This doesn’t affect upgrade? It’s just annoying cos now I cannot check if there is upgrade availability from J to F…

Doesn't it say if it's available when booking J? It did for me last night.

Availability of EK F through QF is very limited, even more so after these changes as the number of seats available on QF seems to have reduced

Looks like seats.aero has lost all visibility to F inventory. I have a bunch of EK miles that are expiring this year and was hoping to use but we're now flying blind (and have no status)

It still shows it through Qantas.

Anyone know if it’s possible to book an award for someone else who doesn’t have status? I have silver via the CC, but since EK often releases 1 seat at a time I’ve often had to book Mrs SEA737 in a different reservation. Wondering if that will still work (I don’t have enough miles currently to test it out)

Yes, no problem to book rewards for others. Log in to your account and when you get to passenger details enter your wife's info. I don't see this latest restriction stopping that.

It appears that with regards to the loopholes, QF have now been instructed to "close the door, a little" so the US whales have slightly more trouble fitting through ... minor amount of status now required to book via QF, as well as the usual increase in points.

what QF status is required to access EK first now, Emir?

Just "silver". I believe. Haven't flown QF this century, so don't know details on whether flights on "QF metal" are required to attain.

Correct, both Qantas FF and EK Skywards require Silver status for booking F Rewards.

and, the obvious next question - how do I get QF silver w/o flying qantas? :)

I believe you need 4 qantas coded flights for silver status
qantas coded on emirates will do it, I believe

thanks - I'll try booking a first R/T on EK via qantas, should get me some way there. then back to F award redemptions hopefully.

Fly Jetstar!

(Or Qantas codeshares on CI, EK, FJ, LA, MH, MU or SB - although all of these need to originate in or end in Australia.)