Qantas is making it twice as easy to reach gold or platinum status, but only for one week. Until 18 March 2025, you can earn double status credits on all eligible flights, giving you a rare chance to fast track your way to elite perks.
If lounge access and priority boarding are on your wishlist, this is your opportunity to lock them in. Here’s what you need to know.
How to qualify for Qantas double status credits
To take advantage of this promotion, you need to:
- Register via the Qantas website or app. You'll need to choose between double status credits and double Qantas points
- Book flights on Qantas-marketed and operated flights (as usual, partner airline and codeshare flights are excluded)
- Travel between 19 March 2025 and 24 February 2026
- Wait up to eight weeks for status credits to land in your account
The registration link can be found here. There’s no limit to how many flights you can book during the offer period, but each traveler must register separately.
We usually only see this promotion once or twice per year, so for travellers serious about securing or retaining a higher level of Qantas Frequent Flyer status, now could be the time to act.
During the promotional period, Qantas is also doubling points on Qantas Hotel and Holiday bookings. This bonus is available to anyone who registers for the main offer, regardless of their chosen bonus.
How many status credits do you need?
With a double status credit promotion, reaching elite status takes half the usual flights. Here’s what you need to aim for:
| Tier | Status credits to qualify |
|---|---|
| Silver | 300 (250 to retain) |
| Gold | 700 (600 to retain) |
| Platinum | 1,400 (1,200 to retain) |
| Platinum One | 3,600 (3,600 to retain, incl. 2,700 on Qantas marketed flights) |
If lounge access is the goal, gold is the minimum worth chasing. Silver offers little, but gold gets you Qantas Club, priority perks and oneworld lounges worldwide. For luxury driven flyers, Platinum status offers access to the Qantas First Lounge access and higher upgrade priority.
Double status credits or double Qantas points: which to choose?
As usual, Qantas is offering a choice between double status credits or double Qantas points:
- Take status credits if you want lounge access, priority perks, and better upgrade chances
- Opt for double Qantas points if you are focused on growing your frequent flyer balance to book reward flights
Since status credits can be difficult to earn, many frequent flyers, especially those targeting gold or platinum status, view them as the more valuable currency. Regular travellers focused on immediate perks like lounge access, priority check in and upgrades typically find greater value in status credits. On the other hand, those who fly less frequently and prefer reward flights might see more value in doubling their Qantas points balance instead.
Qantas double status credits: smart move or costly play?
The chance to earn elite Qantas Frequent Flyer status twice as fast is a compelling proposition for many travellers. But could it cost you thousands in flights you might not otherwise spend?
Before you book, consider what long term benefits you’re actually getting in return.
Who stands to benefit most:
- Business travellers: If your work covers your travel costs, and you’re able to book eligible Qantas flights during the promotional period, this is an easy win.
- Frequent economy flyers: Access Gold or Platinum perks without needing to book premium seats.
- Members close to a higher status level or on the edge of a status drop: Secure or maintain your tier with fewer flights.
- Points-rich flyers struggling with seat availability: As an unwritten benefit, Platinum members have access to additional Classic Reward seat releases (availability is not guaranteed, but this perk can be useful).
Who should reconsider:
- Price conscious travellers: Double status credit promotions rarely overlap with discounted fare sales, so you’ll likely pay full price.
- Infrequent flyers: The status perks on offer might not justify extra travel costs. Is it worth your time to spend thousands of dollars on flights, simply for two plates of Neil Perry’s salt and pepper squid?
- Flyers who don’t transit Sydney or Melbourne airports: Qantas First Lounge access is a highlight of Platinum, but if your routes don’t include these hubs, the value is limited.
Key conditions to keep in mind:
- Only flights marketed and operated by Qantas count (that means no codeshare or partner airline flights count, including Jetstar or Emirates)
- Points Club and Points Club Plus members can earn double status credits on eligible reward bookings. This provides eligible members with the opportunity to rack up more credits on reward flights.
