Qantas Frequent Flyer Devaluation: Higher Award Costs, With A Silver Lining

Several weeks ago, Qantas Frequent Flyer announced some major changes, which will be implemented over the coming months. The changes are mostly negative, though there are also some positive adjustments.

I want to provide an update, because when the changes were first announced, the updated award charts weren’t published. That has now changed, so we know exactly how bad the adjustments will be.

Qantas Frequent Flyer hiking Classic Reward seat costs

As of August 5, 2025, Qantas Frequent Flyer will increase the number of points required to redeem for a Classic Reward seat, which are the carrier’s version of saver level award seats. The airline emphasizes how this is the first increase we’ve seen to these award costs since 2019, and only the second increase we’ve seen since 2004.

We’re seeing the cost of many awards increase by anywhere from 5-20%, and on top of that, the fees are also increasing for premium cabin awards. Below is an example of some of the changes we’re seeing.

More specifically, below is the new Classic Flight Reward chart, for flights on Qantas, Emirates, Fiji Airways, and American, which applies for tickets booked as of August 5, 2025.

Meanwhile below is what the award chart looks like for tickets booked through August 4, 2025.

Here’s how Qantas Loyalty CEO Andrew Glance describes these updates:

“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

As of August 5, 2025, Qantas Frequent Flyer will be introducing what it refers to as the lowest one-way economy reward seat option in Australia. Specifically, Qantas’ low cost subsidiary, Jetstar, will offer short haul awards starting at just 5,700 points, allowing members to unlock award flights faster.

Below is the new award chart that will apply for Jetstar flights.

Qantas Frequent Flyer increasing partner award options

As of October 2025, Qantas Frequent Flyer will increase the number of partner award options that members have access to, with up to one million extra international Classic Reward seats annually. Specifically, we’ll see the introduction of premium economy awards on Air France, Finnair, Iberia, and KLM, as previously that cabin wasn’t bookable on those partners with Qantas Frequent Flyer points.

We’ll also see Qantas Frequent Flyer members get access to Classic Reward seats on Hawaiian, unlocking more opportunities to travel to and from Hawaii.

Qantas Frequent Flyer increasing points earning

As of July 2025, Qantas Frequent Flyer will be increasing the number of points that members can earn in two situations:

• The number of points that can be earned on Qantas domestic flights will increase by up to 25%, though we don’t know exactly how that’s broken down
• The Status Bonus cap for flying in premium cabins will be eliminated, meaning members can earn more points for first and business class flights

Qantas claims that these two changes will give members almost four billion additional points per year.

My take on Qantas Frequent Flyer program changes

On balance, these Qantas Frequent Flyer program changes are obviously negative. We’re seeing the cost of most awards on Qantas metal increase, both in terms of the number of points and cash required. In fairness, this isn’t the most unreasonable devaluation, in the sense that the program hasn’t touched award costs in around six years.

To me, the bigger issue is just that Qantas Frequent Flyer is an all-around crappy program, and there’s little reason to participate in it, unless you don’t have a choice:

• The increased award costs are a negative development, but actually finding premium cabin award availability on Qantas is incredibly challenging, so the implications are sort of limited
• While more redemption options on partner airlines are great, rarely does Qantas Frequent Flyer have competitive award pricing, so there’s not much reason to book those awards through the program

So I guess my take is that Qantas Frequent Flyer wasn’t very interesting before these changes, and it’s even less interesting after these changes. I do find it funny how Qantas is increasing award costs, while at the same time increasing the number of points that certain members earn, to increase annual points circulation by around four billion.

Bottom line

Qantas Frequent Flyer is making a series of changes throughout 2025. Most significant is that we’re going to see the cost of many Qantas Classic Rewards increase, in terms of both the number of points and cash required.

There’s some mildly positive news, like more partner award options, plus cheaper awards on Jetstar. But that doesn’t really make up for the negative aspect of these changes, in my opinion.

What do you make of these Qantas Frequent Flyer program changes?