How the Qantas Frequent Flyer 'overhaul' will affect you

75,000 Credit points for lifetime platinum! Some captains would have trouble reaching that many status points if they could earn them each time they were at the controls.

Mr Joyce 75000 SC’s for lifetime platinum is an unattainable insult. So sure in writing LTP exists but read the small print... unattainable for the vast vast majority. What a farce.

I repeat when platinum life did exist for that short period it was only 28000sc. extraordinary to jump to 75k.

So actually not as horrible overall as it could have been... given QF record for "enhancements" and the trend with other FF programs in last 12 months.

Stupid and almost unattainable level of SC for lifetime platinum. Even 50,000 would be a huge ask....a stunt from Qantas right there and really just produces bad blood for most travellers. The rest, well eh - not much to see really. We knew they were going to slug us one way or another - more points again for premium seating requests. Who would have thought......

Does the cut in date for point changes on international flights mean bookings made before 18 Sept for flights anytime after that will be at the current rates ?

If you can get to 75K sc you certainly don't care about the lifetime level awaitin g you.

75K SC for LTP?????
I wonder how many pax are close to that?

Hit Platinum status for the first time but will drop back to Gold. I get what I need from the LAX, DFW, SIN HK and LHR lounges at Gold anyway. With self serve these days at check in it hardly merits stretching for Plat and as for Lifetime Plat....

Lifetime platinum.. it's simple... Melb-Syd-Melb in economy every working day (240 -public holidays) for 16.25 years.... Looking at prices of about $325 return... a cool $1267500. I wonder if this is the equivalent amount of flying as BA gold for life?

I've been P1 for the past 5 years and I thought I was an important customer. Just shows how wrong you can be....

Last week I booked Sydney Rome return in Business on Singapore: 232,000 points and only $210 in fees. QF is still lagging behind ….in the jet stream of SQ and other airlines!!!!

I’m getting ready to potentially book a Oneworld Classic Award in J - will book before Sept 18 to fly next year. Will I be charged 280,000 or 318,000?

Looks like the QF booking page no longer displays points/SC earn, and the earning calculator is down too. Here's to hoping the earning table doesn't get quietly 'enhanced' at 12.30pm while everyone is out to lunch..

Smart Marketing Qantas, The light at the end of the tunnel just just got darker again..

For lifetime Platinum 1, if my maths are right - about 25 continuous years of Platinum 1..

Agree the 75000 SCs for LT platinum is a farce

Think we have missed this

The cost of an upgrade is also set to rise "by up to 9%" when requested from 18 September 2019.

So we will be paying more for upgrades with points as an offset for Qantas to give away more economy seats.

75000 status credits for Lifetime Platinum status, what an absolute insult to those who showed loyalty to Qantas in the past, particularly when they had a choice of which airline they flew, some of which I know provided better service and overall experience.

Perhaps LTP should have been 42k - triple lifetime gold, and then still a stretch but at least attainable by people who have obtained platinum for a long time (or make it 28k but also a rule that you must have been platinum for at least 10 years as well). 75k should be lifetime Platinum One (perhaps that’s the “unpublished” benefit part).

So, the key change is it will cost MORE points to fly in any sort of comfort.

like all airlines they are putting up the points when you can redeem a flight-30K more for business-50K more for first to London-this is the typical carrot and stick syndrome-again if you flew first class with QF you know it doesn't worth it!I learned it and will never waste my points on them again! those loosers who will-good luck!

So AMEX have just reduced their points earn by 25% and now Qantas increases premium seat point redeem by 15%!! Thats 40% total!! Farewell Qantas!! Ill be flying Emirates to Europe from now on.... especially with their 3 inches extra leg room!!

Lifetime Platinum at 72,000 SC is 6.25 times Lifetime Gold. An absolute insult to Platinum Guests. 36,000 is realistic and still high. Management have absolutely no idea, as anyone who can achieve 72,000 SC's will always be flying 1st Class any way. I have been Platinum every year since 2006. How to p... off your best clients. I don't believe Qantas has previously had a Platinum Lifetime. Just booked a ticket 1st Class to London return with Etihad. 1st business lost from me

more points to fly business, less points to fly economy....

Prediction - Lifetime Gold threshold will increase to at least 25000 SC in a future"enhancement".

There I was saving points for a couple of 'around the world' tix in J, looks like I'll have to keep on saving just that little bit longer. NOT HAPPY QANTAS...!!!

Here we go for QF flights

If you have points to use better book it now before Sept 18

SYD LHR

Premium Economy - 24,800 increase

Business Class- 33,200 increase

First Class- 49,800 increase

MEL LAX

Premium Economy- 18,600 increase

Business Class- 24,800 increase

First Class- 37,600 increase

Qantac CEO Alan Joyce said the update had been made in order to strengthen the program moving forward into the future.