- Bonus status credits count toward lifetime status but not toward loyalty bonuses.
For more ways to earn status credits without flying, see our guide on earning Qantas Status Credits on the ground.
Maximising your Qantas double status credits
Beyond planned travel, to ratchet up status credits fast, the most dedicated status chasers consider a status run, a flight booked specifically to maximise status credits.
Here’s how to maximise a status run (with our full guide available here):
Opt for multi leg routes: Why fly direct when you can connect? Taking a Qantas flight from Sydney to Perth via Melbourne typically earns more status credits than a direct journey.
Book premium cabins: Business class, even on short-haul flights, earn status credits at a much higher rate than economy fare classes.
Consider trans-Tasman and medium-haul international routes: Flight routes like Melbourne to Auckland or Sydney to Bali offer a cost effective way to earn a significant number of status credits compared with other international routes, particularly in business class.
When considering a status run, it pays to do the maths. Always calculate the cost per status credit to see if the extra cost is worth it. For example, a $2000 flight that earns 400 Qantas status credits comes at a cost of $5 per status credit. In recent years, the cost of status credits has risen significantly, making status runs a more expensive undertaking. If the outlay feels too high, it might not be worth it.
Check how many status credits your flight could earn via the Qantas status credit calculator here.
Could Qantas shift to spend-based status credit earning?
In recent years, many airlines have moved to tie status directly to dollars spent rather than miles flown, a change not always popular among frequent flyers.
Virgin Australia recently announced plans to adopt a spend-based status credit system, following the lead of other global airlines like British Airways, Delta, United, and American Airlines.
Qantas hasn’t yet made any announcements indicating a shift to a similar model, but the wider industry trend is clear. If Qantas eventually adopts a spend-based approach, traditional mileage-based status runs could become a thing of the past.
With this in mind, the current double status credits offer could represent one of the final chances to secure elite status under a mileage-based system.
Final thoughts: should you book?
If your upcoming travel plans naturally align with this promotion, double status credits could offer an easy path to elite perks. However, before booking flights purely to chase status, make sure you weigh up whether the additional costs genuinely stack up against the benefits.
If you’re considering taking advantage of this offer, you’ll need to act quickly. Qantas double status credits are available for one week only.
Recent history of Qantas status credits offers
- October 2024: A choice of double Qantas points or Qantas status credits
- February 2024: A choice of double Qantas points or Qantas status credits
- March 2023: A choice of double Qantas points or Qantas status credits
- March 2022: A choice of double Qantas points or Qantas status credits
- December 2021: Bonus status credits with Qantas Hotels
Qantas has a track record of running double status credit promotions once or twice per year, though the timing is never guaranteed. Looking at past offers can provide insight into how often these deals appear and when they might return.
FAQ: Qantas status credits offers
Qantas states that bonus status credits (or bonus Qantas points, if you’ve opted for those instead) should be credited within 8 weeks after travel.
Qantas status credits operate as a completely separate currency from points, but they are just as valuable. Status credits are used to move up the membership ranks of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. They are a mileage based currency, calculated by measuring flying activity on Qantas and partner airlines. When you complete an eligible flight, you earn a certain number of status credits. The number of Qantas status credits earned varies by the distance of the route flown.
No, Qantas double Status Credits or double points can only be earned when you fly on eligible Qantas flights marketed with a QF flight number. This means that flights operated by partner airlines, including Emirates and Jetstar, are usually ineligible.
Yes, there are sometimes ways to earn Qantas status credits on the ground. See this post for more information.
Consider booking a Status Run to boost your balance quickly. Ensure you calculate the cost of each status credit to ensure the extra cost justifies the outcome.
No, unlike points, it’s not possible to buy Qantas status credits.
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Hi Adele, I have just called the Qantas Premium Desk & was advised that the DSC offer does not apply to Points Club Classic reward bookings. This is contrary to previous experience. The agent advised to refer to the T&Cs which do not as far I can see specifically mention Points Club bookings. Could you please advise or refer me to the relevant link?