QANTAS: ‘Earn Status Credits on the Ground’ promo — more about lining partner pockets than helping Frequent Flyers

Australia’s largest airline, Qantas, says it’s about status, but really it’s about spend. Qantas has launched another ‘Earn Status Credits on the ground’ promotion — promising up to 110 Status Credits without setting foot on a plane. Sounds generous, right? But this is less about helping you reach Gold or Platinum, and more about funnelling your money through Qantas’ partner businesses.

On the other hand, if you are a few points short of your desired Status Credit goal, this is one way to make it up.

The pitch to frequent flyers

On the surface, the promotion appears to be a win for Qantas Frequent Flyers. By spreading your spending across eight categories, you could notch up:

• 20 Status Credits each from Cards & Banking, Insurance, and Energy/Solar partners
• 10 Status Credits each from Hotels/Travel, Fuel & Transport, Food & Wine, Retail/Shopping, and Entertainment

All you have to do is earn 1,000 Qantas Points in each category by 31 December 2025, after registering by 31 October. Hit all eight, and you pocket 110 Status Credits.

Not bad if you’re chasing Gold (700 SCs) or Platinum (1,400 SCs). But don’t get too excited: these credits don’t count towards Loyalty Bonuses, Platinum One Bonuses, or the Tier Accelerator challenge.

The real story is partners, partners, partners

Let’s be blunt: this is about Qantas shoring up its partner revenue streams, not primarily rewarding your loyalty. Every category is tied to Qantas’ sprawling network of co-branded businesses:

• Cards & Banking: Qantas Money loans, Qantas Pay, Qantas credit cards
• Insurance: Qantas-branded health, travel, home and car cover
• Energy: Red Energy and Solargain (yes, even your solar panels can feed the Flying Kangaroo)
• Hotels & Travel: Qantas Hotels, Holidays, Cruises, TripADeal and more
• Fuel & Transport: BP, Uber, Avis/Budget, Qantas Valet
• Food & Wine: Everyday Rewards, Qantas Wine, HelloFresh, YouFoodz
• Retail: Qantas Marketplace, David Jones, Lotte Duty Free
• Entertainment: Hoyts, Kayo, Binge

It’s basically a shopping list of Qantas commercial partners, designed to keep you spending across the Qantas Points ecosystem.

Why Qantas is doing this

With airfares softening and competition intensifying, Qantas is becoming increasingly reliant on its loyalty business — where partner spending generates substantial margins. Status Credits are the bait; your dollars spent with Qantas-linked companies are the hook.

And remember: unlike bonus points, Status Credits are scarce. Qantas knows that by dangling them, it can encourage travellers to divert more of their everyday spending into Qantas’ network, whether that’s energy bills, insurance, or their Friday night wine delivery.

2PAXfly Takeout

Sure, if you’re already paying Red Energy, booking Qantas Hotels, or sipping your way through Qantas Wine, this promo is a no-brainer — free Status Credits for spending you’d do anyway. But don’t be fooled: this is less about rewarding flyers and more about padding Qantas’ partner profits.

If you’re just a few credits shy of a status tier, registration could be handy. But for most, it’s a reminder that Qantas Loyalty is now as much a shopping empire as it is a frequent flyer program.