Qantas reduces points, charges on international flights
By David Flynn, January 6 2016
Turning your Qantas frequent flyer points into a 'free' flight just became a better deal, with the Flying Kangaroo slashing both the number of points required and the amount of money associated with airline, airport and fuel charges.
The new system, which takes effect as of today, applies to all international economy flights, with an average drop of 10% in frequent flyer points and a solid 40% in the companion 'carrier charge, largely driven by consistently lower fuel prices.
A return economy ticket between Sydney to London will now cost 120,000 Qantas Points plus $708, compared to 128,000 points and $848 under the old scheme.
A similar Melbourne-Los Angeles trip goes from a bundle of 96,000 points + $609 to 90,000 points + $419.
Qantas' move brings frequent flyer points redemption closer in line with a generally lower baseline for international economy fares.
The number of points required to make international economy reward bookings with some Qantas partners – including American Airlines, Emirates and Fiji Airways – has also been reduced, with those partners rolled into the Qantas Classic Rewards table.
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jan 2014
Total posts 320
A welcome move by Qantas and great for the international traveller, I do however wish they would look at some of their short domestic reward trips which are priced at 24000 points return. At this level the are worth half or even a third per point against the international reward seats.
13 Nov 2015
Total posts 8
Cheeky bastards, they've reduced the points and taxes for economy only!
Points I wasn't surprised, but the taxes are variable!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Aug 2012
Total posts 73
Well thats economy. What about Business seats, are they being reduced too?
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1564
Even reduced economy classic award is throwing points into the wind.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1564
In original edition there was no "throwing" and indeed I insist on my original definition :-)))
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Jan 2013
Total posts 240
Nice to see the amount of points decrease, although I do wonder if they'll have any reductions to announce for short haul domestic redemptions as there seems to be better value to be had with VA on this point.
Kepping in mind I'm Melbourne based, Zone One (SYD, ADL, CBR, HBA) is 13,800 points on VA and 16,000 points on QF.
Also noteworhty is that VA gave me the option of a $35 cancellation fee rather then points.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Sep 2014
Total posts 84
Given Virgin's points are earnt based on a dollar spend rather than anything to do with mileage I generally find that even a Qantas Red e-Deal will earn me more points than an equivalent flight on VA.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
Doesn't substantially change the 'value' of these Economy Rewards -- its still poor.
A more appropriate move would have been to reduce the +++, afterall this was originally mostly a fuel surcharge reflecting the high cost of fuel - something that isnt the case today
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
Meant reduce the +++ by more than just 40% - still a large amount of profit in it.
Qantas - Platinum (Lifetime Gold)
25 Apr 2013
Total posts 54
Is there any talk of reducing the points and taxes required or other classes?
Qantas - Platinum (Lifetime Gold)
25 Apr 2013
Total posts 54
#for other classes
26 Jul 2015
Total posts 80
120,000 points to fly economy, I'll stay with Singair and fly 1st or business for that or less thanks very much.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Nov 2011
Total posts 243
One thing they need improvement is seat availability.
18 Apr 2015
Total posts 67
Those fees are still criminal
Air New Zealand - NZ*E
17 May 2015
Total posts 93
Talking about excessive fees - I have an international QF (revenue) booking for May that I needed to change the flight to later in the same day. Normally I would happily do this on line in 10min. For some reason my booking needed a QF booking agent to do the change - the fare difference was $15 however the change fee was $100 and the because I had to get an agent to do the change it was another $40. Total $155 for my simple change of departure time.
What I objected to was that I was happy to do it myself but was unable to and was forced to talk to an agent and got stung for it.
Qantas - Platinum (Lifetime Gold)
25 Apr 2013
Total posts 54
I've found QF will wave the agent's fee if you tell them you tried to make the changes online but weren't able to.
American Airlines - AAdvantage
15 Feb 2013
Total posts 44
The whole Qantas points redemption thing is still such a colossal rip-off and they are just treating their loyalty members like mugs. I'm struggling to understand how they can justify any "fuel surcharges" on redemptions at all when oil prices are heading south of $30/barrel and they recently dropped them on all their paid tickets.
My hard-earned points are going to Virgin because they haven't charged fuel surcharges on redemptions for years. If you have to stick with Oneworld, Cathay Pacific is a much better option at the moment as the surcharges on their redemptions have dropped dramatically and you generally require less points than a comparable Qantas redemption.
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