Oneworld alliance-wide upgrades
Jan 22, 2024 | 10:20 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 2,727
Oneworld alliance-wide upgrades
First talked up some years back but now set to launch this year as part of Oneworld's 25th anniversary – although the program's debut will involve only "a handful" of airlines ahead of a broader rollout.
More at https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...miles-upgrades
More at https://www.executivetraveller.com/n...miles-upgrades
Jan 23, 2024 | 1:55 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,911
The upgrade philosophy of USA and non USA airlines is very different (all alliances)
AA & AS have cross airline upgrade now
AA and BA/IB have cross airline upgrade now. (but not BA<--->IB IIRC) ----> AA Partner Airline Upgrade Award - BA, IB, including codeshares (master thd)
Both have onerous t&c's
As your article, for those airlines using avios (QR BA IB AY) as the ff currency may be a little easier.
The method and cost of an upgrade on the airline of your ffp varies a lot. Will be hard to get a common *fair* value to all
Given the cost of QF awards and upgrades, compared to other fftp's, struggle to see any benefits for QF freq flyers.
Will benefit "frequent spenders" and not "frequent flyers"'
Edit
AA thread-- AA FF members soon to be able to book alliance-wide upgrades
AA & AS have cross airline upgrade now
AA and BA/IB have cross airline upgrade now. (but not BA<--->IB IIRC) ----> AA Partner Airline Upgrade Award - BA, IB, including codeshares (master thd)
Both have onerous t&c's
As your article, for those airlines using avios (QR BA IB AY) as the ff currency may be a little easier.
The method and cost of an upgrade on the airline of your ffp varies a lot. Will be hard to get a common *fair* value to all
Given the cost of QF awards and upgrades, compared to other fftp's, struggle to see any benefits for QF freq flyers.
Will benefit "frequent spenders" and not "frequent flyers"'
Edit
AA thread-- AA FF members soon to be able to book alliance-wide upgrades
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Jan 24, 2024 at 3:40 pm
Mar 5, 2024 | 8:54 pm
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,911
Some movement.
AA web site Upgrade with miles on partner airlines - Upgrade on Qantas
Links to upgradeplus web site Request an upgrade on an upcoming Qantas flight
Bloggers
Pointhacks (AU) American Airlines launches Oneworld upgrade trial with Qantas
Awardwallet How to Use AAdvantage Miles to Upgrade on Qantas
View from the wing American Airlines Introduces Mileage Upgrades On Qantas, “Is That All There Is?
Not good for QF freq flyers wanting to enter the QF upgrade lottery.. QF are going to announce changes to their ffp in the coming weeks.
AA web site Upgrade with miles on partner airlines - Upgrade on Qantas
Links to upgradeplus web site Request an upgrade on an upcoming Qantas flight
Bloggers
Pointhacks (AU) American Airlines launches Oneworld upgrade trial with Qantas
Oneworld’s anticipated alliance-wide upgrade system is now in a soft-launch phase, with AAdvantage members now able to use miles to upgrade Qantas-operated flights. A note on the website promises ‘additional partner airlines will be added in the future.’Curiously, the system is run by Plusgrade, a company best known for managing cash upgrade bids. A wide range of carriers use Plusgrade, including both Qantas and Virgin Australia. But under this trial, AAdvantage members can also use a fixed number of miles to request an upgrade.
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In early January 2024, American Airlines announced its AAdvantage® frequent flyer program changes for 2024. Among the advertised changes were mileage upgrades on partner airlines. We guessed that AA would roll out this redemption option on one of its closest partner airlines first. Sure enough, our crystal ball was right. American has now introduced mileage upgrade requests on Qantas flights
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Not good for QF freq flyers wanting to enter the QF upgrade lottery.. QF are going to announce changes to their ffp in the coming weeks.
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Mar 5, 2024 at 9:09 pm
Mar 5, 2024 | 10:00 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold, Former UA 1K
Posts: 6,365
Wow, they hinted that SWUs will become usable on other airlines, I was actually expecting JL, but QF could be interesting as well.
