In a welcome change for frequent flyers, Qantas flight credits can now be redeemed towards multiple new bookings. The new policy took effect on 9 October 2024 and applies to flights booked from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, USA or UK.

Previously, if you received a Qantas travel credit due to changing or cancelling your flight, you’d only be able to use it towards a new booking of the same or higher value.

For example, if you cancelled a $500 ticket from Brisbane to Perth for a credit, and then tried to redeem your credit for a flight from Brisbane to Sydney, Qantas would only show you fares costing at least $500. This was despite the fact there may be $200 airfares available.

This policy had angered some customers, who found it misleading that the flight credit booking portal would show airfares that were higher than those available to customers making new bookings. Some Reddit users even went so far as to label this a “scam”, although that’s not entirely fair because this is exactly how Qantas advertised that these credits would work.

How the new policy works

After cancelling your original Qantas flight for a credit, you’ll still need to pay a change fee when redeeming your credit towards the first new booking using that credit. That fee is currently $99 on Red e-Deal tickets. It was due to increase to $129 on 9 October, but Qantas has delayed this fee increase.

If you don’t use the entire value of the credit towards a new booking, you’ll now be able to use the remaining value towards another booking. You will not need to pay another change fee when using the remaining amount.

This policy applies to Qantas bookings voluntarily changed or cancelled by the customer. Customers with travel credits from flights that Qantas had cancelled could already use those credits towards multiple bookings. That said, if Qantas cancels your flight, you’re also entitled to a full refund.

Qantas previously allowed COVID flight credits to be redeemed for multiple new bookings. But it quietly stopped providing that additional flexibility in October 2021.

Another customer-unfriendly policy reversal from Qantas

This is one of numerous customer-unfriendly policies that Qantas has reversed under the leadership of CEO Vanessa Hudson. Other changes made since Hudson’s appointment last year include that members no longer forfeit their points after dying.

Matt Graham

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 90 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include economics, aviation & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.