At Points Advisor, one of the most common questions we receive is about flight upgrades. There’s nothing quite like upgrading your travel experience by settling into extra comfort as you start holiday in style up in the skies.
For the ultimate in luxury, it’s possible to use points to upgrade a paid Business Class ticket into a First Class experience. There are several Airlines offering some of the world’s best First Class cabins departing from Australian cities to take you around the globe in complete comfort and style.
| Airline | Typical Routes | Upgrade with Points |
|---|---|---|
| Qantas | SYD ↔ LAX MEL ↔ LAX SYD ↔ DFW SYD ↔ JNB SYD ↔ SIN ↔ LHR |
Qantas Points can be used to upgrade eligibility Business Class Tickets to First Class |
| Emirates | SYD ↔ DXB MEL ↔ DXB BNE ↔ DXB PER ↔ DXB SYD ↔ CHC |
Emirates Skyward Points can be used to to upgrade eligibility Business Class Tickets to First Class Holding an American Express Platinum Card makes access to these points upgrade opportunities more accessible for many travellers |
| Singapore Airlines | SYD ↔ SIN MEL ↔ SIN BNE ↔ SIN |
KrisFlyer Miles can be used to to upgrade eligibility Business Class Tickets to First Class Holding an American Express Platinum Card or transferring your Velocity Points to KrisFlyer makes access to these upgrade opportunities more accessible to many travellers |
| British Airways | SYD ↔ SIN ↔ LHR | Avios can be used to upgrade eligibility Business Class Tickets to First Class Holding an American Express Platinum Card makes access to these upgrade opportunities more accessible to many travellers |
| American Airlines | SYD ↔ LAX | Qantas has a unique Partnership with American Airlines where you can use your Qantas Points to upgrade eligibility Business Class Tickets to First Class |
Additional First Class Airlines and Routes from Australia
In addition to the routes mentioned above, there are a few other airlines worth being aware of when it comes to First Class travel from Australia.
- Japan Airlines offers First Class on its Sydney to Tokyo route seasonally. However, upgrading with points can only be done through the JAL frequent flyer program, which does not have transfer partners from Australian frequent flyer programs. That said, it is still possible to book this First Class seat using Qantas Points when reward availability is released.
- Qatar Airways’ A380 fleet features the airline’s only First Class cabin and previously operated on routes between Perth and Sydney to Doha. If the A380 is ever reintroduced into back to Australian cities, First Class travel with Qatar Airways will be possible again.
- Air India is introducing a new First Class product on its international network from 1 July 2026 between Melbourne and Delhi. While First Class upgrades using points are likely to be limited to members of the Maharaja Club, paid First Class fares are available and can be booked with First Class Travel.
How do flight upgades work?
While instant and confirmable upgrades are considered the gold standard from a passenger experience they are only offered in limited cases across certain frequent flyer programs, the majority of upgrade requests typically enter a waitlist system.
From a few days prior to departure right up until boarding, airlines begin processing upgrades from the waitlist. Whether the upgrade request is using points or cash, typically passengers holding fully flexible fare tickets are prioritised first, followed by frequent flyers with higher airline status. Only after these groups are accommodated are remaining upgrade requests processed.
The exact order and mechanics of how upgrades are cleared are not fully transparent, as airlines carefully manage the balance between generating incremental revenue and rewarding customer loyalty.
Flight Upgrade FAQs: Using Points to Move from Business to First Class
The Points Advisor team regularly receives a wide range of questions when it comes to upgrading flights using points, particularly from travellers looking to move from Business Class to First Class. These enquiries often focus on fare eligibility, availability, and which frequent flyer programs offer the best value when redeeming points for premium cabin upgrades. Let’s run over a few of the most common questions.
No, Qantas Points can only be used to upgrade Qantas-operated flights, as well as eligible flights within its Oneworld partner network with American Airlines being it first and only upgrade partner at this time.
No, Airlines only offer First Class on selected days or seasonally
No. Each airline has its own First Class seat and amenities, which can vary significantly. In particular, take special care with Emirates and Singapore Airlines, as both offer multiple First Class cabin types across their fleets.
In many cases, you’ll enjoy the full First Class dining, service, and comfort onboard, but certain perks such as lounge access, frequent flyer earn rates, or priority ground services may still be based on your original Business Class ticket rather than a fully paid First Class fare. Each airlines has it’s own policies.
Typically not. Most airlines only allow upgrades from specific fare classes with heavily discounted Business Class fares are often excluded from First Class upgrades. However, upgrade eligibility varies by airline with each Frequent Flyer program having it’s own upgrade policies.
You remain in your original Business Class seat and your points are not deducted.
The best time to request an upgrade is as soon as your ticket is issued, as it is typically a one-off, set-and-forget process.
Our Points Mastery Course covers flight upgrades in detail across Qantas, Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Emirates. Join today and become a points expert, as we explore a wide range of strategies to maximise your points, including the many ways to boost your balance through everyday spending.
