Qantas will begin allowing frequent flyer members to earn status credits through ground-based spending starting December 8, aiming to help travelers reach higher membership tiers and unlock additional benefits. Members can accumulate up to 140 status credits annually across 10 designated spending categories, according to Qantas Loyalty chief executive Andrew Glance.

Spending on everyday purchases, such as groceries at Woolworths, will contribute modestly, offering up to 10 status credits per year, while using Qantas-affiliated credit cards can yield as many as 20 status credits. Glance emphasized that the updated program better aligns with current consumer behavior, noting that about two-thirds of Qantas points are now earned through expenditures on the ground. He highlighted that co-branded credit cards remain the quickest and most effective method for building points balances, and the inclusion of status credits from daily spending will enhance overall member value.

Membership in Qantas’s elite tiers—which provide benefits such as lounge access—requires accumulating at least 700 status credits for Gold status, with Platinum status set at 3,600 points. Flight redemptions continue to dominate points usage, with the airline reporting a record number of rewards booked in the 2026 financial year.

Separately, Qantas announced a new option for members to redeem points for Jetstar business class seats starting this September. This initiative coincides with the refurbishment of Boeing 787-8 aircraft, which will feature an expanded business class cabin with 44 seats, up from 21. Points required for “classic upgrades” begin at approximately 37,000 points for routes such as Melbourne to Singapore and 45,300 for Sydney to Osaka.

Looking ahead, Qantas revealed details regarding its forthcoming business class product on newly arriving Boeing 787-9 aircraft, scheduled for late 2027, and Airbus A321XLR jets expected in 2028. The updated 787-9 Dreamliners will be the first in Qantas’s fleet to introduce sliding doors on business class suites, a privacy feature increasingly common among international carriers. Similarly, the single-aisle A321XLR will offer 16 business class suites configured in an L-shaped herringbone layout, each equipped with a sliding door, lie-flat bed, ample storage, and a 48-centimeter entertainment screen.

With a range of 8,700 kilometers, the A321XLR will serve short to medium-haul international routes that do not justify widebody aircraft, including potential destinations such as Brisbane to Manila, Melbourne to Phuket, and Sydney to Phnom Penh.

Qantas is intensifying its focus on premium travel in response to strong demand, noting that premium cabin revenue on international flights is growing at twice the rate of economy class. Consequently, next-generation aircraft joining the fleet will feature a higher proportion of premium seats compared to retiring models.

Qantas Group chief executive Vanessa Hudson said the new business class suites demonstrate the airline’s commitment to evolving premium travel experiences. “Investing in new aircraft is one of the most significant ways we can enhance the flying experience,” she said, noting that Qantas pioneered business class in 1979 and continues to lead innovations in the segment.

Hudson also commented on design enhancements improving passenger privacy, including seat orientation changes and privacy dividers that address concerns such as visibility of other passengers' feet. She highlighted that the seat layout is designed to cocoon customers within the suite and facilitate easier access for passengers with mobility challenges.

Qantas currently operates seven A321XLR aircraft primarily on domestic routes and has ordered an additional 20 units from Airbus, bringing its total A321XLR order to 48. Of these new jets, 16 will feature lie-flat business class seats, while the remainder will have 20 premium recliner seats in a 2-2 configuration. The airline also has 12 Boeing 787s on order, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028.