Qantas unveils the biggest changes to status in program history

[levelnine]

Not how it works in other programs with rollover. Rollover is only above the threshold to retain your current level.

Fair enough. It would be an interesting result. If that is the case, it is the opposite of a soft landing — it is in fact a super hard landing.

The WP with 1000SCs is treated 15% worse (no 150SC rollover) than the SG with 1000SCs.

 

[kamchatsky]

Interesting changes indeed!

I've written this piece for AFF which explains in detail what's changing, as well as my thoughts on the program changes:

Major Qantas Status Changes Coming in 2026

Qantas is changing the way you earn status in 2026 and beyond, with new options to earn and roll over status credits. But it's not all good news...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Curiously, do you get heads up on these news beforehand? The reason I asked is that your piece came out just after it was available in the newsroom.

If so, how many days ahead you were given?

 

[Kangol]

More details here: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/program-changes.html

Thanks - didn't look at details until now, just playfully speculating!

The relevant part:

Status Credit rollovers will be visible in your account and activity statement, along with other Status Credits earned in the program.

The Status Credits rolled over will go towards attaining and retaining status for Silver, Gold, Platinum and Platinum One.

The rolled over Status Credits won’t contribute towards any bonus Rewards, the Points Club Plus Status Credit rollover, Lifetime Status or Status Accelerators.

For Platinum One members, the rolled over Status Credits will count towards the 3,600 total Status Credits required to retain tier status, but will not count toward the minimum 2,700 Status Credits required from flights with a Qantas (QF) flight number.

There might be something small here for some P1s... if the 500 SC rollover counts exclusively towards the QF marketed 2700 SC threshold, that might make it easier to requalify for those who prefer to get their SCs from Oneworld Partners vs. Qantas (i.e. only requiring 2200 QF marketed SCs)

Unfortunately not - just read the details, see post above

 

[Batterytraveller]

Interested to see how this pans out. I am just about I hit LTG and was all ready to jump ship to Japan Milage Bank because they penalise you a lot less for flying Qantas to Japan than QF do for flying JL. I’ve been grabbing a few life status points here and there where it makes sense in preparation.

 

[blackcat20]

The existing benefits of Points Club and Green Tier will remain valid until their natural expiry.

 

[33kft]

I think QFF are missing a trick on the requal thresholds. They are a powerful stretch/sunk cost psychology, the idea that a couple more SCs this year will save you a bunch next year. I do think people who value plat more in certain years eg when international travel is booked will be more likely to just forego it in the off years rather than try to maintain a continuous run

 

[downgraded]

Doesn't always have to be something for everyone.

But id think most P1s would benefit from rollover SCs, and the new banked platinum reward levels.

When someone's so stuck on they're P1, I don't think QF will worry too much. Those LTGs that just disappear off the face of the earth for QF seem to be a significant focus of these changes.

 

[jonboixxx]

My year resets in 2 days. I assume I'll have at least a whole year of status quo. I'll be watching the changes to SC earn on CR as I achieve WP each year solely on CR. If that is made too hard, I'll be pretty much out, as the main benefit to me was the WP release of international flights and my stockpile of points will be redirected elsewhere.

 

[exLXCXFF]

For someone who is not based in Australia, and uses the DCS to requalify for Gold, the increased SC 100 threshold to SC 700 to retain Gold is not great news as earning on the ground is almost impossible if you are not in Australia. I also did not use Green Tier and was not eligible for the SC bonus as the SC 600 came together using DSC.

So, in essence, book more to get to SC 700 going forward...

 

[NSun]

I just achieved LTG and earning (D)SCs on reward flights was a big help towards getting me there and also to keep Platinum for so many years. It remains to be seen if there'll be some kind of way to still do this - it'd be a big devaluation if so.

Oh well, at least I might get 1 year extra of WP once my status runs out in its own right.

 

[justinbrett]

Fair enough. It would be an interesting result. If that is the case, it is the opposite of a soft landing — it is in fact a super hard landing.

The WP with 1000SCs is treated 15% worse (no 150SC rollover) than the SG with 1000SCs.

It would be an incentive to cycle through soft landings every second year if this was the case (more so).

Year one - attain P1
Year two - P1, don’t retain
Year three - soft land to WP, have an extra head start from the unused SCs, attain P1

Definitely can’t see it happening.

 

[Aeryn]

But even this is vague.

My FF year is 1-Aug to 31-Jul. I'm currently PC having last qualified prior to 31-Jul-25.

I'm still in process of earning PC for this year; and thought I had to 31-Aug-26 to do so, to then benefit from it until 31-Jul-27.

But if these changes come into effect before end of Aug, my current natural expiry date would be 31-Jul-26 invalidating all PC earn so far this FF year and leaving without benefit for next year.

I don't do anything special to earn PC its easily achieved through flying and normal CC spend BUT they really need to provide hard dates for each member so we know what we are dealing with and can decide whether to bow out of working to retain status or have enough time to earn the extra 250 or more SCs now needed.

 

[mbe1510]

Thinking that we will see a big uptick in travellers becoming Silver frequent flyers- especially those that are "points hackers" who would have been Points Club/Plus members and may not often fly.

If you can earn 140 status credits on the ground, which many will - then an overseas trip to London in Economy and a SYD-MEL return would give you Silver. Certainly seems Qantas is now pro status over points now.

 

[MelbFlyer]

Certainly seems Qantas is now pro status over points now.

I think if this were the case, they'd restrict classic reward seats to Silver or higher.

