QF OW upgrade question
 

I had a search under various threads but am still a bit confused as far as upgrading goes.

I am planning on using Qantas points to upgrade on Australia-Europe discount coach -> business class one way. My actual trip is SYD-HEL/LED/TLL-SYD where I'd prefer to fly in business at least on long haul sections. Looking at QF website, I can only upgrade upto LHR for 50,000 points each way via Asia but not via North America. Is this true? After all, QF website states that permissable mileage is upto 15,000.

But if I want to use an OW award then I can't upgrade at all and have to take either an award flight or nothing. Is this correct?

What would be the best bet using QF miles to get to Europe and back while maximising miles i.e. earning base coach miles while upgrading with QF points?

You can only use QF points or upgrade credits to upgrade on QF flights.

You can use QF points to book a full award J ticket on any OW or partner flight, but cannot pay for a discount Y ticket and then upgrade to J.

Even if you book a QF economy ticket, there is no guarantee that you can upgrade - upgrades are subject to availability, and you will find threads under the QF folder about people's experiences with same.

Going via North America, you can get as far as New York upgrading on a QF flight, but would have to either fork out for a business-class ticket or book a full award J ticket to go from New York to LHR.