More value for points: Qantas announces huge changes to Frequent Flyers program
Today Australia’s biggest airline has invested $25 million into a series of changes to the massively popular Qantas Frequent Flyer program to help its members get more out of their rewards points.
Qantas announced that Frequent Flyer members will now pay less fees on international rewards flights, have access to more rewards seats in general and get even more out of earning points on the ground, like through a Qantas points credit card.
“Australians love earning Qantas Points and that momentum has seen us expand our number of retail partners and extend into new areas like financial services and insurance. The result is that people have lots of opportunities to earn points, so this overhaul is about making sure they have more opportunities to use them,” Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said.
These modifications were part of the largest overhaul to Qantas’ rewards program since it began 32 years ago.
According to the airline, the changes are about strengthening the already prominent Frequent Flyer program, and ensuring that they keep delivering to their massive 13 million membership.
You’ll now get more value for points if you use them right
There are a number of initiatives that Qantas are aiming to roll out over the next year, so if members play their cards right they could have more opportunity to use their points and even end up saving themselves, in both money and points.
Here are a few crucial changes that all Frequent Flyer members should know about:
- More than 1 million extra reward seats on flights: Across Qantas and their partnering airlines, more seats will be available to be booked through Qantas points, even during peak season and to popular destinations like London or L.A.
- Reduction in points required on some flights: There have been changes made for the amount of points required for reward seats on both domestic and international flights. Notably, Qantas has made a reduction of up to 10% on the number of points required for international economy Classic Rewards seats. That means that once you’ve built up a stack of Qantas points, they’ll go further when it comes to redeeming them.
- New Points Club program: For members who earn most of their points while they aren’t in the air, Qantas has announced the creation of their “Points Club” which will be launched later in the year. Members will receive even more exclusive offers and discounts across the Frequent Flyer program - the entry level tier of the program can be accessed by earning 150,000 points on transactions.
- Lifetime Platinum status: As the first rewards program to introduce an initiative like this, the Lifetime Platinum status aims to reward customers for their loyalty. Members can qualify for Lifetime Platinum status by collecting 75,000 status credits. Status credits are different to Qantas Points but they can be earned at the same time while you fly. There are different tiers for earning status credits, starting from Bronze to Platinum One, so the more you fly, the more you earn and the greater benefits you receive.
A Frequent Flyer program to suit everyone: even those on the ground
Along with the changes, Qantas also revealed that when it comes to collecting points the habits and behaviours of their loyalty members is shifting.
“While frequent travellers have always been at the centre of what we do, the growth of our program and its hundreds of partners has provided opportunities for many members to now earn most of their points on the ground,” Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth said.
Similarly, Emily Roberts, Vice President of Consumer Acquisition, Loyalty, and Partnerships for American Express A/NZ commended Qantas on its commitment to providing value to its mutual credit card customers.
Compare Qantas Frequent Flyer credit cards - last updated February 27, 2021
American Express Qantas Ultimate Card
Receive 100,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online by 5 April 2021, are approved and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New Card Members only. Mozo Experts Choice Qantas Frequent Flyer Premium Credit Card Winner 2020^. T&C’s apply
Rewards program
Annual fee
Bonus points
Earn rate per $1
Qantas Frequent Flyer$450100,0001.25 points uncappedCompareCompareQantas Ultimate Card
Receive 100,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online by 5 April 2021, are approved and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New Card Members only. Mozo Experts Choice Qantas Frequent Flyer Premium Credit Card Winner 2020^. T&C’s apply
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 20.74% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- -
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $30.00
- Points earning
- 1.25 points per dollar on Amex, uncapped
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 100,000
- Rewards
- Points
- 8,000 points
- 110,400 points
- 18,770 points
- Card Benefits
- Travel Insurance,
Purchase Protection,
Account alerts by SMS
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Ultimate Card
NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Card
NABs fastest way to earn Qantas Points. 130,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 on everyday purchases within 60 days of account opening and keep the card open for 12 months. 7 complimentary insurances when you meet eligibility criteria including Overseas Travel Insurance.
