You can now upgrade on American Airlines using Qantas Points

Qantas Frequent Flyer members can now upgrade to a better cabin with American Airlines. The deal represents the first proper rollout of the long-delayed ‘partner airline upgrade’ feature of the oneworld Alliance. While AA is the first cab off the rank, upgrades on other oneworld partners will be added “in the future”.

As for American Airlines, the upgrade opportunity covers both US domestic and international flights. This includes AA’s services from Sydney to Los Angeles and Brisbane to Dallas/Fort Worth. Travellers can upgrade from both Classic Reward seats and paid commercial fares, with the exception of Basic Economy tickets.

However, Qantas is yet to publish a full table of the upgrade rates for travel American. Instead, the airline has shared a few examples. And, we have to say, the value isn’t great.

It seems, it’ll often cost more Qantas Points to upgrade than what a traveller would have needed to book an outright reward seat in that higher cabin. For that matter, the number of Qantas Points needed for an upgrade on AA is also higher than to upgrade a Qantas flight of an equivalent length.

In short, we’d say this is a move to keep in reserve if you’re in a pinch. But if you’re booking your own flights and want the best value, a traditional Classic Reward seat is the way to go.

Qantas American Express Ultimate

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Sign-up Bonus:

Up to 90,000 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

13 January 2026

Earn 70,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months, plus an additional 20,000 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 13 January 2026. New Amex Card Members only. T&Cs apply.) This card includes an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit, two Qantas lounge passes, 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.

Upgrade rates on American Airlines via Qantas Frequent Flyer

Subject to availability, Qantas Points can be used for flight upgrades across American Airlines’ global network. Without a published upgrade table, we’ve been provided with the rates for three popular AA routes. Let’s see how those stack up against comparable reward bookings and upgrades.

Sydney to Los Angeles

• Upgrade American Airlines Economy to Premium Economy for 108,800 Qantas Points, one-way.

Here’s the thing. Even after Qantas increased its Classic Reward redemption rates on August 5, this AA flight only requires 97,600 Qantas Points to book. On those bookings, travellers would pay just the usual taxes, fees and carrier charges – not the full airfare plus an even higher amount of points.

Upgrades on AA are possible when travelling on a Classic Reward seat, too. But in this case, you’d have already spent 48,200 Qantas Points on an Economy redemption – and then be hit with another 108,800 Qantas Points for a Premium Economy upgrade. That’d be a total of 157,000 Qantas Points… when an outright Business Class seat costs only 130,100 Qantas Points on the same flight.

For another data point, Qantas charges lower rates for comparable upgrades on its own Sydney-LAX flights. From an Economy Classic Reward seat, you’d need 91,600 Qantas Points for a Premium Economy bump-up. From standard Economy, the rate is 73,900 Qantas Points, while from Flex Economy, it’s just 23,500 Qantas Points. Again, the same upgrades on American Airlines would cost 108,800 Qantas Points. In our book, the value doesn’t stack up.

Brisbane to Dallas/Fort Worth

• Upgrade American Airlines Economy to Business for 151,100 Qantas Points, one-way.

This is another instance where upgrading with points on American Airlines is of questionable value. That’s because you’re already shelling out for a full-priced airfare and using points on top. Or because you’re already burning a good chunk of points to secure an Economy seat, before being charged the upgrade rate in addition.

In this case, the same ticket in Business Class would cost just 130,100 Qantas Points to book, outright. That means the rate to upgrade a ticket you’ve already paid for is 21,000 points higher than the cost of an entirely new booking in the class you’d prefer to travel. You’re practically paying for a whole new flight – but only travelling once.

Qantas doesn’t fly its own aircraft between Brisbane and Dallas – but it does serve Dallas from both Sydney and Melbourne. To be fair, these city pairs require a greater travel distance than from Brisbane, which increases the number of points needed to book and upgrade. But even then, the greatest cost to upgrade from Qantas Economy to Business is 143,900 Qantas Points, one-way (from an Economy Reward Flight). While on eligible paid Economy tickets, upgrades are either 72,000 or 130,800 Qantas Points. Upgrading on AA requires more points, for a shorter flight.

Dallas/Fort Worth to New York

• Upgrade American Airlines Economy to Business (‘First Class’) for 44,900 Qantas Points, one-way.

You know what we’re going to say. To book this same flight outright costs only 43,600 Qantas Points (plus, as it happens, just US$5.60 in taxes and fees). But to upgrade, you’ll be charged a higher 44,900 Qantas Points, on a booking you’ve already paid for in full.

We’re yet to see an example where the cost to upgrade is less than the cost to simply book the same seat. For that reason, we have to say, using Qantas Points to upgrade on American Airlines is particularly poor value. It’s like paying for the entire flight again, when you’ve already paid for a seat.

As a heads-up, on two-class domestic flights, American Airlines calls its forward cabin ‘First Class’. However, when spending Qantas Points on reward flights and upgrades, the rates for Business Class apply. This fairly recognises that the product and service offering aligns with what we’d consider Business Class to be in Australia.

How and why you’d upgrade on American Airlines

Sure, the value will be poor – but there are still times where it might make sense to bite the bullet and upgrade on American Airlines.

Business travellers will be in the spotlight for this one. That’s because many road warriors won’t have a choice over how their airfare is booked. If it’s company travel, they may simply need to book flights through their corporate travel agency. The same applies where a client is booking flights. And, if only Economy Class is authorised, that’s where you’d otherwise be.

Those very travellers are the kinds to always be on planes. The types who, for a holiday, probably want to stay at home with family, because they’re otherwise away so much. The types with what some might consider to be ‘far too many’ points under their belt. Now, these travellers have a reasonable opportunity to spend those points on a flight in greater comfort than they’d otherwise enjoy. For them, the mere opportunity to spend points like this is a positive development.

Those on ‘bucket list’ and milestone trips (say, a honeymoon) might also appreciate the chance to upgrade. While booking Business Class upfront makes sense on paper, it’s only a better comparison if a reward seat were available when and where it was needed. Upgrading, on the other hand, isn’t subject to reward seat availability. If you need to travel and can’t book that better-value seat, at least, you’ll have the chance to upgrade later.

But for points aficionados with flexible travel plans, using points on outright bookings remains the best way to go. You’ll get the seat you want from the moment you book, without sitting by and hoping for the ‘upgrade fairy’ to strike. You’ll also get the best overall rate, in terms of the points and cash spent.

If a points upgrade on American Airlines suits your plans, you can join the waitlist via the Qantas website. You’ll discover the outcome approximately 12 hours prior to the flight’s scheduled departure time.

Also read: Qantas’ new reward seat tables from August 2025