Qantas has just announced some major changes to its popular frequent flyer program, and it’s going to affect how you earn and redeem points.
The airline says that from August this year, loyalty members will earn more points when flying, but they’ll also need to use more points to redeem seats and upgrades on domestic and international flights.
What’s Changing?
If you’re a frequent flyer, you’ll want to know that the cost of reward seats is going up. For example, a Sydney to London economy reward fare will now cost 63,500 points plus $263, up from 55,200 points.
And if you’re looking to upgrade to business class from Sydney to Melbourne, you’ll need 19,300 points plus $76, up from 18,400 points and $55.
Why the Changes?
According to Qantas loyalty chief executive Andrew Glance, “a lot has changed in the last six years,” and these adjustments will ensure the program can continue to invest in enhancements and grow the availability of reward seats for members.
Glance says that Qantas wants to give its members as much notice as possible so they can plan their future travel.
Earning More Points
On the bright side, frequent flyers will be able to earn up to 25% more points on domestic flights. For example, a Sydney to Perth economy flight will now earn you 1815 Qantas points, up from 1450.
And if you’re a tiered member traveling in premium cabins, you’ll no longer have an earning cap, which means you can earn more points without hitting a limit.
More Reward Seats Available
Qantas is also introducing its lowest one-way economy reward seat in the country, with Jetstar short-haul domestic flights in Australia and New Zealand available for 5700 points.
And loyalty members will have access to up to one million international reward seats on partner airlines, including Air France, Finnair, KLM, and Iberia.
What This Means for You
If you’re a Qantas frequent flyer, you’ll want to take a close look at these changes and plan your points strategy accordingly.
While it’s true that the cost of reward seats is going up, you’ll also have more opportunities to earn points and access to more reward seats than ever before.
So, it’s not all bad news! What do you think of these changes? Let us know in the comments.