Emirates and Qantas have a strong partnership, allowing Skywards members to earn and redeem miles across both airlines’ networks. This is particularly beneficial for Australian travellers who want to maximize their Emirates Skywards miles when flying domestically within Australia or internationally with Qantas.
While Qantas redemptions offer good value, there are specific rules and limitations to be aware of when using Skywards miles.
Earning Emirates Skywards Miles on Qantas
Skywards members can earn miles when flying on Qantas-operated flights. However, there are some key restrictions:
- Miles can only be earned on Qantas-operated flights and are not valid on codeshare flights with other airlines.
- Domestic Qantas flights only earn Skywards miles if they are part of a continuous international journey with either Qantas or Emirates.
- Tier Miles can only be earned on Qantas flights with an EK flight number. If the flight is booked under a QF number, Tier Miles will not be credited.
To claim missing Skywards Miles for flights completed within the last six months, you can provide flight details using Emirates Live Chat.
Redeeming Skywards Miles on Qantas
How to Book Qantas Flights with Skywards Miles
Qantas redemptions can be booked directly on the Emirates website, unlike some partner airlines. Here’s how:
- Log in to Your Skywards Account – Visit the Emirates website and navigate to the ‘Book a Reward Flight’ section.
- Select Advanced Search – On the homepage, select ‘Advanced search’.
- Choose Classic Rewards and Partner Flights – Select ‘Book Classic Rewards’ and then ‘Search partner flights only’ to find Qantas award availability.
- Complete the Booking – If award seats are available, you can book online. If the website fails, calling Emirates may be necessary.
Finding Qantas Award Availability
The Emirates website does not make it easy to search for Qantas reward flights. If you’re searching for a heavily available route (e.g. Sydney-Melbourne), you may find results directly. However, for more complex itineraries, it is often best to:
- Search for Classic Rewards availability on the Qantas website.
- Check for award availability on Oneworld airline websites, as they may be more reliable than the Emirates site.
- Call Emirates if you encounter website errors when booking.
How Much Do Skywards Awards on Qantas Cost?
Emirates Skywards redemptions on Qantas match Qantas Points redemption rates, with one exception—Economy flights between 5,800 and 7,000 miles require more Skywards miles than Qantas Points.
| Route Example | Economy Class (Miles) | Business Class (Miles) |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney – Melbourne | 8,000 Skywards miles | 18,400 Skywards miles |
| Sydney – Hong Kong | 36,000 Skywards miles | 60,000 Skywards miles |
| Sydney – London | 60,000 Skywards miles | 128,000 Skywards miles |
Premium Economy and First Class redemptions are unavailable for Qantas flights under 7,000 miles.
Taxes and Fees on Qantas Redemptions
While Qantas redemptions offer good value, fuel surcharges apply and can be quite high:
- Sydney to London in Business Class can incur over AU$900 in taxes and fees.
- Surcharges are generally the same as those charged when booking with Qantas Points.
Skywards Award Routing Rules
Unlike most partner airlines, Emirates allows one-way bookings on Qantas. Additionally:
- One free stopover is permitted on Qantas award bookings, which is not allowed under Qantas Frequent Flyer redemptions.
- Round-trip awards have a maximum stay of 3 months.
- Stopovers cannot be booked online and will require calling Emirates.
Is Using Skywards Miles on Qantas Worth It?
While Qantas redemptions can be a solid use of Skywards miles, they are not always the best option. Here’s what to consider:
✅ Good Value for Domestic and Long-Haul Flights – If you already have Skywards miles, Qantas flights can be a convenient way to redeem them.
✅ Easy Booking Process – Unlike other partners, Qantas awards can be booked online.
✅ More Availability Than Some Oneworld Airlines – Qantas tends to release more seats to Emirates than to other partners.
❌ High Taxes and Fees – Fuel surcharges can be expensive, especially on long-haul flights.
❌ Limited Award Classes – Premium Economy and First Class (on flights under 7,000 miles) are unavailable.
❌ Website Issues – The Emirates site can be difficult to use when searching for award flights.
Better Alternatives to Booking Qantas with Skywards
If you have flexible points (such as from a credit card program), it is often better to transfer them to another airline instead of Skywards. For booking Qantas flights, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles could be a better option:
- Asia Miles generally requires fewer miles than Skywards.
- Asia Miles redemptions have lower fuel surcharges.
- More Qantas seats are available to Asia Miles members.
Final Thoughts
Using Emirates Skywards miles on Qantas is not always the best use of points, but it can be a solid option if you already have Skywards miles to spend. While Qantas redemptions match the airline’s own Qantas Points chart, the high fuel surcharges and website booking challenges can be frustrating.
For travellers with flexible reward points, transferring to Asia Miles or booking directly through Qantas Frequent Flyer may offer a better redemption value and greater seat availability. However, if you already have Skywards miles and can find availability, Qantas flights remain a convenient and valuable option for Australian travellers.