Rewards program
Annual fee
Bonus points
Earn rate per $1
Qantas Frequent Flyer$395 $295 in the first year130,0001 point up to $5,000/month, then
0.5 points up to $20,000/monthCompareCompareQantas Rewards Signature Card
NABs fastest way to earn Qantas Points. 130,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 on everyday purchases within 60 days of account opening and keep the card open for 12 months. 7 complimentary insurances when you meet eligibility criteria including Overseas Travel Insurance.
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 19.99% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 6 months and then 21.74% p.a. (2.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 21.74% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $15.00
- Points earning
- 1 point per dollar on Visa, up to $5,000 per month, then
0.5 points per dollar on Visa, up to $20,000 per month
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 130,000
- Rewards
- Points
- 8,000 points
- 110,400 points
- 18,770 points
- Card Benefits
- Concierge,
Travel Insurance,
Extended Warranty,
Purchase Protection,
Guaranteed Pricing,
Domestic Hotel Burglary Insurance
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Rewards Signature Card
NAB Rewards Platinum Card
Up to 60,000 bonus points (T&Cs apply). Also get 1 NAB reward point for every $1 spent on everyday purchases.
Rewards program
Annual fee
Bonus points
Earn rate per $1
NAB Rewards$19560,0001 point uncappedCompareCompareRewards Platinum Card
Up to 60,000 bonus points (T&Cs apply). Also get 1 NAB reward point for every $1 spent on everyday purchases.
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 19.99% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 6 months and then 21.74% p.a. (2.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 21.74% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $15.00
- Points earning
- 1 point per dollar on Visa, uncapped
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 60,000
- Rewards
- Points
- 15,600 points
- 239,200 points
- 19,240 points
- Card Benefits
- Concierge,
Travel Insurance,
Extended Warranty,
Purchase Protection,
Guaranteed Pricing,
Domestic Hotel Burglary Insurance
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Rewards Platinum Card
American Express Qantas Discovery Card
Receive up to 1.75 Qantas Points for every $1 spent on Card purchases (T&Cs apply). No annual fee for the life of the card. T&C’s apply. Mozo Experts Choice Qantas Frequent Flyer Credit Card Winner 2020^.
Rewards program
Annual fee
Bonus points
Earn rate per $1
Qantas Frequent Flyer$0No current offer0.75 points uncappedCompareCompareQantas Discovery Card
Receive up to 1.75 Qantas Points for every $1 spent on Card purchases (T&Cs apply). No annual fee for the life of the card. T&C’s apply. Mozo Experts Choice Qantas Frequent Flyer Credit Card Winner 2020^.
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 20.74% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- -
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $30.00
- Points earning
- 0.75 points per dollar on Amex, uncapped
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- No current offer
- Rewards
- Points
- 8,000 points
- 110,400 points
- 18,770 points
- Card Benefits
- Purchase Protection,
Account alerts by SMS
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Discovery Card
NAB Qantas Rewards Premium Card
30,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $2,500 within 60 days (T&Cs apply).
Rewards program
Annual fee
Bonus points
Earn rate per $1
Qantas Frequent Flyer$25030,0000.66 points up to $3,000/month, then
0.33 points up to $6,000/monthCompareCompareQantas Rewards Premium Card
30,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $2,500 within 60 days (T&Cs apply).
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 19.99% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 6 months and then 21.74% p.a. (2.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 21.74% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $15.00
- Points earning
- 0.66 points per dollar on Visa, up to $3,000 per month, then
0.33 points per dollar on Visa, up to $6,000 per month
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 30,000
- Rewards
- Points
- 8,000 points
- 110,400 points
- 18,770 points
- Card Benefits
- Concierge,
Travel Insurance,
Extended Warranty,
Purchase Protection,
Guaranteed Pricing,
Domestic Hotel Burglary Insurance
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Rewards Premium Card
"We believe the changes to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program will be welcomed by our Qantas American Express card and Platinum card members who will benefit from the increase in Qantas reward seat availability and enjoy greater benefits and savings on their next holiday or business trip," she said.
Are you a Qantas Points member or want to be? Check out our comparison table below for a range of Qantas Frequent Flyer credit cards.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Rewards Credit Cards Awards
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