Qantas continues rejig of how you'll earn frequent flyer points
By David Flynn, October 15 2015
Qantas is set to change how many of its frequent flyer points you'll earn when travelling on other airlines such as Emirates and Oneworld members including Cathay Pacific and Malaysian Airlines.
Under the current system, your serve of Qantas Points for flying with some two dozen partner airlines is partly based on the distance flown – the more miles you travel, the more points you rack up.
As of December 1st 2015, Qantas will switch to a new formula to bring the Qantas Frequent Flyer partner airlines scheme in line with Qantas' own program, which the airline revised in mid-2014, which defines geographical 'zone' in which your flight takes place rather than the outright distance.
Other changes include revising how each type of airline ticket lines up against Qantas' own points-earning categories and increasing the number of economy 'earn categories' from two to three.
'Cabin class bonuses' – an additional serve of points for passengers sitting in premium economy, business and first – have also been axed, and rolled into the base rate of each category.
A Qantas spokesman confirmed to Australian Business Traveller that the new partner earning scheme would see points allocated "based on where they fly, as well as their choice of airline and the fare purchased."
"This is the way members already earn on Qantas and Jetstar."
Qantas Points and partners
The overhaul affects flights with Emirates, Oneworld member airlines and other affiliated airlines including Aer Lingus, China Eastern and Fiji Airways.
"Overall, members will find that Qantas Points earned will not differ significantly from today," the Qantas spokesperson claimed.
However, the changes are likely to be a mixed bag for business travellers depending on which airline they travel with, where they fly to and what type of ticket they buy.
Full details are now available on Qantas' revised partner points earning table and an updated version of its points calculator.
More Status Credits between Asia and Europe
There'll also be a boost in the number of Status Credits earned on partner airline flights between Asia and Europe, such as Cathay Pacific – making it easier for regular travellers to climb the frequent flyer food chain to pocket a high-status Gold or Platinum card and enjoy the perks which come with it, such as airport lounge access, extra checked baggage and a better chance at upgrades.
For example, a one-way business class ticket from Hong Kong to London on Cathay Pacific will from December 1st net you 120 Status Credits compared to 80 under today's scale.
However, choosing to fly that first leg from Australia to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific rather than Qantas still comes with a significant penalty. You'll earn only 60 status credits in business class on a one-way CX flight, but 120 if you travel with Qantas.
How does the new partner points earning scheme impact your business travel?
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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.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Mar 2014
Total posts 567
There's a bit of wanting their caking and eating it too about the CX arrangement.
1) If you're travelling to Europe, you must use QF or EK.
2) If you're travelling to HKG, you must use QF.
3) If you're already in HK and want to go to London, then that's ok, you can use CX.
So Qantas, you'll give me Status Credits on CX when it suits you, but given they offer 5 services between Sydney and Hong Kong daily, compared to your 8 a week, I get punished for not using QF.
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1251
Whilst annoying, it does make logical sense. At a max, QF will only ever likely offer double daily services to HKG (soon to be 10 x weekly) compared with CX 4 daily flights. Providing a disincentive for people to fly CX to HKG makes business sense.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Mar 2014
Total posts 567
Yep I agree will all the commercial metrics. But there are a lot of rules that fly in the face of an alliance. Why can't they make the reduced SC's for sectors that are "direct competition" such as within 2hrs of a QF flight? If I need to be in HKG for a Friday meeting, I have to sacrifice the Thursday to Fly Qantas, regardless of the service.
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1251
In reality though, the 2 hour rule (or any other similar rule) would be rather complex and be open to further complaints (late flights, people wanting the line to move, time changes etc).
I get your point, but I guess people will need to decide what is more important to them.
Whilst QF/CX are both Oneworld members, in practical terms it is a marketing alliance. QF don't want you flying CX when they fly that route and CX don't want you flying QF.
Whilst an overnight flight to HKG would be nice... there would probably be issues coming back from HKG (with limited connections on both ends)
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Mar 2014
Total posts 567
Well said!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Nov 2011
Total posts 243
Seems like it's probably better to funnel miles into Aadvantage for partner international flights. You need less miles for flight redemptions with that program and the miles earned are much more generous which is based on distance.
QF points are better earned through other means e.g. credit cards rather than flights and QF domestic flights. They require more points for redemptions anyway.
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1027
I'm hesitent to join AAdvantage because of the lounge access limits AA places on its members.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
What limits?
Are you travelling domestically in the US that much that you are impacted?
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1027
I do have to wonder if the people at QFFF understand what they are doing.
Now that I have LTG on QF (as of yesterday), I'll have to look at the program shift I'd been thinking about since the "simpler and fairer" was first announced. I had been looking at CX MPC, but the recently anounnced changes there make it a no go as well.
12 Oct 2011
Total posts 23
I'm going through the earning tables and it looks like there will be some sectors that lose out, but I also think there are going to be quite a few sweet spots that we'll be able to explore and exploit over time.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 50
Seems pretty fair to me for status points , in fact I think you could call it an actual enhancement?
