Qantas has unveiled significant changes to its Frequent Flyer program, marking the first adjustments to Classic Reward pricing in six years. From August 2025, the points needed for many Classic Reward redemptions will rise, by up to 20%. Business and first-class seats will also be hit by higher carrier charges.
To offset the broad pricing increases, Qantas has introduced several benefits, including higher points earning on Qantas flights, the removal of the status bonus cap, and new Jetstar business class redemptions from 2026. Short-haul Jetstar economy flights in Zone 1 will also require fewer points, and Qantas is adding up to one million extra partner reward seats, including new availability on Hawaiian Airlines, plus premium economy redemptions with Finnair, Air France, KLM, and Iberia.
For members with a large Qantas Points balance, the next six months are key to securing the best-value redemptions before the higher rates take effect.
Classic Reward pricing and carrier charges – what’s changing?
Higher points, steeper fees
Starting in October 2025, points costs for Classic Reward redemptions will be adjusted across all cabins, with the majority of award types to see pricing increases. A selection of examples have been circulated by Qantas, but we’ll need to wait for full fare tables to be published on the Qantas website in May to assess the full extent of the changes.
Based on a review of examples circulated by Qantas, premium award seats in first class will rise by 20%. Carrier charges for most business and first-class seats will also be increased to align with the fee structure that currently applies to Classic Plus rewards.
The table below provides selected examples of the upcoming changes to points pricing:
While short-haul Jetstar and Emirates economy will require fewer points from August, the broader trend is clear, with most redemptions set to cost more.
While carrier charges for economy or premium economy cabins will remain unchanged, business and first-class fees will rise, bringing them into alignment with Classic Plus fares. For example, carrier charges for Sydney to London in business class will rise from $473 to $648, an increase of $175, or approximately 37%. On some routes, the increase cost increase is set to be substantially higher.
Emirates premium cabin charges, which are already among the highest globally, will remain unchanged.
Classic Upgrade awards – more points needed for premium seats
For those fortunate enough to secure one, a Classic Upgrade can feel like hitting the jackpot – turning an economy seat into premium comfort for far fewer points than a full reward seat. Upgrades have long offered an excellent value proposition, so it’s no surprise they haven’t been spared.
The biggest jump is on long-haul routes, with an upgrade from economy to business on Sydney to Los Angeles increasing by 19,600 points. Shorter routes like Sydney to Perth will require 5,400 more points.
More reward seats, but are they truly “extra”?
As part of the changes, Qantas has announced up to one million additional reward seats per year, which will include:
- 800,000 seats from Hawaiian Airlines
- 200,000 premium economy seats from Finnair, Air France, KLM, and Iberia
However, despite the announcement of additional seats, Qantas’ longstanding commitment to providing at least 5 million Classic Reward seats annually remains unchanged. While these additional seats should improve availability, their reliability is uncertain, as they may be part of shared partner inventory, which fluctuates depending on demand and allocation across multiple airline programs.
Qantas Frequent Flyer members will enjoy early access to Hawaiian Airlines reward seats from October 2025, ahead of the airline’s official entry into oneworld in 2026. However, non-alliance partners like Alaska Airlines are also likely to have access to Hawaiian inventory during this same period, potentially increasing competition.
That said, there is precedent for strong booking success with partner airline redemptions. The Champagne Mile understands that Qantas has seen high demand for recently added partner Oman Air, including premium cabin bookings, suggesting that partner inventory can still offer meaningful value.
Whether this trend will extend to Hawaiian Airlines and the other additional partner seats remains to be seen, but members should act quickly to secure bookings on high demand routes from October.
Will the cost of oneworld Classic Flight Rewards increase?
One question we’ve been asked repeatedly is what will happen to the oneworld Classic Flight Reward, arguably the jewel in the crown of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. This redemption, also known as the “Round-The-World” (RTW) award, has long been a favourite among savvy points users. Qantas last increased the points cost of these redemptions during their sweeping 2019 program changes.
