Qantas brings Classic Plus rewards to domestic flights

From my experience, there is always a Classic Plus Reward seat available for the flights I've booked (mainly Asian flights) but the cost in points is just so insanely high that it isn't worth it, in any class. While I haven't noticed a drop off in Classic reward availability, it been trash for a long time anyway. In my opinion, it is nothing but a way of paying lip service to FFs while taking more points for the exact same flights. A con, in other words.

I constantly scan for Classic Rewards business class seat availability to SIN ex BNE, SYD, and MEL, which is how I normally use up my bank of QFF points.

Up till the introduction of Classic Plus, my experience was availability for that route using Classic Rewards was good/fair for a long way out. 

Then along comes Classic Plus. 

I keep scanning for many months ahead..thus far only one (1) Classic Reward popped up (which disappeared within two hours). I don't think I'm the only hallucinating that Classic Rewards have mysteriously melted away like snow...

I agree with the lack of availability of CR seats. Trying to obtain seats MEL - Sin return was difficult even in economy.  All that was offered was Emirates at higher cost.   Even domestically on high volume routes at certain times of the year (as a Plat FF) has become difficult.   

In Jan 24, I started searching for MEL - BKK for early Dec 24. On QF services, only Economy showed up for Classic Reward seats (MEL-SYD-BKK), and on JQ both Economy and Business Classic Reward seats (either MEL-BKK, MEL-PER-BKK, or MEL-SIN-BKK). Occasionally I would find a Classic Reward Economy in Emirates MEL-SIN then JQ SIN-BKK but the taxes and carrier charges were sky high.

In Apr 24, I started searching for BKK-MEL for early Jan 25 and nothing came up until early June when some JQ Classic Reward seats opened up in both Economy and Business. This availability lasted less than a week. Nothing has shown up since.

I don't recall any Classic Plus reward seats (in any class) simply because I was only looking for a Classic Reward seat. I was hoping more to get Classic Reward seats in Business on Malaysian than on Qantas, but even they didn't show up, even if I looked up BKK-KUL and then KUL-MEL (and v.v)

For the outbound journey I ended up booking the JQ MEL-BKK Classic Reward seat in Business simply because it's a daytime flight. For the return journey, I ended up booking a paid Business Class flight on Thai. For the record, i'm Qantas Silver, and back to Bronze in 6 months.

I'm looking for flights from Singapore/Bangkok/Kuala Lumpur back to Melbourne in late September early October. 0 reward seats within 30 days. School holidays are finished by this period, so who exactly is booking this seat? 

There's a couple economy seats on Jetstar, but none even on Qantas (or Emirates). 

Class Plus Reward fits a TINY niche segment of Qantas customers who have way too many points through business - so in essence it's a worse change. I also wish there was a way to just permanently turn on class plus seats when searching. 

QF Classic Reward availability for 7 months away on premium routes in J would be almost non existent even pre classic+. They would've been snapped up by now. 

I started searching for econ CR seats to USA in late  April and early May for July and Sept periods. I realize there is less chance during school holidays so was trying before holidays started and return before holidays ended. This would be a repeat of a family holiday in 2022 which was booked right when everything was opening back up after COVID and everyone was trying to flood out of the country. There was definitely far more CR options then when we booked, than there are in this year for a similar plan. So I would say far less CR availability now than before in my experience. C+R is so expensive I didn't even consider those options... It feels like a con job to me. 

Classic Rewards on Qantas International has definitely declined.  Very disappointing given that the revamped Frequent Flyer program was trumpeted as an example of the new CEO's focus on customer satisfaction.  I think it's time for the Federal Government to open up more traffic rights to airlines such as Qatar for the benefit of Australian consumers. Qantas is unlikely to take meaningful steps to improve customer satisfaction until a competitor enters the market with a superior offering that will entice rusted-on QFF customers to jump ship.  

I don't think anyone thought this would be a positive change. Just a normal Qantas "enhancement". My experience is that Classic Reward seats have evaporated and don't expect it to be available into the future.

I have been watching Perth-Singapore for availability on release day.  For flights up to 4 June 25 there were economy classic awards available daily, then it changed to classic plus.  Don’t even dream of classic awards at the front!  I am interest to see if it is seasonal but not holding out for that.  Classic plus sounds like enhanced Classic, but it is degraded Classic.  In the end it will be another embarrassment as most customers view it negatively.

Totally agree Sydney to Johannesburg classic rewards flights have all but vanished on Qantas flights, some appear with Emirates, but the fees and charges make them underwhelming value  

From what I have heard, read and experienced myself. I see no positives in regard to Classic Plus other than maybe, some increased availability of flights above the near impossible to obtain Classic Rewards redemptions, but at a significantly greater cost (our hard earned points). Is this deceptive conduct?

If you’ve got millions and millions of points yeh I guess it’s ok (but then, QF is just catering to the top end of town and the people  who can afford to accrue that many points in the first place). For the average punter who wants to treat themselves to a once in a lifetime experience with probably more limited points it does nothing.

Great article . I've found it extremely disappointing. All I seem to do these days (everyday) is check EK or MAS for  any availability  . You have to be quick  because they don't last . Loosing Qatar has made it even more challenging .

I check multiple times every single day and J class classic reward flights to LA and San Fran are non existent on Qantas metal and a few via Fiji Air. Flights on Fiji are risky as you can end up on the old business config on the A330 which are uncomfortable compared to the 350 and you have a stop as well. Qantas are disingenuous with their spiel about classic reward flight availability.