Qantas Classic Reward & Upgrade Devaluation on 5 August 2025

[Noah Count]

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

From another group:

QF Sydney to Paris 166,300 + $637 Business November 2025
QF Sydney to Paris 124,700 + $342 Premium Economy November 2025
QF Perth to Paris 58,900 + $242 Economy November 2025
QF Sydney to Los Angeles 195,400 + $641 First February 2026
QF Melbourne to Los Angeles 130,100 + $633 Business February 2026
QF Sydney to Los Angeles 97,600 + $316 Premium Economy February 2026
QF Sydney to Hamilton Island 29,000 + $87 Business February 2026
QF Melbourne to Cairns 20,700 + $59 Economy February 2026
JQ Brisbane to Tokyo (Narita) 61,600 + $199 Business May and June 2026
JQ Sydney to Osaka 29,900 + $167 Economy May and June 2026
JQ Sydney to Osaka 73,800 + $217 Business May and June 2026
JQ Auckland to Wellington 5,700 + $28 Economy February and March 2026
JQ Byron Bay to Sydney 5,700 + $27 Economy February and May 2026
JQ Melbourne to Singapore 61,600 + $220 Business November 2025
JQ Perth to Singapore 20,700 + $144 Economy November 2025

 

[lovestotravel]

Fairly enormous availability to LAX in February - all classes.

Yes F's galore, sadly I'm in France at the time

 

[kpc]

I see Qf have cynically released a lot of classic reward seats today after the award price rise. Of course, I burnt all my ponts before the price rise....

 

[kamchatsky]

FYI I booked SYD-PER-CDG J and back on 85K AA miles each way. Taxes are cheaper too at AA

 

[muppet]

FYI I booked SYD-PER-CDG J and back on 85K AA miles each way. Taxes are cheaper too at AA

Wow surprised the points plane dump included partners.

 

[burmans]

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

Just as I expected, am sure plenty will jump on these. If it all helps to drain that lake of QFF points out there I’m ok with that.

 

[dylarr]

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

Here you go:

BNE-DXB-IST EK Y - 58900 + $496.49
BNE-DXB-IST EK J - 151800 + $1911.89

 

[muppet]

Here you go:

BNE-DXB-IST EK Y - 58900 + $496.49
BNE-DXB-IST EK J - 151800 + $1911.89

So EK J is essentially full fare considering with Classic Plus 1 point is worth 1.5c now.

 

[Tiki]

Here you go:

BNE-DXB-IST EK Y - 58900 + $496.49
BNE-DXB-IST EK J - 151800 + $1911.89

Thanks. Looks like J is off the table for me. By comparison VA/QR has
BNE-DOH-IST/SAW Y 65000 + $384.93
BNE-DOH-IST/SAW j 139,000 + $732.53 (couldn't find availability on SQ)

 

[RooFlyer]

I see Qf have cynically released a lot of classic reward seats today after the award price rise. Of course, I burnt all my ponts before the price rise....

Yes. redemption price rise . Look over there!!! It's a party!

 

[levelnine]

The media have taken the bait so easily.



Making $600 carrier charges seem like a bargain ...

 

[k1s3k1]

looks like qantas has removed all EK F seats as well! at least to and from Europe

 

[Youfah Mizzum]

Making $600 carrier charges seem like a bargain

Goes to show the media are either filling column inches (virtually) or are just suckers for QF spin. They clearly are just looking at the $$ charge (wow, only $600 to LA!) but forgetting that points are also a cost to the customer.

$600 seems pretty steep anyway.

 

[Flyfrequently]

The masters of spin:
View attachment 463052

Yep, always wanted to fly Jetstar for 5700 points and now it's such a bogan ooops bargain

 

[muppet]

To be fair to the media, for most punters the only time they’ll ever see a First Class Classic Award is when QF does a points plane dump. So it is newsworthy. ~$1,200 plus 400,000 points is still a good deal compared to $20,000 to LAX.

 

[Bundy Bear]

looks like qantas has removed all EK F seats as well! at least to and from Europe

I did see some Y to Dubai ex Adelaide, its almost Qantas are given an allocation of a few flights with a Qantas code share.
I am looking for a oneway Y from Dubai to any London airport, in any class and telling me nothing is available, Emirates have like 10 flights a day and this for a flight in April away from Easter.

 

[TeaKozy]

I just requested some dates for March next year, however has to go to yield management who (supposedly) have today off according to the agent I spoke to in Hobart. Asked whether if I was successful (of which I’m doubtful) whether it would be assessed at the current or inflated rate - seemed to suggest it was based on the PNR creation date, so the former.

Called up today to ticket the flights (MEL-NRT and HND-SYD-MEL return in March/April next year) and they were processed at the previous award rate. The agent also changed the connecting flight as it'd be booked several days later for some reason. Will be curious to see what happens moving forward, especially for PNR's created before the change. The QF IT systems grind slowly...

 

[burmans]

To be fair to the media, for most punters the only time they’ll ever see a First Class Classic Award is when QF does a points plane dump. So it is newsworthy. ~$1,200 plus 400,000 points is still a good deal compared to $20,000 to LAX.

Despite the scepticism in this forum (generally well informed points collectors) I’d suggest there are a lot more ‘accidental’ points collectors who are not well informed and would be attracted to these reward options. It’s probably not us that this media is aimed at.

 

[NSun]

Goes to show the media are either filling column inches (virtually) or are just suckers for QF spin. They clearly are just looking at the $$ charge (wow, only $600 to LA!) but forgetting that points are also a cost to the customer.

$600 seems pretty steep anyway.

When I paid less than A$500 round trip in taxes SYD-LAX return 2 years ago, I'd say steep is an understatement to describe the current level.

 

[NSun]

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".

No one on this forum (Australian Frequent Flyer) would think that no. But I have family members that have spent 100k+ points on Point Plus Pay from Sydney to Melbourne and a hotel for one night and literally said that and/or 'at least I'm saving money. One family member even texted me the AFR article talking about $600 each way to LA and literally said,' Sounds reasonable to me'.