Qantas Frequent Flyer Unveils Major Program Overhaul: Status Rollovers and Ground Earning Coming Soon

Qantas has just announced a massive shake-up to its Frequent Flyer program, marking the most significant changes to status acquisition and retention in nearly 40 years. Aimed at providing more flexibility and fast-tracking recognition, the airline is introducing several features that frequent flyers have long requested - most notably, the ability to roll over excess Status Credits and earn them through everyday spend. These changes will be phased in starting later this year and continuing into 2027.

Click HERE to read about the changes coming to Qantas Frequent Flyer!

Photo Credit: Qantas

1. Status Credit Rollover

In a move that mirrors some of the world’s most flexible loyalty programs, Qantas will now allow tiered members (Silver and above) to roll over up to 50% of their unused Status Credits into the following membership year. This is a permanent benefit designed to replace the previous loyalty bonus.

The rollover amount will be capped based on your tier:

• Silver (up to 25% of unused Status Credits): Up to 100 Status Credits

• Gold (up to 50% of unused Status Credits): Up to 350 Status Credits

• Platinum (up to 50% of unused Status Credits): Up to 500 Status Credits

2. Earning Status Credits on the Ground

Following a successful trial in 2025, Qantas is making ground earning a permanent feature. Members can earn up to 140 Status Credits per year across ten categories, including spend on Qantas credit cards, retail partners, and utility providers. Importantly, these credits will also count towards Lifetime Status balances.

Photo Credit: Qantas

3. Simplified Tier Targets

Qantas is moving away from the dual Attain and Retain targets. Starting in 2027, there will be a single Status Credit target for each tier level. For example, Gold status will require 700 Status Credits annually, regardless of whether you are reaching it for the first time or renewing your current status.

4. More Milestones for Lifetime Members

For those who have already achieved Lifetime Gold, Qantas is introducing a clearer path to higher rewards. For every 10,000 Status Credits earned beyond the Lifetime Gold threshold, members will receive a complimentary year of Platinum status. Members can bank up to five of these complimentary years and activate them whenever they choose.

5. Retirement of Points Club and Green Tier

To reduce program complexity, Qantas will retire the Points Club and Green Tier sub-programs starting late 2026. The benefits most valued by members in these programs will be integrated into the core Frequent Flyer experience, though specific details on how this transition will look for existing Points Club Plus members are yet to be fully detailed.

Photo Credit: Mark Sherborne

6. Enhanced Digital Experience

Launching as early as next month, a new search tool on qantas.com will allow members to find Classic Flight Reward seats across Qantas and 30 partner airlines more efficiently. The tool promises to show availability over a 12-month window in seconds, a much-needed upgrade for those looking to burn their points on international premium cabins.

While the removal of the lower retain thresholds might seem like a hurdle for some, the ability to roll over credits and earn them via ground spend should make maintaining status significantly easier for the average traveler. These changes represent a modern shift for Qantas, aligning it more closely with global loyalty trends while rewarding its most loyal long-term members.