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Qantas Frequent Flyer rewards program is the official loyalty program of Qantas Airlines, Australia’s largest airline and one of the world’s leading long-haul carriers. The program offers members access to a wide range of rewards when they fly with Qantas, including points that can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, hotel stays and car rentals. With the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, travelers can earn points every time they fly with Qantas, as well as from a number of partnered programs. This article will take a closer look at the Qantas frequent flyer program, tiers offered to its members and airline, hotel and car rentals partners associated with this rewards program.
Status Credits
Status Credits provide an indication of your loyalty with the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. Your Status Credit balance is unique to you and determines the level of your membership status. The more flights you take, the more Status Credits you accumulate — and these are earned simultaneously as valuable Qantas Points. As you reach and maintain higher levels of status, new privileges will become available to you on Qantas, Jetstar, and oneworld member partners. Status credits reset at each membership anniversary year. Status credits earned are based on where you fly, choice of airline and fare purchased. In order to determine the amount of status credits you will earn per flight, use Qantas’s calculator.
What Qantas Says About Sustainability
“At Qantas, we recognise that climate change is a significant issue for the aviation industry. That’s why we’re committed to reducing our carbon emissions by 25% by 2030 (from 2019 levels) and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. By creating one of Australia’s largest carbon offsetting programs, minimising waste and single use plastics, and investing in more sustainable aircraft and aviation fuel, we’re working towards a brighter future of travel.”
-qantas.com
Qantas also recognizes their Australian frequent flyers who make sustainable choices with a “Green Tier” status.
Get more info about Quantas’ commitment to sustainability here.
Qantas Elite Status Tiers
Bronze
Bronze tier is the first status level offered to all members who enroll in the Qantas Frequent Flyer rewards program. With your bronze membership, you can begin earning Qantas Points through booking flights, hotels and car rental partners. Once you have earned enough points, you will be able to redeem them for rewards. Benefits offered in the Bronze tier include:
- Exclusive offers on flights
- The ability transfer Qantas points to family members
- One-time joining fee of AUD 99.50
- Qantas points will not expire as long as your account is active in an 18 month period.
- Points plus pay option: allows members to use Qantas points to reduce cash required for hotel or flight purchases.
Silver
In order to reach Silver Tier level you will need to accumulate 300 status credits and fly a minimum of four flights on Qantas or Jetstar with a (JQ, 3K, GK) flight number on your ticket per anniversary year. In order to keep the Silver tier you will need to bank 250 status credits for the following year. Additional benefits include:
- oneworld Ruby tier and its entitled benefits.
- Earn 50% more Qantas points when flying with Qantas, Jetstar and American Airlines.
- One complimentary lounge invitation
- Extra checked baggage allowance
- Priority check-in
- Preferred access to classic flight award seating
- Every 500 status credits you earn on Qantas or Jetstar flights you will receive a loyalty bonus of either 8,000 Qantas points or 50 status credits. This benefits maxes out at four times per anniversary year.
- Priority waitlist and standby
- Status Hold: parental leave benefit that allows members to put their status on hold for 18 months. You will continue to earn Qantas points and status credits during this hold period.
Gold
In order to achieve this tier level you will need to earn 700 status credits and fly four times on Qantas, or Jetstar with a (JQ, 3K, GK) numbers on your ticket, every anniversary year. In order to retain the Gold status level you will need to earn 600 status status credits for the following year. Members of this tier level are eligible for all the benefits/perks included with the Silver tier as well as:
- oneworld Sapphire tier and its entitled benefits.
- Earn 75% more Qantas points on Qantas, Jetstar and American Airlines flights.
- Access for you and a guest to 600+ global lounges.
- On departure upgrades, on domestic Qantas fights using points.
- Fast track security lanes located at Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney airports.
- Priority baggage handling regardless of which class you are traveling in.
- Earn 8,000 Qantas points or 50 status credit when you reach 1,000 status credits on Qantas or Jetstar.
Platinum
In order to reach this status tier you will need to have accumulated 1,400 status credits and fly four times on Qantas or Jetstar with a (JQ, 3K, GK) number on your ticket every anniversary year. 1,200 status credits will be needed to stay in Platinum for the next year. All of the benefits/perks offered with the prior tiers are included, in addition to:
- Earn 100% more Qantas points on Qantas, Jetstar and American Airlines flights.
- Oneworld Emerald tier and its entitled benefits.
- Access to international Qantas and Emirates first lounges.
- Access to domestic Qantas business lounges.
- Priority international upgrades up to 48 hours in advance.
- Platinum bonus reward: If you reach 2,400 status credits in one membership year you will receive 50,000 Qantas points or complimentary Gold membership for a family/friend.
- Upgrade priority
Platinum One
In order to reach this tier you will need to have 3,600 status credits. 2,700 of those status credits must be earned with a Qantas flight number on your ticket. If you would like to achieve this tier for next year, you will to complete this process by the endif your anniversary year. All tier level benefits are included, as well as:
- Oneworld Emerald tier and its entitled benefits.
- The highest upgrade priority and access to seat selection, including family members
- No fees when booking reward flights
- Fly home sooner option: pick an earlier flight and any fare differential is waiver if the same fare class is unavailable.
- No booking fees on Qantas bookings.
- Earn 100% bonus on Qantas points
- Every 500 status credits you earn on Qantas or Jetstar flights you will receive a loyalty bonus of either 8,000 Qantas points or 50 status credits. This benefits maxes out at four times per anniversary year.
- Platinum bonus reward offered
- Earn 75,000 bonus Qantas points when you have banked 5,000 status credits in a membership with Qantas or Jetstar.
