Qantas Classic Reward & Upgrade Devaluation on 5 August 2025

[jase05]

Like many, I have been trying over the past 5 days to get J x2 anywhere in Asia April/May/June/July - all requests unsuccessful.
Guess am just going to have to wear the 20-25% enhancement
Agent did say though he had been able to find a few EU rewards for pax.
Good luck to those still trying.

2xJ seats from MEL/SYD nearly every day in April and May on QF

 

[Flyfrequently]

2xJ seats from MEL/SYD nearly every day in April and May on QF

Thanks @jase05
Looking for international- might have to burn some for domestic!

 

[jase05]

Thanks @jase05
Looking for international- might have to burn some for domestic!

Sorry I meant MEL/SYD-CGK

 

[lonewolf]

yes MH is Malaysia Airlines. i recently checked availability for SYD > KUL using QFF and i can see many flights available for around Feb-May next year. maybe in a single week at least 3-4 days with flights available. Yes your lounge access would only be in australian airport or maybe the arrival lounge at KL not sure if they have one. for KL to BKK you can buy a cheap ticket. just give yourself some spare time in case your incoming flight is late because they are separate connections so the airline won't help you out if there are any delays

for british airways the surcharges via QFF are way higher compered to QFF own flight. the points required are higher too i believe, 75k points versus 68.4 with Qantas. note that british airways are only using their new plane during certain times of the year, i believe from October 25 to march 26, after that it reverts to the less comfortable club world suite for the Sydney leg

The Overpriced Business Class You Should Never Pay For

We tried British Airways 787-9 Business Class and it left us wanting less, not more.

dmarge.com

thanks, thats the time period i was looking at. Arrival lounge at KL sounds useful.

Query i had was i presume my bags wont be loaded onto the next flight / booking (separate from the Qantas booking) so i will have to go through immigration, retrieve my bags and check back in at the check in counter and go through customs etc? So i will have to cater for like 3 hours or so to be on the safe side with delays etc?

 

[SYD]

Sorry I meant MEL/SYD-CGK

and HKG and MNL should be there also.

 

[lonewolf]

I couldnt find much for HKG, I didnt think of MNL or CGK, Is qantas business better than MH Business?

I guess i would still need to make another booking from there to BKK, while KL to BKK is definitely easier.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I just submitted an upgrade request for QF2 in a couple of months.
Am I right in assuming that if successful it will be at the current lower points cost and not the more expensive one that comes in tomorrow?

 

[SYD]

I couldnt find much for HKG, I didnt think of MNL or CGK, Is qantas business better than MH Business?

Done several (too many) positioning flights between SYD and CGK. The QF J is quite good IMHO. The o/n transit in a hotel (to be safe) on seperate tix is becoming a bore. The flight home is arguably too short to enjoy some F&B and lie flat! Last time, I just stayed up and watched movies. Flight time was like 6hrs!

I’ve been pondering MNL but keep seeing horror stories about the airport experience…

Have several CRs booked SYD-HKG, which will be a nice change.

Unfortunately, SIN and BKK are MIA as DIY options…

 

[serfty]

I just submitted an upgrade request for QF2 in a couple of months.
Am I right in assuming that if successful it will be at the current lower points cost and not the more expensive one that comes in tomorrow?

Yes ... that is completely clear; it is time of request.

I have one for QF1 and researched.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/use-points/classic-upgrade-rewards/tables.html

"Effective for Requests made up to and on 4 August 2025"

 

[jase05]

Flight time was like 6hrs!

Yep, we made a decision a few years back to no longer do overnight flights of under about 7hrs because of this to the point we now often do what we want to do in Asia and then he’d to the ME where we relax at a resort or luxury hotel and then pick up award flights back to Australia with QR.
I’ve picked up VN J for cheap so going to do SGN-MEL but that’s in the 7-8hr region which is a tad better.

 

[serfty]

Yes ... that is completely clear; it is time of request.

I have one for QF1 and researched.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/use-points/classic-upgrade-rewards/tables.html

"Effective for Requests made up to and on 4 August 2025"

More here:

How to Upgrade Flights with Qantas Points

Our guide explains how to upgrade with Qantas points, including strategies to maximise your chances of a successful upgrade request.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[lonewolf]

Done several (too many) positioning flights between SYD and CGK. The QF J is quite good IMHO. The o/n transit in a hotel (to be safe) on seperate tix is becoming a bore. The flight home is arguably too short to enjoy some F&B and lie flat! Last time, I just stayed up and watched movies. Flight time was like 6hrs!

