Qantas double status credits: Register & book between 12-18 March 2025

An update on my situation. I got a bit spooked by all the talk of AEDST vs UTC. So, I contacted the QF team and they informed me that the flights that I booked after midnight AEDST but before midnight UTC were INeligible. (This is despite this not being the case for the last DSC sale as I was credited for those.)
So, I've since cancelled so those bookings (copping any fees) and re-booked them later in the day. I hope that this provides some clarity (and doesn't add to the confusion).

Also, I read in the replies that if you make a change to a booking, the DSC may not count - I may play it safe and not make any placeholder bookings.

Did all my flight research when DSC offer was announced at midnight, but due to warning re not booking until 11am (12am UTC) result has been the outbound flight went up by $313 as others snapped the best fares.

Waiting was bad advice imo and in future I would not wait again, given email says from midnight AEDT I think Qantas would have honored the DSC without issue.

Very happy with return flight CHC - MEL - OOL in Business $2.5/SC the kiwis definitely get a lot better pricing than us Aussies. Just unhappy with how expensive the outbounds now are.
All my bookings over the last few years for DSC have been made well before 1100 AEDST on the first day of the promo and the double credits came through within two days of travel. If they don't then iproviding the booking details/boarding passes to prove the travel etc to QF will see the double credits come through(albeit eventually).

Your bookings will acquire the DSCs provided they are eligible (which they seem to be on the info provided) it may take providing evidence to Qantas if not given automatically.
Went through and checked the difference in T&C's between 2024 and 2025.

If anyone wants to read, I have highlighted the new terms in yellow that appear in 2025 but not in 2024.

Still trying to process what it all means..
There is a weird school of thought around here that somehow Qantas set up the start time based on midnight UTC (not Midnight Sydney) but some how manage to set the end time based on Sydney and not UTC.

It defines logic. But sure play it safe.

For example:

Really? so I can book flight based on UTC at the end of the booking period and still get DSC?

Your reasoning is illogical.
It’s not illogical at all. QANTAS uses an airline booking system used globally and the default timezone for many computer systems is UTC.

Setting up a promo to use AEDT would take a little extra work. Maybe QF now does that, but if they haven’t and it still runs on UTC then bookings made just after the end of the promo dates might get DSC, but I would never risk it and you wouldn’t have a leg to stand on challenging not getting DSC for such a booking.

Whilst I do have WP, I would prefer not to have to chase missing DSCs so I like to book after midnight UTC on the opening day of the promo and also avoid booking too close to the end of the promo as well.
The problem was, at least in the early days of DSC promotions, that most bookings made before midnight UTC on the day the promotion was advertised in Australia did not automatically credit and sometimes painful follow-up with Qantas customer service was required.
 
An update on my situation. I got a bit spooked by all the talk of AEDST vs UTC. So, I contacted the QF team and they informed me that the flights that I booked after midnight AEDST but before midnight UTC were INeligible. (This is despite this not being the case for the last DSC sale as I was credited for those.)
So, I've since cancelled so those bookings (copping any fees) and re-booked them later in the day. I hope that this provides some clarity (and doesn't add to the confusion).

Also, I read in the replies that if you make a change to a booking, the DSC may not count - I may play it safe and not make any placeholder bookings.

There is zero chance that is correct:-

Qantas Frequent Flyer members who register and make a new eligible flight booking between 12.01am (AEDT) Wednesday 12 March 2025 and 11.59pm (AEDT) Tuesday 18 March 2025 for travel between 19 March 2025 and 24 February 2026, will have a choice of either one (1) of two (2) available rewards

It might well be the case that the Qantas system doesn't automatically credit the extra points for bookings made between 12.01am and 11.00am (AEDT) Wednesday 12 March 2025 and it requires manual intervention but there is no way that they are ineligible for this campaign. It would be a breach of their own terms and conditions and I'm guessing consumer law.
 
After a recent slip down to silver, I am 140 SC off SG by end of April, so booked in a trip MEL-HBA-MEL in J to net 160 SC and get me over the line. Circa $1090 return. Just enough to get me over the line. As an aside, I have a J upgrade request for some travel later this year MEL-PER-FCO and back, requested as silver. Does anyone know if the upgrade system will recognise my status at the time of processing the upgrade (which should be SG), or back from when I was silver at the time of making the request?
 
