Latest news with #QantasLoyalty
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Major Qantas change to value of Frequent Flyer Points hits millions today
Millions of Aussies will find their Qantas frequent flyer points are worth less from today. Customers will now need up to 20 per cent more points for rewards seats and upgrades, following major changes made to the loyalty program. Qantas said this was the first time in six years that it had changed the value of its points. While the exact increase varies, the devaluation is between 5 and 20 per cent, plus Qantas is also increasing fees and surcharges for business and first class seats. Finder travel expert Angus Kidman told Yahoo Finance a single Qantas point used for Classic Rewards was previously worth 2 cents for Economy flights and 8 cents for Business flights. That value is now "set to decline significantly". RELATED Compensation sought for millions of Qantas customers hit in major cyber data breach ATO warns workers after tax return estimate promises $3,442 refund Commonwealth Bank reveals LMI home loan changes for borrowers A Sydney to Melbourne economy class seat will go from 8,000 points and $55 in fees, to 9,200 points and $55 in fees. A business class seat previously set you back 18,400 points plus $55 in fees, and will now be 19,300 points plus $76 in fees. Sydney to London economy class will increase from 55,200 points plus $263 in fees, to 63,500 points plus $263 in fees. A business class seat will go from 144,600 points plus $473 in fees, to 166,300 points plus $648 in Loyalty CEO Andrew Glance said the changes were necessary to sustain and grow the loyalty program. 'These adjustments will ensure we can continue to invest in enhancing the program for the long term and continue to grow the levels of Classic and Classic Plus Reward seat availability for members year on year,' he said. Qantas said it had seen a record number of points redemptions on flights in the last 12 months. Qantas Frequent Flyer is one of the country's biggest loyalty programs with more than 17 million members. While the value of points has decreased, it is still possible for savvy travellers to find good deals. "My two key tips: don't be obsessed with flying Business class, and look into flying to regional locations—those seats are often very expensive to buy but aren't as pricey as a Qantas Classic Reward," Kidman said. "And don't fall for the trap of paying any carrier charges using Qantas Points—that's a waste of money." Qantas releases more rewards seats Qantas has today announced the release of 400,000 new Classic Rewards seats across its international and domestic network, including its premium cabins. The majority of these seats will be on Points Planes, where every seat across all cabins can be secured with points. The airline has also reduced the number of points required to book a reward seat on Jetstar domestic flights within Australia and New Zealand, with flights available from 5,700 points one way, down from 6,400. "We're releasing thousands of Points Planes and hundreds of thousands more reward seats, with a particular focus on boosting premium cabin availability to some of our most popular destinations," Glance said. Customers will also be able to earn up to 25 per cent more Qantas Points for domestic flights. For example, a Bronze member flying from Sydney to Perth in economy wold earn 1,815 points, up from 1,450 points. The change comes after millions of Qantas customers had their personal information compromised by a major data breach on June 30. The airline revealed that 5.7 million customers were impacted, with 4 million having their name, email and frequent flyer details impacted. Of the remainder, about 1.3 million had residential and business addresses compromised, 1.1 million their date of birth, 900,000 phone numbers, 400,000 their gender, and 10,000 their meal preferences in to access your portfolio
Sky News AU
05-08-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Classic Reward seats to cost more as Qantas hikes points by up to 20 per cent in 2025 overhaul
Qantas has announced updates to its Frequent Flyer program for 2025, confirming that Classic Reward seat bookings and upgrades will soon require more points, with some increases reaching up to 20 per cent. This marks the first major revision to the points system since 2019 and will affect almost all Classic Reward seats and upgrades across domestic and international flights. Starting on August 6, 2025, travellers booking with Qantas points will notice higher redemption rates. For instance, an Economy Classic Reward flight between Sydney and Melbourne will rise from 8,000 points to 9,200. International flights in premium cabins will also see an increase, with some bookings requiring 20 per cent more points. Meanwhile, domestic business class flights will only be hiked by five per cent. Qantas is also expanding access to reward seats, and up to 1 million additional Classic Reward seats will become available from next year, including options in premium cabins and through new and existing global airline partners. CEO of Qantas Loyalty Andrew Glance said the changes would give members more flexibility and availability for using their points. 'With over 45 airline partners, including new additions like Hawaiian Airlines and expanded premium cabin options with Finnair, Air France, KLM and Iberia, our members will have more opportunities to use their points for travel,' Mr Glance said. He said these updates responded to the growing demand for reward seats and helped Qantas make more seats available so members could book the trips they had been dreaming about. Qantas also revealed that Frequent Flyer members were set to earn an extra four billion points this year. Additionally, tiered members flying in premium cabins within Australia will need fewer flights to reach their next reward booking. While redemption rates are increasing, members can still book Classic Reward seats at current points levels up until 11:59pm AEST on August 5, 2025, for travel through to June 2026. Qantas allows bookings up to 11 months in advance, providing a window for travellers to secure flights before the new rates apply.
Daily Mail
05-08-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Huge change to Qantas Frequent Flyer points - so what does it mean for you?
