Qantas rolls out Classic Plus Flight Rewards

[CaptJCool]

So this is not a good addition in any way at all?

I do think it’s a good addition as long as CRs remain forever and a day and because there will be some sweet spots that those in the know can utilise

good for whom?



The extra Profit looks amazing

The risk is people will “stay invested” to reach the pinnacle and after having done the Once in a Lifetime rewards trip, depart for another adventure on a cheaper airline. That said, if it’s only ever once in a lifetime QF will have maximised its potential PCV from that particular customer.

I do think they could have thrown in the SCs carrot but that’s another question

 

[RooFlyer]

Genuinely surprised that no other changes/'enhancements' have been bundled in with this change. Or am I just being cynical...

The negatives (such as increased seat costs) have been dribbled out already, without 'fanfare'

How? It's not taking anything away at all. It's giving a much needed new option. CR are still there and haven't changed.
Ohh the enhancement thing again....

CRs are still there - but for how long? It's just a matter of time and restricting CR availability for Qantas to 'train' people that CR+ is the norm so CRs can slowly be put down. 18-24 months.

 

[Doctore1003]

It's based on available fare classes, not based on anything else. So as soon as the lower fare classes go, then CR+ will also go.

Are you saying any seat will be available to book as CR+?

Because that’s not what Qantas is saying.

Eg Hudson today: CR+ “will add four times the amount of access to seats than Classic Rewards” - a reference to the 20 million v 5 million CR I assume. So CR+ numbers are limited.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I was sceptical of the changes (enhancements), but have benefited this morning by booking QF return business class seats to DFW from SYD leaving Dec 20 and returning Jan 14.

I know that these seats weren't available yesterday.

I would have preferred to go to NYC, but flights not available.

 

[elanshin]

The negatives (such as increased seat costs) have been dribbled out already, without 'fanfare'



CRs are still there - but for how long? It's just a matter of time and restricting CR availability for Qantas to 'train' people that CR+ is the norm so CRs can slowly be put down. 18-24 months.

I don't think QF can actually get rid of CR inventory or else risk OW partner issues. If CR+ books into partner then theyg effectively shoot themselves in the foot as people will look to move away from QF to buy QF stock on say AA or BA.

 

[TheInsider]

Are you saying any seat will be available to book as CR+?

Because that’s not what Qantas is saying.

No I didn't say that. I said the CR+ availablility is based on certain fare classes being available.
Read the other responses below that.

 

[stm1sydney]

To be fair, you can't expect every single seat on the flight to be priced at a CR price.

These J fares SYD-JFK one-way are around $11000. I personally think the higher points price is better value than paying $11000 cash.

Yeah, I'm not sure that defending QF's massive points inflation by comparing it to QF's skyhigh cash fares is a valid argument.

 

[OATEK]

Yeah, I'm not sure that defending QF's massive points inflation by comparing it to QF's skyhigh cash fares is a valid argument.

It is entirely valid for someone to see that that CR+ has better value for them than $Cash.

Perhaps what you mean is that CR+ is substantially higher than CR, and that the difference will (nearly) always be variable across different routes on different dates etc.

For those suggesting CRs will be gone in a year or two, it will be interesting to check EF as we go along.

 

[33kft]

It seems pretty self evident to me that if QF intended in the short term to reduce CR inventory, they would not have stated the number of annual CR seats on the slides for today's event.

 

[Damian W]

Looks like a bulk release of classic rewards has dumped as well. Just booked LAX to SYD in October in J x 2.

Trying to do this but the Qantas website is struggling.

 

[RooFlyer]

It seems pretty self evident to me that if QF intended in the short term to reduce CR inventory, they would not have stated the number of annual CR seats on the slides for today's event.

As you imply in 'short term', nothing is forever. Even if they retained 5 mill CR seats - is the mix of QF Vs partner, premium routes V others fixed? Don't think so. Yes, I'm a cynical old coot, but I've been seeing how Qantas operates for decades and its not getting better.

2026:
"Our customers have embraced CR+ beyond our expectations. The use of [hard to find] CRs have declined, so we have listened to our customers and are phasing out CRs and converting them to CR+s, which have much greater availability."

 

[Damian W]

2026:
"Our customers have embraced CR+ beyond our expectations. The use of [hard to find] CRs have declined, so we have listened to our customers and are phasing out CRs and converting them to CR+s, which have much greater availability."

This wouldn't surprise me at all, sadly.

I still feel that availability of normal Classic Reward seats has declined significantly over the last 12 - 18 months. We know more people are flying and more people have excess points, but it's been near-impossible to score anything decent.

 

[equus]

is the mix of QF Vs partner, premium routes V others fixed? Don't think so.

On the same cynical note, and considering also the mix between domestic and international. Is the 5 million number the count of what is redeemed, or what is made available? The number of available could be vastly increased if every unsold domestic economy seat was made available as X class 31 minutes before departure. Lots and lots of available reward seats to report, but not many of them getting redeemed for some reason (another reason to ditch CR - so many don't get used, no-one wants them )

 

[elanshin]

This wouldn't surprise me at all, sadly.

I still feel that availability of normal Classic Reward seats has declined significantly over the last 12 - 18 months. We know more people are flying and more people have excess points, but it's been near-impossible to score anything decent.

Whats been happening is that they get bulk dropped then sucked up immediately, leaving a big dry patch and then on a day like today get another drop. But if you miss out todays batch you'll see another big dry patch for months at a time.

So its perceived there's a lot less supply because its not trickled in. The last big drop most of AFF was all happy getting all the Jul-Sep tickets to Europe and NA.

 

[downgraded]

This wouldn't surprise me at all, sadly.

I still feel that availability of normal Classic Reward seats has declined significantly over the last 12 - 18 months. We know more people are flying and more people have excess points, but it's been near-impossible to score anything decent.

Especially with the QF UI. I was just looking to see what's available. I ask for J rewards and it gives me Y. I ask for PE $ fares mel-lhr and it gives me 737 mel-per after a bunch of A330 to SIN.

Does the ribbon tell you what class of CR is available or does it always just show from Y rates even if you ask for J?

And I can't find any filter to turn off CR+ when I'm looking for CR only.

 

[elanshin]

Especially with the QF UI. I was just looking to see what's available. I ask for J rewards and it gives me Y. I ask for PE $ fares mel-lhr and it gives me 737 mel-per after a bunch of A330 to SIN.

Does the ribbon tell you what class of CR is available or does it always just show from Y rates even if you ask for J?

And I can't find any filter to turn off CR+ when I'm looking for CR only.

You could never only search for J. It always shows all in the main booking page. This is why it's always recommend to use the multi city tool even if you're not going to multi cities as it does show the coloured ribbons for different classes.

 

[levelnine]

So exactly as predicted (incl the big drop of Classic award seats) and, contrary to TheInsider, no big surprises or further announcements.

A Qantas announcement through and through.

 

[smckay]

Seems to be more AA reward seats available at the moment. Searching SYD-LHR return Jan-Feb 2025 has some good J seats going.

 

[levelnine]

Seems to be more AA reward seats available at the moment. Searching SYD-LHR return Jan-Feb 2025 has some good J seats going.

None of them are on Qantas.

 

[smckay]

None of them are on Qantas.

I saw QF11/12 and AA LAX/LHR legs. I'd probably take that combo if I had a need to be in the UK then. Which I don't.