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How to use Qantas Frequent Flyer Points

Whether you want to redeem free flights, upgrades or gift cards, discover all the ways you can cash in your Qantas Frequent Flyer Points.

As a Qantas Frequent Flyers you aren’t short of ways to use your points. From flights and holiday packages to car hire and products from the Qantas Marketplace, this guide takes you through all of the different ways you can spend your Qantas Points and how you can get the most from your rewards.

Flights

As a frequent flyer program, flights are the most obvious way to spend your Qantas Points. Read on to find out how you can use your points to redeem flights, upgrade existing flight bookings or use a combination of points and cash for your next trip.

Classic Flight Rewards

You can use your Qantas Points to fly almost anywhere with Qantas and its network of more than 50 partner airlines and affiliates. While there are many one-way, return and multi-destination Classic Flight Reward destinations available, these are subject to availability and you may need to be a little flexible with travel dates and flight times.

The number of points required will also depend on the fare class (for example, economy or business), destination, route and retail cost of the flight.

When browsing flights on the Qantas website, you can opt to search Classic Flight Rewards to compare available routes and the number of points you’ll need. But to give you an idea of how far your points could take you, we’ve provided a few examples below. Please note that we’ve given a few different domestic and international options, and we’ve varied the routes and fare classes to show you how the points cost can vary depending on these details.

Fare classReturn/one wayDepartureDestinationNumber of points
EconomyReturnSydney, CanberraBrisbane16,000
EconomyReturnSydney, Brisbane, CanberraDarwin36,000
BusinessOne waySydneyAuckland31,000
BusinessOne wayBrisbane, CanberraAuckland41,500
BusinessReturnSydney, BrisbaneHong Kong150,000
BusinessReturnCanberraHong Kong194,200
EconomyOne waySydney, BrisbaneDubai50,300
EconomyOne wayCanberraDubai58,300
BusinessReturnAdelaide, HobartSydney55,200
EconomyReturnAdelaideGold Coast19,200
EconomyOne wayAdelaideRome61,500
BusinessReturnAdelaideDenpasar62,000
BusinessOne wayPerthDarwin41,500
EconomyReturnPerthParis149,400
EconomyOne wayPerthDublin65,200
EconomyOne wayDarwinDublin61,200
EconomyReturnPerthChristchurch45,500
EconomyReturnDarwinChristchurch40,600
EconomyReturnDarwinLos Angeles132,400
EconomyReturnHobartPhuket63,000
BusinessOne wayHobartLas Vegas276,000

Details sourced from the Qantas website and correct at the time of writing in July 2021.

It’s also important to note that additional taxes, fees and carrier charges may apply in addition to the points required.

Partnered airlines

While you can’t exchange your Qantas Points for frequent flyer points with another loyalty program, you can use your points to redeem flights with partnered airlines. You can redeem your points with airlines within the oneworld Alliance, including Jetstar, American Airlines, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines. Other partnered airlines include Emirates and Alaska Airlines.

Points plus pay

If you don’t have enough points to redeem your chosen Classic Flight Reward, you can opt to pay with a combination of points and cash using “points plus pay”. You need a minimum of 5,000 points for Qantas flights or 3,500 for Jetstar flights to use points plus pay.

Classic Upgrade Rewards

If you’ve already booked your flights but would prefer to fly in luxury, you can also use your points to upgrade an existing flight to a higher fare class. The number of points you’ll need for a Classic Upgrade Reward will depend on the fare class you’re upgrading to and the route of the flight. However, you can log into your frequent flyer account and manage your flights to request an upgrade and compare your options.

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Qantas Club

The Qantas Club offers frequent flyer members unlimited access to the largest airline lounge network in Australia and overseas as well as exclusive check-in services and complimentary guest visits. The perks you can expect from your Qantas Club membership include:

  • Lounge access. Members receive unlimited access to the Qantas Club, Qantas International Business as well as selected lounges when travelling with partnered airlines
  • Guest visits. Members can invite one complimentary guest each time they travel.
  • On Departure Upgrade Rewards. You can use your Qantas Points to upgrade domestic Classic Flight Rewards on departure.
  • Additional checked baggage and priority check-in. You can take advantage of additional checked baggage when flying Economy and Premium Economy, plus you’ll receive priority check-in on Qantas flights.
  • Qantas meeting rooms. You can save with discounts on Qantas meeting rooms in Australia.

