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).

 

[Seat0B]

I’d just like it to be simpler and fairer - in the dictionary sense of those words. It’s so complex as it is to work out how to earn and maintain status for various airlines, and making changes just makes it worse. I know, dream on. But honestly, wouldn’t you think airlines would want passengers to know how they could become higher status (and thus potentially more loyal to the airline)?

 

[SYD]

Why not both?

Most hotels have nights or points (spend). Yes, some cap out one or other eg Accor.

Some airlines have 2 or more (from miles, segments and spend) - which is more inclusive and engaging for FFs.

 

[aikman]

Anyone who chooses status credits based on spend is basically telling the world that they (or their employer) have plenty of .

 

[DejaBrew]

Why not both?

Ah yes, the "Old El Paso" option

Personally, I like the current QF system. With the obvious exception of LTP, status is realistically attainable/achievable and the benefits are such that there is (reasonable) incentive to aim for it. Perhaps they haven't quite struck the right balance with it yet, but I'd prefer the current setup to a spend-based criteria. Unless you're flying J all the time, the costs for earning status would likely be astronomical (i.e. the recent AFF article being a good indicator), and if you were flying J all the time, then the relative added benefits of status would be minimal (unless travelling on other OW carriers).

 

[justinbrett]

The problem is how you deal with oneworld partners. I think the upper tiers of elites are flying other airlines as well as QF - so either the spend route is QF only or it ends up a hybrid model.

Even airlines such as BA who have moved to revenue based spend have to maintain systems for traditional methods when the ticket is from a different airline, even if it includes BA flights. So even BA is not totally a revenue based program.

Say the target is A$20K for WP, that’s at least 114 SYD/MEL trips at $175 each. That would get you 1140 SCs, which is almost enough under the current system. If flex, that’s 46 trips at $433, which still gets you close at 920 SCs. I guess regional routes that are much more expensive would be easier, but surely this is quite a small group.

The other consideration is spend would exclude taxes and fees, which can make up a sizeable chunk of a Y fare. I would think QF would like to use profit rather than spend but that’s almost impossible to do.

 

[jase05]

The problem is how you deal with oneworld partners. I think the upper tiers of elites are flying other airlines as well as QF - so either the spend route is QF only or it ends up a hybrid model.

Even airlines such as BA who have moved to revenue based spend have to maintain systems for traditional methods when the ticket is from a different airline, even if it includes BA flights. So even BA is not totally a revenue based program.

Say the target is A$20K for WP, that’s at least 114 SYD/MEL trips at $175 each. That would get you 1140 SCs, which is almost enough under the current system. If flex, that’s 46 trips at $433, which still gets you close at 920 SCs. I guess regional routes that are much more expensive would be easier, but surely this is quite a small group.

The other consideration is spend would exclude taxes and fees, which can make up a sizeable chunk of a Y fare. I would think QF would like to use profit rather than spend but that’s almost impossible to do.

Yeah, the BA system is a bit of a hybrid mess.
As someone who does fly J only domestically and often spur of the moment I don’t mind a revenue system as I do feel as though we “miss out” a bit on earn but I also understand it’s the way it is so have learnt to grin and bear it

 

[Ade]

Anyone who chooses status credits based on spend is basically telling the world that they (or their employer) have plenty of .

Not really though IMHO .... Most of my travel is work funded, but we can only ever book the cheapest fare. And that cheapest fare doesn't get us much. For example - averaging 2 work trips interstate (earns 10 SC on QF red-e-deal fares) each month (on a good quarter) only gets as much as 500SC in a year (without DSC). We usually do 1 interstate work trip each month (so that number is even lesser). Add DSC to the mix, might get to retain/earn Gold each year. I know Gold is still a good achievement. But as someone who used to WP via personal funded travel, getting only Gold via work seems like a downgrade.

 

[33kft]

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.

Neither of which have anything to do with flight revenue, in fact PCP could not have less to do with flight revenue, it even caps out at 20K of 350K for flight activity. And the SC on the ground promotion is for spending primarily with partners, not Qantas directly, although they of course benefit indirectly

Concluding that the program is toying with revenue based status because of promos where SC can be earned for non-flight revenue is like suggesting the program was going to go to dynamic pricing in the 90s when they introduced points earn for credit card spend

 

[RooFlyer]

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)?

I'd be fine with this. Choice is good. I don't think those gaming DSCs for P1 or WP would take up the $$ option, though.

 

[levelnine]

Neither of which have anything to do with flight revenue, in fact PCP could not have less to do with flight revenue, it even caps out at 20K of 350K for flight activity. And the SC on the ground promotion is for spending primarily with partners, not Qantas directly, although they of course benefit indirectly

You don't know what a spend-based program means.

A spend-based program does not necessarily mean spend exclusively with the airline. It also includes spend with on-the-ground partners.

Indeed, that's exactly what Alaska Airline's program — the example used in the post — now means. It is also what occurs with other spend-based programs: BA, AA, etc.

 

[BrianQQ]

Spend-based would probably mean the death of myself retaining Platinum. Looking at VA's program, $12,000 is a tough ask.

At least you can sorta game the SC system.

 

[justinbrett]

Spend-based would probably mean the death of myself retaining Platinum. Looking at VA's program, $12,000 is a tough ask.

At least you can sorta game the SC system.

QF would be asking for much more than 12K, I’d say at least 20K excluding tax. BA is double that (but have other avenues to get tier points).

Otherwise for 12K, a single return business class fare to LHR/LAX gets you WP., you need at least two trips under the current system.

I can’t see why QF would make it easier to get status for no additional spend. If you’re flying regional you probably don’t have a lot of options. For other flying, they’d want you to get there with status credits.

Bringing status credits in for ground based spend is another matter, and probably quite likely.

 

[oz_mark]

Given everything that goes into determining how many status credits you earn on a flight, the current status credit system on Qantas is basically a proxy for a spend based system. While not a very good proxy in that it is not a linear relationship between spend and status credits, it does take into account distance, and the class of service. In a way, the more you spend, the more status credits. But it is structured in a way that allows gaming of the system.

 

[Ade]

I'd be fine with this. Choice is good. I don't think those gaming DSCs for P1 or WP would take up the $$ option, though.

Agree … but knowing some of those that “game” DSCs for WP/P1, they’d be out of the game really quickly when the earn changes to $ based … for instance, know someone who hit P1 with a rather really small $ spend … they have been tight lipped with their achievement though.

 

[Ade]

Given everything that goes into determining how many status credits you earn on a flight, the current status credit system on Qantas is basically a proxy for a spend based system. While not a very good proxy in that it is not a linear relationship between spend and status credits, it does take into account distance, and the class of service. In a way, the more you spend, the more status credits. But it is structured in a way that allows gaming of the system.

I’d say that’s what most pax expect .. the more distance you need to fly, the more you have to spend (allegedly), the more SC you earn … I’d say that the current method of SC calculation by QF sounds good and reasonable ,. Changing to a $ based spend would only make the loyal QF fliers look elsewhere. There ain’t much for domestic, but international there are many more options for OW-S/E pax.