Back in June, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce and Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth announced sweeping changes to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program that provided its 10+ million members with a mixture of good and bad news.
Lower-priority changes are still to be rolled out over the next nine months or so. However, some of the most important—increases in pricing for premium cabin and round-the-world redemptions—come into effect on 18 September.
Therefore, if you want to use your Qantas Points for one of these awards, now is the time to do so. You can find the new (and old) award charts here.
Details of the Qantas Frequent Flyer changes
The good
- Adding more than 1 million extra reward seats available annually on Qantas as well as new partner airlines, which include Air France-KLM Air New Zealand, Bangkok Airways and China Airlines
- Slashing carrier charges by as much as 50% on international bookings (excluding direct flights to and from New Zealand and select South Pacific destinations). This is estimated to save members around $200 per return flight. All travel classes will see a reduction
- A reduction in the number of points required on domestic and international Economy Classic Rewards (already implemented)
- Creating a new tiered Points Club program to better reward members who are more frequent buyers than frequent flyers and earn most of their points from on-the-ground transactions. This will be launched in late 2019
The bad
- An up to 15% increase in points for premium cabins on domestic and international Classic Flight Reward seats and up to 9% increase on the points for upgrades. This includes partner airline and oneworld Classic Flight Reward seats
- Round-the-world award pricing will also increase for premium cabins at the rate of 19% for Premium Economy, 14% for Business (the most common redemption) and 8% in First; more specifically, Business will increase from 280,000 to 318,000 points; Economy Class round-the-world awards have dropped immediately in price by 6% to 132,400 points (from 140,000)
The indifferent
- Introduction of a Lifetime Platinum status, which will require 75,000 Status Credits to achieve, which will be launched in September 2019. While this is a good change for the very few members who will achieve this, this goal is well out of reach for most members
What’s not changing
Qantas wanted to reiterate that some of the more popular aspects of the program will not be changing, such as:
- The status tiers of Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Platinum One will remain as is
- The number of Status Credits required to achieve these levels will stay the same
- The number of points and Status Credits earned with Qantas and its partner airlines will also stay the same
Reaction from American Express
Emily Roberts, Vice President of Consumer Acquisition, Loyalty, and Partnerships for American Express Australia and New Zealand, a longstanding partner of Qantas, commented:
As one of American Express’ long-standing strategic partners, Qantas has time and time again demonstrated its commitment to providing value to our mutual customers. We believe the changes to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program will be welcomed by our Qantas American Express card and Platinum card members who will benefit from the increase in Qantas reward seat availability and enjoy greater benefits and savings on their next holiday or business trip.
Summing up
It is great to see Qantas making a genuine effort to address the major concerns of its membership base, especially the long-held bugbear of many members, being the availability of reward seats.
Even the negative announcement of an increased points requirement for upgrades and Classic Reward seats comes tied with a promise of increased availability. Thankfully, we have started to see some opening up of award seats already.
We’ve updated all our guides to reflect these pricing changes.
What are other people’s experiences?
Before the changes I was paying on average A$ 1100-1200 to fly return to Tunisia/Rome/Cairo/Athens etc. So what massive slash on fees Qantas was talking about?
I’ve just confirmed with Qantas that the reduction in carrier charges only applies to Qantas operated flights.
Yes, that’s correct, so try to lock in those dates prior to 18 September 2019 where possible.
of the opinion Qantas has done a sly deal and moved its business class rewards people over to China Eastern, keeping the full payers on their aircraft. Your thoughts? Thanks, Roberta
The availability of reward seats will fluctuate with Qantas based on a number of factors, which include:
the demand for award seats on your selected route and at the time of year you are searching for (ie peak vs non-peak periods)
how far out you are searching, as partner airlines release award seats to partners at different times (eg 330 days out, 300 days out etc)
the number of award seats made available by partners can change (for example, Cathay Pacific has restricted availability over the past 12 months, even to its own Asia Miles members, which has likely produced a flow-on effect to Qantas members for some routes/timings)
the number of award seats you are trying to access in one search
your Qantas frequent flyer status
Please note that China Eastern has been a Qantas partner airline preceding the changes to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, and has been offering Business redemptions on MU for a while now. Therefore, it is not clear whether the program changes have had a direct effect on Business availability to Europe through other partners.
Also remember that Qantas is progressively introducing new airline options to Europe throughout the remainder of the year, including the ability to use Air France, KLM and China Airlines.
Your question doesn’t detail exactly when in 2020 you are searching, and your origin/destination. Remember that with award seats, you need to make sure that you are flexible as possible in terms of timing and routes (for example, if SYD-LHR via HKG is not available, try BNE-LHR via HKG instead). I’m not sure if you are already doing this, but it always pays to search around, as flight loadings are never the same, and those with lower loadings are more likely to have award seats released.
