Qantas Frequent Flyer members can now use points for Jetstar business class upgrades

Qantas Frequent Flyer members can now use their points to request business class upgrades on Jetstar international flights for the first time.

Jetstar launched its new Classic Upgrades on Monday, allowing eligible travellers on Boeing 787 Dreamliner services to request an upgrade using a fixed number of Qantas points.

At launch, an upgrade from Melbourne to Singapore costs 37,000 Qantas points, while Sydney to Osaka costs 45,300 points.

The option applies to flights booked through Jetstar’s website, with bookings made through qantas.com to become eligible at a later date.

Successful upgrades include 30kg of checked baggage, in-flight meals and priority boarding.

The launch comes as Jetstar overhauls its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, more than doubling the size of each business class cabin from 21 to 44 seats.

The airline says the expansion will create tens of thousands of additional business class seats across its Asia-Pacific network each year, including on flights to Seoul, Osaka, Colombo and Phuket.

Qantas Loyalty chief executive Andrew Glance said Classic Upgrades had long been one of the most popular ways members used their Qantas points.

“It’s fantastic to expand this option to Jetstar for the very first time,” Mr Glance said.

“Jetstar has never been more popular with our members, particularly families looking to make their points go further.”

Jetstar Group chief executive Steph Tully said the expansion of the airline’s business class offering would give frequent flyers more opportunities to upgrade.

“Our Boeing 787 fleet refit is well under way and is set to unlock tens of thousands of additional business class seats across our network each year,” Ms Tully said.

“As Jetstar continues to grow across the Asia Pacific, Jetstar Classic Upgrades gives frequent flyers even more opportunities to get great value from their points and upgrade their travel to destinations like Seoul, Osaka, Colombo and Phuket.”

The change comes amid record demand for Qantas Frequent Flyer redemptions.