Qantas Frequent Flyer has announced another round of status extension offers, in light of the current travel downturn in Australia and the extended international border closure.
Qantas is now offering further 12-month status tier extensions to Silver, Gold, Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers whose status would have been due to expire between now and 30 June 2022.
Australian and New Zealand-based members can activate this offer by booking at least one new eligible Qantas or Jetstar flight between now and the end of their current Qantas Frequent Flyer membership year, for travel until June 2022.
An eligible flight for the purpose of this offer is any Qantas operated flight with a “QF” flight number, or any Jetstar booking that is eligible to earn Qantas points except domestic Jetstar flights within Australia.
Once the offer is activated (by booking an eligible flight), Qantas will also roll over status credits earned by members this year into their next membership year. Status credits earned on the ground are also eligible to be rolled over, but the maximum number of status credits that can be rolled over is capped at the following amounts for members at each status tier:
- Platinum One: 1,800 status credits
- Platinum: 500 status credits
- Gold: 250 status credits
- Silver: 100 status credits
For example, if you live in Australia and your Qantas status is due to expire in February 2022, you would just need to book a new Qantas flight between now and 28 February 2022, for travel until 30 June 2022, to receive an automatic status extension. In this case, your status would then be extended until 28 February 2023. Status credits earned in your membership year until February 2022 would also roll over into the next year, up to the maximum amount, meaning they will count towards renewing your status beyond February 2023.
Qantas Frequent Flyer members who live outside of Australia and New Zealand, with status due to expire by June 2022, will receive another automatic 12-month status extension and do not need to book a Qantas flight.
The Qantas website contains the full terms & conditions of this offer, which are generally unchanged from the previous status extension offer for members with status due to expire between March 2021 and December 2021.
Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth said the airline wants to make it easy for members to retain their hard-earned status, which some members have built up over many years, at this time of reduced flying.
“The offer to retain their current status by booking just one eligible flight is a great way for them to secure the additional 12 months of the benefits that come with being Silver or Gold, Platinum or Platinum One members, which will come into its own when everyone is back flying,” Ms Wirth said.
“Our members have remained highly engaged with the program even in the midst of a global pandemic. We’ve seen bookings spike when restrictions have eased after previous outbreaks and we’re confident we’ll see the same when borders re-open this time. In fact, our data shows that 96% of Qantas customers intend to travel domestically in the next 12 months.”
Qantas already gave everyone an automatic 12-month status extension between March 2020 and February 2021, and gave members with status due to expire between March & December 2021 an opportunity to extend their status for a further year by booking a flight. This new offer benefits members with status that would have otherwise expired between January 2022 and June 2022.
Many other airlines around the world are also continuing to offer their members elite status extensions for a further year, in light of the ongoing global pandemic.
Qantas has not yet made a decision about whether to offer further assistance to frequent flyers with status expiring beyond June 2022, but has not ruled it out. Regarding this, the Qantas website currently says:
While our current support is for members with a status end date up to 30 June 2022, we are always looking at ways we can help support members during these challenging times. Depending on how long travel restrictions continue, we will update members closer to the time.
Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: Qantas extends status extensions until June 2022
