QANTAS: Double Status Credits surprise, but only for Australia and New Zealand

Qantas has launched a short, sharp ‘double rewards’ offer for Frequent Flyer members. You can choose between double Status Credits or double Qantas Points on eligible flights within Australia and across the Tasman.

The booking window is tight. You need to register and book between 12.01 am AEST on 5 May 2026 and 11.59 pm AEST on Monday, 11 May 2026. Travel must be between 12 May and 31 August 2026.

That makes the offer useful for winter school holidays, work trips, ski runs to New Zealand, and anyone staring nervously at their Qantas status year. But check the fine print, which I have summarised below.

Double points or Status Credits

For most status-chasers, double Status Credits will be the more valuable choice. Qantas Points can be earned through credit cards, shopping, wine, hotels and more. Status Credits are harder to earn. Higher status unlocks lounge access, priority boarding, extra baggage, better upgrade priority and other flying comforts.

You can change your selection in the Qantas App or via qantas.com until 11.59 pm AEST on 11 May 2026. After that, your final choice is locked in. The same reward applies across all eligible flights booked during the promotion. You cannot choose double Status Credits for one trip and double points for another.

Qualifying flights

The offer is for new eligible bookings made between 5 and 11 May for travel between 12 May and 31 August 2026.

Eligible flights must be Qantas-operated and marketed, with a QF flight number, on an Australian domestic ticket or a direct flight between Australia and New Zealand. Flights booked as part of a Qantas Holidays package can also qualify.

Qantas says QF flights operated by Alliance Airlines, National Jet, Airlink, Eastern Australia Airlines and Sunstate Airlines are included.

The big trap is codeshares. A QF flight number alone is not enough. QF-coded flights not operated by Qantas or eligible QantasLink operators are excluded. That means flights operated by Jetstar and Air New Zealand. So if you are booking across the Tasman, check both the flight number and the operating airline. You want QF on the ticket, and Qantas or an eligible QantasLink operator actually flying the aircraft.

Some fare types and booking classes are excluded, so check the Qantas Airline Earning Tables before assuming your bargain fare will earn the bonus.

Existing bookings are mostly excluded

Bookings made before 5 May 2026 do not qualify. Nor are new segments added to an existing PNR during the offer period.

There are two useful exceptions. Bookings made using Flight Credits issued before 5 May 2026 can qualify, provided the new flight booking is made during the offer period. Flight gift vouchers are also eligible when used for a new eligible booking during the offer period.

Qantas also specifies that the flight must be booked during the offer period, regardless of payment date. Flights that are ticketed but not booked during the promotional window are excluded. If you cancel your original qualifying booking, or change it so the travel falls outside the 12 May–31 August window, the bonus will not apply.

Bonus Status Credits count — but not for everything

The bonus Status Credits will be credited within eight weeks after travel and count towards Lifetime Status. That is good news for anyone slowly grinding towards Lifetime Gold or Lifetime Platinum.

However, they do not count towards Loyalty Bonus, Platinum Bonus Reward, Platinum One Bonus Reward, or Status Accelerator/Challenge earn requirements.

Status Credits are not transferable. Double Qantas Points are calculated on the Base Rate or Minimum Points Guarantee, where applicable, and do not include any tier Status Bonus.

If you qualify for multiple Qantas bonus points or Status Credit offers on the same flight segment, Qantas says the highest-value bonus offer will apply to that segment. You do not get to stack them like supermarket coupons.

Everyone must register separately

The offer applies only to the Frequent Flyer member who registered. If you are travelling with a partner, family member or colleague on the same booking, each person must register separately to receive the bonus.

Your Qantas Frequent Flyer number must be recorded at the time of registration and booking. The offer is not transferable and cannot be combined with other Qantas Points or Status Credits offers.

Hotels and holidays get a points boost

Qantas is also offering 6 Qantas Points per AU$1 spent on eligible Qantas Hotels and Qantas Holidays bookings made between 5 and 11 May 2026, with check-out before 12 May 2027.

Airbnb is excluded. The lead traveller’s name must match the name attached to the Qantas Frequent Flyer number. Points cannot be split between two or more members occupying the same room, and points will not be earned on cancelled, amended or refunded bookings.

Points are earned only on purchases made by credit/debit card, on the card component of Points Plus Pay bookings, and on the credit/debit card component when a voucher is used.

Accor hotel offers booked during the campaign do not earn ‘double points’ as such; instead, they earn 6 Qantas Points per AU$1 instead of the standard 4. Points Club members earn 25% more Qantas Points, while Points Club Plus members earn 50% more Qantas Points.

For Qantas Business Rewards members, eligible hotel bookings through a QBR account can earn 9 Qantas Points per AU$1 – 6 points for the Frequent Flyer member and 3 points for the business.

Business travellers: check the rules

If you are travelling for work, you can add your business ABN and Qantas Frequent Flyer number when booking eligible flights to earn points for both the traveller and the business, subject to Qantas Business Rewards rules.

To earn Qantas Business Rewards points, the flight must have a QF flight number, be purchased in Australia, have a ticket number starting with 081, and be booked and travelled for business after the business has registered for Qantas Business Rewards. The number of points earned varies according to the business’s flying level.

The business must be a Qantas Business Rewards member, registered for GST or be an Australian public/private entity or incorporated company, and must not be a travel agent or on a corporate deal with Qantas.

Qantas also makes clear that the promotion is not available if you are travelling for Commonwealth purposes. For everyone else, Qantas says it is the member’s responsibility to comply with their employer’s travel and rewards policies. Members can request the removal of Status Credits or points by calling the Qantas Frequent Flyer Service Centre.

2PAXfly Takeout

This is a useful but narrow Qantas double rewards offer.

Unlike broader promotions, it is limited to domestic Australia and direct trans-Tasman flights. No Singapore status runs. No London fantasy routing. Just Australia and New Zealand, booked in one short week, for travel through the end of August.

For most travellers, double Status Credits will be the smarter choice, especially if you are trying to retain or climb a tier. Double points are nice, but Qantas Points are easier to earn elsewhere than Status Credits.

I doubt I’ll be using this promotion, since I already made double-status bookings for the qualifying period during previous promotions.