Every Qantas Frequent Flyer member’s dream: redeeming their points for a business-class ticket on a long-haul flight or an affordable domestic getaway. Classic Reward flights are the most cost-effective type of points-based tickets; with fixed fares that are often well below the ticket’s market value. But finding these seats hasn’t always been easy. Qantas has launched a search tool that’s a game-changer.
Classic Reward vs. Classic Plus – What’s the difference?
The program offers two types of points-based tickets. Classic Reward tickets have a fixed points rate (based on a zone-based fare schedule) and offer the best value for your points. Classic Plus tickets allow you to book any seat available for sale, but the point cost is variable and generally higher. The vast majority of members first try to secure a Classic Reward ticket before falling back on Classic Plus.
Note: Classic Reward fares have been increased. Tickets to the Americas, Europe, and major partner airlines (excluding Jetstar) now cost up to 20% more points.
The new classic reward finder (search tool)
Qantas has launched a reward seat search tool directly on qantas.com, developed in collaboration with Gyoza Flights, a popular Australian app among frequent flyers. The result is impressive: in just a few seconds, the tool displays availability over a rolling 12-month period for Qantas flights and more than 30 partner airlines, organized by geographic region (e.g., Australia → Europe, to see all options between these two regions without entering a specific city pair).
With more than 14,000 reward seats booked every day, according to Qantas, this tool’s enhancement represents a significant change for members. The main limitation at present is the inability to filter out specific airlines; a feature that would be useful for avoiding Emirates flights booked with Classic Rewards, as their tax surcharges can be very high.
Which airlines can Qantas points be used on?
In addition to Qantas and Jetstar flights, members can book Classic Reward seats on more than 30 partner airlines, including: American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Iberia, Finnair, Air France, KLM, Emirates, Fiji Airways, and the entire Hawaiian Airlines network. Availability and fares vary by airline and class.
Reward seats in Premium Cabins – How to get them?
Classic Reward Business and First Class seats are the most sought-after and hardest to secure. Here are a few tips based on frequent flyers’ experience:
– Book as early as possible: Classic Reward seats may be available up to 11 months in advance;
– Be flexible with your dates—availability windows don’t follow any obvious pattern;
– Use the new zone-based search tool to identify routes with the most availability;
– Connecting flights (via a hub like Sydney, Singapore, or Los Angeles) often offer more availability than popular direct flights. → Sign up for the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program to start earning points.
Additional Third-Party Tools
In addition to the official search engine, tools like Gyoza Flights and Seats.aero allow you to set up email or text alerts when a Classic Reward seat becomes available on a specific route; a feature that the official Qantas tool does not yet offer. For travelers targeting specific destinations on fixed dates, these alerts are often the most effective way to secure availability. → Learn more about how to earn more points through the Qantas program.
Classic flight rewards cancellation policy
As long as the trip has not begun, a Qantas Frequent Flyer member can cancel their Classic Flight Reward booking and request a refund. This refund covers both the Qantas points used and the taxes, fees, and carrier charges paid at the time of booking. However, a cancellation fee, is deducted from the refund; it is typically charged in points, and the exact amount depends on the ticket type and must be verified at the time of cancellation.
Once a flight segment has been completed, the entire reward is considered used, even if the subsequent segments are not taken. In this case, no points are recredited for the unused portions of the trip. Similarly, in the event of a no-show on a ticket consisting solely of Classic Flight Reward segments, the missed segment is permanently forfeited and the remaining segments are automatically canceled. Reinstatement is possible only if Classic Flight Reward seats are still available, and it incurs a reinstatement fee as well as a recalculation of the total number of points required for the entire itinerary.
If Qantas itself cancels the flight and no reasonable alternative travel arrangement can be offered, the airline waives the cancellation fee and fully credits the member’s points.
In practice, canceled points are generally recredited to the member’s account within 48 hours, while refunds for amounts paid in cash (taxes and fees) may take up to eight weeks.
It is recommended that you check the specific terms and conditions applicable to your own reservation via the “Manage Booking” section on qantas.com, as fees and terms may vary depending on the type of ticket (Qantas, Jetstar, partners, Emirates, or oneworld) and the class of service booked.