Upgrade with Skywards miles: QF and EK flight booked via Qantas

[muehli3]

Can I upgrade an QF or an EK flight with Skywards miles when I booked via Qantas? I am pretty sure: No!

But still, the question to the pro's. Here are the details:
- MEL - DXB booked as QF flight number but on EK metal
- DXB - MUC booked as EK flight number
- Booked via Qantas
- Emirates does not show any possibility to upgrade
- I have a reasonable amount of Skywards miles

Cheers

 

[TheRealTMA]

Can I upgrade an QF or an EK flight with Skywards miles when I booked via Qantas? I am pretty sure: No!

But still, the question to the pro's. Here are the details:
- MEL - DXB booked as QF flight number but on EK metal
- DXB - MUC booked as EK flight number
- Booked via Qantas
- Emirates does not show any possibility to upgrade
- I have a reasonable amount of Skywards miles

Cheers

In short, no. You can only upgrade with skywards if you have booked via EK.

Most annoying, but that’s what it is.

 

[larrymull]

Can you upgrade with Cash then? If booked via QF.

 

[Mickey Mouse]

Can you upgrade with Cash then? If booked via QF.

Not sure whether you can before checkin (would have to be via phone), but it may be possible in person when checking in, and if not then more likely onboard. This depends on availability by then, of course, and the price is usually "no less than the fare difference".

 

[muehli3]

I am just asking myself: What's the benefit of a EK flight booked via Qantas? I mean, for QF I do get points and SC, but for EK not, iirc.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I am just asking myself: What's the benefit of a EK flight booked via Qantas? I mean, for QF I do get points and SC, but for EK not, iirc.

IMHO, very little unless booking with points. You can earn EK points if you wish but they are pretty useless. But for paid code share you do get SCs on QF.

Plus for paid flights, booking through Amex on EK direct gives you a cheaper price than with the Qantas tax added.

 

[muehli3]

Yeah, for the long leg to DXB it's QF to get SCs.

Not having the possibility to upgrade with Skywards it feels like the EK flight is really a waste

 

[TheRealTMA]

Yeah, for the long leg to DXB it's QF to get SCs.

Not having the possibility to upgrade with Skywards it feels like the EK flight is really a waste

FWIW One can use skywards points to book QF domestic and other airlines , although at a higher rate than QF points redemption.

 

[muehli3]

And less convenient because I need to call the EK hotline or live chat, iirc.

 

[Mickey Mouse]

Not sure whether you can before checkin (would have to be via phone), but it may be possible in person when checking in, and if not then more likely onboard. This depends on availability by then, of course, and the price is usually "no less than the fare difference".

Yeah, for the long leg to DXB it's QF to get SCs.

Not having the possibility to upgrade with Skywards it feels like the EK flight is really a waste

And since skywards and EK tiers are pretty useless (for Aussies in particular) unless you really fly EK regularly, if you have/want to retain QF status, then booking QF marketed EK and getting the SCs appear to be the best way to go ... as long as you don't want to upgrade!
I've given large sums of skywards to charity because they were useless to me, and will be getting more soon as I booked EK through EK as I don't have QF status and will be attempting to maximize the value of the CD (which booked-via-QF doesn't get).
Also - booking via EK makes cancellation-refund (and probably modification) of bookings so much easier than the deliberate go-slow tactics of QF!