Partner Airline Upgrades

You can request an upgrade using Qantas Points after you book your flight. To submit a request, you’ll need to provide your booking reference or confirmation code and the last name as it appears on your reservation. 

Request an upgrade

Note: Where eligible if you purchased your ticket through another airline, you may also receive an email from that airline inviting you to request an upgrade

If space is available in the requested cabin on your American Airlines flight, your upgrade will be confirmed within 12 hours of departure. 

For now, upgrades are only offered on flights operated by American Airlines. Other oneworld® partner airlines will be added in the future. 

Your trip is eligible to request an upgrade if: 

• Your flight is operated by American Airlines 
• You bought an eligible fare. Most fares are eligible; however, American Airlines does not allow upgrades on Basic Economy fares. 

Your trip can be booked anywhere, including travel agencies. 

Additional restrictions may apply. Check if your trip is eligible when you request an upgrade. 

Request an upgrade

You can request an upgrade to a higher cabin on each eligible flight. Options may include an upgrade to Premium Economy, Business Class or First Class. You will be shown eligible upgrade options when you are requesting the upgrade. 

See American Airlines upgradable cabins

Enjoy extra amenities and more comfort on your upcoming travel. Refer to American Airlines travel experience for details on your upgrade experience. 

If your upgrade is confirmed, you may be able to check additional bags at no charge when you upgrade to First or Business.

Your bag allowance on connecting flights will stay the same.

You’ll earn based on the fare you originally booked. 

After you’re upgraded, you can move to another open seat, if available through the American Airlines website, app or by seeing an American Airlines customer service agent.

No, the amount that you paid to reserve a seat will not be refunded if your upgrade is successful 

You can find this in your ticket confirmation email.

When you request an upgrade, you’ll receive a confirmation email from American Airlines confirming your upgrade request. 

Yes, you must request to upgrade all travellers if there are multiple passengers in your reservation. 

Everyone booked in the same booking will be upgraded together if space is available. However, if you’re booked in two different bookings, it’s not possible to link your requests together. 

No, upgrade requests can only be submitted online.

Yes, you can request an upgrade on some or all eligible flights on your trip – it’s up to you. Upgrade requests will be evaluated on a flight-by-flight basis. 

No, the number of Qantas Points required to upgrade is a set price for that flight and date. 

No, as of today you are only able to use Qantas Points to request an upgrade on flight operated by American Airlines.  

There are however plans to make it possible to use either Cash or Qantas Points on eligible American Airline flights in the future.  

If you submit a request for multiple cabins for the same flight, we’ll try to upgrade you to the highest cabin first. 

You can submit a request online. Provide your booking reference or confirmation code and your last name as listed on your booking. 

Request an upgrade

You’ll receive an email from American Airlines confirming your upgrade request. You’ll receive another email if your upgrade was successful within 24 hours of departure. 

Yes, you can request an upgrade up to 12 hours before departure. 

No, once the request period is closed you are not able to request an upgrade. 

If you’re paying with Qantas Points, you can cancel your request anytime prior to your upgrade being confirmed. Once your upgrade is confirmed, you will be unable to cancel your upgrade request. 

To cancel your request, use the link provided in your confirmation email, or enter your booking reference or confirmation code when you request an upgrade online. 

Request an upgrade

No, upgrade requests can only be modified or cancelled online.

Yes, you can pay for an upgrade using Qantas Points. To request an upgrade with your Qantas Points, log in to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account at the time of your request.  You do not require the total Qantas Points at time of request, however you will need to ensure you have sufficient Qantas Points at the time of upgrade confirmation.

Your upgrade request will be confirmed within 24 hours prior to departure. If you do not have enough Qantas Points in your account when we attempt to confirm your upgrade, the upgrade request be cancelled.

Yes, you can request an upgrade for someone else, even if you’re not traveling with them. You’ll need to provide the confirmation code and the traveller’s last name as it appears in their reservation to submit an upgrade request on their behalf.

As the operating carrier, American Airlines will determine if an upgrade can be confirmed. If there are multiple requests for an upgrade on the same flight, priority for requests will depend on several factors determined by American Airlines, including oneworld® status.

Upgrades are confirmed within 24 hours of departure.

If your upgrade is confirmed, you’ll receive an email within 24 hours of departure. Be sure to check your emails and junk folder.

The upgraded cabin will appear in your reservation on aa.com and in the American Airlines app. 

You’ll receive an email within 24 hours of departure, confirming your upgrade was unsuccessful. You will not be charged, and your original booking and fare conditions will remain unchanged. 

No new ticket will be issued; however, your original ticket will be amended to show the upgraded class. Your upgraded class will also be reflected on your boarding pass. 

No, if your upgrade offer was not accepted, you cannot make another offer for the same flight. 

If you don’t have sufficient Qantas Points in your account the upgrade will not be confirmed. No additional attempts will be made to confirm the upgrade. 

American Airlines determines the number of seats eligible for upgrade awards on each flight, and this number is subject to seating limitations and capacity controls. Upgrade-eligible seats may not be available due to factors such as the number of seats purchased and/or otherwise awarded in the designated cabin. Please note that upgrades with Qantas Points and cash upgrades will not be processed at the gate. 

If you are rebooked, American Airlines will try to keep you in the upgraded class on the new flight. If this is not possible, you’ll be able to request a full refund for the upgrade cost. Qantas Frequent Flyer members can request a refund by sending an email to oneworldupgrades@qantasloyalty.com, and include the following information: 

Confirmation code (also known as the PNR or Record locator) 
Full first name and last name of the traveler(s) 
Original ticket number(s) 
Flight date, flight number, origin and destination 
Email address of the requestor 

If you don’t have a Qantas Frequent Flyer membership, you can request a refund by sending an email to oneworldupgrades@aa.com 

Yes, when using Qantas Points to upgrade, you can cancel your request prior to the upgrade being confirmed. When you first submit your request, you’ll receive a confirmation email, and you can use the link in that email to cancel your offer. After the upgrade is confirmed, it cannot be canceled. No refunds will be issued.

If your upgrade has not been confirmed, you can submit a request for the new flight. If your upgrade is confirmed on the original flight and you cancel your flight, you cannot transfer your upgrade to the new flight. No refunds are issued if you cancel your flight after the upgrade is confirmed. 

You will not be eligible for a refund if you cancel a flight with a confirmed upgrade or don’t make it to your flight (‘no show’). 

If American Airlines is unable to accommodate you in the upgraded cabin through no fault of your own, you’ll be eligible to request a refund of the upgrade amount. Please send an email to oneworldupgrades@qantasloyalty.com, including the following information to request a refund: 

Confirmation code (also known as the PNR or Record locator) 
Full first name and last name of the traveler(s) 
Original ticket number(s) 
Email address of the requestor 
Flight date, flight number, origin and destination 

Qantas will send an email confirming your request has been received. Qantas will review your request with American Airlines to determine if it’s eligible for a refund. You’ll receive an email within 14 days if your refund request is approved.