Qantas tweaks loyalty bonus for fast-track Gold, Platinum status

By Chris C., November 3 2016
Qantas tweaks loyalty bonus for fast-track Gold, Platinum status

Qantas Frequent Flyer members can now opt for bonus status credits in lieu of extra frequent flyer points as part of the Roo’s ‘loyalty bonus’, making it easier to climb the status ladder or to retain your existing Qantas frequent flyer tier.

For every 500 status credits earned on Qantas and Jetstar flight numbers in a single membership year, travellers can now choose between the existing bonus of 8,000 Qantas Points or an extra 50 status credits instead.

It’s a welcome boost for business travellers hoping to keep their existing Qantas Gold card – requiring 600 status credits in a membership year – as this can now be achieved by earning just 550 status credits in the air, with the loyalty bonus gifting you the remaining 50.

That loyalty bonus also helps Platinum cardholders in their trek for 1,200 status credits each year, who can now achieve that by earning a lower 1,100 status credits from actual flying, and boosting that to an even 1,200 by taking two rounds of 50 bonus credits that same year.

However, existing Platinum One members and those aspiring to reach Qantas’ top-tier should note that extra status credits earned via the loyalty bonus aren’t counted towards attaining or retaining Platinum One status – in which case, taking the bonus points may prove a more fruitful option.

Qantas’ loyalty bonus remains limited to the first 2,000 status credits earned by a member in a single membership year (excluding these new status boosters) on Qantas and Jetstar flight numbers.

The move comes just two weeks after rival Virgin Australia unveiled a new tie-up with the Flybuys program, enabling Velocity Frequent Flyer members to earn extra status credits by shopping at Coles, Liquorland and First Choice Liquor on the ground.

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Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.

08 Apr 2011

Total posts 24

Great news! Just what I wanted this year.

Qantas

22 Oct 2012

Total posts 318

I wonder how one gets to select between Points and Status Credits.  There's no information on this in either their email or on their website.

25 Sep 2013

Total posts 1242

Apparently you select which reward you'd prefer after you achieve the bonus.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

06 Nov 2016

Total posts 1

Contacted  Qantas today they said one u hit 500 SC, u will be able to make the selection within 90 days after you login

to your account.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

25 Jun 2015

Total posts 24

New QF frequent flyer card design? Do you have images of all of them or news on the rollout?

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

01 Apr 2015

Total posts 54

Two important things to add:


1. The desired bonus has to be selected, whereas before the 8,000 points were automatically credited. Therefore mere acquiescence will result in forfeiture of the bonus.

2. Selection of the desired bonus must take place within 90 days of accruing the right to said bonus.

05 May 2016

Total posts 616

This should help me retain WP.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

28 Oct 2011

Total posts 467

And for those still to attain lifetime Gold and Silver, the extra SCs will make the chase a bit quicker.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

28 Jan 2015

Total posts 106

Virgin should take note

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

29 Jul 2014

Total posts 100

I would rather take the points than the additional 50  Status credits as I will never get near my next Tier and 50 status credits isn't that much in reality anyway

23 Feb 2015

Total posts 260

Should keep me at platinum - excellent!

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

21 Jan 2014

Total posts 320

The fact they give you a choice shows a real level of service from Qantas, some years the SC will be handy, others the points.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

14 Oct 2016

Total posts 65

I do wonder if this tweak will mean that the 'one off' promotions for bonus status credits will become even more of a rarity.

05 May 2016

Total posts 616

Hopefully not. Bonus SC promotions are driven by a desire to increase sales to get customers to lock in future travel earlier (they get change fees if you have to get the dates) and to do travel that might not otherwise have been done. If the sales levels get low enough I expect they will still want to offer bonus SC promos.

05 May 2016

Total posts 616

I meant if you have to get the dates changed.

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

06 Dec 2012

Total posts 170

I agree MVIY. So in a similar approach it might be more prudent for QANTAS to offer bonus SC's to help you reach that next tier, to push you across the line. You need 1000 SC's to reach gold, if you earn 950 then that bonus you the 50 points then. Or something along those lines. I know some people do status runs anyway, but if you were at say 900 and time was running out, you might not want to fork out for a trip(s) to earn the extra 100 SC's, but people may be inclined to book to earn another 50 to get the bonus.

21 Aug 2015

Total posts 86

QF plays catch up again. The FF points are worth less and less. Virgin has partner credits for SC and has announced SC earning with FlyBuys purchases. As usual QF are offering as little as possible. Just a token. 

Yaf
Yaf

02 Nov 2012

Total posts 35

Virgin do not have lifetime status. when will they catch up?

how can we elect to receive the Status Credits instead of the points? 

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

06 Dec 2012

Total posts 170

Their marketing is a bit off. I am a lowly bronze so my email went along the lines of "earn 500 SC's and we will give you a bonus 50 SC's, which could help you move up to that next silver level". Only thing is if I earn 500 SC's I will already be silver so the bonus 50 SC's won't make a lick of difference in that respect. Great offer, just wish ad and marketing departments would pay more attention.

23 Feb 2015

Total posts 260

"which could help", not "which will help".

23 Feb 2015

Total posts 260

Though agree in relation to silver the right answer is "which won't help"

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

21 Dec 2016

Total posts 16

Do these loyalty bonuses count towards the 2400 SC Platinum Bonus?

15 Feb 2013

Total posts 163

How does this work if it crosses a membership year?  For example, say my year resets on 1 July. If I earn a loyalty bonus in June, but I wait until July to select my bonus and choose status credits, would they count towards my next membership year? (which would potentially mean you could get three lots of bonus SCs counting towards Platinum)


Reason I ask is that this is actually going to happen to me later this year - I have a flight booked that will get me a loyalty bonus around 3 days before the end of my membership year.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

06 Mar 2017

Total posts 19

Reviving an old comment thread, but useful info hence my reply.


This happened to me recently, with a bonus option entering my inbox a week before 2300 SCs were about to expire. Given I had nothing to lose in selecting the bonus immediately, I waited until the anniversary date clocked over, and then chose the bonus 50 SCs. These have remained in my account for the current membership year, which will be very handy in case my flying this year slows down.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

06 Mar 2017

Total posts 19

Apologies, I meant 'nothing to lose in waiting a week to make the choice on the bonus'... oops!

QF

30 Aug 2013

Total posts 5

Why no priority boarding with LTS on Qantas?

24 Apr 2012

Total posts 2432

Qantas, like most other Oneworld airlines, doesn't provide priority boarding for Oneworld Ruby members (Qantas Silver and Qantas LT Silver = Oneworld Ruby): officially, it's a Sapphire and Emerald (Gold and Platinum) benefit, but a few airlines simply choose to go above and beyond by offering it to Oneworld Ruby, even though they don't 'have' to.


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