You didn’t give me a reply button, so I’ve clicked on another of your responses. I stated in my email we’ve been doing biz points longterm (meaning years). I did detail that 2020 from Aust/UK has no availability on QF & CX , which to me is clear that’s the route I’m searching, , and I did state we’re inventive about routes thru cities etc to depart and arrive. This of course includes seasons and partner airlines. So, my question wasn’t about requesting a “101” on how to search, partners, release times etc. My question was about why QF & CX have virtually disappeared in 2020 from the Aust/LHR run since Sept 18, with only MU on offer, and why MU is charging more points than QF & CX. I would like to know your thoughts on that and if other “points chasers” have commented on this and/or how they’e are getting around this? Thanks for your time, Roberta
My previous response outlined the various factors that contribute to the variation in the supply of reward seats for any specific airline. These factors explain why the availability of Qantas and Cathay Pacific may differ from that of China Eastern airlines on Australia to London Heathrow route.
The taxes and charges on premium seats will reduce from 18 September 2019.
Please refer to https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-rewards-frequent-flyers-in-program-overhaul/ for further information.
BTW, do you have any info on what it might end up costing after September?
In regards to the cost in points post 18 September 2019, please refer to https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/use-points/classic-flight-rewards/tables.html.
In terms of carrier charges, the decrease in these were implemented immediately, so as long as government taxes and airport charges don’t move significantly from today, the cost would be similar to what it is today.
It’s says it’s the same number of points (200K) as last time we went (a pleasant surprise) but it’s now $665.02 in fees rather than the $634.74 that we paid for the same trip last year.
Any ideas on why this would be the case? Seems to be directly opposite to what’s in this article…
Regarding the points, these won’t increase until 18 September 2019, so try and make all your planned bookings pre this date.
It’s hard for me to comment regarding the fee changes, as I don’t have a breakdown of the fees in 2018 and now. But remember, Qantas carrier charges are just one element of the total taxes, fees and charges payable. Therefore, what may have happened is that while the carrier charge has decreased, there might have been a larger increase in one or more of the other taxes, fees and charges from 2018 that has resulted in an overall increase in the total payable.
Great article. I think the majority of frequent flyers have their focus wrong here. The increase in points for Business and First is justified on their part for two reasons. Firstly, the products have come such a long way since the previous increase to the award table (NEARLY 15 YEARS AGO). Secondly, the increase is targetted at Qantas international flights only. People have been hard-pressed to find award space on high-traffic routes from Australia (think Los Angles and London in particular).
What good is the award redemption being 15% cheaper if you can NEVER fly?
Two Questions: Have Qantas already released additional award space? Since I am a school teacher, I can only fly on the holidays. Since the announcement, I am already see ample Business and First redemptions next Easter to both London and LAX – which I don’t recall ever seeing before.
Secondly, is there any mention of partner redemptions (AA, Emirates and Qatar) being affected by the increase?
Keep up the good work!
-Matt
Thanks for your feedback and great to hear you enjoy reading Point Hacks!
Qantas stated that they will be progressively increasing the award space over the next 12 months, but its great to hear that some availability has increased immediately.
Regarding partner airline redemptions, please refer to the following: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/use-points/classic-flight-rewards/tables.html, which details the new award tables coming into force for the 4 different types of Classic Flight Rewards.
Great article in the Daily Telegraph today that points out all the flaws and how bad this move is by Qantas.
I understand your point and that is why for the points aspect, we placed it under “The bad”. However don’t forget that carrier charges are being reduced and therefore it could have been worse in that the points requirement went up with no corresponding reduction in carrier charges.
It is clear that people have mixed feelings about the points vs carrier charges trade-off but for simplicity sake, when you separate them out, its clear that a reduction in carrier charges is good, and an increase in points requirement is bad.
My question is one around the ‘Frequent Buyer’ club. Is there any information as to whether previous spend will count for anything? Or should we wait until release of said club because everyone will start on 0/150,000 ‘credits’?
While we always welcome constructive feedback, it would help if you could please elaborate on what sections of the article you found ridiculous. Thank you.
Take 1,000,000 and divide by 365 = 2,700 seats per day
Qantas has 130 planes. On a short route like Sydney to Melbourne which probably takes 2 hours take-off to take-off, they might get 5 flights per day. On a long-haul route they would get 1 flight per day. So, say on average 3 flights per day per aircraft. Or 130 x 3 = 390
Now 2,700 seats divided by 390 flights is 7 seats per plane per flight. That then gets split between economy, premium economy, business, and a very few firsts. So, if you got an extra 2 business seats per flight I think you’d be lucky.
And that’s just Qantas, those extra seats are probably including partner airlines and Jetstar. So, not too many seats really.
Funny thing about that page is that it’s broken into sections “For bookings created on or after 18th September” and “For bookings created up to 19th September” So is the change-over date the 19th or the 18th. According to the section headings the 18th is in both old and new!!
Also, these changes really are of no benefit to me. My wife and I take a trip to Europe in J each year on points using Qatar. This will now cost us 80k points more! And for that we get a new club and save a couple of hundred dollars on fees. I was thinking maybe an increase of 5k or 10k but 80k, long-haul is pretty much 14-15% increase in every zone maxing out in the partner airline table zones 2, 5 & 6 at 15.4%
Oh well I guess it could have been worse, demand pricing anyone?
