Qantas Platinum Frequent Flyer Guide: all you need to know
Qantas looks after its most regular flyers with a buffet of benefits designed to make each trip as comfortable as possible.
By Staff Writers, October 5 2023
Benefits befitting the most serious and loyal Qantas passengers are reserved for those reaching and retaining Platinum status, irrespective of which cabin class your ticket is booked for.
Among these, access to first class lounges even when booked in economy, 100% bonus points on eligible flights, and a better shot at domestic and international awards and upgrades.
How to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum status
A Platinum card can be yours after earning 1,400 status credits in one membership year and retained in future years by earning at least 1,200 status credits thereafter.
Seriously loyal flyers will enjoy some fantastic benefits through Platinum status.
Flights taken on Qantas along with Oneworld partner airlines such as British Airways and Cathay Pacific count towards that tally, as do Jetstar flights that are eligible to earn frequent flyer points, flights with Fiji Airways, and also codeshare flights on Qantas’ partners such as Emirates.
But you can’t just fly on partner airlines. You’ll also need to take at least four flights with a Qantas QF code, or at least four points-earning flights on Jetstar, to reach or retain your Platinum status.
Some serious work is needed to hit Platinum for the first time. If you’re limited to domestic travel, you’ll need to chalk up a whopping 70 return trips between Sydney and either Melbourne or Brisbane (that’s more than one per week) on the cheaper economy fares.
Flying business class means you’d only need to do this 18 times instead.
Jetting from Australia’s east coast to Asia and back – including to Singapore and Bangkok – six round-trip business class trips will help you cross the 1,400 barrier, or a near-fortnightly round trip in economy.
On longer flights, three return business class journeys from Sydney or Melbourne to London gets you that shiny Platinum card, as would 10 return economy flights on the same route.
Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum: Lounge access
Like Gold members, those with a Platinum card can stop by any domestic Qantas Club lounge before their flight. In addition, they enjoy access to Domestic Business Lounges. You’ll find these in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth.
But unlike Gold, Platinum members can bring two adult guests in with them, compared to one guest with Gold. It’s a handy way to spend some more time with friends or colleagues before you jet off, as your lounge guests don’t need to be flying with you.
That said, they do still need to be travelling that same-day on a Qantas, Jetstar or Oneworld partner flight though.
With your newly-minted Platinum card, you can also stop by Qantas Domestic Business Lounges and Qantas Clubs after your flight lands – great for a quick cup of coffee or to get stuck into any pressing work matters.
When flying internationally, the superb Qantas First Lounges at Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore await you and a guest, as does the Qantas international lounge in London, whether flying with Qantas, another Oneworld airline.
Through Oneworld, your Qantas Platinum card also opens the door to the business and first class lounges of American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more, plus Emirates lounges whether travelling with Qantas or Emirates and the Fiji Airways Premier Lounge at Nadi International Airport. If you’re flying within the Oneworld family, use the alliance’s nifty lounge finder to see where you’ll be relaxing at the start of your next journey. On Qantas and other selected airlines, the baggage allowances are as follows, based on airline, cabin class and destination: Domestic flights allow Platinums to check in: While Qantas and Emirates international flights adhere to the below limits: To North and South America (all classes): One extra checked bag for economy and premium economy and two extra checked bags for business and first class travellers, with 32kg allowed in each bag. To all other destinations: The weight-based system applies, with Platinum cardholders allowed 50kgs in economy, 60kgs in premium economy and business and 70kgs for a first class ticket. By virtue of holding Qantas Platinum status, you will also enjoy Oneworld Emerald benefits. This means that when flying with airlines such as American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more, your baggage allowance will depend on where you’re travelling: There are exceptions to this rule based on weight restrictions associated with the type of aircraft you fly on, which may see your luggage need to be transported as freight. For use on Australian domestic flights, Platinum frequent flyers also receive two free electronic Q Bag Tags to attach to their luggage, which can be used in lieu of a traditional paper baggage tag. Platinum cards are encrusted