Qantas Frequent Flyer is introducing the most significant changes to earning and retaining status since the program’s inception, giving members the ability to roll over unused Status Credits and earn them through everyday spending for the first time.

The changes, which follow extensive feedback from thousands of frequent flyers and leading loyalty experts, will be introduced progressively from later this year. They include:

Earning Status Credits on the ground – a permanent way for members to earn in addition to flying, from Qantas credit cards to hundreds of program partners.
Status Credit roll over – the ability for tiered members to roll over up to 50 per cent of their excess Status Credits[1], which currently reset, from one membership year to the next.
More lifetime milestones – greater recognition for Lifetime Gold members, including the ability to earn and ‘bank’ up to five complimentary years of Platinum Status.
Enhanced tier benefits – an additional lounge invitation each membership year for Silver members, alongside new on-the-ground vouchers and discounts for all higher tiers[2].
Removing program complexity – the retirement of overlapping sub-programs including Points Club and Green Tier in favour of one core recognition pathway.
Single Status Credit targets – the removal of separate attain and retain requirements, in favour of a single target for each tier level.
An improved digital experience – a new search tool on qantas.com to help members find international Classic Reward seats on Qantas and partner airlines in seconds.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the overhaul will deliver greater flexibility, faster recognition and more pathways to status.

“With more than 18 million members and nearly 40 years rewarding loyalty, this represents a new era for the Frequent Flyer program in the face of a changing loyalty landscape.

“Our members have an incredible appetite for earning points, but we know they also place immense value on their status. Our most frequent flyers tell us that status retention is the single most important milestone as a member, with thousands achieving or retaining their tier every day.

“These changes are about creating more opportunities for members to unlock status, while ensuring the program remains as relevant and rewarding in the future as it has been for the past four decades,” said Ms Hudson.

Qantas Loyalty and Customer CEO Andrew Glance said the introduction of Status Credit roll over and on the ground earning represented some of the most significant changes in program history.

“Traditionally, Status Credits have been a benefit earned exclusively through flying. However last year’s trial broke member engagement records, proving they want more ways to fast-track their status.

“Making this a permanent fixture is great news for our members and also our partners, who will benefit from the increased activity this creates.

“Around half of the status credits our members earn each year are over and above their tier thresholds. We are giving value back, ensuring hard-earned status credits in one year give members a head start in the next.

“Lifetime Gold members have shown decades-long loyalty to Qantas, and we want to give them a clearer pathway to even greater rewards. Silver members are our largest group of tiered flyers, and these changes will also deliver more travel benefits for them right from the outset.

“Our new reward seat search tool is also a significant investment in our digital experience. With over 14,000 reward seats booked each day, the tool will provide a seamless window into our network and drive a further increase in flight redemptions,” said Mr Glance.

A summary of program changes can be found below and further details will be provided to members before they are introduced.

Status Credits on the Ground

All members will be able to earn up to 140 additional Status Credits each year from ten everyday categories. This follows a record-breaking trial in 2025, where members embraced earning Status Credits via credit cards, retail partners, and utility providers. Status Credits earned on the ground will also count towards Lifetime tier balances, helping members to reach Lifetime status sooner. This expansion launches later in 2026 and will coincide with more major partners joining the program.

Status Credit roll over

For the first time, members will have the flexibility to roll over up to 50 per cent of their unused Status Credits into their next membership year. Roll overs will be capped at 100 Status Credits for Silver members, 350 for Gold, and 500 for Platinum. This permanent benefit will replace the previous loyalty bonus offered to some members. This new roll-over benefit will launch later in 2026.

More lifetime milestones

Lifetime Gold members will now enjoy greater recognition on their journey towards Lifetime Platinum. For every 10,000 Status Credits earned beyond the Lifetime Gold threshold, members will receive a complimentary year of Platinum status. These years can be ‘banked’ and activated at a time of the member’s choosing (with a limit of five banked years). This feature will launch in 2027.

Enhanced tier benefits

Silver members will enjoy an additional lounge invitation each membership year, alongside new on-the-ground vouchers and discounts for all tiered members Silver and above. Additional benefits will be announced before the new-look tiers launch in 2027.

Removing program complexity

Points Club and Green Tier will be retired later this year, with the benefits valued most integrated into the core frequent flyer program. This will remove program complexity and the overlapping eligibility requirements of these sub-programs. With the retirement of Green Tier, the airline will consider new ways to reward members who make sustainable choices when they fly. Points Club and Green Tier will be phased out gradually from late 2026.

Single Status Credit targets

With Status Credit roll over and expanded earning opportunities on the ground, the program will also move to a single Status Credit target for each tier. For example, Gold status will require 700 Status Credits annually (previously 700 to attain and 600 to retain). The removal of these separate attain and retain requirements will be introduced in 2027.

An improved digital experience

Launching next month, a new search tool on qantas.com will display Classic Reward seat inventory on Qantas and 30 partner airlines in seconds. Members will be able to search millions of seats by destination and cabin type over a 12-month booking period.