Qantas Confirmed Upgrades

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This seems to have appeared on the Qantas website today:

https://www.qantas.com/en-au/manage-booking/upgrade/confirmed-upgrade

About Confirmed Upgrades​

Enjoy confirmation of your upgrade within 12 hours of payment, giving you peace of mind that you’ll be flying in a premium cabin.

Confirmed Upgrades are available on select flights. If you’re eligible, you’ll receive an invitation by email, or you can view and accept your offer through the Qantas App or via Manage Booking.

From the FAQ:

How does a Confirmed Upgrade differ to Classic Upgrade Rewards and Bid Now Upgrades?

Confirmed Upgrades are offered on an exclusive, limited basis and allow you to upgrade to a higher cabin for a fixed cash price. If your booking is eligible and you decide to purchase a Confirmed Upgrade, your upgrade will be confirmed within 12 hours of payment, giving you peace of mind you’ll be travelling in a premium cabin.

Classic Upgrade Rewards are a waitlisted upgrade that allows you to request an upgrade using a set amount of Qantas Points. Requests are assessed based on seat availability and Frequent Flyer status, with confirmation provided anytime from seven days before departure.

Bid Now Upgrades are a waitlisted upgrade that gives you the flexibility to make an upgrade offer of your choice using just cash, or if you are a Qantas Frequent Flyer member, a combination of cash and Qantas Points. Your upgrade is only confirmed if your bid is successful and will be confirmed from 24 hours prior to departure.

How does a Confirmed Upgrade differ to Classic Upgrade Rewards and Bid Now Upgrades?

Confirmed Upgrades are offered on an exclusive, limited basis and allow you to upgrade to a higher cabin for a fixed cash price. If your booking is eligible and you decide to purchase a Confirmed Upgrade, your upgrade will be confirmed within 12 hours of payment, giving you peace of mind you’ll be travelling in a premium cabin.

Classic Upgrade Rewards are a waitlisted upgrade that allows you to request an upgrade using a set amount of Qantas Points. Requests are assessed based on seat availability and Frequent Flyer status, with confirmation provided anytime from seven days before departure.

Bid Now Upgrades are a waitlisted upgrade that gives you the flexibility to make an upgrade offer of your choice using just cash, or if you are a Qantas Frequent Flyer member, a combination of cash and Qantas Points. Your upgrade is only confirmed if your bid is successful and will be confirmed from 24 hours prior to departure.

How can I check if I am eligible for a Confirmed Upgrade?

1. Enter your booking details above to see if you are eligible. If you are eligible, follow the prompt to purchase.
2. Visit Manage Booking and if you are eligible, follow the prompts to purchase your Confirmed Upgrade.
3. If you are using the Qantas App, head to your booking under My Trips. If you are eligible, Upgrade now will be an available option. Follow the steps to make your purchase.
4. Eligible customers may receive an email containing their Confirmed Upgrade offer.

Which fare types are not eligible to receive a Confirmed Upgrade offer?

International Economy Sale Fares and all bookings through Qantas Group Travel are not eligible to receive a Confirmed Upgrade offer.

Can I choose which passengers in my booking get upgraded?

All passengers on your booking will be upgraded. If you decide to split the booking, the offer may no longer apply.

I received a Confirmed Upgrade offer. How long do I have to make a purchase?

Confirmed Upgrades are only available for a limited time and before seats sell out. The expiry date of the offer will be in your email or on the offer page.

I want to purchase a Confirmed Upgrade but haven’t received an offer via email or it’s not visible in Manage Booking or the Qantas App.

Confirmed Upgrades are exclusive and only offered to a select number of customers on select flights and therefore are not guaranteed. You may not have been selected to receive a Confirmed Upgrade offer, or your booking may not be eligible for a Confirmed Upgrade.

If I want to purchase a Confirmed Upgrade but already have a Bid Now or Classic Upgrade Reward request, what happens to my existing request?

If you purchase a Confirmed Upgrade, any existing Classic Upgrade Reward or Bid Now Upgrade requests will not be accepted and you will not be charged or have Qantas Points removed.

I received a Confirmed Upgrade offer but my travel companion travelling on a different booking reference didn’t, can I extend the offer to them?

No, offers only apply to the passengers on the booking reference that received the original offer and cannot be transferred or extended to another passenger regardless of flight details.

 

[elanshin]

Hmm interesting change. Can only really comment on it after we start seeing what sort of offers show up.

It is an extra ancillary upsell and one that will likely prove reasonably popular if its not insanely priced.

This likely means another hit to QFF points as it'll introduce more difficulty upgrading via points.

 

[MELso]

Just checked the only Qantas flight I have booked (SYD-MEL in Y in September) but was told 'no offer for you!' I presume they must only be offered close in.

What's also unclear is whether you get upgraded points/SCs like AA does or it's the original cabin class. I presume it stays as the original offer though.

