Qantas? You Call those the Biggest Changes to Status in the Program History? Ha!

[serfty]

I find Hyperbole often laughable and this takes the cake:

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

QANTAS FREQUENT FLYER UNVEILS THE BIGGEST CHANGES TO STATUS IN PROGRAM HISTORY​

Published on 26th February 2026 at 8:38

In my opinion , the biggest change to status went live in September 1998 when Tier Credits became the means of determining status, not number of flights or distance. "Flights" were those that earned frequent flyer points, one needed 80 for top tier Qantas Status and could be in any class.

I'll dig up more on this, but back then there was no life time status (in fact when LTS was introduced, the over 200 flights I had taken on Qantas before that date have not counted).

 

[SharelleT]

I find Hyperbole often laughable and this takes the cake:

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

In my opinion , the biggest change to status went live in September 1998 when Tier Credits became the means of determining status, not number of flights or distance. "Flights" were those that earned frequent flyer points, one need 80 for top tier Qantas Status and could be in any class.

I'll dig up more on this, but back then there was no life time status (in fact when that was introduced, the over 200 flights I had taken on Qantas before that date do not count.

The roll-over of status credits has me interested TBH!

 

[1A Please]

Agree - i probably 'lost' about 6000SC in the preceding 2 years 1996-1998 - which were the most travelled in my life The days of business class business travel at a whim. Standard Gold with access to the coughpy First class lounge at the time

And i probably doubled that with United, Northwest etc at the time also haha

 

[SYD]

“Simpler & Fairer” (TM), which was neither simpler nor fairer was pretty drastic but not as bad as VA’s “Complex and nastier”…

Thread 'Heads up about program changes'

Mar 27, 2014

This evening, Qantas will announce some changes to the way Frequent Flyer members earn in the air as of 1 July 2014. As a community that is most familiar with our program, I wanted you to be one of the first to hear about the changes.

Overall, the focus is on making it easier for members to understand the number of Qantas Points and Status credits earned by moving from a distance based calculation, to a zonal earn table for both Qantas and Jetstar. There are also some changes to Status credit earn with other partner airlines.

We believe it’s a fairer way to earn points and Status...

• Red Roo
• Replies: 3,446
• Forum: Qantas | Frequent Flyer

• 

 

[openseat]

At least they didn't use the word: enhanced (or did they.....)

 

[opusman]

At least they didn't use the word: enhanced (or did they.....)

They sure did