Qantas' math when calculating points for a flight

cjackson

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Does anyone understand Qantas' math for calculating the points awarded by status. Following their points calculator at https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/calculators.html If i put in SYD-LHR return for a Discount Business fare it says Bronze FF would be awarded 18,600 points. Platinum FF have a 100% uplift, but the calculation shows 31,000 points (i.e. not two times 18,600). What am I missing here ?
thank you :)
 
Does anyone understand Qantas' math for calculating the points awarded by status. Following their points calculator at https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/calculators.html If i put in SYD-LHR return for a Discount Business fare it says Bronze FF would be awarded 18,600 points. Platinum FF have a 100% uplift, but the calculation shows 31,000 points (i.e. not two times 18,600). What am I missing here ?
thank you :)
Qantas don't award status bonus in that manner these days.

If in business class, they use flex economy points as the base for the bonus calculation

"Simpler and Fairer™ "

 
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you may be right, but the attached screen shots show why I am confused: both discount economy SYD-LHR return, one for Bronze, one chaging the 'results for' to Platinum. View attachment 440598 18,600View attachment 440599
There is no need to be confused. I rarely use the calculator as at times it is inaccurate, although not in this case.

Base earn is 18,600.

Status bonus for a Platinum is 12,400 being 100% of the base earn for Flex economy on the route.
 
I really can't say. I only noticed this after the advent of simpler and fairer.

I found the ET S&F article.

Yes, as I thought, it has always been this way. It used to be a cabin bonus on the base points, S&F brought in different amounts of base points for each fare type.

Cabin bonus turfed, status bonus tweaked

Travellers will still earn extra points if they're sitting in a 'premium' cabin – this covers premium economy, business and first class – and also depending on their Qantas Frequent Flyer status.

However, the new scheme does away with the current and confusing 'cabin bonus' in favour of an increased baseline of points for those better-than-economy cabins.

Bottom line: you'll start with more points in your pocket.


 
Qantas don't award status bonus in that manner these days.

If in business class, they use flex economy points as the base for the bonus calculation

"Simpler and Fairer™ "

The flexible economy cap for status bonus will be removed in July 2025
Then more points will be given for the higher classes. Examples shown on the fact sheet
 
you may be right, but the attached screen shots show why I am confused: both discount economy SYD-LHR return, one for Bronze, one chaging the 'results for' to Platinum. View attachment 440598View attachment 440599

a) You mean discount business, not discount economy
b) adds up for me, comparing against the earn tables (https://www.qantas.com/au/en/freque...tables/qantas-and-jetstar-earning-tables.html)
- Discount business 18600 + 280SC - matches your bronze figure
- Flexible economy (for WP status bonus) - 12400
- Total 18600 + 12400 = 31000 (plus the 280SC) - matches your platinum figure

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/status-and-clubs/status/platinum.html
** The Status Bonus is applied to the actual Qantas Points earned when travelling in the Economy cabin. For travel in premium cabins, the Status Bonus is applied to the Flexible Economy earn rate.
 
I can see where the confusion can arise.

Someone may want to tell QF to revise its various pages on the website which advertise the Status Bonus for elite members. For example, on the page https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/status-and-clubs/status/platinum.html, it says

Earn 100% more Qantas Points on Qantas group and American Airlines flights​

In recognition of your status, you earn 100% more points than Bronze members on eligible flights* with Qantas, Jetstar and American Airlines.**

...which clearly is not correct (at least, not all of the time).
 
I can see where the confusion can arise.

Someone may want to tell QF to revise its various pages on the website which advertise the Status Bonus for elite members. For example, on the page https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/status-and-clubs/status/platinum.html, it says


...which clearly is not correct (at least, not all of the time).

See those two asterisks? That leads to this:

** The Status Bonus is applied to the actual Qantas Points earned when travelling in the Economy cabin. For travel in premium cabins, the Status Bonus is applied to the Flexible Economy earn rate.

Always read the fine print!
 
I found the ET S&F article.

Yes, as I thought, it has always been this way. It used to be a cabin bonus on the base points, S&F brought in different amounts of base points for each fare type.

Cabin bonus turfed, status bonus tweaked

Travellers will still earn extra points if they're sitting in a 'premium' cabin – this covers premium economy, business and first class – and also depending on their Qantas Frequent Flyer status.

However, the new scheme does away with the current and confusing 'cabin bonus' in favour of an increased baseline of points for those better-than-economy cabins.

Bottom line: you'll start with more points in your pocket.


Yes, this varied bonus was introduced with S&F.

The status bonus was introduced in September 2001 when at the same time they went from points per Km to points per mile.
 
Yes, this varied bonus was introduced with S&F.

The status bonus was introduced in September 2001 when at the same time they went from points per Km to points per mile.

My point being at no point in history has QF had a status bonus that was stacked with a cabin bonus (although since S&F at least you got it based on Flex Y and not discount Y).

Just correcting your initial post:
Qantas don't award status bonus in that manner these days.

It never has.
 
See those two asterisks? That leads to this:

** The Status Bonus is applied to the actual Qantas Points earned when travelling in the Economy cabin. For travel in premium cabins, the Status Bonus is applied to the Flexible Economy earn rate.

Always read the fine print!
Why not do themselves a favour and just say "Earn up to 100% more points compared to a Bronze member"?

Of course, after Jul 2025, that might all change.
 

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