Qantas Frequent Flyer is rolling out what it calls the most significant changes to earning and retaining status since the program launched, including letting members roll over unused Status Credits and earn Status Credits through everyday spending for the first time. The overhaul follows feedback from thousands of frequent flyers and loyalty experts, and will be introduced progressively from later this year through to 2027.
Key changes include a permanent way to earn Status Credits without flying, with members able to collect them “on the ground” via Qantas credit cards and hundreds of program partners. Qantas will also introduce Status Credit roll over, allowing tiered members to carry forward up to 50 per cent of excess Status Credits into the next membership year, rather than losing them when accounts reset.
There will be more recognition for long-term loyalists, with new milestones for Lifetime Gold members, and enhanced tier benefits including an extra lounge invitation each membership year for Silver members, along with additional vouchers and discounts for higher tiers. Qantas also plans to retire overlapping sub-programs, including Points Club and Green Tier, in favour of a single core recognition pathway, and will remove separate “attain” and “retain” targets so each tier has one annual Status Credit goal. On the digital side, Qantas is adding a new tool on qantas.com designed to help members find international Classic Reward seats across Qantas and partner airlines in seconds.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the changes are aimed at increasing flexibility and recognition. “With more than 18 million members and nearly 40 years rewarding loyalty, this represents a new era for the Frequent Flyer program in the face of a changing loyalty landscape.” She added, “Our members have an incredible appetite for earning points, but we know they also place immense value on their status. Our most frequent flyers tell us that status retention is the single most important milestone as a member, with thousands achieving or retaining their tier every day.” Ms Hudson said, “These changes are about creating more opportunities for members to unlock status, while ensuring the program remains as relevant and rewarding in the future as it has been for the past four decades,”
Qantas Loyalty and Customer CEO Andrew Glance said the shift to roll overs and on-the-ground earning is among the biggest in the program’s history. “Traditionally, Status Credits have been a benefit earned exclusively through flying. However last year’s trial broke member engagement records, proving they want more ways to fast-track their status.” He said, “Making this a permanent fixture is great news for our members and also our partners, who will benefit from the increased activity this creates.” Mr Glance also pointed to how many Status Credits currently go unused: “Around half of the status credits our members earn each year are over and above their tier thresholds. We are giving value back, ensuring hard-earned status credits in one year give members a head start in the next.” He added, “Lifetime Gold members have shown decades-long loyalty to Qantas, and we want to give them a clearer pathway to even greater rewards. Silver members are our largest group of tiered flyers, and these changes will also deliver more travel benefits for them right from the outset.” On the new reward search function, he said, “Our new reward seat search tool is also a significant investment in our digital experience. With over 14,000 reward seats booked each day, the tool will provide a seamless window into our network and drive a further increase in flight redemptions,”
More detail on what’s changing, and when, is expected to be shared with members before each update goes live. Later in 2026, Qantas plans to expand “Status Credits on the ground”, allowing all members to earn up to 140 additional Status Credits each year across ten everyday categories. These Status Credits will also count towards Lifetime tier balances, and Qantas says more major partners will join as the expansion launches.
Also later in 2026, Status Credit roll over is due to begin, capped at 100 Status Credits for Silver members, 350 for Gold, and 500 for Platinum, and replacing the previous loyalty bonus offered to some members.
In 2027, Lifetime Gold members are set to receive a complimentary year of Platinum status for every 10,000 Status Credits earned beyond the Lifetime Gold threshold, with the ability to ‘bank’ and activate up to five years at a time of their choosing. Enhanced tier benefits are also slated for 2027, including an additional annual lounge invitation for Silver members and new on-the-ground vouchers and discounts for members in Silver and above, with further benefits to be announced closer to launch.
Qantas will also simplify the program by retiring Points Club and Green Tier. The airline says the most valued benefits will be folded into the core Frequent Flyer program, and it will “consider new ways to reward members who make sustainable choices when they fly” after Green Tier is removed. Points Club and Green Tier will be phased out gradually from late 2026.
From 2027, Qantas plans to move to a single Status Credit target for each tier, rather than separate thresholds to attain and then retain. By way of example, the airline says Gold status will require 700 Status Credits annually, replacing the current model of 700 to attain and 600 to retain.
On the technology front, Qantas says a new search tool launching next month will show Classic Reward seat availability on Qantas and 30 partner airlines “in seconds”, letting members search by destination and cabin type across a 12-month booking period.