While oneworld Classic Flight Rewards technically fall under Zone 10 of the Classic Flight Reward chart, they operate under a distinct set of rules, requiring travel on Qantas and at least two oneworld partner airlines, with mileage caps and segment limits that don’t apply to standard Classic Rewards.
If Qantas applies the same percentage increases as it has to other Classic Rewards, possible new pricing could look like this:
| Cabin Class | Current Points Cost | Possible Points Cost (Aug 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 132,400 | 152,300 (+15%) |
| Premium Economy | 249,600 | 287,000 (+15%) |
| Business | 318,000 | 365,700 (+15%) |
| First | 455,000 | 546,000 (+20%) |
Note: These figures are purely speculative and based on a selection of example Classic Reward increases circulated by Qantas. Full information about pricing adjustments will be released when the airline publishes full fare tables in May 2025.
Given oneworld Classic Flight Rewards involve multiple segments across at least three airlines, increased carrier charges for business and first class flight bookings could add up fast, making what has long been an incredible use of Qantas Points significantly more expensive.
How to get ahead before most Classic Flight Reward redemption rates increase
With most redemptions set to increase in cost from August, securing the best value rewards now could save you points. Here’s what you need to know:
Improve your award search skills: With demand for reward seats set to rise, sharpening your award search skills is crucial. Learn the quirks of the Qantas website (note: the multi city tool is your friend), and search frequently to account for award seat releases, which now occur increasingly closer to departure. Consider signing up for an external award search tool like seats.aero, which offers a free search functionality.
Book ahead under current pricing: If you can, lock in redemptions up to 11 months in advance while the current points table still applies. Bookings made in July 2025 will retain today’s rates for travel through June 2026.
Explore alternative loyalty programs: If you hold flexible points and have a particular redemption in mind, consider transferring to alternative airline programs that may offer better value. For example, Qatar Privilege Club (Avios) and Singapore KrisFlyer often provide competitive redemption rates, wider availability and in some cases, lower carrier charges. Transferring points to these programs could help you sidestep Qantas’ rising redemption costs.
Acting strategically now will help you maximise your Qantas Points before the August changes come into effect.
The positives: new benefits for frequent flyers
While price hikes dominate the conversation, Qantas has introduced a handful of program enhancements. Whether these additions will truly balance out the increased costs depends on how members earn and redeem points.
Increased points earning on Qantas flights: Members will earn up to 25% more points on domestic flights, a boost that primarily benefits higher fare classes.
Removal of status bonus cap: The removal of the status bonus cap means that tiered members flying in premium cabins will now earn points on the full base fare, rather than being capped at the Flexible Economy rate.
New Jetstar business class redemptions: From 2026, Qantas Points will be redeemable for Jetstar business class, including on the 787 Dreamliner, Jetstar’s most premium offering on long-haul routes. While technically not a full-service business class experience, this redemption provides an alternative for members looking to stretch their points further.
Zone 1 Jetstar economy fare discounts: Short-haul Jetstar flights in Zone 1 have seen points requirements reduced, positioning them as some of the best-value redemptions in the program.
Since the majority of Qantas Points are earned ‘on the ground’ through credit card spend and Qantas partners, for most members, the rising redemption costs will outpace any gains in flight earnings.
Final thoughts
These changes mark one of the most significant shifts to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program in years, particularly for those who prioritise premium cabin redemptions. With looming increases to points requirements and carrier charges, now is the time to focus on booking award seats under the current pricing structure.
The increased points earning on Qantas flights is a welcome development. However, it’s important to note that the majority of points are earned on the ground through everyday spending, not from flying. For a majority of members, the additional points earned through flights are unlikely to offset the rising cost of redemptions.
Improving your award search strategy, by mastering the Qantas website, exploring search tools, and setting up seat alerts, will be key as competition for seats intensifies in the months ahead.
It’s positive to see Qantas provide a six month notice period for the pricing increases, as this provides frequent flyers with a chance to secure redemptions at current rates. However, the real test will be whether the promised reward seats deliver improved availability, particularly in international premium cabins.
For those holding large Qantas Points balances, the next six months offer the last chance to lock in the best-value redemptions before the August price hikes.
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