- Earn 100,000 Qantas points when you reach 5,000 status credits in an anniversary year.
- Sharing benefit option: This allows members to request a classic upgrade reward for family members. Family members will be processed at the Platinum level regardless if you are traveling.
- Access for you and a guest at Qantas international, domestic and Oneworld lounges. Including MCA Ambassador lounge.
Green Tier
As a way to encourage their Australian frequent flyers to make sustainable choices at home and while traveling, Qantas has implemented a “Green Tier” status as an add-on to their FF program. Achieving this status requires flyers to complete five eligible activities within a membership year. Activities include:
- Traveling Sustainably — stay in an “Eco Hotel” (must be booked through Qantas Hotels)
- Live a Sustainable Lifestyle — purchase offsets via Qantas for your home & car. Or install solar panels at your home.
- Offset your Flights — purchase offsets when booking a flight or make a contribution to SAF support.
- Give Back — donate points to community organizations on Qantas Marketplace.
- Reduce Your Impact — contribute to a sustainability project.
- Choose Sustainability — Purchase “Sustainable Sips” wine through Qantas Wine, or offset your wine delivery when checking out of the Qantas wine shop.
If you complete five of these six activities in a year, you can receive 10,000 Qantas points or 50 Status Credits. Alternatively, if you’ve already got enough points & credits, you can have Qantas offset an additional 3 tons of carbon on your behalf. Be sure to select your reward within 90 days of achieving Green Tier or you’ll forfeit your reward.
Lifetime Elite Status
Similar to other airlines’ Million Miler programs, Qantas will track your status credits accumulated since your original membership date. When you have reached the following number of status credits, you’ll earn the corresponding elite status for life.
| Status Credits | Lifetime Status Level |
|---|---|
| 7,000 | Silver |
| 14,000 | Gold |
| 75,000 | Platinum |
Earning Qantas points on Flights
Earning Qantas points is very similar to earning status points. The amount of Qantas points you will earn on flights are based on where you fly, choice of airline and fare purchased. In order to determine the amount of Qantas points you will earn per flight, use Qantas’s milage calculator. You can earn Qantas Points when you book flights with Qantas, Jetstar and over 30 Oneworld member and partner airlines and their affiliates. The list of airline partners is impressive and includes some well known carries such as British Airways, American Airlines and Air France. Use this link to see the full list of airline partners.
Hotel Partners
Qantas Airlines has a decent selection of hotel partner options from which customers can earn Qantas Points. Accumulating points with Qantas’ Hotel Partners can be done through booking directly or, in the case of some partners, by linking your frequent flyer account with a partner’s loyalty program. Points can then be redeemed for rewards such as flights, upgrades and lounge access. The amount of Qantas points you will earn per hotel partner/stay fluctuates. Below are examples of the amount of Qantas points you will earn with some hotel partners. Go to the Quantas website to view a complete list of hotels partners and overview of the amount of points you can earn.
- World of Hyatt: Qantas Points can be earned at eligible Hyatt stays when both Qantas Frequent Flyer and World of Hyatt memberships are held. Stays outside Australia and New Zealand will earn 600 Qantas Points per eligible stay, while stays within Australia and New Zealand will earn 1,000 Qantas Points per eligible stay. Exchange rate from 1 Qantas point equals 2.5 World of Hyatt points.
- IHG One Rewards: In order to Qantas points at OHG locations you will need to join IHG One Rewards program. You will earn 500 Qantas Points per qualifying stay at locations outside of Australia. If you do stay at a IHG location in Australia you will earn 5 Qantas points for every $1 spent.
- Marriott Bonvoy: You will need to be a Marriott Bonvoy member in order to earn Qantas points for you stay. You will earn 2 Qantas Points for every $1 on stays booked directly through Marriott. Some Marriott hotels brands only offer 1 Qantas point per $1 spent. For a complete list of Marriott hotels and points you will earn click here. Conversion rate is 1 Qantas point for every 3 Marriott Bonvoy points. You will earn 5,000 bonus Qantas Points for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points converted.
Car Rental Partners
When renting a car, customers can earn Qantas Points and take advantage of rewards tailored to their needs such as discounted rates and exclusive offers. Customers who are members of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program can earn points for each car hire, adding more benefits to their journey. Qantas rental partners list is small, but nonetheless an important aspect to your travels. Below are the two car rentals partners and the points you will earn.
- Avis: In order to receive Qantas Points on your rental through Avis, you will also need to be a, Avis Rewards program member. You will earn 4 Qantas Points per $1 spent within Australia. You will earn 700 points per rental outside Australia.
- Budget: you will need to be a Budget rewards member to receiving Qantas Points on your car rentals. You will earn 4 Qantas Points per $1 spent on rentals in Australia. You will earn 700 Qantas Points per rental outside of Australia.
Final Thoughts
Qantas’ Frequent Flyer rewards program is an appealing way to save money on flights and get access to exclusive perks. It’s easy to join and can be used for domestic and international travel. With its generous points structure, members can enjoy special discounts, bonus flights, upgrades and priority boarding. For those who travel regularly, Qantas’ Frequent Flyer rewards program is certainly worth considering. Overall, Qantas’ Frequent Flyer rewards does hold value, especially if you climb the elite tier ladder quickly and take advantage of the additional benefits and points you will earn with partners.
Editorial Note: Information and opinions articulated in this article are solely those of the author’s, not those of a credit card company, bank, airline or hotel chain. This article has not been reviewed or approved by or otherwise endorsed by any of these companies or organizations.
