Qantas Frequent flyers

Qantas Nicks the Comfort Zone: Frequent Flyer Program Shake-Up!

Hold onto your travel pouches – Qantas is shaking up its Frequent Flyer program! Will this mean more points but fewer perks? Find out what’s changing and why it’s still a win!

In a move that’s got frequent flyers buzzing, Qantas has announced some significant tweaks to its loyalty program that’s raising eyebrows (and point thresholds) across Australia. Starting in 2025, Qantas members will need to cough up up to 20% more points for upgrades on domestic and international flights. So, the days of scoring that coveted luxury seat with ease may be coming to an end. But, before you panic and book a flight on a broomstick, there’s more to the story!

True to their Aussie spirit, these changes also come with some silver linings. Qantas has pledged to offer even more premium cabin reward seats and a suite of partner airlines, which could make those long-haul flights a tad more palatable – think extra legroom and complimentary pretzels! Plus, the airline is promising the lowest Economy reward seat fares in Australia, making it more cost-effective for budget-conscious travelers. Just remember, the mix of points could make you do some serious mental gymnastics before booking your next trip.

However, the biggest question on everyone’s mind is how many points is this new program really worth? As it stands, the points required for Classic Reward flights, often viewed as the crème de la crème of frequent flyer benefits, are set to increase for most routes. For those who have been holding onto points like gold in Fort Knox, it’s time to take stock. More points do equate to more travel – but are the rewards still worth the investment?

In light of these changes, Qantas shares have soared to record highs after the announcement, showing that the airline's strategy is a step in the right direction for investors (and maybe travel enthusiasts too!). Here’s a fun fact: did you know that frequent flyer programs have been around since the late 1980s? Back then, airlines were just dipping their toes into loyalty rewards! Also, on average, frequent flyers can earn over 100,000 points annually – enough for a free flight around Australia!