Everyone starts out as a Bronze member when joining the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. However, you can upgrade to Silver, Gold, Platinum or Platinum One by earning status credits and flying eligible sectors. This allows you to enjoy the many extra benefits that come with the higher status levels.

Gold is the mid-point within Qantas Frequent Flyer’s status tiers, sitting above Bronze and Silver. As such, you can expect an increased level of perks compared to Qantas Silver status.

As a Qantas Gold member, you’ll also automatically receive Oneworld Sapphire membership which is recognised by all other members of the Oneworld alliance.

Qantas Gold status benefits

Qantas Gold status holders are able to access various substantial benefits when flying with Qantas, Oneworld and other partner airlines. Here are the main perks…

Lounge access

Lounge access is possibly the most lucrative benefit of Qantas Gold status. When flying domestically in Economy on Qantas or Jetstar, you can access the Qantas Club with an accompanying adult and up to two children who are also flying on the same day.

Flying internationally is where Qantas Gold really shines. With Qantas and its partner airlines you can access over 600 lounges worldwide.

You can hop into a Qantas International Business Lounge when flying with Qantas or Jetstar overseas. Additionally, thanks to the complimentary Oneworld Sapphire status, travelling on a Oneworld airline will make you eligible for almost all Business Class lounges operated by a Oneworld airline, even if it’s different from the airline you’re flying. You are also able to bring a guest and children into the lounge.

For example, you could access the Qantas Hong Kong Lounge as a Qantas Gold member when flying on Cathay Pacific or British Airways.

Your Gold membership card also gets you access to the lounges of Qantas’ non-Oneworld partners, although only in some circumstances. With the exception of Emirates, China Eastern and El Al, you will need to be flying on a Qantas codeshare (a “QF” flight number) to be eligible.

For example, when flying Qantas out of Singapore, Qantas Gold members can access the Emirates Lounge. That’s in addition to the Qantas and British Airways lounges in Singapore.

You can even use American Airlines lounges on arrival when flying in the States.

A full breakdown of access and guest rules for partner lounges can be found on the Qantas website.

Priority check-in and boarding

Passengers with Qantas Gold status are eligible to use the Business Class check-in desks when travelling anytime on Qantas, Emirates, Air France, KLM and Oneworld partner airlines. Also, you can access priority check-in desks when flying China Eastern between Australia and China, and on domestic China Eastern flights.

Similarly, Qantas Gold members are able to access priority boarding lanes on the above mentioned airlines. Although Qantas historically has a mediocre track record with providing this benefit, the upcoming introduction of boarding groups may change this.

Baggage benefits

As a Qantas Gold member, you are eligible for priority baggage when flying on Qantas or Oneworld airlines, except on British Airways.

Also, Gold tier members receive the following checked baggage allowance on Qantas flights:

• 2x 32kg checked bags on domestic flights, except on QantasLink Dash 8 services
• Extra 16kg of total baggage allowance on international flights (except to/from the Americas)
• 3x 32kg checked bags on international flights to/from the Americas

Qantas Gold status also gives additional checked baggage allowances when flying with Oneworld airlines, Emirates, Air France and KLM.

If you are flying a route which uses a weight system (i.e. not to or from the Americas), you will receive an extra 15kg on Oneworld airlines, or an extra 16kg on Emirates, Air France and KLM. There is an exception for hand-luggage only fares on British Airways which do not include a complimentary extra baggage allowance.

If you’re travelling with a piece system (to/from the Americas), then you are eligible for an extra bag on top of your allowance. This includes on Basic Economy fares offered by Alaska and American Airlines.

Bonus points

On flights with Qantas, American Airlines and Jetstar, you will earn 75% extra Qantas points compared to Bronze members. However, the minimum points guarantee means short Economy Red e-Deal flights under 750 miles (e.g. Sydney-Melbourne) won’t earn any extra bonus points.

Also, if you’re flying in premium cabins you’ll only earn bonus points at the Flexible Economy rate, rather than the higher Premium Economy, Business or First rates.

Greater access to Classic Flight Rewards and upgrades

Gold tier holders are able to access Classic Reward seats in premium cabins on long-haul Qantas international flights earlier than Bronze and Silver members, up to 353 days prior to departure. Bronze members can only access these seats up to 297 before departure, while Silver members get access 323 days prior.

