Qantas Frequent Flyers will need to lock in reward seats before 5 August to avoid a double hit on points accumulated as a range of changes come into force.
Qantas announced the raft of changes to its program in January, expanding the number of reward seats on offer but increasing the number of points needed to secure a seat.
The points required for economy seats will rise by 5 per cent and 20 per cent for first class, while carrier charges for business and first are also on the rise.
“Frequent flyer programs worldwide have been increasing redemption rates as travel demand and fares rise,” Adele Eliseo, from The Champagne Mile & Pointify, told Travel Weekly. “This is the first award major pricing overhaul we’ve seen from Qantas since 2019 and it follows a wider industry trend.”
From 5 August, Classic Rewards and upgrades will rise by 5 to 20 per cent, with the points cost of most first and business class seats increasing by 20 per cent.
“Carrier charges will also rise. As a result, members will pay more points and more cash for many redemptions, creating a clear double hit.”
What’s improving from 5 August
From 5 August, Emirates rewards will move onto the main Qantas award table, lowering the points needed for some economy and business flights and making mixed Qantas and Emirates bookings slightly cheaper, Eliseo said.
Jetstar Zone One flights, like Adelaide to Melbourne, will drop from 6,400 to 5,700 points, an 11 per cent saving.
“Members will also earn up to 25 per cent more points on Qantas domestic flights,” she said. “This change will mostly help traveller earning through regular paid flights. For those members who collect points through cards or retail partners, it won’t go far in offsetting the higher cost of redemptions.”
oneworld Classic Flight Reward
The oneworld Classic Reward is one of the best uses of Qantas Points, Eliseo advises.
“It allows frequent flyers to book an around-the-world trip at a capped points price, available in economy, premium economy, business and first,” she said.
From 5 August, the cost of the award will rise by 15 per cent more across all cabins.
“Even with that increase, a carefully planned itinerary with multiple stopovers will remain one of the best ways to extract outsized value from Qantas Points,” she said.
Finding value before increases kick in
Travellers can avoid the double hit by moving quickly to lock in reward seats before 5 August.
“Locking in a premium redemption now could save tens of thousands of points and hundreds of dollars in carrier charges,” she said. “The best approach is to search often, grab seats as soon as they appear, and stay flexible with dates and routes.
Last-minute premium award seats, including long-haul first class on Qantas and partners like Japan Airlines, often appear close to departure. Travellers who can move quickly should act now to lock in current pricing.
Member expectations
Travellers are more likely to accept a price hike if premium seat access improves, Eliseo said.
“The big test for Qantas is whether more Classic Reward seats will open up on high-demand routes,” she said.