These perks don’t come for free, but you could save on the costs if you use your Qantas Points to cover your membership fees. Compare your options below:

Individual membership - New members

Type of membershipMembership feesRegular cost
One year93,000 points$600
Two years170,000 points$1,100
Four years308,000 points$2,000

As a new member, there's also a one-off 16,000 Qantas Points joining fee. This is valued at $99.

Individual membership - Existing members

Type of membershipMembership feesRegular cost
One year78,000 points$410
Two years155,000 points$740
Four years285,000 points$1,400

Partner membership - New members

As long as you both reside at the same address, your spouse or partner can also take advantage of Qantas Club perks at a reduced rate.

Type of membershipMembership feesRegular cost
One year56,000$360
Two years102,000$660
Four years185,000$1,200

As a new member, there's also a one-off 16,000 Qantas Points joining fee. This is valued at $99.

Partner membership - Existing members

Type of membershipMembership feesRegular cost
One year52,000 points$360
Two years89,000 points$620
Four years155,000 points$1,150

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Qantas Marketplace

If you don’t have enough points to redeem a flight or don’t have any travel plans coming up, you can also use your Qantas Points to redeem products from the Qantas Marketplace. When you visit the online store, you can browse rewards by categories such as electronics, travel, homewares, fashion and beauty, food and wine as well as gift cards.

The number of points you’ll require will vary depending on the retail price of the product, but we’ve provided a few examples to show you the potential of your points.

ProductCategoryNumber of points required
Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones IIElectronics69,390 points
Apple iPhone 12 256GBElectronics278,080 points
Fitbit Charge 4Sports and fitness43,300 points
Callaway APEX 21 HybridSports and fitness76,340 points
Seiko Men's Coutura Black Solar WatchFashion62,500 points (on sale from 104,170 points)
Pandora Signature Silver Hoop EarringsFashion18,950 points
Jimmy Choo, Illicit - Eau de Parfum, 100mlBeauty28,860 points
Dyson Supersonic HairdryerBeauty95,470 points
$100 Netflix gift cardGift cards19,330 points
$100 Woolworths WISH physical gift cardGift cards20,730 points

Details sourced from the Qantas Marketplace and correct at the time of writing in July 2021.

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Hotels

As well as flights, you can help save on travel costs by using your points to redeem accommodation. If you redeem your points for Classic Hotel Rewards, you’ll have over 200,000 choices to compare. Whether you want to cover the cost with points or points plus pay, you can compare options ranging from budget hotels to five-star luxury resorts in Australia and overseas. Some of the popular partnered hotels include Hyatt, Shangri-La and Rydges. When comparing your options, look out for the “Classic Reward” symbol and choose to view the prices in points.

Luxury Escapes

You can also redeem your Qantas Points for lavish hotel stays with Luxury Escapes. If you haven't already, join Luxury Escapes and follow the prompts to link your Frequent Flyer and Luxury Escapes accounts. You'll then have the option of using Qantas Points for all or part of your eligible holiday booking. You'll even earn 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent, even if you're opting to pay with points.

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Car hire

Whether you’re going on a road trip for the weekend or need a car for your overseas holiday, you can also use Qantas Points to cover the cost of car hire with Qantas’ car hire partners.

The number of points you’ll need will depend on the retail cost, but you can redeem your points to pay for vehicle rentals from Avis, Budget, Hertz or Thrifty in over 600 locations worldwide.

Use our guide on Qantas car rentals for more tips on earning and spending Qantas Points on car rentals.

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Qantas Wine

If you prefer the finer things in life, you can turn your points into pinot by redeeming your Qantas Points for wine, spirits and gourmet food from the Qantas Wine online store.

