Qantas trials earning status credits on credit cards
By David Flynn, December 1 2016
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Executive Traveller may receive a commission when you apply for these credit cards via our links.
The information provided on this page is purely factual and general in nature. You should seek independent advice and consider your own personal circumstances before applying for any financial product.
EXCLUSIVE | Qantas will offer frequent flyers the ability to earn status credits in addition to points when shopping with their credit cards.
Under a trial being launched this week and running through to May 2018, selected members of the Qantas Frequent Flyer scheme will collect one 'credit card status credit' – which is different to a conventional status credit – for every 400 Qantas Points earned on either the Macquarie Black Card with Qantas Rewards or the Westpac Altitude Black Credit Card with Qantas Points.
Australian Business Traveller understands the invitation-only trial is extended to less than 0.1% of Qantas' 11.5 million frequent flyers.
Qantas is positioning the scheme as a way to bridge the gap between tiers – such as Silver to Gold, or Gold to Platinum – or provide a 'plastic assist' in retaining your current status, rather than a replacement for flying.
"The ability to earn Status Credits is highly prized by our members and we wanted to explore how we could potentially reward frequent buyers as well as our Frequent Flyers with status" a Qantas spokesperson told Australian Business Traveller.
Credit card status credits won't count towards reaching or retaining Platinum One status, Lifetime Status or the regular loyalty bonus milestones.
The trial also places a cap on how many credit card status credits can be earned.
One Australian Business Traveller reader reports that his partner, who currently holds entry-level Bronze status with Qantas, has been invited to take part in the trial as a shortcut to Silver status but would see her credit card earnings capped at 150 status credits per membership year.
Qantas' trial follows the launch of a partnership between Virgin Australia and Coles Flybuys, through which shoppers can earn Virgin's Velocity status credits (along with Etihad Guest tier miles) by swiping their Flybuys card at Coles, Liquorland and First Choice Liquor outlets.
Also read: This month's top Qantas Frequent Flyer credit card sign-up offers
Disclaimer
Executive Traveller may receive a commission when you apply for these credit cards via our links.
The information provided on this page is purely factual and general in nature. You should seek independent advice and consider your own personal circumstances before applying for any financial product.
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.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 May 2011
Total posts 232
So, those surveys we received about earning status credits by credit card were for real!
I think the balance sounds about right in that there is a cap on status point earn and only status points earned from flying count towards your lifetime balance.
Let's see how the trial goes!
05 May 2016
Total posts 619
At that rate of SC per dollar spent and with the SCs not counting towards the lifetime tally you're probably better off doing a status run.
If the SCs counted towards lifetime SCs then this would have been quite tempting.
If the trial is open to those applying for one of those cards sometime next year or the year after maybe I'll get a few SCs from this, but with them not counting towards lifetime SCs the value is quite limited.
10 Aug 2015
Total posts 113
Is it true that Air NZ already offers something similar to what Qantas is trialling?
15 Aug 2014
Total posts 9
Yes, I get Air NZ Status Points with my KiwiBank Airpoints credit card.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 444
I'm hoping Virgin will offer something similar, particularly as they are reducing their status credits earn-rate come early next year.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 444
On lower-priced tickets.
VA
17 Jun 2014
Total posts 17
Flybuys status credits? Not the same but an opportunity to earn SC on the ground i.e. a way to "assist" in the same manner.
18 Nov 2015
Total posts 118
So $60,000 credit card spend gives you 150 status credits (assuming $1 spend = 1 point).
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
04 Sep 2012
Total posts 136
Air NZ has this with select cards, it's a great way to boost your balance when you are close to retaining your tier
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2012
Total posts 134
"Looking", after 12 years on the trot at Platinum and lifetime Gold I stopped flying Qantas and switched to Air NZ in Jan 2016. I haven't seen this approach anywhere with ANZ. Two great benefits they do offer at Elite level is complimentary status at Elite for my wife + roll-over of extra SCs earned in one year for future years. That's good if you're flying a lot more than the 1350 SCs required to get to Elite.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Feb 2016
Total posts 49
Traveller 99 you make a good point. For $60K you could make approximately 6 return flights MEL-JFK in J that would equate to 3840 SC, so P1 status and contribution to lifetime SC.
23 Feb 2015
Total posts 262
I somehow doubt people are going to spend $60k for the status credits.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Oct 2013
Total posts 33
is this for existing MB/ Westpac Black cards as well or just new?
02 Dec 2016
Total posts 1
Ah, this website is great for intel but these comments make me laugh. Your either a) (at best) kinda excited about these new earning opportunities b) all pissed off when these earning opportunities add up and the airlines water down earning rates (seriously, you want to earn better and expect it to stay stay quo?) or c) you just want to grandstand and think you, yes YOU, throwing in one alliance for another, is really going to make one airline change for YOU. Me? I commute to London every month, enjoy my business class, love the amazing life I have and just get a tad annoyed at times that more of you that fill the premium lounge space because you think you're royalty as you've done 1 or 2 business class trips a year and shop heavily at Woolies. Good on you, give yourself a hug, but stay in the gold lounge please. If you want to earn, fly and fly hard.
25 Oct 2011
Total posts 2
Wow what a great job
15 Aug 2014
Total posts 9
I get these with Air NZ using my Kiwibank Airpoints credit card. It's a great idea, though one can't get Elite status using these Status credits but they count toward Silver and Gold. A great idea. As a bonus I also get a couple of Air NZ Koru Lounge passes each year using this card and Airpoints don't expire so long as you have this card. I have always felt Qantas is behind the ballpark when it comes to Status point earning.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Jan 2014
Total posts 14
Would have been handy this year when I fell 60 SC short of Gold......
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jan 2017
Total posts 1
Actually I think after Virgin Australia had integrate the reward programme with Flybuys, which can boost both status credits and points, the Qantas should have to make changes.
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