If you’ve been following our Qantas coverage, you’ll know we recently outlined significant changes coming to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program in 2025. In a nutshell, members can expect both positive enhancements—like more premium award seats and the introduction of Hawaiian Airlines as a partner—and negative devaluations, including steep hikes in points required for many Classic Flight Rewards.

Here’s a closer look at these upcoming changes that will start in August 2025, along with tips on which redemptions are best booked before prices rise.

Qantas Frequent Flyer Status tiers in 2025 after major changes to the program.

Qantas Frequent Flyer Changes Coming in August

Following Qantas’ initial announcement, further details have emerged (including from competitor blogs) about exactly what to expect later this year:

1. Higher Prices and Surcharges for Classic Flight Rewards

  • Domestic Short-Haul: Increases of around 15%. Example: Brisbane (BNE) to Sydney (SYD) economy goes from 8,000 points to 9,200 points.
  • Long-Haul Premium Cabin: Some routes could jump 20% or more. Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD) in business class increases from 108,600 to 130,100 points, plus surcharges rising from around $300 to about $400.

2. Higher Redemption Rates for Partner Airlines

American Airlines, Emirates & More: Emirates awards are moving to the Qantas award chart, with higher redemption rates across the board. American Airlines also sees economy-class redemptions bump from 8,000 points to 9,200 points on the shortest routes.

3. New Premium Economy Options and Hawaiian Airlines

  • Premium Economy on Finnair, Air France, KLM, Iberia: Available to book from October 2025 onward, adding 200,000 new seats.
  • Hawaiian Airlines Awards: Also bookable from October, promising up to 800,000 new seats redeemable with Qantas Points.

4. Lower Award Prices on Jetstar

  • Domestic flights on Jetstar drop to just 5,700 points. This could be an appealing option if you’re willing to trade some frequent flyer perks for a more budget-friendly redemption.

5. Round-the-World Classic Flight Rewards

  • Prices are increasing across all classes. Business Class goes from 318,000 to 365,800 points, and First Class from 455,000 to 523,200 points—though these itineraries can be complex to book.

For a deeper dive, check our previous post where we break down the pros and cons of these program adjustments.

Qantas Frequent Flyer Hompeage (2025).

What to Book Now vs. What to Book Later

Not all changes are negative, and timing your redemptions is crucial:

  • Book Before August
    • Any Qantas, Emirates, or American Airlines flights in premium cabins: Redemption costs and surcharges are set to rise substantially. If you’ve been eyeing business or first class, lock it in soon.
    • Round-the-world itineraries: These are notoriously difficult to book, but if you’re an advanced frequent flyer planning a big trip, consider doing so before the increases kick in.
  • Wait for October
    • Premium economy on Finnair, Air France, KLM, or Iberia: Only available later this year, so hold off if you want these new award options.
    • Hawaiian Airlines flights: Redeem Qantas points for travel to and from Hawaii once Hawaiian Airlines joins oneworld. (Expected from October 2025.)
  • Jetstar flights
    • If you’re set on domestic low-cost routes, you may benefit from waiting until after August, when short-haul flights drop to 5,700 points.

Is Qantas Still Worth It After These Changes?

As we noted in our previous post, Qantas is leaning toward higher redemption costs and increasingly dynamic pricing. Although members will earn more points on domestic flights from July onwards, the net effect often amounts to a devaluation—especially for high-value redemptions like long-haul business or first class.

Other programs (like Virgin Australia Velocity or Avios-based schemes) may start to look more attractive. That said, Qantas still has a robust oneworld network plus partnerships with Emirates, Air France, and KLM. If you’re strategic—particularly around locking in redemptions before the changes—Qantas Frequent Flyer can still deliver decent value.

How To Find Award Flights on Qantas

Imagine flying to Paris in a lie-flat business class seat for the price of an economy ticket. On average, AwardFares premium users get 3x-7x more value from their points, regularly booking $5,000+ flights at a fraction of the cost.

AwardFares is the easiest way to find the cheapest and most convenient award flights across multiple frequent flyer programs. It takes just seconds and a few clicks to get started. You can create an account and try it for free here.

Ready to get started? Create a free account here. If you’re serious about premium travel, our Gold and Diamond membership tiers unlock even more features, including unlimited searches, advanced filters, and daily seat alerts.

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