What Qantas’ frequent flyer shake-up means for YOUR flight – as airline unveils its ‘biggest change ever’

Qantas frequent flyers will get access to more than 20 million seats on flights to international destinations as part of a $100 million expansion of its loyalty program.

The launch of Classic Plus Flight Rewards will give customers access to more international flights from July and will be rolled out to domestic flights by the end of 2024.

The airline hopes the $100 million investment will help them achieve more than $500 million in revenue (before expenses) by FY24.

Qantas Loyalty CEO Andrew Glance said the new type of reward seat typically requires more points than existing Classic seats, but will be available to all destinations on Qantas’ international and domestic network, in First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said frequent flyers now have more ways than ever to earn points and that Classic Plus will offer more value for frequent flyers looking to spend their growing points balance

For example, a return business class flight from Sydney to London (during peak period) would cost 638,900 points as a Classic Plus customer, compared to just 289,200 for the Classic program.

While economy seats on the same return flight (during peak period) would cost 191,800 points in the Classic Plus program.

There are currently approximately 16 million Qantas frequent flyers, representing approximately 64 percent of the national population.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said frequent flyers now have more ways than ever to earn points and Classic Plus will offer more value for frequent flyers looking to spend their growing points balance.

She described it as one of the “biggest ever” expansions of the program.

“We’ve spent a lot of time listening to members about how we can better reward them,” Ms Hudson said.

“We are adding more than 20 million new flight rewards with the launch of a new reward seat type called Classic Plus. It is one of the largest expansions we have made in the 35-year history of the Frequent Flyer program.”

The points needed to book Classic Plus reward seats vary just like regular airline tickets, meaning they are lower during off-peak times or when booking early, and higher during peak periods

The points needed to book Classic Plus reward seats vary just like regular airline tickets, meaning they will be lower during off-peak times or when booking early, and higher during peak periods.

The Plus program seats are also eligible for upgrades.

Classic Plus reward seats can be booked exclusively via qantas.com from Monday for travel from July 1.

The program is designed to provide a mid-range option between the existing Classic and Points Pay Plus rewards options, with Ms Hudson saying the airline has no plans to discontinue its other rewards streams.

Qantas will continue to offer more than five million existing Classic rewards seats across Qantas, Jetstar and 45 partner airlines.