Qantas Classic Reward & Upgrade Devaluation on 5 August 2025

[fletty]

Just as a data point for upgrades, I submitted a request for an upgrade late last night on a domestic flight. Got the text just before 6am this morning saying it was confirmed, and it was processed at the old rate (as expected).

 

[Tiki]

Interesting! BNE-IST has gone down a bit in Y, was 61,500 now 58,900. I think J is more, it's available at 151,800. But I can't see the taxes because I don't have enough points in my account. The trip I booked last month BNE-BKK-MCT-IST is up to 75,900, I used 66k points last month.

Next year's trip to Solomon Islands is up slightly from 18k to 20,700.

 

[Aeryn]

Well i didnt manage to find better flight last night so Im rolling the dice that I can change my existing OWA PNR later and still cap out at 318k.

I had really hoped QF might have dropped a bunch of Classic Awards today to compensate for the price rise.

 

[MelbFlyer]

I had really hoped QF might have dropped a bunch of Classic Awards today to compensate for the price rise.

Wishful thinking.

 

[dylarr]

Interesting! BNE-IST has gone down a bit in Y, was 61,500 now 58,900. I think J is more, it's available at 151,800.

This is due to Emirates being moved from the partner reward table to the Qantas reward table with these changes. This is favourable for Y redemptions on EK.

EK J would previously have been 139,200 (old partner reward table), as you’ve pointed out now 151,800 (new Qantas reward table). If they had remained on the partner reward table, it would be 167,000 today.

 

[Aeryn]

Wishful thinking.

Perhaps but a good way to detract from points increase with hey more seats. Plus they have a constant goal to reduce the number of points on the books so those not paying attention might not even realise they are paying much more.

 

[Hadun]

EK J would previously have been 139,200 (old partner reward table), as you’ve pointed out now 151,800 (new Qantas reward table). If they had remained on the partner reward table, it would be 167,000 today.

No change to the exorbitant fees right?

Perhaps but a good way to detract from points increase with hey more seats. Plus they have a constant goal to reduce the number of points on the books so those not paying attention might not even realise they are paying much more.

Aren't the releases completely random nowadays? Or is it mixed with the old 353 days out schedule?

 

[Youfah Mizzum]

I had really hoped QF might have dropped a bunch of Classic Awards today to compensate for the price rise.

I've been keeping a hawk eye on SYD-HND and hoping for a new drop of Classic Award seats (at the increased rate today) but alas, no. There is one flight that always seems to come up however, via Cairns. Ummm, no thanks.

There has been a distinct dearth of classic seats to Japan over the ski season and I was suspecting that QF might be holding off on a release until today...why release them at a cheaper pts requirement if they can just hold off and release them later (today) at a higher requirement. Or more realistically...why release award seats if people cough up $ on revenue fares.

Classic Plus? Yep, plenty of those.
And I succumbed to the temptation & bent to QF's will. I booked Classic Plus much to my dismay. That'll go into their statistics "oh, people are loving Classic Plus! Bookings are up xx% and availability is excellent!".

 

[alexczarn]

I've been keeping a hawk eye on SYD-HND and hoping for a new drop of Classic Award seats (at the increased rate today) but alas, no. There is one flight that always seems to come up however, via Cairns. Ummm, no thanks.

There has been a distinct dearth of classic seats to Japan over the ski season and I was suspecting that QF might be holding off on a release until today...why release them at a cheaper pts requirement if they can just hold off and release them later (today) at a higher requirement. Or more realistically...why release award seats if people cough up $ on revenue fares.

Classic Plus? Yep, plenty of those.
And I succumbed to the temptation & bent to QF's will. I booked Classic Plus much to my dismay. That'll go into their statistics "oh, people are loving Classic Plus! Bookings are up xx% and availability is excellent!".

naturally I saw a SYD-HND flight, ummed for an hour, and then it was gone. Silly me.

 

[NSun]

I've been keeping a hawk eye on SYD-HND and hoping for a new drop of Classic Award seats (at the increased rate today) but alas, no. There is one flight that always seems to come up however, via Cairns. Ummm, no thanks.

There has been a distinct dearth of classic seats to Japan over the ski season and I was suspecting that QF might be holding off on a release until today...why release them at a cheaper pts requirement if they can just hold off and release them later (today) at a higher requirement. Or more realistically...why release award seats if people cough up $ on revenue fares.

Classic Plus? Yep, plenty of those.
And I succumbed to the temptation & bent to QF's will. I booked Classic Plus much to my dismay. That'll go into their statistics "oh, people are loving Classic Plus! Bookings are up xx% and availability is excellent!".

Because people with tonnes of points but literally zero flexibility will cave in and book it thinking at least they got rid of some of them, just like some use Points Plus Pay thinking its a good use of points and/or they're saving money.

 

[levelnine]

The masters of spin:

 

[Doctore1003]

New points planes and reward seats released today: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/use-points/points-planes.html

 

[CaptJCool]

The masters of spin:
View attachment 463052

At that price, I’ll be sure to JQ to Melb as I can dine in the Adel lounge
I don’t fly JQ Syd nor Melb to Adelaide as the lounge offering is non-existent and those JQ terminals are cluttered chaos

PS there’s also another 50% topup offer

 

[AIRwin]

There is one flight that always seems to come up however, via Cairns. Ummm, no thanks.

It's one of the Points Planes

 

[Youfah Mizzum]

Because people with tonnes of points but literally zero flexibility will cave in and book it thinking at least they got rid of some of them

I caved and bought the Classic Plus seats, however there's no thought whatsoever that "at least I got rid of some of them". More that "bugger, I wish I didn't have to do this but I have no idea if or when Classic awards seats are ever going to show".

 

[MelbFlyer]

"oh, people are loving Classic Plus! Bookings are up xx% and availability is excellent!"

Whilst availability is definitely better than regular Classic Rewards, there have been at times advantages of CR+.

I have seen a business CR+ that cost less points than an economy CR, not often but it has happened before.

I'd imagine with CR now gone up in price for most reward seats, that CR+ pricing will also be adjusted (up) quietly too.

PS there’s also another 50% topup offer

Quite the timing by QF, hey?

 

[MooTime]

The masters of spin:
View attachment 463052

Absolutely typical QF spin machine.
Spruik the 5,700 Aus lowest reward seats then drop yeah make world wide memories at Paris, LA, Japan & Singapore.... And how much do those reward seats costs & more importantly how's their availability?

Baloney sandwich please, make it a double.

 

[Tiki]

This is due to Emirates being moved from the partner reward table to the Qantas reward table with these changes. This is favourable for Y redemptions on EK.

EK J would previously have been 139,200 (old partner reward table), as you’ve pointed out now 151,800 (new Qantas reward table). If they had remained on the partner reward table, it would be 167,000 today.

Can you see the taxes? I can't because I only have 8600 points now. EK was already expensive for taxes.

 

[muppet]

Fairly enormous availability to LAX in February - all classes.

 

[J-P]

A heap of seats have been released on the PER-CDG route. in November I have gone months without seeing a single one previously.