with a Oneworld Emerald gemstone, which lets you side-step the queues by using the business and first class check-in lines across the Oneworld alliance and with Emirates, along with priority boarding whenever it’s available – including on Qantas domestic flights. You can also brisk through Qantas’ domestic priority security screening lanes in selected airports, as well as receive Express Path cards when flying abroad with Qantas and Emirates for use both on departure and on your return to Australia. In addition, you’ll be able to nab your preferred seat (excluding extra-legroom and exit rows) free of charge on Qantas domestic and international flights. The normal ‘seat selection fee’, which ranges from $15 for short range flights to $45 for longer ones, is waived on standard seats for the Platinum member and their accompanying party. Platinum members flying with Qantas, Jetstar and American Airlines earn a 100% bonus on Qantas Points accrued through their travels, including eligible codeshare services booked through Qantas, Jetstar and AA with non-alliance partners such as Emirates. However, the devil is in the details. In this case, Qantas T&Cs noting the “Status Bonus is applied to the actual Qantas Points earned when travelling in the Economy cabin. For travel in premium cabins, the Status Bonus is applied to the Flexible Economy earn rate.” That means, even if you fly in business class, you’d only receive those 100% bonus points (alongside your standard points earned for the trip) at the flexible economy rate. For a one-way QF hop between Perth and Sydney you would earn 3,300 points flying business class. Rather than earning an extra 3,300 points on top, you’d actually only receive 2,200, which is the flexible economy accrual for that flight, bringing your total to 5,500 points. On domestic flights, Platinum members booked in economy can ask for an ‘on departure upgrade’ at the lounge service desk, which is great when travelling on a whim or where upgrades weren’t available online or over the phone. Where upgrade requests to premium economy, business class and first class are placed in a queue, those from Platinum guests are processed after Platinum One members but before those holding Gold, Silver and Bronze frequent flyer cards. On-departure upgrades are also at the bottom end of the processing queue, with Classic Upgrade Rewards taking priority over Bid Now Upgrades. and if there are any seats left in premium economy, business or first (depending on which class is booked originally), Platinum flyers are well placed to pick up these. When using points to simply book the flight, there are additional award seats available exclusively to Gold and Platinum members on selected services, so always remember to log into your Qantas Frequent Flyer account before searching for award flights via the Qantas website. If you still can’t find anything suitable on the Qantas website, call the Qantas Frequent Flyer Service Centre – it’s known that the staff may be able to help unlock seats for booking using points when you call, on a by-request basis. In short: Platinum-grade frequent flyers have a better shot at scoring an upgrade or using their points to sit in business class than do frequent flyers at lower tiers. Qantas has a dedicated line devoted to serving Platinum-grade members. You can reach it by calling a Qantas call centre and pressing the prompt to go through to the Platinum line. The operators at the Premium Desk tend to be more experienced than those of the general call centre, and can even assist with booking frequent flyer award seats on flights that only have cash fares available. These requests are granted or declined at Qantas’ sole discretion, but there’s no harm done by asking the team nicely if an award seat can be booked on your preferred date. On Qantas flights – particularly the longer treks across to Perth or when heading overseas – a member of the crew may also drop by your seat with selected goodies from business or even first class, such as amenity kits, noise-cancelling headphones or premium drinks (sometimes discreetly served in an economy-style cup). Or, you may instead have the crew ask if they can “get you anything” when handing over your Express arrivals card. That’s your cue to ask with a smile for something from the pointy end without going overboard, such as “a nice glass of red” or “a little bubbly”. Yes, Qantas currently offers Lifetime Silver, Gold and Platinum status, which can be achieved by obtaining 7,000, 14,000 and 75,000 Status Credits respectively. Yes, Platinum members who reach 2,400 Status Credits on eligible flights in one Membership Year are eligible for a Platinum Bonus Reward. This is a choice of 50,000 Qantas Points or complimentary Gold membership for a family member or friend. As with Silver and Gold memberships, Platinum members are rewarded with either 8,000 bonus points or 50 Status Credits for every 500 Status Credits earned on eligible Qantas or Jetstar flights, up to a maximum of 32,000 per year.
