Qantas has launched a new Gold Status Fast Track offer exclusively for New Zealand residents.

New Zealanders who currently hold at least the equivalent of Gold status with another eligible airline, including Air New Zealand or Virgin Australia, can take part. With this Qantas Status Fast Track offer, you could upgrade to Qantas Gold membership by earning just 100 status credits within three months.

Key benefits of Qantas Gold status include lounge access, priority boarding, priority check-in and extra baggage allowance when flying Qantas and Oneworld airlines.

How the Qantas Status Fast Track for NZ residents works

If you’re eligible for this limited-time offer and would like to take part, you can express your interest on the Qantas website until 14 January 2025.

To participate, the address listed on your Qantas Frequent Flyer account must be in New Zealand. You also need to currently hold status with one of the following airlines:

• Air Canada Aeroplan (50K or higher)
• Air China Phoenix Miles (Gold or Platinum)
• Air New Zealand Airpoints (Gold or Elite)
• Delta SkyMiles (Gold Medallion or higher)
• Korean Air SKYPASS (Morning Calm Premium or Million Miler)
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (Elite Gold or PPS Club)
• United MileagePlus (Premier Gold or higher)
• Virgin Australia Velocity (Gold or Platinum)

If Qantas approves your request, you’ll receive complimentary Qantas Club membership from 15 January until 15 April 2025.

During that same period, if you earn at least 100 status credits, Qantas will upgrade your tier to Gold. You’ll get to keep that Gold status until at least the end of your following Qantas Frequent Flyer membership year.

This is a great offer as you would normally need to earn at least 700 status credits to upgrade to Qantas Gold status.

See the Qantas website for the full terms & conditions.

How this is different to the regular Qantas Tier Accelerator offer

Qantas has an ongoing (albeit unpublicised) status challenge known as the Qantas Tier Accelerator. If you don’t live in New Zealand, or you currently have status with an airline that’s not on the above list, that’s always an option for you.

However, Qantas’ 2025 Status Fast Track for New Zealand residents is a better offer for a few different reasons:

• You get to enjoy the benefits of Qantas Club membership (including lounge access and extra baggage allowance when flying Qantas) during your challenge period.
• You only need to earn 100 status credits within 3 months, instead of the usual 200 status credits, and these don’t necessarily all need to be from Qantas flights

With the New Zealand offer, most types of status credits contribute towards the goal of 100 status credits. However, status credits earned from a Qantas Loyalty Bonus, Points Club Plus rollover or gift will not count.

The easiest ways to earn 100 Qantas status credits

Our guide to the best Qantas status runs contains some ideas on the most efficient ways to earn status credits.

To give you some more ideas, these are a few possible pathways to earn 100 Qantas status if you live in New Zealand:

• Fly 10 times within New Zealand (i.e. five return trips) on a Jetstar fare with a Flex or Flex Plus bundle
• Fly one-way from New Zealand to Australia in Qantas Business Class, then return to New Zealand on a Qantas Economy Sale ticket
• Fly two return trips from New Zealand to Australia on Qantas Economy Saver tickets
• Fly one return trip from Auckland to New York in any cabin

Other enhancements for Qantas frequent flyers in New Zealand

From 2 December 2024, Everyday Rewards members in New Zealand will also be able to link their Qantas Frequent Flyer accounts and convert their Everyday Rewards points into Qantas points. Australian members can already do this, but this is not yet an option in New Zealand.

Earlier this year, Woolworths supermarkets in New Zealand (formerly Countdown stores) started accepting Australian Everyday Rewards cards.

Qantas Frequent Flyer is also finally removing its NZD60 joining fee for New Zealand residents! This now leaves Aussies as the last remaining suckers people that Qantas is charging a joining fee to. (Luckily, there are lots of ways Australians can avoid paying Qantas Frequent Flyer’s ridiculous $99.50 joining fee!)

Matt Graham

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 90 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include aviation, economics & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.