- Aussies will need to pay more for Frequent Flyer points
Millions of Aussies will see their Qantas Frequent Flyer points devalued from today after huge changes were made to the program for the first time in six years.
Qantas has increased the number of points required for most reward seats, with business and first class redemptions going up by 15 to 20 per cent.
Fees and surcharges are also rising, with the airline justifying the move by claiming they are essential to 'sustain and expand the program'.
For business class domestic flights, like Sydney to Melbourne, there will only be a five per cent increase.
While the Sydney to London points cost rose by 15 per cent, the fees increased from $473 to $648, or 37 per cent.
A Sydney to Melbourne business class seat will go from 18,400 points, plus $55, to 19,300 points, plus $76.
A Sydney to London economy purchase will rise from 55,200 points, plus $263, to 63,500 points, plus $263.
The good news is Qantas Frequent Flyers will earn up to 25 per cent more points on Qantas domestic flights.
Qantas will roll out up to one million additional Classic Reward seats through new deals with Hawaiian Airlines, Finnair, Air France, KLM and Iberia.
Qantas Loyalty CEO Andrew Glance said: 'These adjustments will ensure we can continue to invest in enhancing the program for the long term and continue to grow the levels of Classic and Classic Plus Reward seat availability for members year on year.'
The value per point is better in premium cabins than in economy.
Daniel Sciberras, from Point Hacks - a guide to maximising frequent flyer points and credit card bonus offers – told Daily Mail the changes were fair when put into context.
'No-one likes to see points go up, but the last time Qantas increased their points cost was back in June 2019, so that's a good six years ago now,' he said.
'I don't think they're unreasonable increases because they're in line with the two to three per cent inflation increase every year.
'A lot of these frequent flyer changes get a lot of heat because they don't go up at all for a number of years, then they do one big increase.'
Mr Sciberras claimed there was a good reason for infrequent increases.
'I think part of that is IT issues. They're very complex in the way these programs are set up, so that's why I suspect they don't change them frequently,' he said.
'It's a lengthy process when they change the figures.'
Mr Sciberras said the changes to the program didn't affect the strategy Aussies should use to get the most out of their points.
'You'll still get the best bang for your buck by redeeming your points for long-haul international premium seats,' he said.
'That will always get you more value than redeeming points for an economy flight between Sydney and Melbourne.'
Before this week's changes, one Qantas Point for Classic Rewards translated to around two cents for economy flights and eight cents for business flights.
The Qantas Frequent Flyer program has more than 16.5million members and is Australia's largest loyalty program.
Daily Mail contacted Qantas for comment.
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