Platinum members enjoy access to International First Lounges, like this beauty in Singapore.Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum: Checked baggage allowance
Platinum frequent flyers have generous baggage allowance across Oneworld member airlines.International flights on Oneworld partner airlines
More perks for Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum
Enjoy a hearty points boost
Take home double Qantas Points on your next flight with Emirates.Flight upgrades, online award bookings for Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum
You could be snoozing above the clouds thanks to an on-departure upgrade.
Business class onboard the Qantas 737.Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum - FAQs
Does Qantas offer Lifetime Platinum?
Can a Qantas Platinum holder gift complimentary Gold membership?
Are Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum members eligible for Qantas Loyalty Bonus?
30 Aug 2019
Total posts 28
So much upbeat Qantas content lately .. 👀
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
21 Apr 2017
Total posts 4
Nominate for gold membership???
I thought P1 could gift a fellow FF member platinum status, but haven’t heard of platinum being able to gift gold???
07 Feb 2022
Total posts 24
While not a standard perk, Platinum members can gift complimentary Gold status as a Platinum Bonus Reward (or alternatively receive 50,000 bonus points) once they reach 2,400 status credits in a membership year.
08 Mar 2021
Total posts 7
Cathay Pacific are dreadful at awarding status credits and points when not flying on their own metal. I have to chase them up on nearly every trip made on Cathay and even then only 50% ever get credited towards QF FF
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 May 2013
Total posts 144
Do you mean QF are dreadful because they provide only 50% SC when you fly CX?
08 Mar 2021
Total posts 7
I’m not sure who’s to blame to be honest but of the 8 trips flown with Cathay recently only twice were points allocated. I did try to claim them back but always a variety of excuses given, usually partner rejected the claim. The most unusual was travelers identity could not be verified and no match on booking name or flight. It was the same bloody booking reference on all 3 segments. First sector on QF and last 2 on CX. I’ve never experienced any such issues with BA American and Alaskan, only CX.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Sep 2012
Total posts 39
Couldn't agree more..been fighting for points on a flight in July from Amsterdam to Hong Kong and then on to Sydney on Cathay which they wont' award me ANY points or status points for ..say I'm ineligible despite being QF Platinum..I don't get it. I'm about to fly them again (in Biz) from SIN-HKG return and I've already assumed I'm going to get nothing..stumped :(
03 May 2013
Total posts 680
Qantas needs to revisit its partnership with WestJet in Canada. It's a shambles; esp when using points and what's allowed(if anything!) Why Qantas can form partnerships with airlines outside ow in some regions and not others is disappointing. Air Canada would have been an equivalent airline. You can't even get a premium seat on WestJet with points! Just a poverty pack seat with no luggage in some instances, pay for seat and any extras-with no regard to gold or platinum status. Pathetic effort which causes more stress than its worth.
25 Feb 2015
Total posts 66
I’d like to see a bit more consistency with the “can I get you anything” greetings for platinums. Sometimes the greeting happens. Other times it doesn’t. Often the statement is “If you need anything please let me know” followed by a brisk walking away…which makes me feel like I’m being a real Karen if I need to later clarify “don’t you know who I am” as I request something from a junior staff member who isn’t aware of the P status (and meanwhile the customer service manager who greeted me is nowhere to be found).
The point is, I’ve had some flights that were absolutely made because of the incredible premium service given by the customer service manager. It would just be nice to see this implemented a bit more consistently. And across the whole OW alliance too.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 761
Nailed it Jackson. I hope for your sake that the ra-ther robustly remunerated Olivia Wirth (or one of her minions) is reading this page. On the occasional VA flight where I sit beyond row 5 my Platinum status is both recognised and 'rewarded' in the way you'd expect (but I'm no Chris Columbus in that regard). Sure, they take my CC and it appears I've just paid the regular fare, but there's never a receipt with the card when its handed back (and no subsequent charge on my statement). Now that's what I call 'clever service'.
