(AUSTRALIA) Qantas and Malaysia Airlines have launched a wide-reaching codeshare that opens new one-ticket links from Australia to Kuala Lumpur and onward across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, with travel under the new setup starting from 26 October 2025. Announced in September and already bookable, the tie-up connects Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney with Malaysia’s capital and a broad network beyond, while also locking in shared frequent flyer benefits and oneworld lounge access for Qantas members.
Malaysia Airlines will also restore Brisbane flights from 29 November 2025 with five weekly services, while lifting frequencies to Melbourne and Sydney to match rising demand.
What the codeshare means for passengers
The move gives Australian travelers simple, same-itinerary journeys that combine Qantas and Malaysia Airlines under a single booking reference. That includes:
- Through check-in and baggage transfers across both carriers.
- Shorter lines, fewer check-in touchpoints, and reduced stress during tight connections.
- Easier handling for families and passengers needing special assistance (strollers, wheelchairs).
- Better recovery options if an inbound sector is delayed.
For many families and small businesses, the practical change is not about aircraft liveries or airline strategy; it’s about shaving minutes off transfers and avoiding missed flights when an inbound sector is delayed.
Network reach and route benefits
Under the agreement, Qantas customers can now book Malaysia Airlines-operated flights from Australia into Kuala Lumpur, then continue on MH-coded sectors to:
- Secondary cities across Southeast Asia (e.g., Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Hanoi)
- North Asia and South Asia (e.g., Tokyo Narita, Kathmandu)
- The Middle East (e.g., Jeddah)
- Europe via Kuala Lumpur’s connectivity
Why that matters:
- Travelers from Adelaide and Perth often had to stitch together multiple tickets to reach these places; the codeshare reduces that need.
- Students, workers on assignment, and multicultural families gain shorter total journeys and improved recovery options if plans change.
- Tourism and business travel benefit from additional flight banks that enable same-day connections for meetings.
Loyalty and oneworld benefits
Airline executives describe the tie-up as a strategic step that deepens oneworld links. Key frequent flyer perks include:
- Earn and redeem Qantas Points and Status Credits on eligible Malaysia Airlines flights (including MH flight numbers).
- Points and Status Credits are credited within 15 days after travel.
- Lounge access follows oneworld rules: Qantas Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Platinum One members receive oneworld benefits when flying with Malaysia Airlines, including access to over 600 lounges worldwide, priority check-in, preferred seating where available, and priority waitlisting.
“Points and Status Credits are credited within 15 days after travel,” — an operational alignment that brings Malaysia Airlines sectors in line with other oneworld partner timelines.
Sample reward pricing (examples)
These reward examples have been shared with members and highlight the breadth of earn-and-burn options. They are subject to availability, fare class, and changing taxes/charges:
- Sydney → Kuala Lumpur (one-way Discount Economy): 1,000 Qantas Points
- Kuala Lumpur → Tokyo Narita (Flexible Economy): 3,200 Qantas Points
- Kuala Lumpur → Penang (Classic Reward, Economy): 11,500 points + AUD$10 taxes/fees
- Sydney → Kuala Lumpur (Classic Reward, Economy): 34,700 points + AUD$131 taxes/fees
Brisbane service comeback and frequency changes
- Malaysia Airlines returns to Brisbane on 29 November 2025 with five weekly flights.
- Frequencies to Melbourne and Sydney will be increased to match demand.
This signals confidence in traffic flows and is expected to stimulate bookings from day one. For Queensland travelers, the return of nonstop service reduces backtracking and long connection holds.
How to book and use the benefits
- Search for eligible flights by looking for MH flight numbers on Qantas.com or via travel agents.
- Enter your Qantas Frequent Flyer number during booking to ensure you earn Qantas Points and Status Credits on eligible fares.
- Book and fly; Points and Status Credits post within 15 days after travel.
- Redeem points by selecting Classic Flight Rewards on eligible Malaysia Airlines flights (subject to partner release and availability).
- Travelers can pick MH-operated flights directly on Qantas.com or through usual agents.
- Classic Flight Reward availability can vary by day of week and route; search across several dates for the best chances.