But I guess, that would spell disaster for them as there's a lot of Bronze reward seat chasers these days, thanks to websites like Point Hacks etc.

 

[justinbrett]

I think if this were the case, they'd restrict classic reward seats to Silver or higher.

But I guess, that would spell disaster for them as there's a lot of Bronze reward seat chasers these days, thanks to websites like Point Hacks etc.

That would destroy their entire business model of selling QF points to third parties.

 

[QFFHntrGthr]

Absolutely zilch in this for P1s who are QF's most loyal FFs.

There may yet be a silver lining in those enhanced on the ground vouchers - the wish of a set number of CL invites per year might materialise.

 

[jwak]

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-frequent-flyer-unveils-the-biggest-changes-to-status-in-program-history

Qantas Frequent Flyer is introducing the most significant changes to earning and retaining status since the program's inception, giving members the ability to roll over unused Status Credits and earn them through everyday spending for the first time.

• Earning Status Credits on the ground – a permanent way for members to earn in addition to flying, from Qantas credit cards to hundreds of program partners.
• Status Credit roll over – the ability for tiered members to roll over up to 50 per cent of their excess Status Credits[1], which currently reset, from one membership year to the next.
• More lifetime milestones – greater recognition for Lifetime Gold members, including the ability to earn and ‘bank’ up to five complimentary years of Platinum Status.
• Enhanced tier benefits – an additional lounge invitation each membership year for Silver members, alongside new on-the-ground vouchers and discounts for all higher tiers[2].
• Removing program complexity – the retirement of overlapping sub-programs including Points Club and Green Tier in favour of one core recognition pathway.
• Single Status Credit targets – the removal of separate attain and retain requirements, in favour of a single target for each tier level.
• An improved digital experience – a new search tool on qantas.com to help members find international Classic Reward seats on Qantas and partner airlines in seconds
  
  
  Status Credits on the Ground
  All members will be able to earn up to 140 additional Status Credits each year from ten everyday categories. This follows a record-breaking trial in 2025, where members embraced earning Status Credits via credit cards, retail partners, and utility providers. Status Credits earned on the ground will also count towards Lifetime tier balances, helping members to reach Lifetime status sooner. This expansion launches later in 2026 and will coincide with more major partners joining the program.
  
  Status Credit roll over
  
  For the first time, members will have the flexibility to roll over up to 50 per cent of their unused Status Credits into their next membership year. Roll overs will be capped at 100 Status Credits for Silver members, 350 for Gold, and 500 for Platinum. This permanent benefit will replace the previous loyalty bonus offered to some members. This new roll-over benefit will launch later in 2026.
  
  Single Status Credit targets
  With Status Credit roll over and expanded earning opportunities on the ground, the program will also move to a single Status Credit target for each tier. For example, Gold status will require 700 Status Credits annually (previously 700 to attain and 600 to retain). The removal of these separate attain and retain requirements will be introduced in 2027.

For someone like me on 67000 lifetime status credits who gave up flying Qantas 6 years ago, the offer of 4 years of platinum is actually very enticing.....

 

[Aeryn]

This is obviously about trying to get people to fly more on paid fares. Its the only conclusion that can be drawn given the removal of loyalty bonus and SC earn on award flights.

The POTG is a major help for Silver but unlikely to offset the loss of loyalty bonus and earn on CRs for Gold and WP.

P1 still have to earn 2700SCs on QF metal; but this could backfire with SG and WP choosing to not redeem awards on QF metal (as no longer any benefit) and also seeking the extra SCs they need from partners rather than QF as I'm sure QF would prefer.

I feel like they would have been better to keep loyalty bonus, keep PC earn, scrap PC+ and maybe have introduced a new qualifier such as needing to 25% of SCs on QF metal for PS, 50% of SCs on QF metal for SGs and WPs rather than increase the requalification thresholds - as this would drive greater loyalty.

 

[levelnine]

Thinking that we will see a big uptick in travellers becoming Silver frequent flyers- especially those that are "points hackers" who would have been Points Club/Plus members and may not often fly.

If you can earn 140 status credits on the ground, which many will - then an overseas trip to London in Economy and a SYD-MEL return would give you Silver. Certainly seems Qantas is now pro status over points now.

I don't think it's a massive change at the lower level.

A 'points hacker' could get 100SC rollover per year from dumping 350K points into QFF and 50SC from Green Tier with a few tricks. Now they're having to earn across a big number of categories to get 140SC.

 

[SYD]

View attachment 498998

But even this is vague.

My FF year is 1-Aug to 31-Jul. Im currently PC having last qualified prior to 31-Jul-25.

Im still in process of earning PC for this year; and thought I had to 31-Aug-26 to do so, to then benefit from it until 31-Jul-27.

But if these changes come into effect before end of Aug, my current natural expiry date would be 31-Jul-26 invalidating all PC earn o far this year and leaving without benefit for next year.

Now i dont do anything special to earn PC its easily achieved through flying and normal CC spend BUT they really need to provide hard dates for each member so we know what we are dealing with and can decide whether to bow out of working to retain status or have enough time to earn the extra 250 or more SCs no needed.

We’re in the same boat but my reading of “Late 2026” might mean we just sneak in for any PC/PC+ and GT (as applicable) thru to 31 July 2027.

But we probably won’t get any SC Rollover until 01 Aug 2027 so hopefully the lower requal threshold next member year?

We’ve already knocked PC retain out of the park and looking at PC+. The 100 SC rollover could be very handy as a one off!