Qantas’ Rapprochement with Malaysia Airlines

Despite sponsoring Malaysia Airlines’ entry into the Oneworld alliance in 2013, Qantas hasn’t exactly been on the friendliest of terms with the Malaysian national carrier for the past decade.

Rather than encouraging Qantas Frequent Flyer members to fly with its Oneworld partner, Qantas has been actively discouraging its frequent flyers from flying Malaysia Airlines through severely reduced earn rates. For example, Qantas Frequent Flyer had been awarding points and status credits for Malaysia Airlines Business Class flights to/from Australia at the lower Flexible Economy rate.

Qantas Frequent Flyer’s primary motivation in doing so was to incentivise Australians to fly with Qantas and its subsidiaries when travelling to Malaysia or Europe.

For example, if you searched for a flight from Australia to Malaysia, the Qantas website would offer a Qantas flight to Singapore with a connecting Jetstar Asia flight from Singapore to Malaysia. But Jetstar Asia ceased operating at the end of July 2025, so that’s no longer an option.

Now, Qantas is launching a codeshare partnership with Malaysia Airlines. Qantas Frequent Flyer has also improved its earn rates on some Malaysia Airlines flights. But there are a few catches…

New Qantas codeshares on Malaysia Airlines flights

Qantas is adding its “QF” code to Malaysia Airlines flights on all routes between Australia and Kuala Lumpur. This includes the Brisbane-Kuala Lumpur route, which Malaysia Airlines will resume flying in November.

These codeshare flights are available to book now, for travel from 26 October 2025.

Qantas will also codeshare on Malaysia Airlines domestic flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Langkawi and Penang. That’s in addition to Singapore-Kuala Lumpur flights, although those codeshares aren’t yet available for sale.

“As one of our oneworld partners in Asia, we’re pleased to deepen our relationship with Malaysia Airlines, making it easier for Qantas customers to travel to Malaysia while enjoying frequent flyer rewards and premium service,” Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said.

“Whether it’s a business meeting in Kuala Lumpur, hiking in Borneo, or a beach escape to Langkawi, Malaysia offers something for everyone, and this partnership makes getting there more seamless than ever. It also reflects our commitment to offering more choice and convenience through an expanding network of partner airlines.”

What do you get by booking the QF code?

By booking the QF flight number, you can earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points and status credits as if you were travelling on a Qantas flight.

Qantas marketed flights also count towards the Qantas Loyalty Bonus, the minimum status credits required to be earned from Qantas flights for Platinum One status, and as eligible Qantas sectors. (You need at least four of these sectors each year to earn or renew Qantas status).

When flying on a Qantas codeshare out of an airport with a Qantas lounge, Qantas Club members can also enjoy lounge access.

QF codeshare pricing on Malaysia Airlines

But those extra Qantas Frequent Flyer benefits come at a high price. We compared the cost of booking a Qantas codeshare operated by Malaysia Airlines on the Sydney-Kuala Lumpur route to the cost of booking direct on the Malaysia Airlines website. Booking through Qantas would cost more than double!

For example, on the random dates we checked, you could book a return Economy Value ticket from Sydney to KL for $852.20 on the Malaysia Airlines website.

The exact same flights would cost $1,877 when booked through the Qantas website on QF flight numbers. For some reason, this amount includes a “Q Surcharge” of $500 per flight.

The QF coded flights would earn you at least 5,200 Qantas Points and 60 status credits, while the Malaysia Airlines Economy flights quoted above book into “O” class which is ineligible to earn Qantas Points or status credits.

It’s a similar story in Business Class. The following return flights from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur would cost $3,765.10 if you booked on the Malaysia Airlines website:

Yet, Qantas wants $7,912 for the same flights:

If booking the MH coded flights, you could earn 8,000 Qantas Points and 60 status credits for the return Business fare in Z class from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur. When booking the QF coded flights shown above, you’d earn 16,250 Qantas Points and 245 status credits.

MH code added to Qantas domestic flights

This is a reciprocal codeshare arrangement. Malaysia Airlines is also adding its “MH” code to selected Qantas domestic routes including Melbourne-Hobart, Sydney-Canberra, Sydney-Gold Coast, Sydney-Townsville and Perth-Karratha.

Better Qantas earn rates on some Malaysia Airlines flights

On 1 September 2025, Qantas Frequent Flyer also made some changes to the categories in which certain Malaysia Airlines fare classes earn Qantas Points and status credits.

The main changes are to earn rates on Malaysia Airlines flights between Malaysia and Australia, New Zealand, Europe or the Middle East. On these routes:

• Economy fare classes Y, B and H now earn at the “Economy” rate instead of “Discount Economy”
• Business fare classes C, D and J, and Business Suite fare classes A & F now earn at the “Business” rate instead of “Flexible Economy”

However, I class is no longer eligible to earn anything with Qantas Frequent Flyer and Y class now earns less on Malaysia Airlines regional flights.

And unfortunately, there are no changes to earn rates for Z class flights. These are generally Malaysia Airlines’ best value Business Class airfares.