Qantas will add more than 1 million reward seats and slash carrier charges as part of a massive overhaul of its loyalty program.
The changes represent the biggest transformation the Frequent Flyers program has seen since its launch 32 years ago and will be rolled out over the next 12 months.
Under the new changes, the airline will significantly increase the number of rewards seats on Qantas and partner flights to the tune of 30 per cent in response to growing complaints about seat scarcity, particularly on popular routes.
The number of points you’ll need to score one of said seats will be lowered by 10 per cent for international economy seats, but premium seats are set to see a 9 per cent increase in points required.
“While the points required for business class seats on international and domestic flights will increase slightly, it is the first increase in 15 years and the product has improved a lot in that time,” Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said.
Perhaps the most exciting part is the huge slash in carrier charges which will halve the out of pocket expenses associated with reward travel.
For example, A return Classic Reward flight from Sydney or Melbourne to London will see carrier charges reduced from $1080 to $700 in business class while a return economy flight from Sydney to New York will see carrier charges reduced from $360 to $180.
The airline will also introduce a new tiered Points Club program aimed at rewarding those who earn most of their points through on-ground transactions and the introduction of Lifetime Platinum status for it’s most loyal flyers.
The overhaul represents a $25 million investment from the carrier, with aims to increase engagement with the program.
“These changes are about making it easier for members to access those rewards and help to keep them highly engaged, which in turn is good news for our business as a whole,” Joyce commented.
“Our members are all unique in how they choose to earn and use their Qantas Points. The combination of the new Points Club, the introduction of our most elite tier in Lifetime Platinum, and the increase in seats across our network means the revamped program should offer something for everyone.”
For a full breakdown of the changes, go here.