Day-of-travel benefits and airport experience
- Through check-in labels luggage to the final destination, often eliminating a bottleneck at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
- Priority services for eligible Qantas status holders trim check-in times and speed up boarding.
- Access to partner lounges at KLIA and other oneworld locations provides quiet space during late-night or red-eye departures.
- These operational improvements add up across multi-sector itineraries.
Commercial and tourism impact
- Extra competition on Australia–Malaysia routes may lift inbound visitor numbers to both countries and feed onward flows to Bali, Phuket, and other holiday spots.
- Business travelers gain more choices for meetings in Kuala Lumpur’s finance and energy districts and connections to manufacturing hubs in Peninsular Malaysia.
- Tourism marketers and travel agents expect an uplift in bookings, especially for families and expatriate communities with ties across Australia and Malaysia.
Industry perspective and expected market effects
- The codeshare deepens customer-facing integration (ticketing, baggage, loyalty) beyond prior interline cooperation.
- Analysts expect the move to exert downward pressure on prices on some city pairs and encourage rivals to sharpen pricing on overlapping routes.
- The partnership could shift more booking volume onto alliance carriers, benefitting Qantas’ domestic feeders.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, simpler partner earning and redemption often nudges members to shift more bookings onto alliance airlines, increasing loyalty engagement and domestic feed revenue.
Operational coordination and future adjustments
- The carriers will monitor demand through late 2025 and may fine-tune frequencies or add destinations based on bookings.
- Further IT, schedule, and customer-support coordination is expected as the tie-up matures.
- Industry watchers will look for improved schedule wave alignment at KLIA to minimise connection times and protect through-checked luggage.
Practical travel reminders and visa notes
- Entry rules and visa requirements still apply even on a single-ticket itinerary.
- Australians visiting Malaysia for short stays can often go visa-free, but passport validity, proof of onward travel, and length of stay still matter.
- Visitors to the United States or other countries on the itinerary should check visa requirements well in advance.
- For Australia-bound family and friends, see the official guidance for visitor visas: Visitor visa (subclass 600) — Department of Home Affairs.
Airlines can refuse boarding if entry terms are not met, even on a single-ticket journey.
Who benefits most
- Families: single booking reference, unified seat maps, reduced risk of split PNRs, and smoother rebooking during irregular operations.
- Students: more seasonal seats during peak departure periods (end of exams/term breaks).
- Small businesses: simplified bookkeeping, policy compliance, and time savings from priority services for status holders.
- Travellers from Adelaide and Perth: improved east–west routing options via Kuala Lumpur.
- Melbourne and Sydney passengers: extra seat supply during peak school holidays.
- Brisbane travellers: the five-weekly restart from late November provides regular, direct access to Malaysia.
Key dates (summary)
- Bookings: Open now
- First day of travel under codeshare: 26 October 2025
- Brisbane nonstop service returns: 29 November 2025
Final practical checklist before travel
- Ensure passport validity meets destination requirements (often six months).
- Check visa requirements and proof of onward travel.
- Add your Qantas Frequent Flyer number at booking.
- Allow for changing health and entry requirements—check official sources close to departure.
- Search multiple dates for Classic Flight Rewards because partner award space appears in waves.
Both airlines say the partnership is designed to grow if bookings track well. For now, the essentials are in place: one-ticket booking, aligned baggage and check-in, clear status benefits, and early redemption examples spanning short and long sectors. With travel under the codeshare beginning from 26 October 2025 and Brisbane’s direct service returning from 29 November 2025, Australians have fresh options to reach Malaysia and beyond with fewer friction points and more predictability across the journey.
This Article in a Nutshell
Qantas and Malaysia Airlines have agreed a codeshare starting 26 October 2025, allowing passengers from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney to book single-ticket journeys via Kuala Lumpur to destinations across Southeast Asia, North and South Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The partnership includes through check-in and baggage transfer, aligned frequent-flyer benefits with Qantas Points and Status Credits (credited within 15 days), and oneworld lounge access for eligible members. Malaysia Airlines will resume Brisbane service on 29 November 2025 with five weekly flights and increase frequencies to Melbourne and Sydney. The arrangement simplifies connections, improves recovery options for delays, and expands award redemption possibilities. Bookings are already open; travellers should add their Qantas Frequent Flyer number and check visa requirements.
