Qantas Award Costs Rise, Hope Remains
So, Qantas Frequent Flyer recently had this whole “let’s shake things up” moment, rolling out a bunch of changes over the next few months. Spoiler alert: it’s mostly a bummer city, but with a silver lining thrown in as a consolation prize.
Now, when the news first hit, we were left dangling without the deets on the award charts. But guess what? We’ve now got the scoop, and it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.
Qantas Hiking Classic Reward Seat Costs
Come August 5, 2025, brace yourself for a spike in the points needed to snag a Classic Reward seat—Qantas’s take on saver level award seats. They proudly announce this as the first uptick in award costs since 2019. That’s right, folks, we’ve only seen this once before since 2004.
The damage? We’re talking a 5-20% hike in many award costs. Oh, and don’t forget those pesky fee increases for premium cabin awards. Here, feast your eyes on some examples of what we’re in for.
The new Classic Flight Reward chart, covering flights with Qantas, Emirates, Fiji Airways, and American, is ready for take-off starting August 5, 2025.
Now, take a stroll down memory lane to see how the award chart looked before this change—valid for tickets booked through August 4, 2025.
What the Execs Say
Here’s what Andrew Glance, Qantas Loyalty CEO, had to say about these changes:
“A lot has changed in the last six years. These updates will let us keep upgrading the program for the long haul and up our game with Classic and Classic Plus Reward seat availability for members annually.”
“You might’ve seen other airlines tweaking their loyalty programs lately, so we wanted to give our members plenty of heads-up to plan their travels. That’s why our reward fare changes are on hold for another six months.”
Discounting Jetstar Awards
Starting August 5, 2025, Qantas Frequent Flyer is introducing a game-changer in Australia: the lowest one-way economy reward seat option. Jetstar, Qantas’s budget buddy, is your go-to for short-haul awards kicking off at a mere 5,700 points. Lock in those flights quicker than ever!
Here’s a sneak peek at the new Jetstar award chart.
Boosting Partner Award Options
October 2025 marks the dawn of more partner award options, with up to one million extra international Classic Reward seats annually. Say hello to premium economy awards on Air France, Finnair, Iberia, and KLM—just what we’ve been waiting for. Plus, pen fickers can now book Classic Reward seats with Hawaiian, opening up new routes to and from the Aloha State.
Increasing Points Earning
Come July 2025, Qantas frequent flyers get a little extra pep in their step with more points up for grabs in two scenarios:
- Earn up to 25% more points on Qantas domestic flights, although the specifics remain under wraps.
- No more Status Bonus cap for flying premium—rake in those extra points in first and business class.
Qantas is calling this a boost, promising folks nearly four billion more points every year.
My Two Cents on the Changes
Let’s face it, these changes are not exactly scream-out-loud-amazing. Qantas awards are now pricier, both in points and cash. I mean, sure, it’s been six years since they last tinkered with it, so maybe they were due. But in my opinion, this program has never been all that great. You’re roped in unless you don’t have options.
- The increased award costs sting, but good luck even finding premium cabin availability—it’s like a needle in a haystack.
- More partner redemption options sound rosier, but Qantas’s pricing is rarely competitive. Why bank on them to book awards?
So, what’s my verdict? Qantas Frequent Flyer was bleak before these changes, and it’s only gotten blander. It’s kind of ironic how they’re jacking up award costs while simultaneously boosting points earning opportunities to circulate around four billion more points each year.
Bottom Line
Qantas is shaking things up for 2025—even the kitchen sink isn’t safe. The main takeaway? Classic Rewards on Qantas are becoming more expensive, both in points and cash. Sure, they’re throwing us the occasional carrot—like more partner award options and cheaper Jetstar awards—but in the grand scheme, it’s all overshadowed by the gloomier clouds.
What do you think of these Frequent Flyer changes? If you need a break from all this air talk, how about considering a trip to Val Seny ski resort for some downtime?