Qantas Classic Plus devaluation

[Doctore1003]

Very disappointed that Qantas has already devalued Classic Plus, just a year after launch!

For those who aren’t aware, 1 point now = 1.25 cents for redemptions in international premium cabins, down from 1.5 cents previously.

It’s really poor form making this devaluation so quickly. It shakes your confidence in the program and makes you wonder how soon they’ll do another deval.

I was one of the more optimistic people about CR+ in this thread (and in fact am in LA right now on a CR+ booking - as discussed in the previous post), and I was planning to ramp up my Qantas Points earn, but now I’m seriously having second thoughts.

I could probably get the same value using Amex Membership Rewards points to pay for flights in lieu of cash with other (cheaper) oneworld airlines and still earn Qantas SCs.

So annoyed, Qantas!

 

[dairyfloss]

Very disappointed that Qantas has already devalued Classic Plus, just a year after launch!

For those who aren’t aware, 1 point now = 1.25 cents for redemptions in international premium cabins, down from 1.5 cents previously.

It’s really poor form making this devaluation so quickly. It shakes your confidence in the program and makes you wonder how soon they’ll do another deval.

I was one of the more optimistic people about CR+ in this thread (and in fact am in LA right now on a CR+ booking - as discussed in the previous post), and I was planning to ramp up my Qantas Points earn, but now I’m seriously having second thoughts.

I could probably get the same value using Amex Membership Rewards points to pay for flights in lieu of cash with other (cheaper) oneworld airlines and still earn Qantas SCs.

So annoyed, Qantas!

Was this something they had forewarned of, or you've just found out in looking at some options? I don't recall seeing anything about the CR+ rate shifting, but looking at some trans-Tasman J saver fares after reading your post, it does certainly look like it's at 1.25c now

 

[Doctore1003]

Was this something they had forewarned of, or you've just found out in looking at some options? I don't recall seeing anything about the CR+ rate shifting, but looking at some trans-Tasman J saver fares after reading your post, it does certainly look like it's at 1.25c now

They haven’t said anything about it, and they don’t have to since the conversion rate isn’t formal or published anywhere.

The change just feels like a money grab tbh

 

[dairyfloss]

They haven’t said anything about it, and they don’t have to since the conversion rate isn’t formal or published anywhere.

The change just feels like a money grab tbh

Yeah, ok - I thought it was published at the launch, but maybe that was just the bloggers and the press putting that out there

 

[levelnine]

Very disappointed that Qantas has already devalued Classic Plus, just a year after launch!

For those who aren’t aware, 1 point now = 1.25 cents for redemptions in international premium cabins, down from 1.5 cents previously.

It’s really poor form making this devaluation so quickly. It shakes your confidence in the program and makes you wonder how soon they’ll do another deval.

I was one of the more optimistic people about CR+ in this thread (and in fact am in LA right now on a CR+ booking - as discussed in the previous post), and I was planning to ramp up my Qantas Points earn, but now I’m seriously having second thoughts.

I could probably get the same value using Amex Membership Rewards points to pay for flights in lieu of cash with other (cheaper) oneworld airlines and still earn Qantas SCs.

So annoyed, Qantas!

If true, it makes sense. Qantas devalued classic rewards, so it had to devalue classic plus in order to maintain some separation between them. As I've said on many posts (and other valuations agree), Qantas points following the devaluation are only worth about 1.5-2c on international long-haul J flights these days. You can't have classic plus, with their far greater availability, basically fall into the bottom end of that spectrum.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

For those who aren’t aware, 1 point now = 1.25 cents for redemptions in international premium cabins, down from 1.5 cents previously.

Thanks, we hate it.

And I do, but my god, you really have to hand it to them. QF's PR machine is top-shelf. Splash a promo and some "rewards" that don't really reward many people at all around on the day you report another massive profit, and perhaps seize the distraction to also quietly devalue an already poorer-value product to further prop up the balance sheet thanks to being able to write down the value of QFF points.

They certainly know what they're doing.

 

[aikman]

I'm surprised AFF hasn't put out an article on it.

 

[cartz]

Seems like the change was made over a month ago. I was able to find 2 x J classic rewards seats ADL-SYD-SCL for March 2026, but nothing for the return, so booked classic plus for that. The classic plus worked out at 1.23 cents per point when I booked on 30 July, and 1.25 cents per point when just looking at the SYD-SCL component.

 

[Laptop Jockey]

Not surprising given the turbo-charged airline wide cost cutting and price hiking in the last year.
Everything from in-flight meals, reduced meal options in lounges, right down to no paper towels in the lounge bathrooms!
The price gouging that was going on last month did it for me. We had a death in the family so lots of people flying up to Darwin from Melbourne and Canberra, reasonable notice so not trying to book next day flights or anything, and they were charging Y tickets over $2000 one way or $3000 return from southern capitals... ECONOMY!
Flights that are typically about $800-900 RETURN (which is already pretty obscene for a four hour flight that is always full) have no justification for those prices. And it's not like they couldn't just add an extra 737 flight or switch a few A330 flights if demand was supposedly so astronomical; They've got no problems putting an A380 flying between Bendigo and Orange as soon as a new competitor comes into the market though...

 

[Doctore1003]

If true, it makes sense. Qantas devalued classic rewards, so it had to devalue classic plus in order to maintain some separation between them. As I've said on many posts (and other valuations agree), Qantas points following the devaluation are only worth about 1.5-2c on international long-haul J flights these days. You can't have classic plus, with their far greater availability, basically fall into the bottom end of that spectrum.

My theory was that Qantas wanted to narrow the gap between CR and CR+ in order to eventually phase out CR completely. I guess that’s not the case.

 

[opusman]

CR availability is so bad these days it's effectively phased them out already.

 

[SYD]

CR availability is so bad these days it's effectively phased them out already.

If you don’t mind sitting down the back, there’s still a lot but yep, pointy end on QFi metal are few and far between on the popular routes.

Plenty of J if you like CGK or MNL…

 

[ChrisMars]

So,

• points are more expensive to acquire,
• flights are more expensive to buy,
• CR+ points to cash exchange rate is getting worse.

Did Qantas just invented threeflation.

 

[MelbFlyer]

CGK or MNL

If going to Asia, these are definitely not as convenient or desired stopovers compared to HKG or SIN, but if there was regular CR business reward availability which aligned with dates of my travel, I wouldn't pass on these.

I'm not surprised with the CR+ devaluation tbh, not sure why anyone (especially people on this forum) would be. It's all about screwing the customer / maximising profits and bonuses.

Just heard that Alan Joyce got a bonus too. It's a joke.

 

[clifford]

I don't care one little bit about the CR+ devaluation. I would never use CR+, I'd rather just purchase a ticket (probably not on Qantas).

Good luck to those that do, but they should really know better.

Just my point of view. YMMV.

 

[RooFlyer]

And I do, but my god, you really have to hand it to them. QF's PR machine is top-shelf. Splash a promo and some "rewards" that don't really reward many people at all around on the day you report another massive profit, and perhaps seize the distraction to also quietly devalue an already poorer-value product to further prop up the balance sheet thanks to being able to write down the value of QFF points.

Very nicely put.

Intro Classic+ so they could get rid of Classic rewards. Then devalue Classic + with no notice.

Honestly, I can't figure out why do people bother with this lot. But ... the lemmings will still come, pay higher fares for cough service and gush over DSC offers which will get you status which is useless, unless you like chatting to Manilla and having your travel plans wrecked.