Major 2025 Qantas Frequent Flyer program changes

[Lynda2475]

If you've received the email, it's on the page that the "Learn More" button takes you to.

But that only mentions Classic Rewards and Upgrades not Oneworld Awards, probably use that as a loophole.

 

[WilsonM]

But that only mentions Classic Rewards and Upgrades not Oneworld Awards, probably use that as a loophole.

Considering partner awards are also increasing (and OWAs are priced at a return Zone 10 award), I'd expect price increases along similar lines

 

[doctorstrangelove]

Unfortunately, the higher prices for Qantas Classic Reward bookings won’t come with a commensurate increase in availability on Qantas’ own flights.

However, from around October this year, Qantas Frequent Flyer will open up Economy and Business Class redemptions across the Hawaiian Airlines network.

I've always wondered how reward seats on partner airlines work. Qantas has been able to secure new rewards seats for its members on Hawaiian Airlines in J & Y and PE on several other airlines. Yet once again it proves to be too difficult for it to make more rewards seats available on its own metal.

Does Qantas pay other OW airlines to offer reward seats to QFF members? Or is there a gentleman's agreement among OWA members to make seats available to each other, with Qantas exploiting the other airlines by offloading the overwhelming demand for reward redemptions from Qantas Frequent Flyer members—due to the abundance of Qantas points in circulation—onto them?

 

[levelnine]

Qantas has been able to secure new rewards seats for its members on Hawaiian Airlines in J & Y and PE on several other airlines. Yet once again it proves to be too difficult for it to make more rewards seats available on its own metal.

The reason for that is simply that Hawaiian was bought by Alaska and is becoming part of oneworld. Qantas hasn't done anything special. They've just benefitted from the fact that oneworld has gotten bigger.

 

[Doctore1003]

So ~200k points plus taxes/fees for CR J to Japan. As others have noted, not a big difference to CR+ when fares go on sale.

 

[offshore171]

No they have specifically stated the increased points earn is only on domestic.

You only said "points earn", not "increased points earn".

 

[flyguy77]

Interesting to note that AFF put in an ACC submission about Qantas back in 2019.

Point One - No Clarity around Carrier Charges (that keep on going up much faster than inflation)
Point Two - No reward seat availability.

https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Australian%20Frequent%20Flyer%20-%20September%202019.pdf

The more things change the more things stay the same.....or something like that right?

 

[MelbFlyer]

Qantas has been able to secure new rewards seats for its members on Hawaiian Airlines in J & Y and PE on several other airlines. Yet once again it proves to be too difficult for it to make more rewards seats available on its own metal.

I concur - I've been looking for CR business seats from MEL to LAX and there's only a handful of seats on QF in business this year, and it's mainly via BNE.

Might be different visibility for a Platinum or Gold member?

 

[Youfah Mizzum]

as someone who only wants to use points to fly J or F long haul, being more generous for Y does not help at all.

And therein lies basic business economics. Make the in-demand product more expensive. No one buying the lesser option? Lets make it cheaper.

 

[moa999]

And devalued depends on pov. If you generate all your points flying F from SYD - LHR then this is an increase.

That's why I described it as more inflation other than the copay increase.

Both burn and earn have inflated, arguably reflecting the growth in the cost of base airfares over this time.

The impact is only really felt in existing points balances within QFF or cc schemes.

And it's definitely not the same impact as recent BA changes.

 

[zsw]

The continually increasing carrier charges are actually very painful and significant in eroding the value of frequent flyer miles. The 10 - 20% increasing in points for most redemptions is probably fair given how long it had been and with inflation, but some of the increases for reward on Qantas metal are obscene (not that is is only Qantas doing this!).

I can fully understand carriers increasing the required co-payment when someone redeems a flight through a different program (ie. Using Velocity Points to redeem a Singapore Airlines flight) to help preserve the benefit for their own members. But when Qantas is looking to charge $1,301 in charges for a J return MEL - DFW that is really starting to get crazy.

I know Qantas isn't alone in this, we've seen Qatar add in a redemption charge, we've seen Velocity yesterday increase the co-payment required for partner redemptions (which can be up to $1,800 return in J to Europe). Emirates of course has their ridiculously high surcharge.

I really want to understand the valid rationale of increasing these charges so much (outside of profit). Of course points devaluations are painful but if people are being forced to pay the equivalent of an economy fare to even start using their points that becomes a very very significant devaluation in terms of $/point for redemptions. From the 6th of August does it really suddenly cost Qantas so much more to provide service to someone making J reward booking to Dallas?

Admittedly, this is mainly hypothetical because the ability to get a J reward booking anywhere worthwhile internationally on Qantas is becoming incredibly difficult.

 

[levelnine]

I really want to understand the valid rationale of increasing these charges so much (outside of profit). Of course points devaluations are painful but if people are being forced to pay the equivalent of an economy fare to even start using their points that becomes a very very significant devaluation in terms of $/point for redemptions. From the 6th of August does it really suddenly cost Qantas so much more to provide service to someone making J reward booking to Dallas?

