Major 2025 Qantas Frequent Flyer program changes

[Zac_AU]

Not if you spend it all before 5 August (bookings up till ~July 2026)

Easier said than done. I've noticed that (shockingly) since classic plus was introduced classic reward availability has mysteriously dried up on the international routes I normally fly.

 

[Himeno]

So this is just changes to points required for some awards and some increased point earn?

 

[am0985]

In a way I look at it as earning points on the ground becomes easier as the cost of things increase (inflation etc). So the devaluation is just resetting the costs to take into account that inflation. Hence why they are giving you more points for actually flying - cost of airfares gone up so more points.

Doesn't mean it doesn't suck though.

Depends on how they're earned. Bonuses (not just for credit cards) are nowhere near as good as they were a few years ago.

 

[exLXCXFF]

Easier said than done. I've noticed that (shockingly) since classic plus was introduced classic reward availability has mysteriously dried up on the international routes I normally fly.

There was a post on LinkedIn the other day from Steve Hui talking through this in detail for 2025. Was shocking (but not surprising) to read!

 

[encryptededdy]

So this is just changes to points required for some awards and some increased point earn?

Increase in Carrier Charges (at least on QF operated flights) on awards too.

 

[sevenfourtyseven]

A drop in CR's today to coincide with this 'enhancement' would have balanced it out a little.

 

[Himeno]

I've never booked a reward flight. Only ever used points to reduce cash payment of flights/hotel bookings. (yes I know some people say that's a bad idea, it works for me)

 

[DejaBrew]

Ahem.. ENHANCEMENT! they even said so.

Must be true then

 

[Brucetiki]

2019 (in terms of classic award changes)

And prior to that it was 2004 I believe.

 

[Doctore1003]

“Although Qantas has not announced any changes to status credits or tier benefits today, we understand that more changes to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program could be on the way later in 2025.”
Come on @Matt Graham , give us a little more!

 

[LondonAussie]

It's another good reminder that hoarding points always carries risk.

I’m not trying to hoard them, I just never found availability and on the rare occasions I found something it didn’t seem good value with all the carrier charges on top. Will be even less value now though!

 

[am0985]

I've found some joy booking Classic flight rewards in Emirates First with QF points in recent years. So it is a bit of a kick in the teeth that they'll both be equalised with QF rewards which in turn will go up by 20% too. Maybe 250k points from Europe to Australia in first now?

Carrier charges with EK mean that there's really no point in booking their awards unless it's in First.

 

[Berlin]

So all the “good news” is about Deathstar and Economy yadda yadda while the real prize, Business and First rewards seats, get more expensive (while hardly available anyway).

Glad I used all my points on EK First while I still could. This program gets worse and worse. Sad.

 

[levelnine]

“Although Qantas has not announced any changes to status credits or tier benefits today, we understand that more changes to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program could be on the way later in 2025.”
Come on @Matt Graham , give us a little more!

BA had an annus horribilis last year. Wonder if 2025 is Qantas' turn.

 

[sydney slug]

Not if you spend it all before 5 August (bookings up till ~July 2026)

The real devaluation has been lack of seat availability over the past few years. 20% price rise since 2019 with 7 months to beat it is not that bad, equates to around 2.6% annual inflation.

All that said I am return to London with Sri Lankan in J using points in April. People should just be prepared to do a little work to harvest seats where they can find them.

 

[levelnine]

The real devaluation has been lack of seat availability over the past few years. 20% price rise since 2019 with 7 months to beat it is not that bad, equates to around 2.6% annual inflation.

It is funny having an article with classic award prices like business class on Qantas to London when that, for all but P1, practically no longer exists as a redemption option.

 

[Pushka]

The fees on a return Australia to Europe EK rewards flight have been $4K for some time now.

Yes. But was talked about last night.

 

[33kft]

I know how excited the AFF doom squad got when they saw that subject line

The world hasn't ended, yet....

 

[levelnine]

FYI, for those smart enough to have a US Amex, it is now cheaper to buy paid fares on Qantas (using the Business Platinum rebate) than it is to redeem Qantas points for classic awards.

 

[SeatBackForward]

That cursed airline thing that Qantas has to operate, getting in the way of its banking ambitions.