Qantas unveils the biggest changes to status in program history

[Beano]

I have a hiatus in my flying when I may not be able to fly for a while. I am considering following up a request with Qantas for a pause which they have already indicated they may consider. I have a few status credits banked this year, none earned through flying but gifts and bonuses, so the roll-over is most welcome, even if only 50%.

 

[Aeryn]

The new search tool is a massive devaluation for AFF users (who have above-average program knowledge).

Making it easier for the masses to find flights will significantly reduce availability very quickly.

Although if they went back to some sort of reliable CR seat release schedule, the benefit of earlier access for those with status would mean the actual flyers would likely snap them up before the masses.

Pretty sure 75% of QFF members are silver or below.

 

[DejaBrew]

Is it possible QF have increased the LTG threshold from 14,000 to 15,000 SCs without explicitly saying so? The new lifetime milestones are phrased as “for every 10,000 SCs achieved beyond the gold threshold”, and the first one is at 25,000…

It might be a very soft signal of future intent, but the way I read it is that it simply creates much neater stepping stones to LTP (i.e. 25K for the first "banker" WP year, then an additional 4 at 10K intervals each, followed by LTP after a final 10K interval). Consider that versus what exists today where LTS is 7K, LTG is exactly double LTS, then LTP is exactly 5.357142857142857 times LTG.

 

[CNS_AMS]

So many questions and thoughts. A few random ones that spring to mind, which I'm sure will be answered in due course:

1. Will there still be a way of getting discounts on Qantas Wines for points buyers (replacing the 10% PCP benefit)?
2. Will there be a mechanism to earn SCs on classic reward flights (replacing PC benefits)?
3. When will PC be phased out? If you've requalified before the end of your current membership year, will the benefits still transfer in the new membership year? (What's meant by 'benefits will be available until the end of the next membership year' in the image linked to above?) I ask as I'll probably requalify for PCP well before my new membership year but this starts in November.
4. Phasing out Green Tier loses a cheap way of obtaining SCs. Having said that, the IT is janky so won't miss that. (Need to chase up my 50SCs as the option to choose has not shown up.)
5. I wonder what the new 'on the ground' SC categories and earn will be? Will existing credit cards be eligible?
6. I like being able to roll over 50% of excess status credits - I've been stuck in 'no man's land' a few times.
7. The prospect of a new search engine for awards is both exciting and terrifying. Let's hope it works properly.
8. Single qualification thresholds (with the higher amount) effectively removes a bonus for loyalty, meaning I don't have quite the incentive to keep status up in quieter years.

Last week I cancelled (obtained refund) for a DSC BNE to LHR return flight, knowing (then) that the SCs would have ended up in ‘no man’s land’.
Oops.

 

[Invisible Monkey]

It might be a very soft signal of future intent, but the way I read it is that it simply creates much neater stepping stones to LTP (i.e. 25K for the first "banker" WP year, then an additional 4 at 10K intervals each, followed by LTP after a final 10K interval). Consider that versus what exists today where LTS is 7K, LTG is exactly double LTS, then LTP is exactly 5.357142857142857 times LTG.

I think you missed a few zeros calculating LTP from LTG. Feels like it should be 5000.357142857142857 times.

 

[DejaBrew]

I think you missed a few zeros calculating LTP from LTG. Feels like it should be 5000.357142857142857 times.

May as well be for most of us

 

[Daver6]

Apologies if already covered, coming late to this.

Have they announced when PC and PC+ benefits such as earning SC on award flights will end? Ie, do I bother making some bookings now during the DSC promo or am I wasting my time on that?

 

[GrahamBRI]

So my guess is that they'll apply the changes to your next full membership year post official implementation announcement in late 26 or give you a "free" 100SCs to "protect" you from immediate implementation. (I suspect the former, and this early "initial" notice also gives them months to get their systems ready to do that.)

I prepare to stand to be corrected, but for people whose membership years were to end, e.g., a month after implementation, forcing an a higher number of SCs to retain at the last minute would be absurd, and I don't think they'll do it.

Agree!!! ......... for me, on balance, the worst thing with all the proposed changes, is not the changes themselves, but the vagueness of the implementation plan and timing. I can achieve similar outcomes with the new program as the old, but I could find my game plan adversely impacted by the timing. With DSC happening now, I could bring forward DSC travel plans to increase rollover (for an implementation before membership expiry scenario) or pushout DSC travel plans (for an implementation post rollover) ...... but even these two strategies the outcome is not certain as the exact plan has not been released.......

