The Qantas Frequent Flyer loyalty program is making a number of adjustments to how members can ebook Emirates first-class award seats with Qantas factors, and for anybody who aspires to fly one of many world’s greatest first-class merchandise, it is a triple dose of adverse information.
Till now, using Qantas points has been one of many best methods to ebook Emirates first-class seats with rewards, particularly as Qantas Frequent Flyer is a 1:1 transfer partner of American Categorical Membership Rewards, Capital One and Citi ThankYou Rewards.
Nonetheless, the brand new restrictions will considerably have an effect on this.
Here is what it’s good to know and what to do now.
Qantas adjustments Emirates first-class awards
There are three separate adjustments rolling out over the following few months.
As of Jan. 21, kids beneath 9 years previous are not eligible for Emirates first-class award tickets booked with Qantas factors, even when the factors are from an grownup’s account and the kid is touring with the grownup. Current bookings will not be affected, however adjustments that require a reissue might set off the brand new rule.
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Beginning Feb. 18, Emirates first-class awards booked with Qantas factors would require Qantas Frequent Flyer Silver elite standing or larger. Entry-level Bronze members will lose entry solely.
Lastly, from March 31, Emirates flights booked with Qantas factors transfer to a brand new Emirates-specific award desk, with larger costs throughout each cabin, particularly in top notch.
| Flight distance | Emirates routes from the USA | Present first-class redemption charges (ebook by March 30) | New first-class redemption charges (ebook from March 31) | Qantas factors fee change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) |
123,100 factors |
147,800 factors |
+24,700 |
|
|
Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) to Athens Worldwide Airport (ATH) |
147,700 factors |
177,300 factors |
+29,600 |
|
|
Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS) and JFK to Dubai Worldwide Airport (DXB) |
170,800 factors |
205,000 factors |
+34,200 |
|
|
Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD), Dallas Fort Value Worldwide Airport (DFW), Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX), Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA), Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO), San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) and Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA) to DXB |
195,400 factors |
234,500 factors |
+39,100 |
Why is Qantas making these adjustments?
Emirates has been steadily tightening entry to first-class awards throughout its personal Skywards program, limiting availability for children and non-elite members. Qantas had remained a notable exception, permitting members to freely ebook many Emirates first-class awards at strong charges, particularly over the previous 12 months.
Nonetheless, it did not make sense that members of a accomplice program would have simpler entry to such aspirational seats than Emirates’ personal Skywards members.
These newly introduced adjustments deliver Qantas redemptions a lot nearer to Emirates’ personal restrictions and create a extra stage taking part in subject between the 2 packages.
What ought to I do if I wish to fly Emirates top notch with factors and miles?
If you happen to do want to ebook Emirates first-class seats with Qantas factors, accomplish that earlier than Feb. 18, when the elite standing restriction kicks in.
Emirates first-class award availability by Qantas tends to return and go. Proper now, there may be availability on itineraries to and from Australia, together with from the USA by way of Dubai Worldwide Airport (DXB), although nothing for nonstop flights from the USA to Europe and DXB solely. The Seats.aero tool is a good way to find out which routes can be found, and you’ll set highly effective alerts to be notified if extra seats are added between now and March 30, after which charges enhance (or earlier than Feb. 18, if you do not have Qantas elite standing).
After March 30, your greatest wager is more likely to keep on with the Emirates Skywards program, because it has the identical powerful elite standing and age necessities, however not less than award availability needs to be higher than any accomplice program.
Backside line
When you’ve got been dreaming of flying Emirates’ luxurious first-class product, it is changing into more and more troublesome.
Between the brand new standing requirement, larger award costs and tighter guidelines round who may even be on a first-class award ticket, Qantas Frequent Flyer is not the sensible trick it as soon as was.
If you happen to see Emirates first-class availability that works for you, ebook sooner reasonably than later.
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