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- Point costs rising by up to 20 % from August 5th 2025
- Book before August 5th 2025, to lock current rates until July 2026
- Upgrades cost 10–20 % more Frequent Flyer points across many routes
- Earn up to 25 % extra points on flights post-change
- One million extra international Classic Reward seats added via new partners since January 2025
Qantas has increased the Frequent Flyer points required to book seats and upgrades across its network. That means that you’re about to lose up to 20 per cent of the value of your Qantas Frequent Flyer points as the airline increases the Classic Reward seat pricing for the first time in six years, the second increase since 2004.
If you’re thinking about booking that overseas holiday, time is running out. You can book Classic Reward seats up to 11 months in advance, which means members who book before August 5th, 2025, can lock in travel at the current points fare on flights until early July 2026.
Still, most of us won’t be able to forecast an overseas holiday. That leaves us wondering exactly what our Frequent Flyer points will be worth after the increase. Well, we’ve done some research, and using a document put together by Qantas, we’ve detailed the points and fee increases across some of the brand’s most popular routes. Let’s check it out!
Bad News: Your Qantas Frequent Flyer Points Have Been Devalued
While the advertised “up to 20 per cent” increase on points costs has been shoved down our earholes since January, the reality looks slightly better. Most flights only see a 15 per cent increase in the number of points required, including Qantas Economy SYD to LHR and Qantas Economy SYD to MEL, two of the airline’s most popular flights. Still, those flying in Business will have to cough up additional fees.
Here are some examples of how much the Frequent Flyer points cost have increased across some of the most popular domestic and international flights:
- Jetstar Economy MEL to CNS: 14,400 to 16,600 points (+15.3%)
- Qantas Economy SYD to MEL: 8,000 to 9,200 points (+15.0%)
- Qantas Business SYD to MEL: 18,400 to 19,300 points (+4.9%) + $55 to $76 fees
- Qantas Economy SYD to DPS: 20,300 to 23,300 points (+14.8%)
- Qantas Economy SYD to LHR: 55,200 to 63,500 points (+15.0%)
- Qantas Business SYD to LHR: 144,600 to 166,300 points (+15.0%) + $473 to $648 fees
- British Airways Economy SYD to LHR: 66,200 to 76,100 points (+15.0%)
- Emirates Business SYD to LHR: 159,000 to 166,300 points (+4.6%)
The increase in points costs is tough enough to stomach for frequent flyers, but the double whammy of points and fees is what hurts on some of the most popular international routes. Sydney to London increased the points cost by 144,600 to 166,300 (+15.0%), but the fees have increased from $473 to $648 (+37.0%). Meanwhile, domestically, the popular Qantas Business Sydney to Melbourne will incur a modest 18,400 to 19,300 (+4.9%) points increase, but a $55 to $76 fee increase (+38.2%)
More Bad News: Upgrade Requests More Expensive
Upgrading with a Classic Upgrade request on domestic and international flights will also cost you more.
Here are some examples of how much the upgrade costs will increase across some domestic and international flights:
- Discount Economy upgrade to Business SYD to PER: +5,400 points (27,200 to 32,600)(+19.9 %)
- Flexible Economy upgrade to Business SYD to MEL: +800 points (5,400 to 6,200)(+14.8 %)
- Economy upgrade to Business SYD to LAX: +19,600 points (98,100 to 117,700)(+20.0 %)
- Flexible Economy upgrade to Business SYD to DPS: +1,800 points (17,900 to 19,700)(+10.1 %)
Based on the information provided in the January release:
- Sydney to Melbourne Business will go from 18,400 points + $55 to 19,300 points + $76
- Sydney to London Economy will go from 55,200 points + $263 to 63,500 points + $263
That’s a 4.9 % increase in the number of points it will cost you to fly business from Sydney to Melbourne and a 38.2 % increase in the amount of cash it will cost. Internationally, the Sydney to London Economy flight represents a 15.0 % increase in the number of points, but a 0% increase in the amount of cash.
Good News: You Will Earn More Frequent Flyer Points
Qantas Frequent Flyers will earn up to 25 per cent more points on Qantas domestic flights.
Here are some examples of how many more points you will earn across some domestic and international flights:
- Bronze Economy SYD to PER: +365 points (1,450 to 1,815)
- Bronze Business MEL to BNE: +525 points (2,100 to 2,625)
- Platinum Business SYD to MEL: +1,500 points (2,000 to 3,500)
- Gold Business SYD to LAX: +4,219 points (21,375 to 25,594)
It’s important to note that your status determines the number of points you earn. Generally, Bronze Frequent Flyers earn the least, and Platinum Frequent Flyers earn the most. The airline will also remove the Status Bonus cap for tiered members flying in premium cabins. Previously, bonus points were capped at the Flexible Economy earn rate. Now, members will earn bonus points on the full base fare in their flown cabin.
- Platinum Business SYD to MEL: +1,500 points (2,000 to 3,500)
- Gold Business SYD to LAX: +4,219 points (21,375 to 25,594)
However, we must put that increase into context to determine if the maths works out. You earn more points on a Gold Business SYD to LAX flight (25,594), but you must complete that route 6.49 times to cover the points cost of a Qantas Business Sydney to London flight. Previously, you would’ve had to complete the Sydney to LAX flight 6.76 times to cover the points cost of a Sydney to London Business flight. Still, even if you’re up on points, the fee increase evens things out.
More Good News: More Seats Available On International Flights
The final important piece of news is that up to 1 million additional international Classic Reward seats have been made available since January 2025.
With new partnerships between Finnair, Air France, KLM and Iberia in premium cabins, and across the entire Hawaiian Airlines network, Premium Economy reward seats will be available to book on Finnair, Air France, KLM and Iberia for the first time, and Classic Reward seats on Hawaiian Airlines.
Simply put, you might finally be able to book the seat you want, but it might not be on the plane you wish to, or the carrier you first had in mind. Still, a Premium Economy reward seat on a Finnair does sound rather enticing to our inner plane nerd.
What Qantas Says About the Points Fare Increase
Speaking on the news back in January, Qantas CEO Andrew Glance said:
“Travel remains the number one priority for our members in how they earn and redeem their points, with 13,000 Classic Reward seats booked every day, including 1,000 Classic seats in premium cabins to international destinations,” the statement reads. “In addition, thousands of Classic Upgrades are confirmed every week on Qantas flights. These changes are designed to further enhance the ways our members can book Classic Reward seats and the destinations and cabins they can access when they fly.”
“Classic Plus, which represents a $120 million investment in the program, has been a game changer since launching last April. Bookings are up threefold on initial expectations, and over the December holiday period, we saw an 80 per cent increase in members travelling overseas with their points. We’ve also launched nearly 20 sales since Classic Plus was introduced and announced another sale yesterday, discounting millions of reward seats for members across all cabin types.”
“A lot has changed in the last six years,” the statement continues. “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.”
Of course, that time has now come, and Qantas Frequent Flyer loyalists are about to cop an up to 20 per cent increase from the 5th of August, 2025.
“We now have partnerships with over 45 airlines, giving members greater flexibility and choice in how they want to be rewarded. The addition of Hawaiian Airlines and more premium cabin seats with Finnair, Air France, KLM and Iberia will, later this year, begin unlocking up to 1 million additional Classic seats and more opportunities for our members to use their points to book that dream overseas trip.”
“This year will see our members earn an additional 4 billion points thanks to an increase in points earned when travelling domestically and the removal of the earn cap for tiered members travelling in our premium cabins. This means tiered members flying in premium cabins domestically require fewer flights to earn their next reward booking.”
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