New Qantas promos including double status credits (book by 3/9/25; travel 4/9/25 until 22/8/26)

[AFF Editor]

We got in touch with Qantas regarding the lifetime status credits issue. This is the statement they gave us regarding the reversal of this decision:

“We’ve listened to feedback from some of our most loyal members and made the change to ensure that bonus Status Credits earned during this offer will count towards their Lifetime Status."

It doesn't look like they'll be changing their stance though on the status credits from the "thank you" gift not counting towards lifetime status.

More here:

Qantas Double Status Credits Count Towards Lifetime Tiers Again

Qantas has reversed its unpopular decision not to let double status credits count towards lifetime status after a swift backlash from the frequent flyer community.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[justin23]

I'm far away from LTG or even LTS.
Even though QF reversed decision for whatever reasons, I have the feeling this is the last DSC promotion will count towards lifetime status.

I mean it took me 20 years to get LTS. prob take me around 10 total to get to LTG, hoping to have it by the age of 55. When i first started travelling i never thought I'd get LTS.

 

[DejaBrew]

At this stage, Qantas has not reversed that decision and did not directly respond to our question about this.

I still see wiggle room for a u-turn....

 

[transpactraveller]

We got in touch with Qantas regarding the lifetime status credits issue. This is the statement they gave us regarding the reversal of this decision:

Any chance you can ask them to extend the booking window now beyond 3 September?...

I have some work trips in November and March that I didn't bother starting the process for when I thought the DSCs weren't going to count towards LTG. Now with the U-turn I'm interested in booking them sooner, but I doubt I can get all the approvals in the system and have our Corporate TA book by Wednesday!

 

[Vee711]

Any chance you can ask them to extend the booking window now beyond 3 September?...

I have some work trips in November and March that I didn't bother starting the process for when I thought the DSCs weren't going to count towards LTG. Now with the U-turn I'm interested in booking them sooner, but I doubt I can get all the approvals in the system and have our Corporate TA book by Wednesday!

Unlikely. I don't think QF have ever extended their promo period.

 

[LionKing]

So if I have chosen points, can I change to status instead?

 

[dairyfloss]

So if I have chosen points, can I change to status instead?

Yes - whatever the last choice you have made is come the end of the booking promotion window is what will stick. Just go back in and choose SCs

 

[flyingfan]

So if I have chosen points, can I change to status instead?

The T&Cs say "Once the registration period is closed, Qantas will not accept changes to members' preferred bonus reward choice." That suggests you can change it in the next few days. Also see above.

 

[liveinsydney]

So if I have chosen points, can I change to status instead?

Yes, you can change it before the promotion ends on 3 September.

 

[piperlance]

Do you think it applies to bookings I have already made, for flights within the validity period of the offer? I tried to see if it only applies to bookings made after accepting the offer, but I cannot find the T&Cs.

 

[LondonAussie]

Offer has been changed. Does now count towards lifetime status.

Color me astonished but very pleased at this reversal.

Oh wow, I wish I'd seen this earlier, or that they'd done this earlier!

I was holding off for a DSC promo to book my Christmas trip, then when I saw DSCs no longer count towards Lifetime Status, I went ahead and booked a cheaper fare on Qatar instead yesterday!!

So although this reversal is the right direction, it's still a complete mess and insane that they can just change something like this mid-promo when people have gone and made decisions based on the original offer T&Cs.

 

[piperlance]

Around halfway through the T&Cs it says "All bookings must be new to be eligible."

This is more for the DSC/double points thread, than a loyalty bonus query...

Thanks very much - and I apologise for the dumb question. I know that most offers require a new booking. Just wish I had known earlier... sigh...

 

[transpactraveller]

Unlikely. I don't think QF have ever extended their promo period.

Yeah but I also don't think they ever changed a promo after it already started.

It's only fair if they now extend it by at least 1 day or 2 since they launched it late Wednesday night but then changed it Friday afternoon. (and for business travel we now lose another 2 days over the weekend where we can't submit travel approvals or speak to our Corp TAs until Monday)

 

[Boeyn]

Well done Qantas, you’ll get a few thousand more from me in cash/revenue than you were going to before today’s change re lifetime SC…

 

[ChrisMars]

I don t really understand why the loyalty gift doesnt count to lifetime. So many complained that the bonus doesn t help to requal cause they already did, so those gift are completly useless. Making it to lifetime would at least do something positif. Anyway.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Thinking of 3 possibilities regarding the reversal:

1. IT kids couldn't code the exclusion of the LTSC
2. High registration, but low bookings. Perhaps they compared the data with last year or March this year and realised people aren't biting?
3. Some middle manager approved it but perhaps someone higher up realised that it's causing a stir and reversed it?

Bit of a shame that the loyalty bonus doesn't count towards LT for those who are chasing LT status.

This whole episode reminds us of how precarious the LT status chase is.

 

[LondonAussie]

Yeah the "loyalty gift" not counting towards LT status is useless to me and doesn't feel very genuine, since I'll requalify for Platinum in this year without it.

Though the gift is probably just a PR stunt to get some positive Qantas news into the media cycle, your Sunrise/Today fluff piece, and blogs that just copy/paste the lines fed to them by Qantas for an easy story.

 

[bussyboy]

Gotta feel a little undervalued when the "loyalty bonus" for silver members (for multiple years in my case) is no different to the occasional flying NB member

 

[LionKing]

Yeah the "loyalty gift" not counting towards LT status is useless to me and doesn't feel very genuine, since I'll requalify for Platinum in this year without it.

Though the gift is probably just a PR stunt to get some positive Qantas news into the media cycle, your Sunrise/Today fluff piece, and blogs that just copy/paste the lines fed to them by Qantas for an easy story.

Exactly what I am thinking. If bonus SC does not count towards lifetime SC, may just get double points instead.

 

[me-h]

What an interesting move to change the decision about DSC counting to lifetime SC. Very unexpected! ,As a direct result of that decision I've now booked some flights (at the current higher price) whereas I would have otherwise waited until a better sale fare. So a good outcome for Qantas I think?