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Qantas has started selling Premium Economy tickets on its daily Boeing 787-9 tag flight between Melbourne and Perth. Qantas passengers also have the opportunity to redeem Qantas points for a Premium Economy award or upgrade on this route.
Qantas flight QF9, which continues to London, has become a popular choice for flyers travelling from Melbourne to Perth. The flight departs from Melbourne’s international terminal, so Platinum Qantas frequent flyers have access to the Qantas First Class Lounge before the flight. (Unfortunately, there’s no First Lounge access for passengers flying in the opposite direction from Perth to Melbourne on QF10.)
Qantas normally only offers Economy or Business Class on domestic flights. But as QF9/10 is an international tag flight operated by the Qantas Dreamliner, a Premium Economy cabin is fitted on the aircraft. Many of these seats are filled by passengers flying on QF9/10 only between Perth and London. So there are often empty seats available on the Melbourne-Perth leg of this flight.
Unfortunately, flying Melbourne-Perth in Premium Economy is not exactly a bargain. Qantas is currently charging $1,249 one-way on QF9 or QF10. Considering there are currently Business Class fares available on sale for $1,286, paying for Premium Economy doesn’t seem like a great deal. But when the Business fares aren’t on sale, prices can be over $2,000 one-way on the Melbourne-Perth route. Qantas’ Premium Economy seats on the Boeing 787 are comparable to Boeing 737 Business seats, so given the choice it could make sense to book Premium Economy.
Booking Melbourne-Perth in Premium Economy with Qantas Points
It is possible to redeem Qantas Frequent Flyer points to fly from Melbourne to Perth (or vice versa) in Premium Economy on QF9/10. At 27,000 Qantas points plus $23.22 in taxes from Perth to Melbourne, that is a good value redemption. However, award availability on this route is very limited. We’ve found just a small handful of dates with Premium Economy award availability over the coming year (such as this one):
Upgrading to Premium Economy on QF9 or QF10
The good news for Economy passengers is that it’s possible to upgrade using Qantas points. If you’ve booked a Red e-Deal fare, it will cost 10,000 Qantas points for the bump-up to Premium Economy. But the upgrade from Flex Economy to Premium Economy costs just 4,000 Qantas points. That’s a good deal – although it’s not that much more expensive to upgrade to Business.
Unfortunately, Qantas point upgrades on QF9 or QF10 will never be confirmed more than a few days before departure as it’s considered an international flight.
Another data point on PE upgrade requests on these flights, as these are considered part of an international flight there is no instant confirmation of an UG request (just called QF). So you wait until ~24h before the flight for confirmation (or earlier for those higher up the food chain than this SG).
Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: Qantas selling PY on QF9/10 dom legs
