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Qantas has just announced updates to its Frequent Flyer program. However, you don't need to rush to understand these changes, as most don't take effect until late 2026 or 2027. Overall, though, the changes are kind of a mixed bag. But on the positive side, members have more ways to earn Status Credits to qualify for elite status and additional benefits once they do.
Here's everything you should know about the changes coming to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, along with the timeline to expect.
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What’s Changing in the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program
To start, Qantas is launching a brand-new digital experience this month. You will be able to easily find international Classic Flight Rewards for flights operated by Qantas, Jetstar, and 30 partner airlines. If you've struggled to use Qantas points in the past, the new digital platform aims to ease those frustrations, allowing you to book millions of seats with your points.
Changes coming in late 2026
The only immediate change to expect is an update to the booking platform. Here are the changes you can expect in late 2026:
- Status Credit roll over: You can carry a portion of your excess Status Credits into the following membership year to get a head start on retaining your status or reaching the next tier. If you are a Gold, Platinum, or Platinum One member, you can rollover 50% of your excess Status Credits, up to a maximum of 300 for Gold members and 500 for Platinum and Platinum One members. Silver members can rollover 25% of their excess credits, up to a maximum of 100.
- Earn Status Credits on everyday spend: You can collect Qantas Points and Status Credits on everyday spending across 10 different categories, from shopping to utilities. These credits will count toward lifetime balances, which gets you one step closer to earning Lifetime elite status. You can earn up to 140 Status Credits each year from this spending.
We don't have any information as to when these changes will launch. However, Qantas is expected to release more information throughout the year and says it will give members ample time to plan accordingly.
Changes coming in 2027
The bulk of the changes will take place in 2027. Here's what to expect:
- More lifetime milestones: For every 10,000 Status Credits you earn beyond the Lifetime Gold threshold, you will receive a complimentary year of Platinum status. You can bank up to five years of Platinum status for activation whenever you wish.
- New tier benefits: There will be a variety of new tier benefits available to members, including extra lounge invitations for Silver members, and new vouchers and discounts across Hotels and Holidays, Qantas Marketplace, and Qantas Wine for all elite members.
- Streamlined path to status: Qantas will retire overlapping sub-programs like Points Club and Green Tier in late 2026. In 2027, Qantas will launch a streamlined path to status to retain and attain each tier. Previously, the number of Status Credits required to earn status for the first time was different than the number required for elite members to retain status. Now, there will be one target to earn status, regardless of whether you earned it in the year prior.
Related: Do Qantas Frequent Flyer Points Expire?
Top Off Your Qantas Points Balance
As mentioned, one of the new features coming to Qantas Frequent Flyer is a revamped award flight finder. Once it launches, it should make it much easier to spot award availability on Qantas, Jetstar, Oneworld airlines, and even non-alliance partners like Emirates. In other words, it’s about to get a lot easier to put your Qantas points to use. And if you need a reminder, there are plenty of ways to top off your balance.
The easiest option is transferring from one of the following programs:
This expansive list means you can earn American Express Membership Rewards points, Citi ThankYou® Points, Capital One miles, and more, then transfer them to Qantas to grow your account.
$95Rates & Fees
- 10X on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations
- 1X – Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
$325Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel booked on amextravel.com
- 1X on other eligible purchases
$395
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Bottom Line
These changes are a mixed bag. If you're a loyal Qantas flyer, you likely appreciate the ability to re-qualify for status at a lower threshold. That's going away, but you can now rollover some of your excess credits to the following year. Rolling over your credits might prove to be more lucrative. However, you used to earn bonus Status Credits for every 500 you earned on Qantas and Jetstar flights, but this is now being removed.
Overall, we can be thankful that Qantas didn't join many other airlines in moving to a revenue-based elite status program. That said, with important details yet to be announced, it's unclear just how positive these changes will be for frequent flyers.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Citi Strata Premier® Card (Rates & Fees), and American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees)
