Qantas Frequent Flyer Costs Rise, Opportunities Await

Hold onto your boarding passes, folks. There’s a whirlwind of changes coming to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program in the next year or so. While some of these adjustments might feel like a slap on your wallet, there are silver linings to be had. Let’s dive into the details, shall we?

Qantas Frequent Flyer Hiking Classic Reward Seat Costs

Come August 2025, grabbing a Classic Reward seat using your hard-earned points is going to leave your points balance a bit lighter. Yes, Qantas Frequent Flyer plans to bump up the number of points needed for these coveted slots. It’s a move that’s been brewing since 2019, a mere speck momentarily compared to the first increase all the way back in 2004.

Many will see an uptick in the cost of awards, ranging from 5-20%. Oh, and if you’re eyeing those plush premium cabins, brace yourself for steeper fees too. But hold on—details are scant, with Qantas teasing more changes in the coming months. Dare we say, there’s a storm brewing in the Qantas skies?

Here’s the palaver straight from the horse’s mouth, Andrew Glance, the CEO of Qantas Loyalty:

“A lot has changed in the last six years. These adjustments will ensure we can continue to invest in enhancing the program for the long-term and continue to grow the levels of Classic and Classic Plus Reward seat availability for members year on year.”

“With a number of airlines making changes to their loyalty programs recently, we wanted to give our members as much notice as possible so they can plan their future travel. That’s why our reward fare changes won’t come into effect for at least another six months.”

Qantas Frequent Flyer Discounting Jetstar Awards

Good news horizon alert! Starting from August 2025, if you’re patient enough to hang on to your itchy travel toes, Qantas Frequent Flyer is rolling out a low-cost economy reward through Jetstar. Imagine award flights starting at 5,700 points! That’s making travel dreams affordable, allowing you to rack up rewards faster than you can say, “Jetstar, take me away!”

Qantas Frequent Flyer Increasing Partner Award Options

Fast forward to October 2025, and things get even more interesting. Qantas plans to open the floodgates to one million extra international Classic Reward seats annually. It’s a veritable feast of partner cabins, folks. Look forward to unlocking premium economy seats with Air France, Finnair, Iberia, and KLM—previously off-limits through Qantas.

And Hawaii dreamers rejoice! Hawaiian Airlines is now a part of the Classic Rewards club. Aloha to that!

Qantas Frequent Flyer Increasing Points Earning

July 2025 ushers in a new era where Qantas Frequent Flyer turns into a bit of a point-generating factory. Here’s the scoop:

• Expect to earn up to 25% more points on Qantas domestic flights, though the nitty-gritty details remain on the hush.
• The shackles on Status Bonus cap for premium cabins will be off. More points for first and business class flights? Count us in!

When Qantas says billions of additional points are in play annually, they mean approximately four billion.

My Take on Qantas Frequent Flyer Program Changes

If we had to pen a report card, Qantas Frequent Flyer’s latest overhaul lands in the ‘meh’ category. The hike in costs—points and cash alike—feels like a heavy hand was dealt, despite keeping untouched for several years.

Here’s the kicker: Qantas Frequent Flyer has been a bit of a yawner for some. If you’re stuck with it, well, tough. But the premium cabin awards on Qantas often feel elusive, and trust us, there are more thrilling options to cash in those miles:

• The sting of increased prices hits hard, but premium availability on Qantas itself is hardly wide open, making the negatives less impactful.
• Sure, shining new opportunities with partners are there, but Qantas has always struggled with competitive award pricing. Scratch your head over other programs instead.

Here’s a chuckle: Qantas raises the costs but also dishes out more points to ignite a points hiking bonanza. It’s like giving with one hand and taking with the other.

Bottom Line

So there you have it, a mixed bag of adjustments for Qantas Frequent Flyer throughout 2025. Yes, there will be a bump in what’s needed to snag Qantas Classic Rewards, points, and cash-wise.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. There’s a sprinkle of sunshine with more partner awards and cheaper Jetstar deals. But if you ask me, it just doesn’t tip the scales enough to offset the battering ram of negatives.

Got thoughts on the frequent flyer shake-up? Before you jet off, consider a powdery getaway at the Val Seny ski resort. Winter holidays await!