29 Mar 2017
Total posts 4
As a former Platinum and now LT Gold customer l find Gold gives me everything I need except the Business/First lounge access. I actually choose to fly domestic with VA nowadays as I fly out of MEL and the VA lounge is better than the Qantas Club (I'm VA Gold too). The one benefit I miss with VA is the ability to chose exit row seating free of charge, something Qantas permits me to do (at check in).
10 Nov 2021
Total posts 1
100% agree. Glad I'm not the only one that has noticed this.
18 Apr 2019
Total posts 6
"You can also brisk through Qantas’ domestic priority security screening lanes in selected airports". Not sure when the last time that the author boarded a domsetic flight on QF, but there's almost as many using the "premium" lane as those not using it...
23 Feb 2015
Total posts 260
Yes, but only for these reasons:
Domestic on arrival lounge access.
International first lounges and enhanced onboard experience even when in economy (greeted by name, empty seat next door if available, offered noise cancelling headphones and business booze).
Means you are closer to LTG!
Other benefits such as security lane and higher point earning rates not a big deal.
05 Dec 2017
Total posts 16
So what this tells me is that there's no real value as a regular, almost weekly flyer (but on the work account so lowest fares) as I'll never make Platinum. The "rewards" appear to be equal to or even worse than Virgin (eg Virgin Platinum lounge guests don't need to be flying on Virgin that day).
In conclusion, no, it's not worth it. It's also probably not worth being a loyal customer. Shop around, get the best deals.
15 Mar 2018
Total posts 92
Interesting to read this article as a P member for over 20-years and a very loyal Qantas customer who has supported them through thick and thin. My real-world experience is that the paper benefits are just that; theoretical paper benefits, probably because due to its merchant programs, the company has so many Frequent Flyers and very little benefit beyond Gold unless you are CL or Platinum One.
While most of my flights are Qantas, I don’t really experience consistent recognition of loyalty of having been Platinum status, but maybe this is because I only book business and the staff feel there is no need. The focus seems to be on FF Gold and Platinum sitting in PE or Economy (who spend less on their ticket).
The number-1 reason I maintain my P status is for the access to first class lounges. In 35-years as Gold or above, with most flights booked in Business, I’ve never had a domestic or an international upgrade and never been successful buying a points upgrade.
I’ve never had a Qantas operational upgrade even when I’ve had a faulty seat, never been in a position to get an ‘on departure upgrade’ and while I’m a long-time P, fall behind CL and Platinum One members for any upgrades, so just never get them. So much for the benefit. Because P1 and CL can request Classic Reward upgrades, they take priority over my upgrade requests, so I never ever get an upgrade from business to first.
As LTG I have domestic Qantas Frequent Flyer Lounge access, but I had a lifetime Qantas Club membership before I became LTG and would get access because I fly business.
I appreciate the extra checked baggage allowance, but seldom exceed 18kg, unless I’m going somewhere very cold, and then I’m still under 30kg.
Most years I earn about 2400 status credits, but some are non-Qantas or for one reason or another don’t count. I have always requalified through flying, so never ever got the bonus SC that have been handed out to help QFF requalify.
I guess I don’t qualify as a seriously loyal flyer, as I don’t seem to experience the fantastic benefits of my Platinum status. Yes, I get a few benefits through my Platinum/Emerald status, but generally, nothing that doesn’t come with my business ticket. Maybe I need to fly more with other Oneworld partner airlines or Qantas codeshare partners.
I meet my minimum of four flights with a Qantas QF code every year and avoid flying Jetstar. In the past I did some serious flying, but alas, will never make LTP and don’t hit P1, even though I fly business. One thing that irks me is seeing P1 and CL travellers upgrade from cheap economy fares to First, over-riding J upgrades consistently. Seems if I bought economy and tried for upgrades to business class, I’d me more successful, but Qantas would earn less revenue.
Because I travel with my wife who is also Platinum, we both have Lounge access, so really don’t benefit from the extra guest allowance. When we travel with friends, most of them also have access. It seems most of the Lounges are so busy these days, being Platinum doesn’t really provide a benefit. I’ve always got into the superb Qantas First Lounges at Sydney and Melbourne, but have been turned away in Singapore and London, due to too many people in the Lounge.
