For many years, anyone flying Malaysia Airlines Business could find that they would earn at the Flexible Economy rate when earning Qantas Points. This was due to the way Qantas structured its earnings tables.
Qantas divides it earnings on Malaysia Airlines into two route groups:
- Flights between lights between “Australia and Malaysia, UK or Europe; New Zealand and Malaysia, UK or Europe; and Malaysia and UK, Europe or Middle East “.
- All other flights
It is in the first group that Business Class fares on Malaysia were classified as Flexible Economy for earnings. While onboard you received Business service, the flights would credit as Flexible Economy in you Qantas Frequent Flyer account.
Qantas have now (effective 1 September), moved many of these Business fares will move to Business earnings. The one exception is the ‘Z’ class airfares. These are Business fares sold at a deep discount, and will continue to earn at Flexible Economy.
The Changes from 1 September
Flights between Australia and Malaysia, UK or Europe…
Lets start with the group with the biggest change. Many believe that Qantas and Malaysia Airlines specifically targeted this set of routes due to competing on the routes. As a result, the two airlines gave these routes special treatment.
The changes here see most of the Business fares being put into the Business earning bucket. As mentioned, ‘Z’ is an exception to this, and this deeply discounted Business fare will continue to earn at the Flexible Economy rate.
In Economy, we see YBH being moved from Discount Economy earning up to Economy earning, so a bit of an improvement there.
| Discount Economy | Economy | Flexible Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flights between Australia and Malaysia, UK or Europe; New Zealand and Malaysia, UK or Europe; and Malaysia and UK, Europe or Middle East | for travel from 1st September 2025 | KLMV | YBH | Z | AFCDIJ | ||
for travel until 1st September 2025 | BHKLMVY | ACDFIJZ |
All Other Flights
There’s some small movements here – basically ‘Y’ (full fare economy) moves from Flexible Economy to Economy.
| Discount Economy | Economy | Flexible Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All other flights | for travel from 1st September 2025 | KLMV | YBH | Z | CDJ | AF | |
for travel until 1st September 2025 | KLMV | BH | IYZ | CDJ | AF |
Final Words
Overall this is a welcome change. The way in which Business fares have been earning at an Economy rate has been contentious with many Frequent Flyers. Moving most of the Business Class fares to actually earning at the Business rate makes a lot of sense.
