, due to wanting to book a OW J award fare for my honeymoon next year. I was checking basically once a day.
I have been a higher QFF tier in the past but I no longer travel for work and as such have been moved down to bronze. I also have enough QFF points for 2 business OW awards.
Prior to the announcement there was quite a lot of availability on these routes for Jan and Feb 2017. However, after this announcement they all disappeared literally overnight. I then started checking other routes and behold, no QF availability for any international sector in business. When you search using a bronze account you only see the odd business seat but these are on CX and QR. Using a Gold account, you see ‘normal’ amount of QF award seating which is basically half the month available.
I have also been discussing it on AFF.
Hey Alexander,
You’re right. It looks like all paid fares on Domestic can be upgraded, but the cheapest of the cheap (so probably classed as sale fares) International ones can’t.
As far as the extra , that’s the standard change fee (in points, not dollars) to change or cancel a Qantas redemption booking. In nearly every case if there is a redemption seat available in the class you want to upgrade to, you would be better off changing (or cancelling and rebooking) your flight and paying the 5000 point fee, than using this upgrade system because the difference will be more than 5000 points.
Is it correct here that you can actually save 5k points on a J redemption in Zone 3??? By upgrading rather than redeeming straight out?
Hi shragi aron
This was an error. The total cost to upgrade to Business from an Economy Classic Flight Reward redemption is 46,300 points and not 36,300 points. This has now been updated.
Thanks for pointing this out to us.
Happy New Year!
Damn I was kind of excited to use this but it looks like everything is gonna cost more points to upgrade from economy.
We still can’t upgrade from a sale fare that’s what I would love to utilise.
Also what did you mean pay the extra 5k to change your flight. I get it would he more advantageous but after you’ve paid the difference does that mean you now pay the rest of the business fare for example with cash?