Frequent Flyer program Qantas has announced changes to it’s loyalty program today. I won’t cover the changes in depth, but here are some key points:
- Qantas will be adding 1,000,000 more award seats annually. This includes new partner airlines:
- Air New Zealand
- Air France/KLM
- Carrier charges will be decreased by up to 50%
- Award prices for economy flights will drop by 10-15%
- Award prices for premium economy/business flights will increase by 10-15%
- Creation of a Points Club program (basically watered down elite status for people who earn points through on ground methods such as credit cards)
- Introduction of lifetime Platinum status
Ausbt has a more in depth break down found here. Qantas was trumpeting this as ‘the biggest overhaul to the airline’s loyalty program in its 32 year history’, not sure what past changes have been like but this feels relatively minor. A lot of people were expecting a dynamic pricing model, but that obviously didn’t happen. I do think the idea of a points club for status is interesting, although most card issuers get around that by award real status for meeting annual spend requirements. Keep in mind currently there are two stackable transfer bonuses:
- [YMMV] American Express Transfer Bonus: 20% Qantas (1:1.2) – Stack With Qantas Offer
- [YMMV] American Express Transfer Bonus: 15-30% Qantas (1:1.15 or 1.3)
Quick update: It’s only specific flights on Air NZ/KLM/AirFrance: Can now book reward flights on Air NZ domestically in NZ, and between Paris and Singapore or Hong Kong on Air France, and Between Amsterdam and Singapore on KLM. Also a bunch of Thailand domestic flights now available on Bangkok Airways