There is only one rationale — profit.

The aim of the game is to increase profit on reward programs by forcing down points values — from 4+c/point at the upper end for long-haul premium cabin redemptions down to something closer to 2/c point for long-haul premium cabin redemptions. And that's if you can find a classic award seat in the first place. 95+% of Qantas Frequent Flyers will have to content themselves with 1.5c/pt max with Classic+.

 

[drron]

I'm so glad we have 4 times more AA points than QFF points.
BKK-LHR return in F on QR 180,000 points + $A834. Or J 150000 points + $A534.
But using QFF points BNE-BKK return on JQ "J" is 102600 points + $406.

And more changes coming.

 

[Tay]

Qantas has today announced some major changes to its frequent flyer program, which will take effect over the coming year.

This article gives an overview of all of the changes:

Qantas Reveals 2025 Frequent Flyer Program Changes

Qantas Frequent Flyer will raise reward flight and upgrade costs, introduce new redemption options and increase points earn on flights in 2025. We breakdown all of the changes for you...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

There's another thread and article that goes into more detail specifically about the increases to Classic Flight Reward and Classic Upgrade Reward pricing, which will come into effect from 5 August 2025:

Thread 'Qantas Classic Reward & Upgrade Devaluation on 5 August 2025'

Today at 1:01 PM

One aspect of the frequent flyer program changes that Qantas announced today was an increase in Classic Flight Reward, Classic Upgrade Reward and carrier charge prices taking effect from 5 August 2025.

This thread is specifically for discussion about these price increases.

You can read the full details here:

Qantas Devaluing Classic Rewards & Upgrades in August 2025

Qantas is increasing co-payments on reward tickets by as much as 91%, while also increasing Classic Reward and Classic Upgrade Reward prices. Read on to find out exactly what is changing.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

• AFF Editor
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• Replies: 26
• Forum: Qantas | Frequent Flyer

 

[shuuy]

I keep holding on to my AA points too. Africa to Australia on QR F/J for 120k one-way and < $100 in taxes

 

[MelbFlyer]

From the 6th of August does it really suddenly cost Qantas so much more to provide service to someone making J reward booking to Dallas?

Quite obviously not, unless the price of jet fuel all of a sudden goes up by 10x.

It's probably Qantas recouping back the increased cost of other things ie. salaries, partnership costs etc from a number of years.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

The continually increasing carrier charges are actually very painful and significant in eroding the value of frequent flyer miles. The 10 - 20% increasing in points for most redemptions is probably fair given how long it had been and with inflation, but some of the increases for reward on Qantas metal are obscene (not that is is only Qantas doing this!).

I can fully understand carriers increasing the required co-payment when someone redeems a flight through a different program (ie. Using Velocity Points to redeem a Singapore Airlines flight) to help preserve the benefit for their own members. But when Qantas is looking to charge $1,301 in charges for a J return MEL - DFW that is really starting to get crazy.

I know Qantas isn't alone in this, we've seen Qatar add in a redemption charge, we've seen Velocity yesterday increase the co-payment required for partner redemptions (which can be up to $1,800 return in J to Europe). Emirates of course has their ridiculously high surcharge.

I really want to understand the valid rationale of increasing these charges so much (outside of profit). Of course points devaluations are painful but if people are being forced to pay the equivalent of an economy fare to even start using their points that becomes a very very significant devaluation in terms of $/point for redemptions. From the 6th of August does it really suddenly cost Qantas so much more to provide service to someone making J reward booking to Dallas?

Admittedly, this is mainly hypothetical because the ability to get a J reward booking anywhere worthwhile internationally on Qantas is becoming incredibly difficult.

The simple answer is:

Premium cabins have record high demand, globally.
The cost to fly premium cabins, especially in/out of AUS, is priced at a premium. Let's call it the Australia tax.

So if you're running a for-profit airline in arguably one of the most expensive countries on earth to live, where there is unlimited demand and unlimited money to pay for your premium product --- why the heck would you want to sell it for less than you can get? (ie: sell for low points vs new cash).

The longer answer has loyalty/behavioural economics mixed in, but the reality is that economists run Qantas. Not marketers.

Spend the points.
Never save long term.

 

[ANstar]

They also have a $60m cost per year to plug the gap in the cabin crew same pay same job agreement - that had to come from somewhere. Ie you cant just keep adding cost and not increase your prices.

 

[Lynda2475]

The main positive is that the changes disadvantage frequent flyers (those with status) slightly less than NBs.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The continually increasing carrier charges are actually very painful and significant in eroding the value of frequent flyer miles. The 10 - 20% increasing in points for most redemptions is probably fair given how long it had been and with inflation, but some of the increases for reward on Qantas metal are obscene (not that is is only Qantas doing this!).

…

i’m not sure it is ‘fair’?

Inflation has already been captured through higher airfares. But we still get the *same* points.

We haven’t had points earning increased in line with the fare.

So this is double inflation. Pay more for the fare. Pay more for award. But only earn slightly more points.