Qantas are once again running their bonus points offer on gift vouchers as we get closer to Christmas, with 5 Qantas Points per $ available on gift vouchers until 31 December.
It seems the 5 points/$1 earn rate is the new norm, having dropped to this level for what is now the second year after previously offering 10 points.
If you know you’ll consistently book paid flights with Qantas throughout the course of 2017, this offer is worth considering. However, the reduction in points makes it less of a ‘sure thing’ as you’ll be holding your cash with Qantas on the assumption you’ll be able to use it within the terms of the voucher, which are not completely straightforward.
The offer is available until the end of December, and bonus points will take up to 8 weeks to credit.
There is a $2,000 limit on the voucher, with the following value options available:
There are some terms, so you can’t use these for any Qantas flight out there, unfortunately:
- A maximum of $2,000 per person per ticket
- Flights must be booked departing from Australia
- Vouchers can’t be used as payment for taxes/fees on Classic Awards – they can only be used for paid fares for example
- They also can’t be used on a multi-city itinerary (so one-way or return flights only)
- You need to purchase vouchers for a specific number of people (this can be one traveller) to be included on the ticket, so unless you definitely know you’ll be booking flights for multiple people, just buy single vouchers and link the bookings later
On the plus side:
- They can be redeemed online, thus avoiding the phone booking fee
- Vouchers are valid for 12 months
- The balance of a voucher that’s not used is given back as another voucher to be used again within the same expiry period
- Using a voucher negates the need to pay credit card fees on bookings
The full terms are here and the offer page is here.
Offer history
- 2016 (current offer): 5 points per $
- 2015: 5 points per $
- 2014: 10 points per $
- 2013: 10 points per $
- 2012: 10 points per $
- 2011: 10 points per $
Purchase a gift card to trigger 2,500 bonus points with Amex Qantas Ultimate card
By purchasing a $50 gift voucher (the minimum value), you’ll get not only 250 Qantas points for the transaction with this promotion, but it will also trigger the 2,500 bonus points offer for making your first Qantas purchase with the American Express Qantas Ultimate card.
Summing up
This is a good deal if you (or someone you will gift the voucher to) know that you will inevitably be purchasing a Qantas flight in the next twelve months.
It also saves having to pay a credit card fee on bookings.
Say I purchase 01JAN17 with expiry 31DEC17. Can I redeem on say 01DEC17 for a flight departing say 01OCT18? (Some conflicting posts above)
How quickly are the vouchers emailed? Is it a matter of minutes or days?
“Selected Qantas products and services are: (a) Qantas passenger flights
with a QF flight number purchased on the Qantas merchant account i.e.
directly with Qantas or some travel agents or (b) purchases from Qantas
Travel shops. Excludes: Qantas Holidays, Qantas Freight, Jetstar and
Qantas branded non-airfare products operated by third parties e.g. Qantas
Box Office.”
10/12/2016 QANTAS AIR AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA $100.00 200 2,600 2,800
– Qantas First Spend Bonus 0 2,500
– Qantas Airlines 0 100
– Call 1800507104 to redeem your QF flight 0 0
Does that mean I have to redeem the voucher by 20 December 2016 for a trip that departs no later than 20 December 2016?
Or can I redeem the voucher by 20 December 2016, for paying for a 2017 trip?
Qantas response was: “that is correct. As long as you are able to book the voucher within 12 months from the time it was purchased.”
Is this something new from previous years? I’m looking to purchase flights in 2017 for 2018 and don’t want to be stung by having a large value voucher I can’t use
“Valid for bookings made on or before the expiry date stated on the voucher.”
You the have to use the credit voucher in full forcing you to spend….and cannot change the name…
I even called Qantas customer service and there is nothing they can do about it.