Fly with Qantas = take large pile of status credits
Choose Oneworld carrier on Qantas route = take a small pile of status credits
Qantas don't fly that route = still take decent pile of status credits
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Nov 2013
Total posts 475
Whilst that is a simple summary Phil, if you take Riley's situation noted above, to go from Sydney to HK as a QFF you commit to losing a day as they don't offer an overnight service.
The same scenario occurs for if you want to ex Melbourne or Brisbane.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
15 Oct 2015
Total posts 1
Flying QR in February from Asia to the Middle East on a Business Class "I" fare. The table is now showing this as being a "Flexible Economy" fare type for the purposes of earning status credits and points. Surely this is a mistake? Otherwise I'm taking a huge hit whilst traveling in a premium cabin on a route that Qantas doesn't serve. Appreciate anyone's thoughts
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Oct 2015
Total posts 1
If Qantas offered international flights out of Perth I'd accept these changes but when we have no choice but to fly Emirates (or another airline) these sorts of changes are really galling.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Sep 2013
Total posts 2
What is QANTAS doing?
QF had a premium position in the marketplace. Generally those who fly QF do not make their decision based on price, but rather based on service. As a result, their QFF members have invested in a loyalty relationship. QF has trashed all this. The QFF is the great value in QF and tinkering and making it harder to earn status or QFF points only makes QFF members question QF's commitment to the relationship.
Virgin entered the market competing on price and instead of allowing Virgin to have the lower value flyer, QANTAS met them on the price battlefield instead of Service. As a result, Virgin is slowly beating them and have increased their market share to enter the premium service market.
QANTAS must go back to its loyal customers and reassure them the relationship is based on service and valuing them as a flyer. If QF doesn't value my Platinum Status, there is nothing stopping me taking my points and status to Virgin and spending my $30-$50k per annum with them.
Doesn't matter how much fuel subsidy you have, if you lose Platinum Members you lose revenue.
05 Aug 2011
Total posts 16
I have been in your shoes Noel, no loyalty at all from Qantas as I once was a Platinum One member, and had fallout with Qantasdue to Sorry sir there is no seats in First from LAX - SYD but when had a look it was 10 seats taken by Qantas staff taking seats in First & was 4 seats empty (good to see they look after Platunim One members) & now could not be happier to have joined Virgin & partners.
05 Aug 2011
Total posts 16
Hear we go again more changes once again to the Qantas FF program, it changes like Melbourn's wether.........
QFF
16 Oct 2015
Total posts 1
I fly business class and am about to book a round the world trip using one world but on the last leg from London to Brisbane I would prefer to fly Catyhay Pacific to HK and then to Brisbane because it leaves London earlier. My last flight out of London was delayed and consequently I missed the Emirates flight to Brisbane and had to go on Qantas through Sydney. I had been sitting at Heathrow since 12.30pm for a scheduled flight at 21.25pm that finally left at 23.30pm. I do not want a repeat scenario. Which flights will have reduced status credits? I will travel to America, then Europe and home.
09 Oct 2015
Total posts 3
Qantas - The Spirit of Sydney, and sometimes Melbourne and Brisbane, if you're willing to go via Sydney nearly everytime.
16 Oct 2015
Total posts 1
Qantas are making it harder for the average flyer to gain status. I moved to Virgin about a year ago and would not go back. Most of my colleagues have done the same. where you would just miss a silver or gold status with Qantas you make it with Virgin.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Oct 2015
Total posts 1
Ansolutely had enough of Qantas even as a Gold member and near life time Silver. Based in Perth we are treated as second class citizens when it comes to international flying. Just had to to do 2 Emirates flights and 1 Malaysia for the total sum of 600miles and not a single status. Even though I could not book the flights thru Qantas out of Perth.
21 Aug 2015
Total posts 86
The Red Roo really exploits its dominant domestic market position to force inconventient choices for international travel. QF internation product is VERY limited and generally inferior to the competition, especially CX J class! yet they screw down harder and harder.
I'm over QF, I support Virgin where ever I can now. Great domestic product and good international partner options and a much fairer FF program.
QF would bew a better airline if it had more competition. Let Singapore fly the Pacific route.
Qantas
19 Jun 2015
Total posts 18
Qanats are forever tinkering with the FF programme to make is simpler and fairer which is absolute BS. They must employ mathematicians to create the formulas to ensure that you always just miss a status upgrade or bonus by 10 points. Im life gold current platinum in Perth and its nearly impossible short of flying Biz class everywhere to maintain Plat. I was Plat One but slipped back due to the last lot of changes to status by being forced to fly EK, MH and CX out of Perth because there's no bloody QF flights. Listen up Qantas to your loyal FF's not to the beancounters in the back office.
21 Aug 2015
Total posts 86
Qantas are determined to trash the last residual bit of loyalty I had for them. Frankly, I do business in Asia and Europe. I DO NOT LIKE or WANT to fly through the middle east. Qantas offer virtually no service options into Asia. The QF J projuct is significantly inferior to SQ or CX. So this is the last straw. FF points and status are no longer a driver for my decisions, I will buy the most suitable flight at the best value price point. This will be rarely QF, CX will now get most of my spend.
QF just push and push, but don't deliver, the international product is not good enough, the domest product only has frequency, Virgin offers a better onboard product.
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