Which of your 3 points do you think does this? I can't see it.
I don't see it either ... I have listed my understanding below ...
Key Red Flag/Takeaway is this:
  1. "All bookings must be new to be eligible. Any new segments added to an existing PNR during the promotional period will not be eligible."
  2. "If you cancel your initial qualifying booking or change it to be outside the promotional period, the double Qantas Points or double Status Credits offer will not apply."
  3. "Bookings made using flight credits issued prior to 12 March 2025 are eligible for this offer. Flight credits issued on or after 12 March 2025 will not be eligible for this offer."
So changes to the existing PNR (flight club rules) might not be allowed this year around(?) I hope I am wrong on this.
So, this is how I interpret the above 3 points;
"All bookings must be new to be eligible. Any new segments added to an existing PNR during the promotional period will not be eligible."
To me, this means that if a booking had been made/finalised/paid/completed prior to 0000h AEDT, 12MAR25 and if new segment(s) is/are added to this existing booking during the promo period (0000h AEDT 12MAR25 to 2359h AEDT 18MAR25) then this booking is not eligible for the promo benefits. Once the booking is completed, it is no longer a *new* booking, and hence QF wording that "all bookings must be new to be eligible".

"If you cancel your initial qualifying booking or change it to be outside the promotional period, the double Qantas Points or double Status Credits offer will not apply."
The cancel bit is straightforward - booking is cancelled and hence no benefits apply

The change bit - the word "it to be" seem to misleading/confusing.

The way I interpret is, if *any*change is made to the qualifying booking and if ;

1. That change is a *date change* that is outside of the travel range for the promo, then benefits won't apply. Meaning, the travel period for this promo is 19MAR25 to 24FEB26, so if the *change* done to an existing qualifying booking and if that *change* is that the date of travel is beyond 24FEB26, then benefits won't apply. Same-sies for preponing travel date to be before 19MAR25.

2. The wording "it to be" could also mean any *change* that is considered *ineligible change* for the purposes of this promo. For instance, changing an existing qualifying PNR to fly on an aircraft that is not QF (e.g. SYD-AKL on LA metal with QF# when original eligible booking was SYD-AKL on QF metal, QF#)

3. There could be more *changes* that are referred to by "it to be" - but this is what I can think of.

Edit: 4. Noting that all changes discussed above are passenger initiated, not airline initiated. For airline initiated changes, pax can get full refund/flight credit/ORC (and DSC) based on their individual circumstances.

"Bookings made using flight credits issued prior to 12 March 2025 are eligible for this offer. Flight credits issued on or after 12 March 2025 will not be eligible for this offer."
I never understood the concept of flight credits - so I'm not even going to attempt to provide my thoughts here.
 
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If I change my origin eg from Sydney to Auckland, AND the dates which remain within the promo period, will that void the DSC offer? I booked from Sydney during the last promo but yet to fly it.

It makes more sense to me now to book ex-NZ departures, I'll need to change the dates later outside the original booking period though as they're not confirmed but as long as it's within the promo period that should be fine right?

Can I add on a segment at a later date but within the promo period?
 
If I change my origin eg from Sydney to Auckland, AND the dates which remain within the promo period, will that void the DSC offer? I booked from Sydney during the last promo but yet to fly it.

It makes more sense to me now to book ex-NZ departures, I'll need to change the dates later outside the original booking period though as they're not confirmed but as long as it's within the promo period that should be fine right?

Can I add on a segment at a later date but within the promo period?
Yes, you can change departure port from SYD to AKL and as long as the travel dates are within the travel period of the promo (noting that the booking you made was part of the previous promo, which is I think 19OCT25).

re: adding a segment at a later date - yes that will also work - as long as the travel date for that newly added segment is also within the travel period of that promo.
 
I never understood the concept of flight credits - so I'm not even going to attempt to provide my thoughts here.
That’s the crux of that clause. Some changes effectively go via a “credit” process and are reticketed (same PNR). There is a DIY process or you can call up.

If you make an eligible DSC booking and later need to make a change to something that was otherwise still eligible for DSC but you go via the credit route, the new clause implies that it’s ok to change within the DSC booking window but will no longer be eligible if the change is made outside the booking window, even if the travel dates are ok (and the other criteria).
 