If you want to use your Qantas Points to buy wine, look out for the “Classic Wine Rewards” logo when you’re browsing the online store. This is because you’ll receive exclusive discounts of up to 55% off when you buy a Classic Wine Reward using your points. Then when you’re checking out, you can select to pay with Qantas Points.

See our guide to Qantas Wine for more information on how to earn and redeem points on your next wine purchase as well as the latest bonus points offers to check out.

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Qantas Insurance

While insurance is a grudge purchase for most of us, Qantas Insurance helps reward frequent flyers for protecting themselves. Whether you’re looking for health insurance or travel insurance, you can use your points to cover the cost.

The number of points will vary depending on your quote. If you have enough points to cover the cost of your premium, you’ll be offered the choice of paying with points at the checkout. Visit the Qantas website to get a quote and see if you have enough points to cover your insurance policy.

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Auto rewards

If you want to make redeeming your points even more convenient, you can opt to automatically convert your Qantas Points to WISH eGift cards up to four times a year. Once it’s landed in your inbox, you can either print the eGift card or download it onto your phone to present at any participating Woolworths, Big W, BWS or Dan Murphy's stores or when shopping online to save at the checkout.

On 1 February, 1 May, 1 August and 1 November each year, Qantas total up your points and emails you an eGift card depending on your points balance. You can compare the potential savings below:

Value of the gift cardNumber of points required
$5750 points
$101,500 points
$152,250 points
$203,000 points

If you’re a Qantas Frequent Flyer, you’re not strapped for choices when deciding how to spend your hard-earned points. Some rewards will offer better value for your money though, so make sure to compare your options before you start spending!

Earn more points with Qantas Frequent Flyer Credit Cards

Name Bonus points Points per $ spent Purchase rate p.a. Annual fee
Qantas Premier Platinum
Qantas Premier Platinum image
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Bonus points
100,000
Points per $ spent
1
Purchase rate p.a.
19.99%
Annual fee
$349 first year ($399 after)
Go to siteMore Info
Earn up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points. Plus, save with a reduced first-year annual fee and 0% p.a. for 12 months on balance transfers, with a 2% BT fee.
Qantas American Express Ultimate Card
Qantas American Express Ultimate Card image
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Bonus points
90,000
Points per $ spent
1.25
Purchase rate p.a.
23.99%
Annual fee
$450
Go to siteMore Info
Get a yearly $450 Travel Credit and up to 90,000 bonus Qantas Points (70,000 when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months and 20,000 points in year 2).
American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card
American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card image
Qantas Business Rewards
Bonus points
150,000
Points per $ spent
1.25
Purchase rate p.a.
0%
Annual fee
$450
Go to siteMore Info
(ABN holders w/ $75k revenue). Earn 150,000 bonus Qantas Points and a $200 credit when you spend $6,000 in the first 3 months.
Qantas Premier Titanium
Qantas Premier Titanium image
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Bonus points
150,000
Points per $ spent
1.25
Purchase rate p.a.
19.99%
Annual fee
$1,200
Go to siteMore Info
Get 150k bonus Qantas Points and $400 Qantas Luxury Holidays voucher when you spend $5k in the first 3 months. Plus, 20% bonus Status Credits on eligible flights, with a $200k minimum income requirement.
Qantas American Express Premium Card
Qantas American Express Premium Card image
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Bonus points
20,000
Points per $ spent
1
Purchase rate p.a.
23.99%
Annual fee
$249
Go to siteMore Info
Get 20,000 bonus Qantas Points and 2 complimentary Qantas Club lounge invitations per year, plus complimentary travel insurance.
ANZ Qantas Business Rewards
ANZ Qantas Business Rewards image
Qantas Business Rewards
Bonus points
130,000
Points per $ spent
0.75
Purchase rate p.a.
20.24%
Annual fee
$375
Go to siteMore Info
ABN holders w/ $75k revenue. Get 130,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months. Plus, a fast-track to Qantas Business Rewards Level 2.
Qantas American Express Discovery Card
Qantas American Express Discovery Card image
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Bonus points
N/A
Points per $ spent
0.75
Purchase rate p.a.
23.99%
Annual fee
$0
Go to siteMore Info
Earn uncapped Qantas Points for every $1 dollar spent, plus a $0 annual fee.
Westpac Altitude Qantas Black
Westpac Altitude Qantas Black image
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Bonus points
120,000
Points per $ spent
0.75
Purchase rate p.a.
20.99%
Annual fee
$370
Go to siteMore Info
Up to 120,000 bonus Qantas Points (90,000 points when you spend $6,000 in the first 120 days & 30,000 points after the first spend in year 2).
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Sally McMullen

