Qantas is rolling out a series of changes to how members earn and keep their status. It’s the first major shake‑up in years, and the airline will introduce the updates step by step over the next 12 months.
As is often the case with these changes there are winners and losers. While some frequent travellers are likely to come out ahead, others, especially those based outside Australia, may find it tougher to hold onto their current status levels.
The changes will see Qantas simplify tier requirements while enhancing benefits across the board. Members will be able to roll over a portion of unused Status Credits, access new lifetime milestones, and enjoy added perks such as extra lounge invitations and on‑the‑ground discounts.
At the same time, programs like Points Club and Green Tier will be retired.
Status Credit Changes
A Single Target to earn and retain status
One of the features of the current program is that it is slightly easier to retain status than it is to earn status. Qantas will be removing these lower retain thresholds in 2027. From that time, you will have the same targets to earn and retain any elite level.
As an example, a current Platinum member currently requires 1,200 Status Credits to retain Platinum. When this change goes into effect, they will need to earn 1,400 status credits each year to renew their Platinum status.
The following table shows the changes that will be made in this area.
| Qantas status tier | Status Credits to retain (until late 2027) | Status Credits to earn and retain (from late 2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | 250 SCs | 300 SCs |
| Gold | 600 SCs | 700 SCs |
| Platinum | 1,200 SCs | 1,400 SCs |
| Platinum One | 3,600 SCs (minimum 2,700 SCs on QF flights) | 3,600 SCs (minimum 2,700 SCs on QF flights) |
Given this change will not take place until 2027, you will still have time renew your status under the existing requirements.
Roll Over Status Credits
As many status changes are aware, at the end of your Qantas Frequent Flyer membership, your status credits disappear from your annual tally. They still count toward your lifetime total, but your running balance resets back to zero.
From late 2026, Qantas will be introducing a Status Rollover. Under the current plan, if you are Gold or Platinum, you will be able to rollover 50% of your excess status credits. If you are a Silver members, you will be able to rollover 25% of your excess.
Basically, that means:
- Silver: 25% of excess Status Credits earned over 300 can be rolled over
- Gold: 50% of excess Status Credits earned over 700 can be rolled over
- Platinum: 50% of excess Status Credits earned over 1,400 can be rolled over
- Platinum One: 50% of excess Status Credits earned over 3,600 can be rolled over
That said, all rollovers are subject to a cap. The following table outlines the maximum number of Status Credits that will be rolled over each year.
| Status tier | Annual status credit rollover limit |
|---|---|
| Silver | 100 |
| Gold | 350 |
| Platinum | 500 |
| Platinum One | 500 |
If you work the maths through, the only real caps here are for the Platinum and Platinum One tiers. For example, if you are Gold to receive a rollover of 250 Status Credits, you’d need to be 700 Status Credits over the requirement for Gold. That would be 700 for Gold plus 700 excess, which would mean you were able to earn 1,400 Status Credits in a year. The 1,400 Status Credits would make you Platinum anyway. It is a similar story for the Silver rollover.
Removal of Loyalty Benefit
With the introduction of the rollover benefit, Qantas will remove the current Loyalty Bonus. This means those extra 50 Status Credits you’d normally pocket for every 500 earned on Qantas and Jetstar flights will disappear. This change will probably kick in around the same time as the rollover benefit is introduced.
Status Credits on the Ground
Qantas is locking in a new, permanent way to earn Status Credits on the ground from late 2026. This will build on the trial that was run in late 2025 with non‑flying partners. It basically gives members another path to climb the status ladder without needing to step on a plane. Up to 140 status credits will be available each membership year.
The ten categories will be similar to those used for the trial. They will be
- Credit Cards
- Banking & Home Loans
- Insurance
- Car
- Home Utilities
- Hotels & Accomodation
- Holidays & Experiences
- Everyday Shopping
- Retail & Lifestyle
- Sustainability
New Tier Benefits
Benefits for Existing Tiers
Silver members will pick up an extra lounge pass each membership year. As a result, Silver members will receive three lounge passes each year,
In addition, all members from Silver an up will receive new on‑the‑ground perks like vouchers and discounts. Qantas says more benefits are on the way, with the full list to be revealed before the revamped tiers roll out in 2027. That said, they say they will include things such as new vouchers and discounts across Hotels and Holidays, Qantas Marketplace and Qantas Wine.
Milestone Rewards for Lifetime Gold
Lifetime Gold is one of the most coveted perks in the Qantas program. Once you reach 14,000 lifetime Status Credits, you’re guaranteed Gold status for life.
The next rung on the ladder is Lifetime Platinum, but with a whopping 75,000 lifetime credits needed, it’s simply not realistic for most.
To make that long stretch feel a bit more rewarding, Qantas is adding new milestone benefits for members who keep accumulating lifetime credits after securing Lifetime Gold.
From early 2027, Lifetime Gold members will start picking up a “banked” year of Platinum status once they hit 25,000 lifetime Status Credits. You can hold onto that Platinum year and activate it whenever it suits you. This might be for a big trip, a busy travel period, or just when you want the extra perks.
You’ll earn more banked Platinum years for every additional 10,000 lifetime credits, all the way up to 65,000. And the nice part is that this new mid‑tier perk will apply retrospectively, so if you’re already past the 25,000 mark when the change kicks in, you’ll get credit for it.
Simplifying the Program
Removal of Points Club
Qantas rolled out Points Club back in 2020 as a way to thank members who rack up lots of points without actually flying. Hitting the Points Club threshold meant you’d automatically unlock perks like lounge passes, bonus points on Qantas Hotels.
The big perk, though, is the chance to earn status credits on Classic Reward flights booked with points. There is some talk that this ability may be rolled into another part of the program, but nothing is confirmed.
Removal of Green Tier
Qantas rolled out Green Tier in 2022 as a way to nudge members toward more sustainable choices, like offsetting the emissions from their flights.
That said, earning Green Tier has become noticeably harder over the last few years. Plenty of people now see it as offering little real environmental impact and more as a quirky workaround to snag an extra 50 status credits or 10,000 points each year by ticking off a list of tasks.
It seems that Qantas has decided Green Tier isn’t worth keeping in its current form. That said, Qantas says it is looking at other ways to reward sustainability. As an example, sustainability has been added as a category in the ‘earn status credits on the ground’ feature.
Final Words
It all adds up to a bit of a mixed bag, really. Some of the changes will feel like a win if you’re someone who regularly requalifies and knows how to make the most of the program. With things like the 50% status rollover and the new ways to earn Status Credits on the ground, those members will probably find it easier to stay ahead of the curve, even with Loyalty Bonuses, lower thresholds, and Points Club Plus rollover disappearing.
But if you’re someone who usually just scrapes over the line each year, the road is definitely getting steeper. That’s especially true if you’re based overseas and can’t tap into many of the on‑the‑ground earn options. And losing Status Credits on Classic Reward flights is going to leave a noticeable gap for a lot of people.
It’s a big shake‑up, and depending on how you normally earn your status, it’ll either feel like a helpful refresh or a bit of a hurdle.
