Qantas increases Frequent Flyer earn rates, and decreases burn rates – well at least some of them

Qantas like Nero in Rome, is fiddling with their earn and burn frequent flyer rates, again. There has been no PR fanfare about this (although it is mentioned on at least one discussion board), so my report is largely drawn from AUSBT and verified against the Qantas Points Calculator and their Tables.

Earning – Business Saver Fares

• New York and London – was 18,600 now 20,150 points. Status Credits was 280 now 295
• Los Angeles, Vancouver, San Francisco, Dubai  – was 13,500 now 14,625. Status Credits was 180 now 190
• Dallas – was 14,700 now 15,950. Status Credits was 200 now 210
• Johannesburg and Santiago – was 11.250 now 12,200. Status Credits 160 now 165
• Asia – was 7,800, now 8,450. Status Credits was 120 now 125
• New Zealand (trans-Tasman) – Status Credits was 80 now 85

Basically, it looks like they have re-catagorised Busines Saver Fares from ‘Discount Business’ to ordinary ‘Business’

Earning – International Premium Economy Saver Fares

Status Credits earning rates have been increased here too by 5 or 10 points depending on destination. Frequent Flyer points remain the same.

Everything else remains pretty much the same.

Burning – Upgrades

• Sydney and Melbourne to London – Business Saver to First Class was 75,000 now 67,500
• Sydney and Melbourne to London – Flexible Premium Economy to Business Class was 60,000 now 54,000
• Australia to Los Angeles – Business Saver to First Class was 56,500 now 50,750
• Australia to Los Angeles – Flex Premium Economy to Business Class was 45,000 now 40,500
• Sydney and Melbourne to Singapore – Business Saver to First Class was 31,500 now 28,250
• Sydney and Melbourne to Singapore – Flex Premium Economy to Business Class was 25,000 now 22,500

. . . and the rest stays the same

Final Words

Usually Qantas just ‘taketh’, but this time they appear to ‘giveth’ as well. On the surface this represents a turning of the tides in terms of the way frequent flyer schemes tend to go – which is decreasing the value. These changes increase value – albeit not by much. It represents a double win, as you get both an increase on earn rates and a decrease in burn rates. For me, the changes in points earn or burn are negligible, but the increase in Status Credits earn could be the difference between Silver and Gold! Now if they only just did the same for Partner Airlines rates – I would be Platinum by this time next year!