Now you can upgrade to business class straight from the Qantas app

Qantas is also considering push-style alerts whenever an upgrade is available on your flight.

By David Flynn, January 7 2022
Now you can upgrade to business class straight from the Qantas app

Airline apps are increasingly becoming indispensable tools for any traveller, let alone frequent flyers, with the Qantas app now making it even easier to request an upgrade to business class.

The latest update to the Qantas iPhone and Android app lets you request a Classic Upgrade Reward straight from your smartphone and parlay your Qantas Points into a comfy business class pew.

Once requested, the status of the Classic Upgrade Reward request is displayed within the app.

Also new: Classic Upgrade Rewards can now be requested as little as 10 hours before your scheduled flight, compared to the previous '24 hours prior' period. This comes on top of the 'Bid Now' upgrade functionality already baked into the app.

Of course, it's not just for that desirable bump from economy to business class on domestic flights.

You can also request a points-based upgrade to premium economy on international flights featuring the Boeing 787 Dreamliner or Airbus A380, or look to leap from business class to first class on the superjumbo.

You'll be sitting pretty with a quick points-based upgrade courtesy of the Qantas app.
You'll be sitting pretty with a quick points-based upgrade courtesy of the Qantas app.

Qantas tells Executive Traveller that Domestic On Departure Upgrade Reward requests will be added "in the coming months".

Exclusive to Platinum One, Platinum and Gold frequent flyers, along with Qantas Club and Points Club Plus members, these reduce the window to three hours.

Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth describes these rolling improvements to the app as "new initiatives that allow members to use their points quickly and easily for upgrades."

Also under consideration are live alerts when an upgrade becomes available, sent as 'push notifications' to your phone's home screen or lock screen rather than showing only if you're already in the app.

This would really be icing on the cake, and further improve the app's user experience and utility.

Imagine being in your Uber en route to the airport, or sitting in the lounge, when the Qantas app pings you that there's an upgrade from economy to business class available on your imminent flight.

The app's already hooked into your Qantas Frequent Flyer account, of course, so the tap of a button could confirm your upgrade and draw down the necessary number of Qantas Points, while sending a new boarding pass to your screen.

Qantas

22 Oct 2012

Total posts 319

They're good improvements to the app.

But what is needed most is improved functionality in both the QF website and their app that removes the need for pax to call Qantas for a variety of issues, with the inevitable many hours wait for most customers.  Qantas knows what the most common reasons for phone calls are, and some of those issues could well be resolved by the customer themselves by changes to the website and app.

07 May 2015

Total posts 41

I agree, the more "self-service" Qantas can make this app, the better for passengers and the better for the airline too.


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