I’ve been pondering MNL but keep seeing horror stories about the airport experience…

Have several CRs booked SYD-HKG, which will be a nice change.

Unfortunately, SIN and BKK are MIA as DIY options…

I have gone to MNL before via qantas, the airport is terrible, the roads etc are far worse. I know of people who were stuck in 8 hr traffic jams and missed their flights.

Shame Sin and BKK are so hard to come by via Qantas, I still prefer krisflyer due to this reason

How much time do you reckon i need between my flight with qantas rewards to an airport (KL?) and then my separate budget flight booking with KL to my final destination? I presume 3-4 hours?

 

[jase05]

I have gone to MNL before via qantas, the airport is terrible, the roads etc are far worse. I know of people who were stuck in 8 hr traffic jams and missed their flights.

Shame Sin and BKK are so hard to come by via Qantas, I still prefer krisflyer due to this reason

How much time do you reckon i need between my flight with qantas rewards to an airport (KL?) and then my separate budget flight booking with KL to my final destination? I presume 3-4 hours?

At least if you go a LCC from KUL.
You will need to disembark at KUL, take the aerotrain to immigration and then collect luggage first then catch the train to KLIA2 to check in.
You could try to get a cheap Y ticket on MH or TG to BKK which at least saves you from going to KLIA2

 

[lonewolf]

At least if you go a LCC from KUL.
You will need to disembark at KUL, take the aerotrain to immigration and then collect luggage first then catch the train to KLIA2 to check in.
You could try to get a cheap Y ticket on MH or TG to BKK which at least saves you from going to KLIA2

Wow so I have to catch the train and change terminals / airports? I was looking at flying air Asia for the leg from KL to BKK.

Sounds like maybe 4 hours to be on the safe side?

 

[MELso]

Wow so I have to catch the train and change terminals / airports? I was looking at flying air Asia for the leg from KL to BKK.

Sounds like maybe 4 hours to be on the safe side?

If you're flying MH, your best bet from KUL to BKK would also be MH as I think they through check bags on separate tickets.

 

[TeaKozy]

I just requested some dates for March next year, however has to go to yield management who (supposedly) have today off according to the agent I spoke to in Hobart. Asked whether if I was successful (of which I’m doubtful) whether it would be assessed at the current or inflated rate - seemed to suggest it was based on the PNR creation date, so the former.

 

[lonewolf]

If you're flying MH, your best bet from KUL to BKK would also be MH as I think they through check bags on separate tickets.

Hmm interesting I didn't think of that. So even if separate bookings (one with Qantas rewards) and the other through mh booking site. Can they check the bags through? That would make life alot easier.

On that note, my return Qantas rewards booking is going to be 2 different airlines (code sharing) so mh from KL to Melbourne. And then qf domestic from melb to Sydney. Do I need to do immigration and bag collection in Melbourne or will that happen in Sydney. And Melbourne will just be transit..

 

[MELso]

Hmm interesting I didn't think of that. So even if separate bookings (one with Qantas rewards) and the other through mh booking site. Can they check the bags through? That would make life alot easier.

On that note, my return Qantas rewards booking is going to be 2 different airlines (code sharing) so mh from KL to Melbourne. And then qf domestic from melb to Sydney. Do I need to do immigration and bag collection in Melbourne or will that happen in Sydney. And Melbourne will just be transit..

Yes, MH through-checks bags on separate tickets.

If you're going international to domestic, you'll clear customs and collect bags in MEL. Fortunately, this is a much easier process than SYD.

 

[lonewolf]

Yes, MH through-checks bags on separate tickets.

If you're going international to domestic, you'll clear customs and collect bags in MEL. Fortunately, this is a much easier process than SYD.

Thanks, how much time should I cater for it if I am doing customs and bag collection and I presume check back in again. I guess being business it should go relatively fast. Will 1.5 hours be enough? I also want to spend a bit of time in the lounge.

 

[MELso]

Thanks, how much time should I cater for it if I am doing customs and bag collection and I presume check back in again. I guess being business it should go relatively fast. Will 1.5 hours be enough? I also want to spend a bit of time in the lounge.

If the flights are on the same ticket/PNR coming back, Qantas will protect your connection and rebook you onto a later flight if you misconnect. If they're on separate tickets, allow 3-4 hours to accommodate delays (although Qantas may still rebook you).