• Qantas is launching a range of new initiatives for Frequent Flyer members over the next 12 months.
• The changes include extra seating, less carrier charges and a reduction on the number of points needed for international economy Classic Reward seats.
• Qantas is also introducing a new Lifetime Platinum status for its most loyal members.

Qantas is launching a stream of new initiatives for Frequent Flyer members over the next 12 months.

The airline is adding more than one million extra reward seats each year on Qantas and partner airlines and is slashing carrier charges — the fees, taxes and fuel charges Qantas slaps on top — by up to 50% on international bookings. The price reduction is expected to save members an average of $200 per return journey.

Further, Qantas will reduce the number of points required for international economy Classic Reward seats by up to 10%.

“These changes are about making it easier for members to access those rewards and help to keep them highly engaged, which in turn is good news for our business as a whole,” Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said in a statement.

However, Qantas is increasing the number of points required for upgrades (up to 9%) and Classic Reward seats in premium cabins (up to 15%). It claims this is to better reflect the value of the “premium experience”.

“While the points required for business class seats on international and domestic flights will increase slightly, it is the first increase in 15 years and the product has improved a lot in that time,” Joyce added.

Other notable initiatives including a new tiered Points Club program to recognise members who earn several points through non-flying related initiatives as well as a Lifetime Platinum status for the airline’s most loyal flyers.

The $25 million roll out is considered the biggest overhaul to the airline’s loyalty program in its 32-year history.

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