If they left it the same a RTW ticket would have been cheaper than Business between Melb/Sydney and London in Business.
What hasn’t been looked at is if the taxes and associated costs of the OneWorld RTW will come down in line with Qantas carrier charges.
Qantas have confirmed oneworld Classic Flight Reward seats will be going up from September 2019. Please refer to https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/use-points/classic-flight-rewards/tables.html.
38000 more points for business (total points required now 318000)
35000 more points for first (total points required now 455000)
If you earn Platinum in your first year of work (1400 SC) and then earn the 1200 per year to retain, it would take you 62.33 (~63) years to obtain lifetime Platinum!!! If you start working at 18, that means you can retire at 81!!!
Some comparisons:
Lifetime Silver is 7000, based requiring 300 to attain, and 250 to retain Silver status, you would need 27.8 (~28) years back to back to obtain and then retain to reach lifetime Silver (assuming you only ever JUST obtain the SC teach year). This is obtainable within a working life
Lifetime Gold is 14000, based requiring 700 to attain, and 600 to retain Silver status, you would need 23.2 (~23) years back to back to obtain and then retain to reach lifetime Gold (assuming you only ever JUST obtain the SC teach year). This is also obtainable in a working life.
If you take the Lifetime Silver requirement of 28 years, and apply to the 1400 to attain, and 1200 to retain, Lifetime Platinum should be ~34,000 status credits.
It is clear that QANTAS is reserving Lifetime Platinum ONLY to Platinum One customers. If you take the 3600 status credits require per year to obtain Platinum One, then it would take 20.83 (~21) years to obtain Lifetime Platinum. Again achievable in a working life, but assumes you are travelling so much for so long, you really don’t have a life!!!
As another comparison, British Airways offer Lifetime Gold (same as Lifetime Platinum for Qantas (both are One World Emerald). This takes 35000 tier points. To achieve Gold status (One World Emerald) with BA, it takes 1500 tier points per year. So it would take 23.33 (~24) years to obtain Lifetime Gold (OW Emerald) with BA.
Any way you look at this – Lifetime Platinum is a rubbish offer, and not a reason most normal human beings should be loyal to Qantas.
By the way, I’m a Platinum One customer – but I don’t plan on achieving that status every year of my working life, firstly, because when I was younger I had more interesting things to do than work trips, and I don’t want to spend the rest of my life doing the amount of travel I do now.
Worse for Qantas – they no doubt thought we would be excited about this, but due to the ludicrous amount of 75000 status credits for lifetime platinum, I just checked out British Airways for the first time, and I have realised, I can EASILY get to Lifetime Gold with BA, despite starting from scratch, more than half way through my career. Next year, I can use my Lifetime Gold on Qantas to book my awards flights on Qantas, and start using a new BA frequent flyer account to achieve lifetime gold on BA, rendering my loyalty to Qantas useless.
Once again, Qantas snatching defeat from the jaws of victory! The fools that run that program don’t understand that their most frequent flyers, are also able to switch the easiest to other airlines and also obtain significant status, and so any Lifetime Offers have to be competitive. Worse, they are not even competitive with their own One World stablemate British Airways, so you can fly on their tin, and shift your loyalty program to another airline – and the profits they generate are from active members, so someone flying on their tin, but in another program does not make them as much money.
Yes, this is indeed correct, and confirmed at the following: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/use-points/classic-flight-rewards/tables.html
Am I wrong? I don’t see a downside to this.
If you are happy to redeem points for Economy seats, today’s announcement would be welcome. It is hard to see a downside. However, those looking to redeem for premium seats need to balance the reduction in fees and increased availability with the increase in points required to redeem for these seats.
China Airlines is already a redemption partner so it’s not new. Also the miles required for a Round-the-World redemption has also gone up, but was not mentioned in Qantas’ PR (or in this article).
The purpose of this article was to summarise the changes. As the article stated, we will be providing more comprehensive articles along with our take on them over the coming week.
I think the Round-the-World redemption you are referring to is actually a oneworld Classic Flight Reward redemption, and fits under our comment that there will be an up to 15% increase in Premium cabins on Classic Flight rewards.
Frequent visitor to Australia, from Asia, with gold status currently.
No Australian credit card so no benefit there.
So basically, it’s all just got more expensive and less value as far as I can see.
Classic flight rewards (including oneworld) are going up by up to 15% as stated in ‘The Bad’ section. Business class oneworld redemptions increasing from 280,000 to 318,000 represents an approximate 13.5% increase. Like you said, not totally bad, but it is an increase, yes.
I’ll add a line about oneworld classic redemptions to make it clearer.
Haven’t seen this clarified yet. Thanks!
Unfortunately they will be going up, as detailed here: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/use-points/classic-flight-rewards/tables.html
FF is the most profitable division of the airline, that suggests to me they have the cart before the horse.
These changes will make it more profitable.
As for 70,000 SC for lifetime Platinum, well its possible, but your life expectancy after achieving it would most likely be short.