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For most frequent flyers, the strategy is a straight-up \u201cearn then burn\u201d play for points. Indeed, you may be purely focused on getting that number up \u2013 so you can get up in the air. And every time you do so in business class, it\u2019s a sweeter win.<\/p>\n
But I have to say, I\u2019ve recently bought into all the fuss about so-called status, those gold, silver, and platinum-level benefits. If frequent flying is a game, and many aficionados treat it thus, status is like getting overpowered.<\/p>\n
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Qantas has changed how its frequent flyer program works.Kate Geraghty<\/p>\n
So, it seems precisely timed for this personal revelation that Qantas has changed the status game rules.<\/a> Let\u2019s see if you too should care.<\/p>\n Status achieves some nice-to-haves but also potentially need-to-haves. On the nice-to-haves side, there are lounge passes \u2013 so think free food and drinks, a comfy place to wait for your plane, priority boarding. You might also get higher discounts with Qantas partners and seat upgrades on flights.<\/p>\n But on the possible need-to-have side is something that addresses one of the biggest bugbears people have about the Qantas reward scheme (and indeed many): the availability of seats.<\/p>\n What many people don\u2019t realise is that a high status gives you the ability to get a rewards seat that doesn\u2019t exist unlocked (on Qantas aircraft, not partners) \u2013 either one that\u2019s not being offered to lower-status members or even with a phone call.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll get up to 140 additional status credits each year via spend across 10 difference categories with Qantas subsidiaries or affiliates.<\/p>\n The problem is that, traditionally, you get status in the air by paying for flights, which \u2013 for me and many \u2013 defeats the purpose of playing, as \u2018winning\u2019 at frequent flying is getting those flights free. But Qantas has now significantly moved the status goal posts.<\/p>\n Following the huge success of a promotion that let member earn status on the ground late last year, it\u2019s making the change permanent.<\/p>\n How do you earn status on the ground? You\u2019ll get up to 140 additional status credits each year via spend across 10 difference categories with Qantas subsidiaries or affiliates, such as credit cards, retail partners, and utility providers. Details are to be released later.<\/p>\n And while status credits used to expire at the end of a membership year, tiered members (the tiers are bronze, silver, gold, platinum and platinum one) will now get to roll over up to 50 per cent of their excess status credits. That sure beats them expiring.<\/p>\n However, there is a complication in all this because status \u2018nice-to-haves\u2019 weren\u2019t really just earnable in the air \u2026 and these extra avenues look \u2013 for now \u2013 in jeopardy.<\/p>\n Sub-schemes of the Qantas program are Points Club and Points Club Plus, which give similar perks for 150,000 and 350,000 points earned in a membership year. You can already rack up these points with partners and Qantas products, with bulk credit card sign-up points a particularly fast avenue.<\/p>\n And here\u2019s the real wrinkle: another big advantage was the ability for Points Club and Points Club Plus members to earn status credits on Classic flight reward bookings.<\/p>\n Both schemes at this stage are to be closed, although Qantas Loyalty and Customer CEO Andrew Glance said at the media announcement: \u201cWe are looking for a new home for that benefit, and that could look like something very different.\u201d<\/p>\n Editor’s pick The shutting of Points Club and Points Club Plus, and opening of status-on-the-ground, is loosely scheduled to take place in October or November. To me, that spells the chance for transitional plays \u2013 so I asked Point Hacks chief editor Brandon Loo the moves he would make to game the new system.<\/p>\n Before the changes (remember, we are told they may kick in from October or November) he says: \u201cIf Points Club is already on the radar, then I\u2019d certainly suggest that members evaluate whether they can reach it and also make use of the benefits in the following year.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would at least guarantee one last year of lounge passes, hotel and wine vouchers, and of course, the ability to earn status credits on Qantas reward flights. If they reach Points Club Plus, another year of guaranteed Qantas Club access is quite valuable for some travellers as well.\u201d<\/p>\n The thing is that while some of those benefits will be redistributed to other tiers, they won\u2019t be as easy to earn \u2013 at just 150,000 points across multiple channels \u2013 as with Points Club. What about Loo\u2019s recommended strategy to account for the imminent ability to rollover 50 per cent of your status credits?<\/p>\n \u201cIf your membership year is due to renew before the new rollover benefits kicks in [also pencilled in for October or November], then there\u2019s probably not much point in overachieving your status goals, unless you\u2019re mainly focused on Lifetime status.<\/p>\n \u201cBut for those members who have a renewal date after that period, then it could be a good idea to see if your travels enable you to take advantage of the new rollover feature. I just wouldn\u2019t lock in a strategy this early, until we know more about the implementation from Qantas.\u201d<\/p>\n Note that there is also, until midnight Monday (March 2), a temporary promotion where you can earn double Qantas status credits on flight bookings. Just watch this space for what may happen to those credits\u2026 and precisely where else you will soon be able to earn them.<\/p>\n Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon is the author of How to Get Mortgage-Free Like Me, available at www.nicolessmartmoney.com<\/a>. Follow Nicole on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers\u2019 decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that takes into account their own personal circumstances before making any financial decisions.<\/p>\n Expert tips on how to save, invest and make the most of your money delivered to your inbox every Sunday. 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