Groceries and Uber rides to help build Qantas status under frequent flyer overhaul

Qantas is shaking up how Australians earn travel rewards, with everyday spending set to help members build status alongside the points they already collect.

The frequent flyer overhaul will introduce more ways to earn status credits without flying, allow eligible members to carry excess credits into another year and open up business class upgrades on Jetstar using points.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Qantas unveils major frequent flyer program changes

Groceries, eligible credit card spending and Uber rides are among the activities that could help members move closer to higher status levels.

Speaking on Sunrise on Friday, Point Hacks expert Daniel Sciberras explained how the changes would work.

“Most people are familiar with the points, right? They can earn them in the air, they can earn them on the ground, and then they can redeem those points for things such as reward flights,” he said.

Status credits, meanwhile, determine a member’s position on the airline’s status ladder.

Depending on the tier, benefits can include lounge access, priority boarding and check-in, additional baggage and extra points.

The new earning system will launch later this year, covering 10 spending categories.

“You can earn between 10 and 20 status credits per category, but a member can earn up to 140 status credits in any given year. That’s almost halfway to silver status,” Sciberras said.

Under the new rollover system, eligible members will also be able to carry over up to 50 per cent of excess status credits that would otherwise expire at the end of their membership year.

From September, members who buy an eligible Jetstar international economy ticket will also be able to use Qantas points to request an upgrade to business class.

Sciberras said an upgrade from Melbourne to Singapore would cost 37,000 points, about 60 per cent of the points needed to book a business class reward seat outright.

Travellers would still need to pay for the original economy ticket, but Sciberras said the option could offer good value for those who secure a cheap fare.