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

 

[Himeno]

“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

• 

If they hadn't cut the non QF status credit earn in that, I would have been at (or at least close to) life time plat now.

 

[SYD]

If they hadn't cut the non QF status credit earn in that, I would have been at (or at least close to) life time plat now.

I suspect a lot of us would be much further along now…

I’ve still managed to work the system to maintain annual WP since then. Not sure if I’ve ever earned the bonus SCs on the higher QF fare types that were introduced at the same time…

 

[Hampton Mike]

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

If you're consistently Platinum and earn say 1800 SCs a year, then you will be able to roll over half of the surplus (50% of 400 = 200) into the next year. I'm not sure how that really helps, unless you then had a bad year and only earned 1200 of your own. But the roll over is only a one-off because the following year you need to get 1400 of your own again.

Now, if the rollover counted to lifetime status, that would be very helpful....

 

[Ade]

Now, if the rollover counted to lifetime status, that would be very helpful....

My understanding was that it would count towards lifetime, just not for earning/retaining P1? Or have I misunderstood it?

 

[SYD]

If you're consistently Platinum and earn say 1800 SCs a year, then you will be able to roll over half of the surplus (50% of 400 = 200) into the next year. I'm not sure how that really helps, unless you then had a bad year and only earned 1200 of your own. But the roll over is only a one-off because the following year you need to get 1400 of your own again.

I suspect that’s part of the internal logic to encourage peeps to over achieve each year.

The previous DSC offer, we took the “Points” option since we knew we’d be well over WP requal, already have LTG and wouldn’t get P1 (let alone get significantly closer to LTP).

SYD+1 is kind of regretting that now given a banked WP year is still a few ‘000 SCs away (I have one at least and probably 5+ years for the next).

Alas, we’ll still have close to 2000 SCs this year but won’t benefit from the rollover (won’t start before our member year ticks over). But since a lot of our flying is on partners, going forward the rollover could be a good thing since we don’t get a lot of loyalty bonuses.

My understanding was that it would count towards lifetime, just not for earning/retaining P1? Or have I misunderstood it?

No, they won’t count since they’ve already counted previously.

 

[DejaBrew]

My understanding was that it would count towards lifetime, just not for earning/retaining P1? Or have I misunderstood it?

The rollover credits count toward earning/retaining any Status level in the following year (including P1), but they will not add to LT status otherwise (as per @SYD) that would be double-dipping. Think of the rollover credits as being the same idea as the recent one-off Thank You Loyalty Bonus we all got (i.e. early SEP last year).

 

[burnt]

Points Club Plus, currently I can earn SC on redemption tickets and often book a DSC run when I can which helps me keep WP whilst I am retired, it would seem that when my PC+ finally expires and is withdrawn, this current benefit of being able to earn SC will go away?

 

[DejaBrew]

Points Club Plus, currently I can earn SC on redemption tickets and often book a DSC run when I can which helps me keep WP whilst I am retired, it would seem that when my PC+ finally expires and is withdrawn, this current benefit of being able to earn SC will go away?

According to the Matt's article here, Qantas is considering how to offer this under the updated program but are yet to commit to anything.

 

[Hampton Mike]

Points Club Plus, currently I can earn SC on redemption tickets and often book a DSC run when I can which helps me keep WP whilst I am retired, it would seem that when my PC+ finally expires and is withdrawn, this current benefit of being able to earn SC will go away?

Unless QF reinstates SCs on CFRs under another mechanism - Matt said QF was still considering this.

 

[pauleg]

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

I agree. I'm LTG so not sure what they would view as "surplus" as in I don't need to achieve any level to maintain Gold but whatever is rolled over would count towards Platinum for a bit. . .

 

[wandering_fred]

Excuse the rant.

For someone whose most frequent flying was from 1978 to 1991, I have little compassion/consideration for those complaining about not having credit for flights prior to the creation of the current QFF program. A ten year break in the 1990s saw me lose 32K points with PanAm/AA.
Equally I feel comments/complaints about reduced flying (once one's annual celebration count passes 70) creating difficulty in maintaining "status" are "fluff". Hint: That was a while ago for me.
While life time status (OW ruby) with AA is sometimes useful, it (crediting there instead of to QFF) also means that I will probably reach the point of "he ceased wandering by flying" before I reach LTG with QFF (3203 SC needed). But my crediting to AA would have generated little status with QF.
And a dalliance of 2 years with CX Gold generated op-ups but little else.

Read the rules. Decide what is currently best for your situation (wives occasionally like to fly - especially when visiting family requires it). Schedule your wandering.

Fred

PS: don't be surprised when changes in the frequent flyer programs' "rules" happen

 

[PineappleSkip]

The biggest change to any program is when the program burns itself down and all its member points (and customer loyalty) and is resurrected. The once was Country Comfort Kookaburra Club made an art form of it. At least when Golden Wing crashed and burned, it only crashed and burned once.

I would however nominate Qantas for an award for doublespeak hyperbole. Simpler (meaning binned) is just the new enhanced!

Cheers skip

 

[arrow]

. Standard Gold with access to the coughpy First class lounge at the time

I’m curious, what was the first class lounge like back then? Was it better than the current lounge?

 

[SYD]

I’m curious, what was the first class lounge like back then? Was it better than the current lounge?

No