Frequent flyers bound for Australia will soon have new ways to climb the Qantas status ladder without setting foot on a plane. In an exclusive interview with Executive Traveller, Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth confirmed that, from October 2026, members can earn up to 140 Status Credits per membership year through everyday spend across ten partner categories—including groceries, utilities and insurance. The long-running ‘Loyalty Bonus’ for heavy flyers will be phased out by late 2027 and replaced by a status-credit rollover mechanism.
For those frequent flyers planning regular trans-Tasman or long-haul trips, it’s worth remembering that visas and travel documentation still need to line up with those upgraded itineraries. VisaHQ’s Australia portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) simplifies the application process for eVisitor and Electronic Travel Authority permits, letting travellers secure approval online while they shop for groceries or compare credit-card offers—as seamless as earning those new ground-based Status Credits.
![Qantas Overhauls Status-Credit System—Ground Spend to Count from Late 2026]()
For corporate travel managers the shift means staff can preserve elite benefits during periods of reduced flying—potentially lowering demands for business-class upgrades on short-haul routes. It also blurs the line between travel and retail loyalty, with Qantas expecting an uptick in co-branded credit-card uptake and partner-shopping portal usage.
Lifetime Gold members stand to gain most: the carrier will grant one complimentary year of Platinum for every 10,000 Status Credits earned above the 14,000-credit Gold threshold, bankable for up to five years. Mobility specialists should update relocation policies that reimburse lounge memberships, as assignees may now secure lounge access via ground spend instead of corporate travel budgets.
Industry analysts note that the move follows Velocity Frequent Flyer’s 2025 decision to award status credits on fuel purchases, signalling intensified competition for high-value consumers in a market where international capacity remains 7 percent below 2019 levels. Qantas says the overhaul aligns with its Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul strategy by freeing scarce premium-cabin seats for revenue travellers rather than upgrade requests.
For those frequent flyers planning regular trans-Tasman or long-haul trips, it’s worth remembering that visas and travel documentation still need to line up with those upgraded itineraries. VisaHQ’s Australia portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) simplifies the application process for eVisitor and Electronic Travel Authority permits, letting travellers secure approval online while they shop for groceries or compare credit-card offers—as seamless as earning those new ground-based Status Credits.
For corporate travel managers the shift means staff can preserve elite benefits during periods of reduced flying—potentially lowering demands for business-class upgrades on short-haul routes. It also blurs the line between travel and retail loyalty, with Qantas expecting an uptick in co-branded credit-card uptake and partner-shopping portal usage.
Lifetime Gold members stand to gain most: the carrier will grant one complimentary year of Platinum for every 10,000 Status Credits earned above the 14,000-credit Gold threshold, bankable for up to five years. Mobility specialists should update relocation policies that reimburse lounge memberships, as assignees may now secure lounge access via ground spend instead of corporate travel budgets.
Industry analysts note that the move follows Velocity Frequent Flyer’s 2025 decision to award status credits on fuel purchases, signalling intensified competition for high-value consumers in a market where international capacity remains 7 percent below 2019 levels. Qantas says the overhaul aligns with its Project Sunrise ultra-long-haul strategy by freeing scarce premium-cabin seats for revenue travellers rather than upgrade requests.
