Qantas Revamps Frequent Flyer Rewards: What Business Travellers Need to Know

• January 23, 2025
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Qantas is set to introduce significant changes to its Classic Flight Rewards and Classic Upgrade Rewards programs, taking effect from 5 August 2025.

The overhaul will see Jetstar short-haul domestic flights across Australia and New Zealand become more accessible, with an 11% reduction in the number of Qantas Points required. Business travellers can now redeem seats starting from 5,700 points, down from 6,400, on key routes such as Sydney to the Gold Coast and Melbourne to Adelaide.

However, the changes come with increased costs for other routes. The number of points needed for all other Classic Flight Rewards and upgrades will rise by up to 20%, with Qantas flights starting at 9,200 points instead of the current 8,000. The increase will apply across Qantas’ domestic, international, and partner airline networks, while upgrades will be impacted only on the Qantas network. For premium travellers, carrier charges for Business and First Class reward bookings will increase, aligning with the Classic Plus Flight Rewards program. This means travellers using points for premium experiences should anticipate additional cash outlays when securing their seats.

In a key shift, Classic Flight Rewards for Emirates-operated flights will soon align with Qantas’ structure, providing a reduction in points for Economy Class seats on most routes but a rise in Business and First Class reward levels.

Qantas plans to publish updated reward charts on its website approximately three months before the changes take effect, offering business travellers time to plan their redemptions effectively. With these adjustments on the horizon, frequent flyers and corporate travel planners are encouraged to redeem points under the current structure before the new rates are implemented.

For more details and to stay informed about the changes, visit the Qantas website or consult your corporate travel provider.