Qantas in 2025 will roll out changes to its loyalty program, including an increase in the number points needed for a reward ticket, the carrier announced last week. The Australian carrier also said it would increase the number of points members can earn on domestic flights.
The announcement comes a few weeks after British Airways said it would transition to a spend-level program from a points-based one.
In August, the number of points required to book a "classic reward" seat or make a "classic upgrade" will increase across Qantas' domestic and international network and with partner airlines. The point-requirement changes differ depending on the route, but most samples Qantas provided show a roughly 15 percent increase.
Qantas also will increase fees for classic reward travel on some routes. Fees for reward travel on a business-class seat from Sydney to London Heathrow will total A$648, up from the current level of A$473. Fees for a business-class seat from Sydney to Melbourne will be A$76, up from A$55.
Qantas noted that members can book classic reward seats up to 11 months in advance, so those who book prior to Aug. 5 can lock in travel at current point requirements for flights until June 2026.
Meanwhile, Qantas in July will increase the number of points members can earn on domestic flights by up to 25 percent, and it will remove the earning cap for tiered members traveling in premium cabins. The carrier also plans to "unlock" up to 1 million more classic reward seats with partners Finnair, Air France, KLM and Iberia in premium cabins, and across the Hawaiian Airlines network.
No changes are slated for eligibility criteria for status tiers, existing tier benefits and the point-earning rate on Jetstar and partner airlines, according to Qantas.