 

[markis10]

Have they announced when PC and PC+ benefits such as earning SC on award flights will end? Ie, do I bother making some bookings now during the DSC promo or am I wasting my time on that?

They said it will close towards the end of the year and the presumption is benefits are grandfathered for the time your membership lasts.

 

[Seat0B]

My year is end of June and should be WP till June 2027.
I'm curious to see when the "late 2026" and "launching in 2027" dates will be and how much notice will be given.

Me too, plus a bit as my year ends 31 March. I will have around 2400 SC by 31 March 2026 so will hold WP until 31 March 2027. With my various bookings so far for travel after my 2026 year end, I will easily reach the old 1200 WP retention by March 2027, and so expected platinum until March 2028. But now I will need to recalculate to see if I make the new threshold of 1400 SC to retain by 31 March 2027 as I don’t actually know when that new threshold kicks in - “launching in 2027”. I’d be ropeable to miss out that point.

 

[Fishhead]

This seems fine as it doesnt affect me too much as I am a lifetime gold flyer. I am back to Qantas after abandoning my Platinum Virgin card as the points needed for lifetime gold are ridiculously high. I do most of my travel overseas and had been a loyal Singapore Airlines traveller to help keep my Platinum status but this has left me over a decade behind. In addition Virgin is allowing dogs on flights.......

 

[The Astronomer]

Interesting mix of changes - thanks! However, there is a piece of information I would like (unless I missed seeing it): it is mentioned that 'The new status credit retention thresholds and lifetime milestone rewards will be introduced in a year from now, so around February 2027.' My membership year ends on March 31, so does this mean that for retaining WP I need to plan now to obtain 1400 SC by March 31 2027? Or does it mean that the new system will apply as members begin their first new membership year after late February 27 (so that, e.g. I can renew for 1200 from April 1 2026 to March 31 2027, and only need to start earning 1400 SC in my year running from April 1 2027 to March 31 2028? Related to this is the date when the 50 SC bonus actually disappears.

 

[Seat0B]

Matt's article says "The new status credit retention thresholds and lifetime milestone rewards will be introduced in a year from now, so around February 2027." while Point Hacks is saying "This won’t come into effect until late 2027, so there’s still plenty of time to retain your current status levels at existing rates."

.... so not quite sure when the new thresholds kick in?!

And as a 31 Mar 27 expiry person, I care deeply which of these opposing views is the actual outcome….

 

[The Astronomer]

And as a 31 Mar 27 expiry person, I care deeply which of these opposing views is the actual outcome….

Indeed - there would seem to be quite a difference between the two.

 

[Seat0B]

As a LTG with a decent stash of SCs, I think this Milestone bonus is an innovative idea by QF.

Yes I am on 37k SCs and agree it is nice to have 2 years of WP banked for a time of my choosing.

 

[GrahamBRI]

They said it will close towards the end of the year and the presumption is benefits are grandfathered for the time your membership lasts.

So, for an implementation on Nov 31st, and a members Points Club ending Dec 31st (and not re-qualifying for PC)...... so does that result is grandfathered benefits for only one month? so what happens to any classic award DSC bookings for Jan 27? suddenly gone with the wind?
These scenarios are ones that now make it very difficult to pick a path of certainty.

 

[logos 01]

Indeed - there would seem to be quite a difference between the two.

I'm likewise 31 March anniversary. With the current DSC I booked enough to get to 1200 to retain WP (factoring in G and loyalty). If I suddenly need another 200sc I wouldn't be happy. Because tbh I wouldn't have made some of those bookings and contented myself with dropping to gold.

 

[Seat0B]

positively enhanced

“Love” that one has to add the superfluous “positively” in front of “enhanced” to identify when QF is actually enhancing (s per dictionary) something. Not.

 

[Ammo]

Interesting, some good, some bad. The most annoying thing for me personally as someone who struggles to get silver let alone retain it, is that its made even easier for people who are already gold (or silver) to retain and gain.

Will be good to see how easy it is to get the on the ground status credits. Things like having to get Qantas insurance and stuff aren't that helpful. So lets see how it goes.

 

[SYD]

“Love” that one has to add the superfluous “positively” in front of “enhanced” to identify when QF is actually enhancing (s per dictionary) something. Not.

Not just QF. We do see occasionally an article that refers to a change as an “actual positive enhancement”…

What’s the most extraordinary is all the programs that use the “E” word in relation to devaluation in benefits…