In what would appear to be a reply to Velocity’s announcement last week of a partnership with Coles, today Qantas released its latest Frequent Flyer bonus plan.
Passengers now have the chance to choose their own reward. From today, when Frequent Flyers earn between 500, 1,000, 1,500 or 2,000 status credits on eligible flights in a membership year, they can choose a bonus of either 8,000 Qantas points, or 50 status credits. The loyalty bonus can be earned up to four times each membership year to a maximum of 3,200 points or 200 status credits.
Its big news as it substantially elevates your opportunity to move your membership up to the next tier. There are 300 status credits required to move up from basic Bronze to Silver, 700 to move on to Gold and 1,400 to hit Platinum. Perks of earning a higher status include lounge access, priority boarding and extra luggage allowance.
While your Status Credits are reset at the start of each new membership year, Qantas keeps a record of all the status credits you've earned since joining the program and if you earn enough over the course of your membership (7,000 for Silver, 14,000 for Gold) membership will be yours for life, regardless of how often you fly.