How to make the most of Qantas’ new points overhaul

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Regular readers of this column will know my penchant – nay, passion – for Qantas frequent flyer points. Indeed, in just a few weeks I will take my two children to North America … for just $779 for the three of us in taxes.

Then, in June, I’ll fly to the UK and back for $894 (that’s Heathrow taxes for you). But for bookings from August it will all be different, as last week Qantas announced a devaluing of points redemptions.

Qantas is increasing the number of points needed to secure Classic Rewards flights.Credit: Steven Siewert

All my coming flights were booked with Classic Rewards, the most generous but also the scarcest type (seats are opened up in tranches now but best secured on their initial release date, 353 days in advance).

So it’s great news there are to be 1 million extra Classic Rewards seats – 20 per cent more – unlocked across the international network. And you’ll – happily – earn more points when you pay for flights (we are told up to 25 per cent) on domestic routes.

But with the points cost rising when you redeem them for flights, how do you get the best value now?

Well, my North America economy return – from Brisbane – required 41,900 points a leg each, so it was a total of 251,400 points. (Incidentally, I made these points in a bulk points-earning blitz, too … and you can do the same with the bonus points on offer today from various new credit cards, electricity providers, Qantas Health Insurance and gift card purchases via Everyday Rewards for future groceries.)

It looks like using points for international travel on actual Qantas flights may come out on top of the redemption ranking tables.

Unfortunately, it’s not been disclosed how many points this will take for bookings from August, but we have clues as to the changes with my economy London flights, which also from Brisbane were 66,200 points each way.

We’ve been told that Sydney to London, economy, will go from 55,200 points to 63,500 points. That’s a 15 per cent increase. Relevant to my excess points ‘cost’, the flights are on partner airlines. And we also know that Sydney to London on British Airways will go from 66,200 points to 76,100.



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