I’ve found the access to BA business and first-class lounges to be consistent, but been turned away from American Airlines and Emirates lounges due to them being busy. Other Lounges may be a benefit, but I don’t use many other locations. Most times check-in staff advise of the lounges we have access to, but this is also sometimes a bit hit and miss.
Being Platinum and flying business, I’ve never had a problem with my checked baggage allowance, although it can be frustrating that some flights have different carry-on rules, but I don’t exceed these either. Generally I find the combination of business and P always gets a generous baggage allowance, where ever we fly.
Our Q Bag Tags are a nice benefit, but sadly only work on Australian domestic flights. Looking forward to the day when Qantas makes the tags do more.
The supposed perks of being able to side-step the queues by using the business and first class check-in lines is a joke and due to the number of people for whom this feature is a benefit, there are usually more people in the priority boarding queues than in the other queues.
I clearly travel through the wrong airports, as I have not ever briskly gone through Qantas’ domestic priority security screening lanes and since Covid, the Express Path cards only feed into the same security ques when you go through the doors. The attendants push people to any and every queue, which makes this not really a benefit. A bit like tagging bags as priority or first. The scanners the bags pass through send them to who knows where, but they seldom come off first, either at outgoing destinations or on our return to Australia.
I book business and get the seats I can, but there are always many blocked, which my research has shown get occupied by people upgrading from Economy when the people sitting in those seats get upgraded to first. A wacky system, but c’est la vie.
I guess the hearty points boost is a benefit, but when you fly a lot, it sort of gets lost. Often you have more points than you know what to do with, but getting Business and First CR seats seems to be elusive. It can be frustrating on some legs of flights, even though we have a J ticket, that the partner Status Bonus is applied to the Flexible Economy earn rate.
Maybe I need to book economy and upgrade to business, but don’t see the sense in that. I book the minimum level of comfort I want to travel is and in all my years, have never experienced the so-called benefit of an upgrade. Calls to the Platinum Qantas Frequent Flyer have never managed to change the fact that P1 and CL are the favoured members along with guests travelling with them who often have had no loyalty and done very few flights.
So while on paper Platinum-grade frequent flyers have a better shot at scoring an upgrade or using their points, this is only if they buy economy and upgrade to business class, so it is not a benefit to P members who consistently buy business class.
A bit like crew members taking time to speak to people sitting in economy or taking selected goodies back to them, I have never had anything brought back from first-class when I’m sitting in business. I’ve never had a crew person ask if they can “get me anything” when handing over your Express arrivals card. And when there was no white wine I felt was acceptable in J, have never been offered anything from the other cabin.
To get LTP, you’d need to qualify for P1 every years for 21 years. So while Qantas offers Lifetime Platinum status, few will ever achieve it, especially FF with low 5-digit membership numbers. Many of these would have already been flying when Qantas introduce the FF program and will cease flying before they hit 75,000 Status Credits. This is probably why this bar has been set so high
Giving away Qantas Gold memberships is fine, but while those I give them to enjoy them, I struggle to see the benefit to me other than a good feeling for doing something nice. None of the Platinum Bonus rewards helps get P1. People who requalified by flying and earning Status Credits were completely overlooked when Qantas gave a leg up to people who might miss, but also to people who would not have qualified. This cheapened the value of P.
As a LTG or equivalent with three alliance groups, I have realized that Qantas even when it fixes its problems, does not really value Platinum flyers. Olivia Wirth may head up the QFF program but I doubt she has really looked at it. Qantas offers more to people who earn points though its merchant programs than it does to its loyal flyers who pay real money for seats. The sweet spot with Qantas is LTG. Anything after that is wasted loyalty that is not returned.
17 Aug 2024
Total posts 1
Not sure if it’s a change to Qantas Policy or article is incorrect but the Qantas website shows lounge access for platinum frequent flyers is QFF + 1 adult guest + 2 children and not 2 adult guests
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Qantas Platinum Frequent Flyer Guide: all you need to know