Sally McMullen was a creative content producer at Finder. Sally wrote about credit cards for almost 5 years, authoring almost 900 articles on Finder alone. She has also been published in Yahoo Finance, Dynamic Business, Financy and Mamamia, as well as Music Feeds and Rolling Stone. Sally has a Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies majoring in Journalism (Hons) from the University of Wollongong. See full profile

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53 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    CherylMay 2, 2024

    As a frequent flyer member am I able to purchase return tickets for my family and grandchildren to Fiji If so how many points are required for a return ticket? Thank you

      AvatarFinder
      SarahJune 27, 2024Finder

      Hi Cheryl,

      It depends on whether you redeem a Classic Fare (best value) or Classic Plus (more expensive, sometimes double the amount of points, but there’s more availability). You can use this points calculator to work out how much a classic fare would cost.

      As a guide, a classic reward one-way fare from Sydney to Fiji is currently 18,000 or 36,000 return per passenger.

      Hope this helps!

    Default Gravatar
    DavidApril 3, 2019

    Which is better, to buy an economy fare from say Syd to LAX and use points to upgrade to business, or buy a business fare with points + pay and pay what the economy fare would’ve cost and the rest in points? If you take option A you may or may not get the upgrade and if you take option B you will, but which will cost the most points, assuming the cash payment is the same? Thanks.

      AvatarFinder
      JohnApril 4, 2019Finder

      Hi David,

      Thank you for reaching out to Finder.

      We have no means on our end to provide you an accurate answer on which would cost more points as well as how the upgrade would be done. It would be best to contact Qantas directly for a customer service representative to provide you with the answers you seek. Hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Reggie

    Default Gravatar
    PeterSeptember 19, 2018

    HI, how many frequent flyer points would i need for one adult to fly Adelaide- Perth and Perth – Melbourne

      AvatarFinder
      JohnSeptember 19, 2018Finder

      Hi Peter,

      Thank you for leaving a question.

      For 1 adult from Adelaide to Perth is 18000 points and from Perth to Melbourne it would be 18000 points as well. This would be an economy flight. In total for the trip it would be 36000 points. Additional taxes, fees and carrier charges are payable in addition to the points required, which will be disclosed to you at the time of booking. Hope this helps!

      Cheers,
      Reggie

    Default Gravatar
    DarrellJuly 25, 2017

    I want to bring my daughter and her family for a visit and was hoping to use my accumulated points for the flights. Do I need to be traveling with them to use my point to book there flights?

      Default Gravatar
      ArnoldJuly 25, 2017

      Hi Darrell,

      Thanks for your inquiry.

      No, you don’t have to be traveling with them for you to use your points. You can redeem your points by booking their tickets for one-way, return, or a complex set of flights) with Qantas or any of the participating airlines. The number of points required would vary based on the flight destination and other details. Under the parlance of the Qantas Frequent Flyer membership program, this is referred to as the ‘Classic Award’ option.

      Hope this information helped.

      Cheers,
      Arnold

    Default Gravatar
    GeorgeJune 18, 2017

    How many Frequent Flyer points will I need for two adults to fly return from Melbourne to Gold Coast?

      Default Gravatar
      JonathanJune 18, 2017

      Hi George!

      Thanks for the inquiry.

      For one adult, one return from Melbourne – Gold Coast and Gold Coast – Melbourne is 24,000 for economy. Therefore, you would need a total of 48,000.

      Cheers,
      Jonathan

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