Will I receive Status Credits and Qantas Points for my upgraded cabin?


Qantas Frequent Flyers will not receive the Status Credits and Qantas Points of their upgraded cabin and will only receive the earn rate of the original booking.

More FAQs:

I purchased a Confirmed Upgrade, why I haven’t received a confirmation email yet?
Please allow up to 12 hours from payment to receive your confirmation email.
If it’s been more than 12 hours and you haven’t received your confirmation email, please contact the Contact Centre.
My upgrade has been confirmed, what do I need to do now?
If you’ve received your confirmation, your new cabin will be automatically updated in your booking. If you have a special assistance request on your originally booked flight, please submit again here or contact the Contact Centre.
If you had a special meal request, please submit it again via Manage Booking.
If you have purchased a lounge pass or pre-purchased additional checked baggage that you no longer require, you can request a refund via the refund form.
Once your upgrade is confirmed, you can now select your seat in your upgraded cabin. You’ll be able to check in as normal to your upgraded cabin.
Will I receive Status Credits and Qantas Points for my upgraded cabin?
Qantas Frequent Flyers will not receive the Status Credits and Qantas Points of their upgraded cabin and will only receive the earn rate of the original booking.
Will I be able to upgrade again to a higher cabin class after purchasing a Confirmed Upgrade?
No. Once a Confirmed Upgrade has been purchased, you won’t be able to upgrade again to a higher cabin class.
What happens to my special assistance request?
To ensure we can accommodate your request in your upgraded cabin, please resubmit your request here or contact the Contact Centre after purchasing a Confirmed Upgrade. Your previous special assistance request will not be carried over.
What happens to my dietary-required meal request?
To ensure we can accommodate your request in your upgraded cabin, please resubmit your request again via Manage Booking after purchasing a Confirmed Upgrade. Your dietary-required meal requests will not be carried over.
What happens to my pre-purchased additional checked baggage?
If you pre-purchased additional checked baggage that you no longer require, you can request a refund by completing the refund form.
What happens to the seat I purchased in Economy?
If you purchased a seat, it will be automatically refunded.
What happens if I have purchased a Lounge Pass or linked a Complimentary Lounge Invitation?
Your upgrade to Business includes lounge access. If you’ve purchased a Lounge Pass or linked a Complimentary Lounge Invitation, you can request a refund by completing the refund form.
Can I cancel my Confirmed Upgrade and is it refundable?
If you would like to cancel, please call the Contact Centre.
If you choose to cancel your Confirmed Upgrade, you will be refunded the price of the Confirmed Upgrade, less the cancellation fee.
If you choose to cancel both your original flight and your Confirmed Upgrade on that flight, the Confirmed Upgrade Refund policy will apply as well as the cancellation conditions of your original fare type.
Which fare conditions will apply to my Confirmed Upgrade booking?
The fare conditions of your original booking will apply to your upgraded booking.
Can I change my Confirmed Upgrade to a different flight?
No, Confirmed Upgrades are non-transferrable. Your Confirmed Upgrade is not eligible to be transferred onto a different flight. If you choose to change your original flight, the Confirmed Upgrade refund policy will apply and you will be refunded the price of the Confirmed Upgrade, less, the cancellation fee.
What happens to my Confirmed Upgrade if Qantas changes or cancels my flight?
We will do our best to reaccommodate your upgrade on the new flight. If this is not possible, you will be refunded the price of the Confirmed Upgrade.

 

[SJF211]

Like wise my ADL-SYD and SYD-OOL in 2 days and my ADL-SYD next week doesn’t have an offer although did receive the bid now offer for the former. Maybe not live yet.

 

[levelnine]

What's also unclear is whether you get upgraded points/SCs like AA does or it's the original cabin class. I presume it stays as the original offer though.

Will I receive Status Credits and Qantas Points for my upgraded cabin?

Qantas Frequent Flyers will not receive the Status Credits and Qantas Points of their upgraded cabin and will only receive the earn rate of the original booking.

 

[elanshin]

Just checked the only Qantas flight I have booked (SYD-MEL in Y in September) but was told 'no offer for you!' I presume they must only be offered close in.

What's also unclear is whether you get upgraded points/SCs like AA does or it's the original cabin class. I presume it stays as the original offer though.

More FAQs:

Also just checked. SYD-SIN QF255 in 3 weeks no offer.

 

[Spacetravel]

Considering I heavily use point upgrades, I hope the price is insane to deter many from using it. I expect it might be pretty high considering we will still have "bid now" upgrades and generally that price isn't very good. If the confirmed upgrades are being sold as a premium as the bidding ones, the price will have to be substantially higher to avoid making the bid now upgrades redundant.

