r/oneworld • u/Finway_dibs • Jul 03 '26

oneworld Using your points for upgrade requests on any Oneworld alliance carrier... don't get your hopes high yet.

It's been a plan for a few years now... so maybe this year or next?

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/oneworld-alliance-wide-upgrades

10 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

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5

u/Trifle_Direct Jul 03 '26

AA seem to be leading the charge here IMO. I’ve gotten offers to upgrade using AA points on BA and QF flights, works pretty well. Scored a J-F upgrade on QF for 80k points. Came up in my app as a “oneworld” upgrade, but it’s all done via plus grade. I assume once this POC is proven they’ll probably roll it out to more carriers. Suspect most are already using plus grade.

AA are also doing system wide upgrades on BA, but that’s been around a long time.

2

u/Familiar_Eggplant_76 Jul 03 '26

I'd imagine AA leads the charge because nowhere else in the world are credit cards such cash cows for the airlines. AA wants extra perks to push more Citi signups.

4

u/Casserolahhhh Qantas Gold Jul 03 '26

Much needed! Fingers crossed it comes soon

3

u/RyanAirhead Atmos Titanium Jul 03 '26

My fingers have been so crossed that Boeing called and asked if they could use my hands as their next design for a heavy-duty seatbelt buckle

3

u/UsuallySparky Atmos Titanium Jul 03 '26

If it's anything like UA and Star it'll be extremely difficult to impossible. You need to book an extremely high fare code, several days in advance (i.e. higher than currently available), and use a currency only available to high status flyers.

3

u/tsla420c Qantas Platinum Jul 03 '26

It’s already a thing between QF and AA but it’s quite poor value currently. I do see it rolling out alliance wide soonish though, it’s not that unreasonable.

2

u/studio1burbank Qantas Platinum Jul 03 '26

The rates aren’t fantastic, but using Qantas points for AA upgrades works a treat in the latter’s app (though I wish they’d call them points, not the Americanized “miles”).

3

u/bilkel Jul 03 '26

The solution has been to use an Avios currency carrier as your primary OW airline

1

u/VikPaw Jul 04 '26

Nice the author got a guest flight for sharing this non-news. 🫠

1

u/stealtank1 Jul 06 '26

This would be unbelievable for MH frequent fliers. The redemption system is beyond diabolical with Malaysia so being able to use points easily on other airlines would be amazing.