Originally Posted by
RichardMEL
Not quite true as the T&C do not link with what is on the page about upgrading family members.
Upgrading and your Family
If you are travelling with your family, your request will include all passengers in your booking who are eligible family members. If your booking includes passengers other than eligible family members, you will need to contact Qantas Telephone Sales to split the booking and then you will be able to request an upgrade.
If you are not travelling but use your points to request an upgrade for an eligible family member, the upgrade will be awarded according to the eligible family member's priority, not the status of the Qantas Frequent Flyer whose points are being used. An exception is made when Platinum One members, though not travelling, redeem points for an upgrade on behalf of eligible family members. In this case the eligible family members will enjoy the same high priority as a Platinum One member.
International Flight Award Upgrades (qantas.com)
So only PO members, and I guess CL, will have their status transferred over to the "family member".
Of course YMMV but over Chirstmas Mrs Blackcloud non-QFF member did not have her upgrade clear until the gate....but she was told that she was first on the list. I had placed the request 90 days out, there were 5 available seats at the time of request and went down to 1 seat 2 weeks before the flight (very happy to get it...I flew with Little Miss Blackcloud in WHY days before
)