Millions of Aussies will see their Qantas Frequent Flyer points devalued from today after huge changes were made to the program for the first time in six years. Qantas has increased the number of points required for most reward seats, with business and first class redemptions going up by 15 to 20 per cent. Fees and surcharges are also rising, with the airline justifying the move by claiming they are essential to 'sustain and expand the program'. For business class domestic flights, like Sydney to Melbourne, there will only be a five per cent increase. While the Sydney to London points cost rose by 15 per cent, the fees increased from $473 to $648, or 37 per cent. A Sydney to Melbourne business class seat will go from 18,400 points, plus $55, to 19,300 points, plus $76. A Sydney to London economy purchase will rise from 55,200 points, plus $263, to 63,500 points, plus $263. The good news is Qantas Frequent Flyers will earn up to 25 per cent more points on Qantas domestic flights. Qantas will roll out up to one million additional Classic Reward seats through new deals with Hawaiian Airlines, Finnair, Air France, KLM and Iberia. Qantas Loyalty CEO Andrew Glance said: 'These adjustments will ensure we can continue to invest in enhancing the program for the long term and continue to grow the levels of Classic and Classic Plus Reward seat availability for members year on year.' The value per point is better in premium cabins than in economy. Daniel Sciberras, from Point Hacks - a guide to maximising frequent flyer points and credit card bonus offers – told Daily Mail the changes were fair when put into context. 'No-one likes to see points go up, but the last time Qantas increased their points cost was back in June 2019, so that's a good six years ago now,' he said. 'I don't think they're unreasonable increases because they're in line with the two to three per cent inflation increase every year. 'A lot of these frequent flyer changes get a lot of heat because they don't go up at all for a number of years, then they do one big increase.' Mr Sciberras claimed there was a good reason for infrequent increases. 'I think part of that is IT issues. They're very complex in the way these programs are set up, so that's why I suspect they don't change them frequently,' he said. 'It's a lengthy process when they change the figures.' Mr Sciberras said the changes to the program didn't affect the strategy Aussies should use to get the most out of their points. 'You'll still get the best bang for your buck by redeeming your points for long-haul international premium seats,' he said. 'That will always get you more value than redeeming points for an economy flight between Sydney and Melbourne.' Before this week's changes, one Qantas Point for Classic Rewards translated to around two cents for economy flights and eight cents for business flights. The Qantas Frequent Flyer program has more than 16.5million members and is Australia's largest loyalty program.
Sydney Morning Herald
04-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
The price of loyalty: David Jones shoppers to bank Qantas points in revamped scheme
Australians will be able to bank Qantas frequent flyer points when shopping at David Jones in a new partnership that will further stoke the intensifying rivalry between the nation's two biggest department store chains. The tie-up allows David Jones to piggyback off the nation's largest loyalty program, with more than 17 million members, when it unveils its own rewards program in late September. 'Clearly, our current proposition at David Jones was much more of a birthday reward scheme. This is much, much more than this,' David Jones chief executive Scott Fyfe said. 'Customers will get the preference whether they want to earn David Jones reward points or they want [Qantas frequent flyer points]. The major benefit we've got is that anyone [who] joins the collective scheme, from a Qantas frequent flyer perspective, will be able to redeem through David Jones, and get the full curation and offer of our brands, both in the store ... as well as online.' Qantas Loyalty boss Andrew Glance said the two companies enjoyed a long history, stretching back to 1947 when Qantas recruited its first female cabin crew who made their first pit stop at David Jones to be fitted out in a military-inspired uniform. In 1948, David Jones buyer Mary Alice Shiell flew Qantas to Paris to secure the first Christian Dior parade outside the fashion capital. 'We walk into these partnerships very strategically, and we do it for absolutely the right reasons,' said Glance. One in two Qantas frequent flyers are already David Jones shoppers, and two-thirds of Qantas points are earned through retail partners. David Jones will announce further details of its new rewards program in late September.
The Age
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
The price of loyalty: David Jones shoppers to bank Qantas points in revamped scheme
Australians will be able to bank Qantas frequent flyer points when shopping at David Jones in a new partnership that will further stoke the intensifying rivalry between the nation's two biggest department store chains. The tie-up allows David Jones to piggyback off the nation's largest loyalty program, with more than 17 million members, when it unveils its own rewards program in late September. 'Clearly, our current proposition at David Jones was much more of a birthday reward scheme. This is much, much more than this,' David Jones chief executive Scott Fyfe said. 'Customers will get the preference whether they want to earn David Jones reward points or they want [Qantas frequent flyer points]. The major benefit we've got is that anyone [who] joins the collective scheme, from a Qantas frequent flyer perspective, will be able to redeem through David Jones, and get the full curation and offer of our brands, both in the store ... as well as online.' Qantas Loyalty boss Andrew Glance said the two companies enjoyed a long history, stretching back to 1947 when Qantas recruited its first female cabin crew who made their first pit stop at David Jones to be fitted out in a military-inspired uniform. In 1948, David Jones buyer Mary Alice Shiell flew Qantas to Paris to secure the first Christian Dior parade outside the fashion capital. 'We walk into these partnerships very strategically, and we do it for absolutely the right reasons,' said Glance. One in two Qantas frequent flyers are already David Jones shoppers, and two-thirds of Qantas points are earned through retail partners. David Jones will announce further details of its new rewards program in late September.
