Flying on a partner airline doesn't mean missing out on Qantas Points — but the earn rates, Status Credit rules, and booking requirements differ significantly from mainline Qantas. This guide covers every major partner with exact earn rates and the rules that catch most travellers off guard.
Use our partner airline calculator to see exact points and Status Credits for any partner flight.
oneworld vs Bilateral Partners: Why It Matters
Qantas has two categories of partner airlines, and they have fundamentally different rules for Status Credit earning.
oneworld Partners
Points + Status CreditsCathay Pacific, British Airways, American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Finnair, Iberia, Malaysia Airlines, Sri Lankan, and Royal Jordanian.
Earn both Qantas Points AND Status Credits on all eligible flights and fare classes. Critical for tier status qualification.
Bilateral Partners
Points OnlyEmirates, Air New Zealand, and other direct codeshare or bilateral partner airlines.
Earn Qantas Points only. Zero Status Credits are awarded regardless of the fare class. Do not rely on these flights for tier upgrades.
Earn Rates by Partner Airline
| Airline | Alliance | Eco (pts/km) | Business (pts/km) | Earns SCs? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cathay Pacific | oneworld | 3–6 | 8–10 | Yes |
| British Airways | oneworld | 3–5 | 8 | Yes |
| American Airlines | oneworld | 5–10 | 10–15 | Yes |
| Japan Airlines | oneworld | 3–6 | 8–10 | Yes |
| Finnair | oneworld | 3–5 | 7–9 | Yes |
| Iberia | oneworld | 3–5 | 7–9 | Yes |
| Malaysia Airlines | oneworld | 3–5 | 7–8 | Yes |
| Emirates | Bilateral | 3 | 8 | No |
| Air New Zealand | Bilateral | 1–3 | 5–7 | No |
Emirates: Qantas' Most Unusual Partnership
The Qantas–Emirates partnership is a bilateral commercial agreement, not an alliance membership. This creates a unique situation: strong earn rates on points, zero Status Credits.
Emirates earn rates on Qantas Points (approximate):
However, Emirates is one of the best partner airline redemptions on Qantas Points.Emirates Business and First Class products are industry-leading. Booking Emirates flights using Qantas Points as Classic Rewards (not earning, but redeeming) delivers exceptional value — the Emirates First Class A380 suite booked via Qantas Points is one of the program's legendary redemptions.
Cathay Pacific: The Hidden Gem for Qantas Flyers
Cathay Pacific is arguably the best oneworld partner for Australian Qantas members— for both earning and redemption.
Earning on Cathay Pacific
- •Earns both Qantas Points AND Status Credits on all eligible routes.
- •Strong earn rates in premium cabins (8–10 pts/km in Business Class).
- •Hong Kong (HKG) serves as an ideal premium transit hub to Europe, Asia, or the US.
Redeeming on Cathay Pacific
- •Book First Class as a Qantas Classic Reward — highly acclaimed global product.
- •CPP regularly exceeds 4.0c for Cathay First Class award redemptions.
- •Award seat availability is frequently superior compared to mainline Qantas.
British Airways, American Airlines & Japan Airlines
British Airways
BA earns Status Credits on Qantas Points, which makes it eligible for tier qualification. Earn rates in Economy are on the lower end for oneworld (3–5 pts/km), but Business Class is competitive. Key use: connecting through London Heathrow on BA-operated flights earns both points and SCs, unlike connections on non-oneworld carriers.
American Airlines
American Airlines is a major partner for trans-Pacific routes and US domestic connections. Economy earn rates are among the best in the oneworld network (5–10 pts/km), and Business Class earns well. Booking AA with your QFF number on flights within North America is an efficient way to accumulate points on business travel.
Japan Airlines
JAL delivers some of the best premium cabin earn rates in the oneworld network, and JAL Business Class is consistently rated among the world's best. As a Qantas redemption target, JAL Business Class via Classic Rewards often has strong availability and delivers 3.0–4.0c CPP.
How to Make Sure You Earn Points on Partner Flights
Checklist: How to Ensure Partner Points Post
Redeeming Qantas Points on Partner Airlines
Partner airline Classic Rewards often deliver better value than Qantas metal redemptions — and availability is frequently better too, particularly in premium cabins.
The new Qantas reward search tool (launched mid-2026) now shows Classic Reward availability across 30 partner airlines over a 12-month window, making it much easier to find these high-value redemptions.
Top redemption targets on partner airlines:
Cathay Pacific First Class
Arguably the best First Class product on oneworld.
Japan Airlines Business
Outstanding service and strong award seat availability.
Emirates First Class A380
The legendary onboard shower and suite experience.
American Airlines Business
Great for coast-to-coast flights and trans-Pacific legs.
Use our redemption calculator to find the points cost for partner airline routes →
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about this topic
Calculate points for any partner airline
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Published March 14, 2026 · Updated March 2026