Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
Award waitlists vs upgrade requests: how they differ
Award waitlists ask a programme to hold a request for reward space that is not yet confirmed, while an upgrade waitlist or upgrade request asks for a better cabin on a booking the member already holds. On Qantas Frequent Flyer, members can use Qantas Points to request an upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy, Economy to Business or Premium Economy to Business on a Classic Flight Reward booking, Qantas says such requests may not always be successful, and points are only deducted if the upgrade is confirmed. [4]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Confirmed award space and an unconfirmed request are different things: Qantas Classic Flight Rewards are subject to capacity controls, availability is limited, and some flights may not have any Classic Flight Rewards available. [4]
- Qantas Points can be used to request a cabin upgrade on a Classic Flight Reward booking, but Qantas says such requests may not always be successful and deducts points only when the upgrade is confirmed. [4]
- Classic Flight Rewards are bookable up to 353 days in advance. [4]
- Contact-centre bookings must be made at least 24 hours before scheduled departure, a Reward Assistance fee applies, and Platinum One members have that fee waived for Classic Flight Rewards and Classic Upgrade Rewards paid with points. [4]
What is the difference between a waitlisted award and a confirmed award seat?
A confirmed award seat is issued from reward space that exists on a flight. Qantas states that Classic Flight Rewards are subject to capacity controls, that availability is limited, and that some flights may not have any Classic Flight Rewards available at all. [4]
Where space does exist, Classic Flight Rewards carry a fixed points amount year-round and are offered to over 1,300 destinations on Qantas, Jetstar, oneworld member airlines and partner airlines. [4] On the Qantas website, available reward seats appear under a red Reward ribbon when the search is set to the Rewards view. [4]
Points Plus Pay is a separate pricing method rather than reward space: it is available on any flight with a Qantas (QF), Jetstar (JQ) or Jetstar Japan (GK) flight number and selected partner airlines when travelling on a Qantas fare, as long as there is a seat available for sale, and a minimum number of points applies. [4]
How do upgrade requests work on a Qantas award booking?
A member holding a Classic Flight Reward can use Qantas Points to request an upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy, from Economy to Business, or from Premium Economy to Business. [4] Because the request is not the same as a confirmed seat, Qantas notes that requests may not always be successful, and that points are only deducted if the Classic Upgrade Reward is confirmed. [4]
Classic Upgrade Rewards are offered on Classic Flight Rewards in Economy and Premium Economy, on Classic Plus Flight Rewards in Economy and Premium Economy, on eligible paid and confirmed Qantas domestic and international flights with a Qantas (QF) flight number on the ticket, and from time to time on codeshare flights operated by another carrier that carry a QF flight number. [4] They are subject to capacity controls, availability is limited, and they are not available from all fare types. [4]
When can you book a Qantas Classic Flight Reward?
Classic Flight Rewards are bookable up to 353 days in advance. [4] On the Qantas website, bookings can be made up to two hours before departure for flights within Australia and up to four hours before departure for international flights. [4] Bookings made through Qantas Contact Centres must be made at least 24 hours before scheduled departure, and some locations require earlier advance booking. [4]
A Reward Assistance fee applies to contact-centre bookings and is waived for Platinum One members booking Classic Flight Rewards and Classic Upgrade Rewards with their points through Qantas Contact Centres, with all other fees continuing to apply. [4]
Exceptions and limits
- No earn on award seats. Classic Flight Rewards do not earn Qantas Points, and Status Credits are earned on Qantas-marketed Classic Flight Rewards only by Points Club and Points Club Plus members. [4] Qantas Loyalty retires the Points Club programme on 8 December 2026, and members who attain or retain Points Club or Points Club Plus on or before that date keep their benefits until the end of their next Membership Year. [4] [7]
- Changes cost points or cash. A fare difference on a Classic Flight Reward may require additional points, Classic Flight Rewards and Classic Plus Flight Rewards share the same reward change and cancellation fees, and additional charges for Classic Plus changes are payable in cash, with a change fee in points. [4]
- oneworld awards follow their own rules. oneworld Classic Flight Rewards are limited to travel on oneworld member airlines and cannot include travel on any other airline, are based on total distance travelled or return flights, can cover a maximum of 35,000 miles on one itinerary, and must include travel on at least two oneworld member airlines other than Qantas. [4]
- Mixed bookings. Classic Flight Rewards can be combined with Classic Plus Flight Rewards or cash fares on qantas.com, and where non-Flight Reward fares are combined with Flight Rewards, the most restrictive fare condition applies to the segments booked as a Flight Reward for changes, cancellations and refunds. [4]
- Points must stay valid. Family transfers do not keep an account active, so transferred points ordinarily expire under the usual points expiry rules 18 months after the last eligible points activity, and Qantas says a balance stays active by earning or using Qantas Points within 18 months. [4] [7]
Frequently asked questions
Can you request an upgrade with points on a Qantas award booking?
Yes. Qantas Points can be used to request an upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy, Economy to Business, or Premium Economy to Business on a Classic Flight Reward booking. [4]
Are points deducted when the upgrade request is made?
Points are only deducted if the Classic Upgrade Reward is confirmed, and Qantas says requests may not always be successful. [4]
How far in advance can you book a Qantas Classic Flight Reward?
Up to 353 days in advance, and on the Qantas website up to two hours before departure within Australia or four hours before an international departure. [4]
Can you book a Classic Flight Reward by phone?
Yes, through Qantas Contact Centres at least 24 hours before scheduled departure, with a Reward Assistance fee that is waived for Platinum One members booking Classic Flight Rewards and Classic Upgrade Rewards with points. [4]
Do Classic Flight Rewards earn Qantas Points or Status Credits?
They do not earn Qantas Points, and Status Credits are earned only by Points Club and Points Club Plus members on Qantas-marketed Classic Flight Rewards. [4]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. This page covers Qantas Frequent Flyer only; other programmes, including American Airlines AAdvantage, United MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan and Miles & More, are not covered here.
- Qantas Classic Flight Rewards, checked 18 October 2026
- Qantas Frequent Flyer program changes, checked 18 October 2026