What Qantas’ frequent flyer restructuring means for YOUR flight, as the airline unveils its ‘biggest change ever’

Qantas frequent flyers will have access to more than 20 million seats on flights to international destinations as part of a $100 million expansion of the loyalty program.

The launch of Classic Plus Flight Rewards will give customers access to more international flights starting in July and will extend to domestic flights in late 2024.

The airline expects the $100 million investment to help them achieve more than $500 million in profits (before costs) in FY24.

Qantas Loyalty chief executive Andrew Glance said the new reward seat type will generally require more points than existing Classic seats, but will be available to all Qantas domestic and international network destinations, in First cabins, Business, Premium Economy and Economy.

For example, a round-trip business class flight from Sydney to London (during peak period) would cost 638,900 points as a Classic Plus customer, compared to just 289,200 on the Classic program.

While economy seats on the same return flight (during peak period) would cost 191,800 points in the Classic Plus program.

There are currently around 16 million Qantas frequent flyers, representing around 64 per cent of the national population.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said frequent flyers now have more ways than ever to earn points and Classic Plus will offer more value for frequent flyers looking to spend their growing points balance.

He described it as one of the “largest ever” program expansions.

“We’ve spent a lot of time listening to members about how we can better reward them,” Ms Hudson said.

‘We’re adding more than 20 million new flight rewards with the launch of a new type of reward seat called Classic Plus. “It is one of the largest expansions we have made to the frequent flyer program in its 35-year history.”

The points required to book Classic Plus award seats will vary like regular airfares, meaning they will be lower during off-peak periods or when booking in advance, and higher during busier periods.

Plus program seats will also be eligible for upgrades.

Classic Plus reward seats can be booked exclusively through qantas.com from Monday for travel from July 1.

The program is designed to provide a mid-range option between the existing Classic and Points Pay Plus rewards options, and Hudson says the airline has no plans to abandon its other rewards streams.

Qantas will continue to offer more than five million existing Classic Rewards seats on Qantas, Jetstar and 45 airline partners.