On the flip side if it is low enough, I might switch my strategy to just paying for upgrades when I want them. Which might be the future world we live in post the upcoming credit card point apocalypse v2

 

[logicallysynced]

This likely means another hit to QFF points as it'll introduce more difficulty upgrading via points.

And status holders..

 

[elanshin]

Considering I heavily use point upgrades, I hope the price is insane to deter many from using it. I expect it might be pretty high considering we will still have "bid now" upgrades and generally that price isn't very good. If the confirmed upgrades are being sold as a premium as the bidding ones, the price will have to be substantially higher to avoid making the bid now upgrades redundant.

On the flip side if it is low enough, I might switch my strategy to just paying for upgrades when I want them. Which might be the future world we live in post the upcoming credit card point apocalypse v2

It depends and until we have data its hard to say. MH for example can have both higher cost instant upgrade (like it routinely does for AU flights) or insanely cheap instant upgrades just before the flights that are below the lowest bid now levels. (My brother picked up an $180 AUD upgrade for KUL - PVG in January, lowest bid was $600).

I think we'll need some data from popular and unpopular routes to see how the algorithms behave.

 

[SYD]

I hope the price is insane to deter many from using it.

Probably no more than changing an existing booking to the higher cabin by paying fare difference and change fee (if any) - as a high end - so not necessarily cheap.

 

[logicallysynced]

Another article on it:

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/qantas-cash-upgrades

With this image:

 

[Flyfrequently]

Another article on it:

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/qantas-cash-upgrades

With this image:
View attachment 509506

Is Qantas is looking to boost their bottom line and some of us sitting on a stack of points may struggle to get upgrades?

 

[elanshin]

Is Qantas is looking to boost their bottom line and some of us sitting on a stack of points may struggle to get upgrades?

From the everyday layman perspective, its a better offering given you can secure an upgrade - something that is impossible right now on QF.

But it does mean a hit to QFF poitand status holders.

 

[TeaKozy]

Perhaps they’re thinking of a life after the RBA nukes the interchange fees?

Classic Upgrade Rewards have been one of the few lingering elements of the program I’ve continued to have decent success with. However it seems to be a growing trend to monetise inventory over and above loyalty-based redemptions. Like all other changes I guess we just re-calibrate, and it may well be the case that I just factor in whatever potential upgrade cost might be when determining who to fly. Loyalty is a two way street.

 

[moa999]

I doubt they will be cheap.. and lacking the benefit of points/ SCs is also off putting.

Given the premium position in the queue it's got to be more expensive than buying top-up points... And they typically run at 2.5c-4c / pt.

So maybe something like 5-6c/pt.

So rather than say 65,400 pts from an Economy fare class to Business for SYD-SIN it might be $3,200-3,900 versus the A$1,900 it would cost to buy 65k points today (no bonuses active)

 

[aplmac]

I got this email today, for my upcoming trip next week for the two of us. It's a domestic ~ 2.5hr flight. We'll already be Lounged-up before we board, so can't see the expenditure in points as worthwhile.


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Hi xx_

Start your trip in style and use your Qantas Points to request a Classic Upgrade Reward* on your trip from Sydney to Hamilton Island on 19 June 2026.

You'll need 45000 Qantas Points to upgrade all passengers in your booking one way.+

If your request is successful, you'll receive extra checked baggage allowances#and lounge access (where available),Ω as well as priority boarding. Once on board, relax in your spacious Business seat and enjoy a selection of main meals, tea, coffee and bar service.^

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[ChrisMars]

Another point devaluation.

 

[SYD]

From the everyday layman perspective, its a better offering given you can secure an upgrade - something that is impossible right now on QF.

Not exactly.

Plenty of positive reports over in the QF upgrades success/failure thread.

But it does mean a hit to QFF poitand status holders.

Possibly not. I’d be VERY surprised if the prices are less than the max Bid offers. So back to my earlier comment that they’ll probably be a similar order of magnitude to just changing your existing flight to a higher fare class but maybe a discount because you don’t get higher SCs and extra points.

Although, if a flight is really undersold in J, then there might be some bargains out there to help those with $s leap frog higher status PAX with bags of points. One route comes to mind where the J cabin sites basically empty until about 1 wk out.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I got this email today, for my upcoming trip next week for the two of us. It's a domestic ~ 2.5hr flight. We'll already be Lounged-up before we board, so can't see the expenditure in points as worthwhile.


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Hi xx_

Start your trip in style and use your Qantas Points to request a Classic Upgrade Reward* on your trip from Sydney to Hamilton Island on 19 June 2026.

You'll need 45000 Qantas Points to upgrade all passengers in your booking one way.+

If your request is successful, you'll receive extra checked baggage allowances#and lounge access (where available),Ω as well as priority boarding. Once on board, relax in your spacious Business seat and enjoy a selection of main meals, tea, coffee and bar service.^

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thats just a domestic classic points upgrade, not the same as what this thread is about