Would you like the choice to earn airline status based on flights OR spend?

[Mattg]

There's been lots of debate on this forum about the merits of awarding status credits based on spend (as Virgin Australia now does), versus based on flights taken and distance flown (as Qantas still does).

While many people on here prefer the Qantas method, there are a few people (particularly those flying on more expensive fares such as Flex fares or to regional destinations, who earn SCs at a relatively low rate under the current Qantas system) who might actually prefer to earn status credits based on spend.

It got me thinking: would you be happy with the option to earn status credits based on flights/distance flown or spend?

Some overseas airlines already offer the option to earn based on segments or miles, for example. And many hotel loyalty programs do the same - upgrading your status once you earn enough of either nights, stays or status points - whichever comes first.

Alaska Airlines is introducing something similar as well with the 2026 changes to Atmos Rewards status. Its members can choose to earn status based on spend, miles flown or segments. In this case, though, Atmos Rewards members have to select which metric they want to use up-front and can't change it mid-year.

With all of this in mind... how would you feel if Qantas decided to introduce a second option that lets you earn status if you spend $X on Qantas flights (as an additional option to the current status credit system)?

 

[levelnine]

Qantas have been flirting with this idea with the 100SC for PCP and now the SC on the ground promotion, so it's not unreasonable to think they might move this way.

It's worth noting that Alaska's choice is heavily tilted. When they introduced spend-based status earn, they removed a lot of incentives to earn status from segments/distance flown (eg class of service bonuses). In short, it's now harder to earn Alaska status via the traditional method.

The trick that VA missed, in my opinion, is that they largely removed the gameability and thus disincentivised a cohort of customers that can be lucrative if properly managed (though the very best gamers will be losses).

The US carriers have done spend-based status far better. They actually increased the gameability by linking status to credit card earn (plenty of games there) and shopping portal/etc earn (even more there).