For example, if a Qantas Gold member searched for Classic Flight Reward seats in early August 2023, they would have seen this Business Class reward available on QF127 for travel in June 2024:

However, when logged in as a Bronze member, the seat on the same flight is not available as a Classic Reward:

Qantas Gold members are able to access a greater number of Qantas-operated Classic Reward and Classic Upgrade Reward seats than Bronze and Silver members. For Classic Upgrade Rewards, they receive higher priority than lower tiers, but are still behind Platinum and Platinum One members.

Unfortunately, Qantas has reduced the predictability of reward seat releases, preferring large batch releases like the reward seat release in February 2023. This makes it harder for Gold members to take advantage of their priority release times, especially on high-demand routes such as to North America.

Preferred and complimentary seating

On Qantas flights, Gold members can pre-select seats closer to the front of the plane, including row 2 in Business Class and up to row 9 in Economy Class on Qantas Boeing 737s.

Additionally, thanks to Oneworld Sapphire status, you can access a variety of preferred seating benefits when flying Oneworld airlines:

Qantas Gold members flying on eligible Emirates, Air France and KLM flights can also access complimentary seat selection, including preferred seats.

Some exit row and preferred seats on airlines such as Cathay Pacific can cost over $200, saving you a large amount of cash. Also, there are more benefits to getting a preferred seat!

Accor Live Limitless partnership

Qantas Gold members can “double-dip” when staying at eligible Accor hotels, or taking eligible Qantas flights, thanks to the Accor Live Limitless (ALL) – Qantas partnership.

Qantas members who link their Qantas and ALL accounts can earn 3 Qantas points per $1 when staying in Accor hotels in Asia Pacific. Also, Gold members can earn 1 ALL point per $2 spent on Qantas flights.

Furthermore, Qantas Gold members are eligible for a status fast track to ALL Silver status after completing one eligible stay. ALL Silver members receive a welcome drink, priority check-in and a late checkout.

Other benefits

There are numerous other benefits with Qantas Gold Status, as shown in the table below:

How to earn Qantas Gold status

To earn Qantas status, you’ll need to earn status credits and take at least 4 Qantas or Jetstar flights during your personal Qantas Frequent Flyer membership year.

Earning Qantas Gold status

Each membership year, you must fly at least four eligible Qantas or Jetstar flight sectors to attain Qantas Gold status. You must also accumulate 700 status credits within the same membership year.

Your status will be valid for the remainder of your membership year, plus an additional year. That means that if you earn status towards the start of a new membership year, you can maintain Qantas Gold status for nearly two years!

If you’re in need of a few more status credits, you may consider taking a Qantas status run.

Retaining Qantas Gold status

To renew your Qantas Gold status for another year, you would need to earn 600 status credits and four eligible flight sectors in your next membership year. This means it’s easier to renew status than it is to earn it for the first time.

Check out our guide on how to earn Qantas status to learn more.

Lifetime Gold status with Qantas Frequent Flyer

If you earn at least 14,000 status credits in total over your lifetime, you’ll receive Qantas Gold status for life. This is a great benefit and well worth aiming for if you’re flying a fair bit.

Is Qantas Gold status worth it?

Of course, whether or not it is worth chasing Qantas Gold status comes down to personal preference and what your individual travel patterns are.

Many frequent flyers would consider Gold status as the “sweet spot”, as it comes with great perks when travelling. Your Gold membership card gives you access to airport lounges to relax in, and the ability to skip many queues, among numerous other benefits. And it only requires half as much flying to achieve Gold status compared to Qantas Platinum status.

Furthermore, Qantas Gold status gives you access to extra benefits on all Oneworld airlines and other partners such as Emirates. If you know you’ll be travelling internationally in Economy often, especially on partner airlines, Gold status is of particular value.

If you’re right on the cusp of Gold status, it might be worth buying an Economy Flex or Business Class ticket to earn extra status credits.

However, Qantas Gold status is still a relatively lofty goal for many. If you’re well short of earning Gold status, there’s a good chance you won’t be flying enough to make full use of its benefits anyway. If this is the case, you may be better off purchasing a Qantas Club membership, especially if you mostly fly within Australia.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Wilson McTaggart

Wilson's love of travel started from a young age, but his love for points developed after figuring out ways to travel on a gap year for less - leading naturally towards Australian Frequent Flyer! Wilson's hobbies include skiing, cricket and planning trips, both with and without points.

Wilson posts on the AFF forum as @WilsonM.