Qantas Points Club Plus – Status Credits on Malaysia Airlines Classic Reward Flights

[JustSlash]

Hello all,

Apologies if this has been asked or answered previously. I tried searching the forum but couldn't find anything specific, so I'm hoping someone here might be able to shed some light on this.

Long story short, I recently flew MEL–KUL on Malaysia Airlines (MH148) in Business Class, booked as a Qantas Classic Flight Reward. As a Points Club Plus member, I was under the impression that I might earn some Status Credits, particularly as I took the exact same flight last year, also as a Business Class reward booking, and received 60 Status Credits and 5,000 Qantas Points (screenshot below).

After waiting around three weeks with nothing credited to my account, I submitted a missing points claim through the Qantas website, which was rejected on the basis that the flight wasn't eligible.

I then followed up with Qantas Frequent Flyer via email, providing a screenshot of the Status Credits and points received for the same flight in 2025. Unfortunately, I received the same response. I also asked whether there had been any changes to the eligibility rules for partner airline reward flights between 2025 and 2026, but was simply directed to check the Qantas website.

For context, I held Points Club Plus membership at the time of both flights, and both were Classic Flight Rewards on MH148 in Business Class.

I'm not looking to make a big deal out of this, but I'm genuinely curious whether I've missed something or if there has been a change in the rules that I'm unaware of.

Has anyone had a similar experience, or does anyone know why the same reward flight might have earned Status Credits in 2025 but not in 2026?

Appreciate any insights. Thanks in advance!

 

[markis10]

For context, I held Points Club Plus membership at the time of both flights, and both were Classic Flight Rewards on MH148 in Business Class.

I'm not looking to make a big deal out of this, but I'm genuinely curious whether I've missed something or if there has been a change in the rules that I'm unaware of.

AFAIK points club only applies to Qantas marketed and operated flights

 

[oz_mark]

I would say that there was a bank error in your favour in 2025, if it was a Reward flight..
You should only get Status Credits on Qantas operated Classic Reward flights

 

[aurora_b]

As mentioned above, you should only get SC on QF operated Classic Reward Flights, so definitely sounds like an anomaly? Interesting how you were also awarded points, which is contrary to what is published on the website where it states you won't earn points on Classic Flight Rewards or Classic Plus Flight Rewards.

 

[sudoer]

does anyone know why the same reward flight might have earned Status Credits in 2025 but not in 2026?

Did you have any sort of IRROPS situation/schedule change in 2025? You may have been rebooked in a revenue booking class.

Many experienced similar "bank errors" on BA J awards a few years back but I don't recall seeing any reports of MH errors.

What others have said is correct though, you shouldn't be earning SC on a non QF award.

 

[kpc]

Did you have any sort of IRROPS situation/schedule change in 2025? You may have been rebooked in a revenue booking class.

Many experienced similar "bank errors" on BA J awards a few years back but I don't recall seeing any reports of MH errors.

What others have said is correct though, you shouldn't be earning SC on a non QF award.

There was a loophole that if you had an award booking with MH using Qf pts,, and there was a change eg flight time with the MH flight, this resulted in the MH flight looking like a revenue flight, and hence Qf SCs and pts were awarded.

It was well known amongst AFFers but for obvious reasons never publicised. I assume the OP MH flights were changed somehow hence he got Qf SCs and pts

 

[hutch]

While I am aware that points club only gets you SC on QF flights, I once got SC on an Malaysia flight which was a reward booking.

As noted, it was a bank error in my favour. Best advice is to .... certainly don't contact the bank unless you have something in writing supporting your request.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I would say that there was a bank error in your favour in 2025, if it was a Reward flight..
You should only get Status Credits on Qantas operated Classic Reward flights

This is not what the website says.
The website says you get SCs on QF marketed Flight Rewards.
The operating carrier is not mentioned as a criterion.
Further "Flight Rewards"is quite distinct from "flights".
Obviously the flight is marketed by the partner airline - in this case MH.
But that is not the same question as who is marketing the "Flight Reward".

Please note the capital letters - this is a defined term, normal language rules of interpretation do not apply.



Now in practice QF claims that any flight with another airline code is not "QF marketed".
This is clearly nonsense.
A QF classic reward on a partner airline can only be booked and paid for on the QF website.
It can only be paid for with QFF points.
It is inarguably QF marketed.

Further if you seek more info this is the page you are taken to. Note that it includes OneWorld and Partner airlines.
Yes I know this is the page for earning points - but the link from "earning SCs on CR flights" goes here!

 

[sudoer]

A QF classic reward on a partner airline can only be booked and paid for on the QF website.
It can only be paid for with QFF points.
It is inarguably QF marketed.

What? A partner operated award booked through QFF will almost always be marketed under the partner's code.

 

[SYD]

This is not what the website says.
The website says you get SCs on QF marketed Flight Rewards.
The operating carrier is not mentioned as a criterion.
Further "Flight Rewards"is quite distinct from "flights".
Obviously the flight is marketed by the partner airline - in this case MH.
But that is not the same question as who is marketing the "Flight Reward".

Please note the capital letters - this is a defined term, normal language rules of interpretation do not apply.

View attachment 531716

Now in practice QF claims that any flight with another airline code is not "QF marketed".
This is clearly nonsense.
A QF classic reward on a partner airline can only be booked and paid for on the QF website.
It can only be paid for with QFF points.
It is inarguably QF marketed.

Further if you seek more info this is the page you are taken to. Note that it includes OneWorld and Partner airlines.
Yes I know this is the page for earning points - but the link from "earning SCs on CR flights" goes here!
View attachment 531714

OT, but “Marketed” and “Operated” usually mean airline code on the ticketed flight number, and actual airline operating the flight. Not necessarily how it was sold.

But in most cases a CR flight booked via QF will ticket with the operating carrier’s code and normally wouldn’t earn SCs. There are exceptions, such as SB and some others. I believe they still earn SCs as CR if flown with a QF code.

 

[dylarr]

There are only a small handful of partner airlines where Classic Rewards are booked on a QF marketed/coded flight number, but where they are you do earn SC as a Points Club member, even if the flight isn't QF operated.

These partner airlines are Air Tahiti Nui, Skytrans, Aircalin and Indigo. None of the oneworld partners.

 

[hutch]

This is not what the website says.
The website says you get SCs on QF marketed Flight Rewards.
The operating carrier is not mentioned as a criterion.
Further "Flight Rewards"is quite distinct from "flights".
Obviously the flight is marketed by the partner airline - in this case MH.
But that is not the same question as who is marketing the "Flight Reward".

Please note the capital letters - this is a defined term, normal language rules of interpretation do not apply.

View attachment 531716

Now in practice QF claims that any flight with another airline code is not "QF marketed".
This is clearly nonsense.
A QF classic reward on a partner airline can only be booked and paid for on the QF website.
It can only be paid for with QFF points.
It is inarguably QF marketed.

Further if you seek more info this is the page you are taken to. Note that it includes OneWorld and Partner airlines.
Yes I know this is the page for earning points - but the link from "earning SCs on CR flights" goes here!
View attachment 531714

Except Marketing Carrier is defined by the T&Cs of the FF program.

And when you go check the earn rate.

People can choose this as their fight if they wish, but it may be a form of arguing semantics. YMMV.

 

[oz_mark]

This is not what the website says.
The website says you get SCs on QF marketed Flight Rewards.

I meant marketing carrier, and that is defined in the T&Cs.

'Marketing Carrier' means the airline whose airline code or number (e.g. 'QF' for Qantas) is recorded on the ticket;

In the case of most reward flights it is the same as the operating carrier.