Jetstar trims Qantas Frequent Flyer earn on fare bundles

Qantas Frequent Flyer members are now getting fewer points and Status Credits on Jetstar fares as the low-cost carrier shakes up the bundles you can add to your fare.

On top of the chopping block are the popular ‘Max’ bundles, which previously granted points and Status Credits at the high ‘Flexible Economy’ rate. The Starter Plus bundle is also similarly going under the knife.

Here’s what you need to know about the changes, which kicked in on 4 June 2024.

Starter Max becomes Flex Plus

For those who want it all, Flex Plus is the new top-tier bundle for Economy fares, but with two main changes:

• Qantas Points and Status Credits are now earned at the ‘Economy’ rate rather than ‘Flexible Economy’.
• The checked baggage allowance is now 20kg instead of 30kg.

All the other benefits remain the same, including extra-legroom seat selection, free date and time changes (fare difference applies) and a credit voucher if you cancel. A new benefit is that you can also earn points in Qantas Business Rewards when you fly on JQ-operated flights.

Flex gains Qantas Frequent Flyer rewards

The Flex fare mostly remains the same, although it loses one and gains another crucial benefit:

• The carry-on allowance has been slashed from 14kg back to 7kg
• However, Qantas Points and Status Credits are now earned at the ‘Economy’ rate rather than nothing at all.

You can still choose Upfront or Standard seats, make free flight changes (fare difference applies) and also earn Qantas Business Rewards points on JQ-operated flights. As before, food and drinks on Flex fares are offered on long-haul international and New Zealand domestic flights only.

Starter Plus loses flexibility, points

Jetstar’s entry-level bundle suffers the most with the recent changes.

• Change fees now apply to new Stater Plus bookings (previously no change fees, only fare difference)
• You now don’t earn Qantas Points or Status Credits with Starter Plus fare.

Passengers travelling on JQ international flights or any Jetstar Asia or Jetstar Japan flight with the Starter Plus bundle can opt to earn Skywards Miles at the Emirates Economy rate.

Summing up

If it’s any consolation, the bundles are slightly cheaper than before. For example, the Starter Max bundle cost $90 more when I flew from Perth to Melbourne. Now, the equivalent all-inclusive bundle, Flex Plus, costs $62 more. There’s no material change to Jetstar’s Business Max Bundle, which still earns at the Qantas ‘Business’ rate.

I daresay that the majority of passengers won’t know or care too much about these new changes. If anything, the lower bundle cost may be more appealing to the general public.

But for seasoned travellers and Point Hacks readers, these changes mean that the days of earning relatively cheap Qantas Points and Status Credits from Jetstar flights are now over.