Are Qantas Points Worth It in 2026? An Honest Australian Analysis

Qantas has devalued its points program multiple times over the past decade. The points required for the same flight seat have increased substantially, while earning rates on many cards and partner transactions have either stayed the same or decreased.

This is not unique to Qantas - every major airline frequent flyer program manages its "currency" to balance member demand against seat availability and commercial interests. But the direction of travel is consistent: points buy less each year than they did the year before.

The technical term is "devaluation." For everyday consumers, it means the points you're accumulating today are worth less than they appear - and will be worth even less when you eventually redeem them.

Let's look at the maths:

Earning: A typical rewards credit card might earn 1–1.5 Qantas points per dollar spent. A Woolworths Everyday Rewards card might earn 1 point per $2 spent.

Redeeming: An economy Sydney–Melbourne return on Qantas classic rewards requires approximately 16,000–24,000 points depending on season and availability. That seat might cost $120–$250 in cash.

At 1 point per dollar, you'd need to spend $16,000–$24,000 to earn a $120–$250 flight. That's a return of 0.5–1.5% on spending - before fees and charges are factored in.

Premium cards that earn more points also carry annual fees of $150–$700. That fee must be covered by the value of points earned before you're ahead.

Classic reward seats - the best value redemption on Qantas - are limited. In practice, popular routes (Sydney–London, Sydney–New York, Melbourne–Tokyo) have very few classic seats available, particularly in business or first class, which is where the real "value" of points is supposed to be found.

Members frequently report not being able to find classic seats on the dates they want, forcing them to use Points Plus Pay (which offers dramatically worse value) or miss out entirely.

This is the hidden cost many Qantas point calculators ignore: fuel and carrier surcharges on international redemptions.

On Qantas-operated long-haul flights, carrier charges can add $200–$700+ per person to a "reward" booking. A business class seat to London might "cost" 144,000 points plus $700 in surcharges. If you don't have the points and the cash, you're stuck.

There are genuine scenarios where Qantas points deliver excellent value:

• Business class redemptions on partner airlines (especially those that don't levy surcharges) can deliver 3–5¢ per point, versus the 0.6–1.5¢ typical for economy.
• Partner hotel redemptions at aspirational properties occasionally offer strong value.
• Complimentary upgrades when flying regularly for work - if your employer pays for economy, you may be able to upgrade to business using points.
• If you'd fly Qantas anyway and can earn points on top of your regular spend at no extra cost.

Cash is superior to points in the following common scenarios:

• Domestic economy travel: The cash price is often competitive, and point requirements have increased. Cash wins on flexibility alone.
• Booking at short notice: Classic reward seats disappear first. Cash bookings are always available.
• Flexible travel plans: Points redemptions carry change and cancellation fees. Cash tickets (especially saver fares) can be cheaper to change.
• Everyday spending: If you're choosing between a points card with a $250 annual fee and a cashback card that pays 1–2% back - the cashback card is often superior unless you're a high-volume traveller.

Here's the thing about cash rewards: a published campaign cash prize is worth its face value. No blackout dates. No surcharges. No devaluation risk. No partner restrictions. No expiry. Current prizes: /giveaways.

When you win a published campaign prize, you can pay a bill, add it to your savings account, invest it, or spend it on whatever you choose. That flexibility is genuinely valuable - and it's something points programs fundamentally cannot replicate.

Roopon members receive FREE included prize-draw entries in a live draw on the schedule in each campaign’s terms for cash or other prizes in the active campaign terms. One winner is drawn live each draw. The cash prize is real money, direct - not a voucher, not points with conditions, not a flight with surcharges.

Roopon membership starts from $19.99/month (BASIC), with PREMIUM ($39.99/mo), ELITE ($59.99/mo), and ULTIMATE ($79.99/mo) options available - all cancel anytime.

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