Qantas Removing Points Option from Loyalty Bonus

Qantas Frequent Flyer provides a Loyalty Bonus each time you earn 500 status credits from Qantas or Jetstar flights, up to four times per membership year.

Currently, each time you earn a Loyalty Bonus, you’ll have 90 days to select from one of two rewards when you log in on Qantas.com or in the Qantas App:

• 50 status credits, or
• 8,000 Qantas Points.

However, Qantas has today announced that it will remove the option to select 8,000 Qantas Points from 15 September 2025.

Qantas removing the option to select points

From 15 September 2025, you’ll automatically receive 50 bonus status credits each time you qualify for a Loyalty Bonus.

Qantas Frequent Flyer has advised some (but not all) members of the change in a monthly activity statement newsletter sent out today. It has also posted the following notice on the “Membership tier journey” page of its website:

Please note, as of 15 September 2025 the Loyalty Bonus will be Status Credits only. The option to select Qantas Points will no longer be available.

Does this change meet Qantas Frequent Flyer’s own terms & conditions?

Some AFF members have pointed out that Qantas Frequent Flyer’s own terms & conditions require the program to give at least three months’ notice of these kinds of changes. According to section 3.2 of the T&Cs:

3.2 We will use best efforts to advise Members of material changes to these Terms and where such changes will limit Benefits:

(a) if the Benefit is provided by Qantas, to give Members at least three months notice;
(b) if the Benefit is provided by a third party, where possible, give Members at least 30 days notice.

As this is a material change that limits the benefits available through the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, and it’s within Qantas’ control, it’s hard to see how giving barely a month of notice is sufficient.

Loyalty Bonus status credits will no longer count towards Platinum One

Until 31 December 2025, status credits earned from Loyalty Bonuses count towards attaining or retaining Qantas Platinum One status.

However, this will also change next year. From January 2026, Loyalty Bonus status credits won’t contribute to Platinum One.

Essentially, this unfortunately means that from next year, the Loyalty Bonus will be rather pointless for anyone who wants to earn or retain Platinum One status.

Which status credits count towards the Qantas Loyalty Bonus?

Only status credits earned from Qantas and Jetstar flights are counted towards the Loyalty Bonus.

This includes Qantas marketed flights with a “QF” flight number that are operated by partner airlines. It also includes Jetstar Japan flights, but note that you’ll only earn status credits for Jetstar flights when purchasing a Flex, Flex Plus or Max bundle.

If you’re a Points Club or Points Club Plus member, status credits that you earn on Qantas-marketed Classic Flight Rewards are eligible.

Bonus status credits earned through offers such as “Double Status Credits” promotions do not count towards the Loyalty Bonus. Neither do flights marketed by partner airlines.

How to check your current Loyalty Bonus progress

You can see how close you are to your next Loyalty Bonus by checking on the Qantas website or in the Qantas App.

Using the Qantas website

On the Qantas website, you can check your Loyalty Bonus progress by logging into your Qantas Frequent Flyer account and going to “Status Activity”:

Using the Qantas App

Alternatively, log into the Qantas App and go to “My QFF”. Then, select the “View progress” option to bring up a page similar to the one shown below:

Should you choose 50 status credits or 8,000 points?

Until 15 September 2025, you’ll still have the option to choose between 50 status credits or 8,000 Qantas Points when earning a Loyalty Bonus.

If you’re chasing Qantas Gold or Platinum status, it probably makes the most sense to choose the status credits. They will make it easier for you to earn or renew your Qantas status as there aren’t currently many other ways to earn 50 status credits without actually flying.

That said, if you’re already on track to achieve your desired status tier during your current membership year, you might as well select the points. 8,000 Qantas Points (plus the taxes and carrier charges) is almost enough to book a one-way Qantas 737 Economy Classic Reward flight from Sydney to Melbourne, Brisbane or Canberra.

Any status credits you earn through a Loyalty Bonus do count towards lifetime Silver, Gold or Platinum status with Qantas Frequent Flyer.

If you choose the 8,000 points, these will not count towards attaining Points Club.

When to select your Loyalty Bonus reward

Until 15 September 2025, you’ll generally be able to select your Loyalty Bonus reward within a day or two of reaching 500 eligible status credits. You can then claim your chosen reward any time within 90 days. If you don’t select this within 90 days, it will expire.

If your membership year is due to end in less than 90 days and you wish to choose the 50 status credits, it could make sense to wait until your next membership year begins to claim the reward. The status credits will count towards the membership year in which you claim the reward.

However, we expect that going forward, Qantas will just automatically give you 50 status credits as soon as you earn a Loyalty Bonus. This will put an end to the “trick” of taking your bonus in your next membership year, having earned it for flights you took during your current membership year.