That’s the crux of that clause. Some changes effectively go via a “credit” process and are reticketed (same PNR). There is a DIY process or you can call up.
Thank you @SYD - Now that I understand it ... (thanks to @DejaBrew for the side bar chat as well)

If you make an eligible DSC booking and later need to make a change to something that was otherwise still eligible for DSC but you go via the credit route, the new clause implies that it’s ok to change within the DSC booking window but will no longer be eligible if the change is made outside the booking window, even if the travel dates are ok (and the other criteria).
ah!! come on QF!!
 
Here is my interpretation of the revised T&C - happy to be convinced otherwise!

All bookings must be new to be eligible.

This might be interpreted to mean a you must make a new booking with a new PNR. However, see below where they say you can use a flight credit issued before 12 March - presumable this might retain an old PNR.

Any new segments added to an existing PNR during the promotional period will not be eligible. Existing PNR for the purpose of this promotion means a PNR booked before 12 March 2025.


This means that if you had an existing booking (PNR) prior to 12 March 25 and changed or added segments during the promotional period (19 March 2025 -2 4 February 2026) they will not be eligible.

Although not defined, 'Promotional period' appears to be between 19 March 2025 and 24 February 2026, and 'Offer period' is 12-18 March 2025 (also called 'Booking window').


Bookings made using flight credits issued prior to 12 March 2025 are eligible for this offer.

You can use your flight credits issued before 12 March 2025 to make a new booking which will be eligible.

Flight credits issued on or after 12 March 2025 will not be eligible for this offer.

You won't be eligible if you make a booking during the offer period and then cancel or change for flight credit, whether you're issued the flight credit within the Offer Period or within the Promotional Period.

For example, I book today ADL-SYD for travel on 30 October 2025, and then change it on 30 June 2025 to rebook ADL - BNE on 30 October 2025, it will not be eligible for DSC. However, if I just changed the date of ADL-SYD I would be OK as no flight credit involved?

Also, even if I made a new booking today and changed it during the offer period 12-18 March for a flight credit, the flight credit would not be eligible.


Bookings made using eligible flight credits must be made during the booking of window 12 March 2025 to 18 March 2025.

Eligible flight credits are defined above as 'flight credits issued prior to 12 March 2025' and must be used for bookings during the Offer Period (12 - 18 March 25) which they call the 'booking window' here.

Any bookings made using flight credits outside of this window will not be eligible.

Any booking made with eligible flight credits outside the Offer Period (12 - 18 March 2025) will not be eligible. Eligible flight credits are 'flight credits issued prior to 12 March 2025'

Combining this with Flight credits issued on or after 12 March 2025 will not be eligible for this offer, it just reinforces that you cannot get DSC if you change your route after making an otherwise eligible booking during the Offer Period if this involves issuing a flight credit.
 
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That’s the crux of that clause. Some changes effectively go via a “credit” process and are reticketed (same PNR). There is a DIY process or you can call up.

If you make an eligible DSC booking and later need to make a change to something that was otherwise still eligible for DSC but you go via the credit route, the new clause implies that it’s ok to change within the DSC booking window but will no longer be eligible if the change is made outside the booking window, even if the travel dates are ok (and the other criteria).
Sorry I am just ever more confused now 😳
Are you saying that if i need to change in 3 months (non eligible new booking date) a booking I made now (eligible booking date) but still in the eligible travelling period, the DSC will not apply?
Not clear in the T&C.
 
@Dutton
Thanks for clarifying. And yes that is this part that is very confusing:

Flight credits issued on or after 12 March 2025 will not be eligible for this offer.

You won't be eligible if you make a booking during the offer period and then cancel or change for flight credit, whether you're issued the flight credit within the Offer Period or within the Promotional Period.

For example, I book today ADL-SYD for travel on 30 October 2025, and then change it on 30 June 2025 to rebook ADL - BNE on 30 October 2025, it will not be eligible for DSC. However, if I just changed the date of ADL-SYD I would be OK as no flight credit involved?

Also, even if I made a new booking today and changed it during the offer period 12-18 March for a flight credit, the flight credit would not be eligible.
 

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