“These changes are about making it easier for members to access those rewards and help to keep them highly engaged,” Joyce said.

REALLY?????? highly engaged when you can't get buss class avail and too much points required for 1 flight. WHAT A JOKE.

As someone who only uses points for upgrade rewards, these changes mean my points will devalue roughly 9% in September. Period. Thanks Qantas. Here’s hoping my upgrades come through over the coming months and I can book some more upgradeable flights before then so I can burn through my all my remaining QF points. Already shifting my earning elsewhere, later!

Sorry if silly question. But we’re only talking about QF metal aren’t we? Can still use QFFs on other OW or partner airlines at same rate?

Will have to check if the website UX upgrades include showing the Fare Class when browsing & booking. QF behind others in this area. Important info when booking fares with plans to Upgrade.

In case it hasn't been mentioned already, be very wary of the "More reward seats released for frequent flyers" part.

Cathay Pacific promised the same thing in conjunction with their huge Asia Miles overhaul (devaluation) on 22 June last year. In reality, award availability was cut drastically on most routes. To make up for this drop, and to fulfil the "more award seats" promise, they regularly charter "All Award Seat Flights" (flights that are only available with points redemptions) to obscure destinations in Japan. These flights are useless to most people but allow CX to effectively keep their promise of more available award seats.

I noted that Qantas recently chartered one of these "A330 Points Planes" (to get people familiarised with this product before the devaluation?), so my advice is be VERY wary of what they are planning next.

At current earn rates, it's going to take me around 23 years to get LTP... T_T

hahahahaha LTP - funny joke Marketing

Why does your heart sink every time Qantas announces "enhancements" to the FF programme? Because you know that your BC seat is going to cost more or be harder to find :-( I wonder if the Classic Points Flights finder search page will improve???? Drives me crazy to see "BC seats available", when in fact they are mixed seats with half the journey in economy. 😱 That is NOT a BC fare.

My husband has got enough for the lifetime platinum - it is not impossible - he gets an average of 6k a year and very occasionally up to 10k - I just checked and he has 79k

I’m a 20yo with exactly 1000 sc’s to my name. One day. I will get there.

My employer pays for my airline travels and I’m grateful to get any benefits I can from Qff point system.

My needs are met with Gold. Showers and freshen up in London, Singapore, HK, LAX. Whether a gold or Plat is irrelevant.

I think it is what i expected, the benefits are going to non frequent flyers who earn their points through credit cards & partners and want to secure flights with points. That's where the money is for Qantas. For the very loyal Qantas flyers it's going to cost more points to upgrade flights, but as the press release said, the Loyalty Program made more profit than Qantas International so you can see where their focus is. I was excited about Lifetime Platinum being on the table but at 75,000 SC, as mentioned by a previous contributor thats 20 years flying at Platinum One. I started flying with Qantas in 2001 after Ansett when under, pretty much went straight to Gold, last 5 years at Platinum & this year will be Platinum One. Lifetime Platinum is really something they don't want to give away, and seriously if you can obtain 75,000 SC its not something you would be even thinking about. You're a great airline Qantas and I'll continue to fly with you, but think about where you started, people who spend their time in the air is what got you to where you are

This "enhancement" makes the recently devalued American Advantage points for premium travel seem much better- 85,000 miles for J from South Pacific to Europe and much lower fees.

I like the fact they have reduced economy points required and increased available seats,, great for families who would generally miss out. I just hope some of the extra seats that become available aren’t Jetstar seats, they weren’t specific on whether it was actually QF seats.

Is this uptick in availability only for QF frequent flyers or also for OneWorld partner airlines as well?

The maths and a move from Sydney to Europe says I should switch to British Airways. 75,000 lifetime platinum. It’s more attainable to start fresh with a more realistic program. Good bye to the Kangaroo. I’ll miss lots of things ... the lamb and mint pies but these changes make Qantas pretty unattractive right now

I was booked in Business on a Qantas A380 flight to USA and they cancelled the flight and me on another airline, whose seats, service and lounge were very sub standard. They they wont give me my points of SC. They like to piss off customers

Checking on availability of points flights in economy.

SYD - Munich next year depart June return July 131,000 points, now I think that’s not too bad, taxes $770, that is still high in comparison to say a discount fare of $1,200 return.

Watching the news a couple of days ago really gave me a laugh - a woman said "I've never been able to use my points when I want" - well hello! That was never the idea of frequent flyer programmes anyhow. It was supposed to be a way for airlines to get rid of unsold inventory. I've never had any problems getting flights at the last minute with most airlines (inside 24 hours of departure) and I've always needed to be flexible with my travel plans and destinations and don't expect to be able to do it in peak seasons.

Just checked this morning Heathrow - BNE via Hong Kong BA 27 then QF 98, J class, points have increased taxes are the same as last week one way 457.42 pounds