Qantas is dangling a fresh loyalty offer weeks before new rules are expected to put a dampener on consumers’ frequent flyer activity.
From Wednesday until September 2, Qantas frequent flyers will be given double points, or double status credits, for any marketed flight.
Dedicated frequent flyers can also earn double status credits, which allow members to scale the frequent flyer tiers (bronze, silver, gold, platinum) faster, giving access to lounges and other perks.
The offer comes just over a month before October 1 regulations by the Reserve Bank kick in. Already, the rules are prompting banks to offer fewer points on credit card sign-ups or on spending. (Banks typically purchase the points from airlines, funded in part by transaction fees which the RBA is eliminating).
Some Qantas frequent flyers wait for these specials, which happen once or twice a year, and make multiple bookings, allowing them to lock in their status credits (300 for silver, 700 for gold). The double points can also be applied to Qantas Hotel and Holiday bookings, providing an extra boost for those planning their next getaway, the airline said.
Sign up for the Traveller newsletter
The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.
Loyalty strategist Adele Eliseo, of The Champagne Mile, said the offer comes right on the back of an aggressive Qantas domestic airfare sale. “Since double status promos usually land during full-fare periods (designed to drive full-fare forward bookings), travellers do need to do the maths to determine if paying full fare for the extra status credits makes more sense than waiting for another sale.”
Eliseo noted that the special comes just before Qantas announces its annual results on Thursday. “I think we will see a few additional loyalty initiatives timed for release on financial results day,” she said.
With the cost-of-living crisis and a sustained appetite for travel, loyalty programs have become an area of intense competition, both as a way to drive consumer engagement with brands, and encourage shoppers’ behaviour. In February, at Qantas’ half-year results, the company announced a change to its loyalty program to allow members to earn status credits by shopping, rather than just flying.
Eliseo said it’s possible Qantas will reveal the start date for the change at the full-year results.
RBA changes are expected to alter the loyalty industry playing field further, spurring more activity at the retail level. Last week, CommBank unveiled its Yello rewards scheme, where points are earned from every-day spend and redeemed across a range of products, like shopping, gift cards and points transfers to airlines. CommBank’s partner is Virgin’s Velocity program.
David Parsons, the chief executive of customer loyalty program consultancy Ellipsis, described the loyalty devaluations triggered by the RBA as “the biggest modern reset” of credit card and airline loyalty schemes.
Parsons envisions a split in the market with smaller merchants retaining savings from not paying merchants fees, while Woolworths’ and Coles’ retail programs “keep investing and absorb the attention and spend that will depart from credit card loyalty”.
At the same time, “the airlines lose the daily reinforcement of a co-branded card tap”.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Chris Zappone is a senior reporter covering aviation and business. He is former digital foreign editor.Connect via X, Facebook or email.