The problem though with the current system of using SWUs on other airlines (and presumably miles too) is that the ticket has to be issued by AA "or" at least one AA coded segment has to be on the itinerary. I made that mistake last year on a BA ticketed and entirely BA coded itinerary with domestic AA segments, so couldn't upgrade from BA C to F with an AA SWU, that was a bummer.
The problem though with the current system of using SWUs on other airlines (and presumably miles too) is that the ticket has to be issued by AA "or" at least one AA coded segment has to be on the itinerary. I made that mistake last year on a BA ticketed and entirely BA coded itinerary with domestic AA segments, so couldn't upgrade from BA C to F with an AA SWU, that was a bummer.
Mar 6, 2024 | 11:32 am
#5
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,911
Wow, they hinted that SWUs will become usable on other airlines, I was actually expecting JL, but QF could be interesting as well.
The problem though with the current system of using SWUs on other airlines (and presumably miles too) is that the ticket has to be issued by AA "or" at least one AA coded segment has to be on the itinerary. I made that mistake last year on a BA ticketed and entirely BA coded itinerary with domestic AA segments, so couldn't upgrade from BA C to F with an AA SWU, that was a bummer.
The problem though with the current system of using SWUs on other airlines (and presumably miles too) is that the ticket has to be issued by AA "or" at least one AA coded segment has to be on the itinerary. I made that mistake last year on a BA ticketed and entirely BA coded itinerary with domestic AA segments, so couldn't upgrade from BA C to F with an AA SWU, that was a bummer.
May 8, 2025 | 3:55 pm
#8
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,911
A possible expansion of OW ~ Plusupgrade
IB forum--> https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/iber...ade-offer.html
IB forum--> https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/iber...ade-offer.html
So today I got the following email for an upcoming trip, in collaboration with PlusUpgrade platform apparently:
Interestingly enough, I'm flying already all in J, so my LCG>MAD and MAD>LHR legs are not upgradable even though it lists them as available, but the PDX>LHR and back are upgradable to First. However, when looking at flight availability, none of the LHR-PDX flights shows availability for First Class.
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Interestingly enough, I'm flying already all in J, so my LCG>MAD and MAD>LHR legs are not upgradable even though it lists them as available, but the PDX>LHR and back are upgradable to First. However, when looking at flight availability, none of the LHR-PDX flights shows availability for First Class.
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Aug 12, 2025 | 1:51 pm
#9
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Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 22,911
From an AFF thread by _The Traveller_ "Just received this in the platinum newsletter. Not sure if anyone noticed this? I tried searching the on AFF but didn't see anything."
QF web site -- > Partner Airline Upgrades
Has a long FAQ list
QF web site -- > Partner Airline Upgrades
About Partner Airline Upgrades
We’re introducing more upgrade opportunities on our partner airlines so you can enjoy premium travel to even more destinations.
Partner Airline Upgrades are currently available on flights operated by American Airlines, using Qantas Points. *
<snip>
* Members are responsible for ensuring that they have a sufficient amount of Qantas Points in their Qantas Frequent Flyer membership account from the time the upgrade offer is submitted to the scheduled flight departure time. When an upgrade offer is accepted, a member will be notified by email. The upgrade offer amount will be deducted from the nominated Qantas Frequent Flyer membership account at any time from the time of acceptance. When an upgrade offer is accepted, the nominated Qantas Frequent Flyer account will be charged the amount based on the Qantas Points offer upgrade amount.
We’re introducing more upgrade opportunities on our partner airlines so you can enjoy premium travel to even more destinations.
Partner Airline Upgrades are currently available on flights operated by American Airlines, using Qantas Points. *
<snip>
* Members are responsible for ensuring that they have a sufficient amount of Qantas Points in their Qantas Frequent Flyer membership account from the time the upgrade offer is submitted to the scheduled flight departure time. When an upgrade offer is accepted, a member will be notified by email. The upgrade offer amount will be deducted from the nominated Qantas Frequent Flyer membership account at any time from the time of acceptance. When an upgrade offer is accepted, the nominated Qantas Frequent Flyer account will be charged the amount based on the Qantas Points offer upgrade amount.