Qantas Frequent Flyer Status Credits Overhaul: Earn Without Flying, Roll Over More & Tougher Retention Rules Explained

26 February 2026| Dubai, UAE [ Posted at 6:48 pm]

The biggest shake-up to Qantas frequent flyer status credits in nearly four decades is officially underway. From earning Status Credits without flying to rolling over unused credits, and stricter retention thresholds, Qantas is reshaping how elite status works from late 2026 through 2027.

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Qantas Reinvents Qantas Frequent Flyer Status Credits

Overview: Qantas calls this the biggest update to its loyalty program since launching Frequent Flyer in 1987.

The focus? Making Qantas frequent flyer status credits more flexible, but also more demanding.

For years, Status Credits were flight-only. Points could be earned on groceries, fuel, and credit cards, but status had to be flown.

That rule is now changing.

Earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Status Credits Without Flying

Overview: From late 2026, members can earn Status Credits on the ground for the first time.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Members can earn up to 140 Status Credits annually without flying
• Credits will be earned across 10 everyday spend categories
• Categories include Qantas-linked credit cards, retail partners, and utilities
• These credits will also count toward Lifetime Status balances
  

For casual flyers who rely heavily on credit card spend, this could bridge the gap between missing and securing Silver or Gold status.

For frequent flyers, loyalty is no longer measured only in miles flown, but also in money spent within the Qantas ecosystem.

Status Credit Roll Over: No More Wasted Credits

Overview:  Unused Qantas frequent flyer status credits won’t automatically vanish.

Before we break down caps, here’s the key idea: you can now carry forward up to 50% of surplus credits.

• Silver members: roll over up to 100 Status Credits
• Gold members: roll over up to 350 Status Credits
• Platinum members: roll over up to 500 Status Credits
  

Previously, roughly half of the earned Status Credits expired unused each year. Now, if you overshoot your tier, you’ll get a head start next year.

However, there’s a trade-off. The existing loyalty bonus system will be removed. If you barely hit your threshold, there’s no bonus cushion anymore.

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Retaining Status Now Requires Full Threshold

Overview: While earning flexibility improves, keeping status becomes tougher from 2027.

Qantas is removing separate “attain” and “retain” targets. 

That means that previously, members needed fewer Qantas frequent flyer status credits to retain status than to earn it initially. That safety net disappears.

New annual targets:

• Silver: 300 Status Credits (previously 250 to retain)
• Gold: 700 Status Credits (previously 600 to retain)
• Platinum: 1,400 Status Credits (previously 1,200 to retain)
• Platinum One: 3,600 Status Credits (unchanged)

In simple terms, you now need to hit the full runway every year. Roll over and ground earnings help, but lighter travel years will require smarter planning.

Lifetime Gold Members Get Bankable Platinum Years

Overview: Long-haul loyalists are finally rewarded more transparently.

Before activating Platinum, members can bank their upgrades. From 2027:

• For every 10,000 Qantas frequent flyer status credits earned beyond Lifetime Gold, members receive one year of Platinum
• Up to five Platinum years can be banked
• Platinum years can be activated when needed
  

This adds real long-term value for corporate travellers who accumulate tens of thousands of Status Credits.

Points Club & Green Tier Retired

Overview: Qantas is simplifying program architecture.

Before these changes, Points Club allowed members to earn Status Credits on Classic Reward bookings. That benefit is being scrapped. Later in 2026, the following changes will be applied:

• Points Club will be phased out
• Green Tier will also be retired
• Selected benefits will move into the core program
  

The focus now returns squarely to Qantas frequent flyer status credits as the main loyalty currency.

Improved Reward Seat Search Tool

Overview: Booking Classic Reward seats is finally getting easier.

Before, searching partner reward inventory could be slow and frustrating. From March 2026:

• New search tool launches on Qantas website
• Displays Classic Reward seats across Qantas and 30 partner airlines
• Results appear within seconds

This upgrade improves the digital experience, which is as crucial as more members earn points through ground spending.

FAQs

Conclusion

The overhaul of Qantas frequent flyer status credits marks a new era for loyalty at Qantas. Members gain flexibility through ground earnings and rollover benefits. The destination hasn’t changed. Elite status still unlocks lounges, upgrades, and priority perks.

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