Booking flights using Qantas Points is one of the smartest ways to travel IMO, because nothing feels better than boarding a plane knowing you paid for it with points earned from everyday activities and spending.

In my almost decade of being a Frequent Flyer member, and earning points. I have travelled around the world, including several Business Class trips – and yet I have never paid for a Business Class seat in cash EVER!!

But I know sometimes, earning the points is the easy part and finding the reward seats best for you, can be a bit trickier…

So I thought I’d share some tips and hacks and walk you through exactly how to find, book, and maximise your Qantas Points for reward flights.

Understanding Your Qantas Reward Options

When it comes to using your Qantas Points, there are four main ways to redeem them for flights:

	Classic Flight Rewards	Classic Plus Flight Rewards	Flight Upgrades with Points	Points Plus Pay
What Is It?	Fixed number of points based on the distance of your flight.	Dynamic points pricing based on the cash fare of the seat.	Upgrade an existing paid booking (e.g., Economy → Business).	Use your points (and optionally cash) to book any flight at any time.
Availability	Limited availability Qantas, Jetstar & partner airlines	Widespread availability Qantas only flights	Limited; depends on load and status.	Unlimited; every seat available.
What To Know	Seats are limited; book early. Best value per point.	More points often needed than Classic	Not guaranteed; prioritised by status level.	Poorer value per point compared to Classic Rewards.

What Are Classic Plus Flight Rewards?

Classic Plus Flight Rewards are a newer, more flexible way to book reward seats and are available only on Qantas-operated flights.

Instead of using a fixed number of points like Classic Rewards, the points needed for Classic Plus seats are dynamic, which means they change based on the cash fare of the flight.

Why that’s a good thing: If there’s a sale on the route, the points required for a Classic Plus Reward could drop significantly — and in some cases, they may even be lower than a Classic Reward!

Best Value for Using Points on Flights

Long-haul Business or First Class Rewards

• Example: Sydney → London
• Save $10,000+ and experience premium cabins.

Upgrades to Premium Economy or Business Class

• Upgrade from Economy to a more premium class without paying full price.

Short Domestic Classic Flight Rewards

• e.g., Melbourne → Sydney for minimal points. I recommend only doing this if the cash fare is high and you are actually saving money.

TLDR: Classic Flight Rewards first, upgrades second, Points Plus Pay only if you must!

How to Find and Book Qantas Reward Flights

Step 1: Log In

• Visit qantas.com or use the Qantas App.
• Log in to your Frequent Flyer account to access reward bookings.

Step 2: Search Flights

• Enter your departure and destination cities, dates, and number of passengers.
• Tick the “Use Points” box to search for reward seats.

Step 3: Spot Reward Seats

• Look for the red “Reward” ribbon (Classic Flight Reward).
• Look for the blue “Reward” ribbon (Classic Plus Reward).
• Use the monthly calendar to find dates with these flights offered.

Step 4: Book and Pay

• Choose your flight
• Review points needed + any additional taxes and carrier charges.
• Confirm and complete your booking!

Using the Qantas “Use Points” Frequent Flyer Search Tool

One of the best ways to find available reward seats easily is through the Frequent Flyer “Use Points” search feature on the Qantas website.

Here’s how it works:

How to Access It:

1. Log in to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account.
2. Hover over “Frequent Flyer” in the main menu.
3. Click “Use Points“ → then “Flights.”
4. Use the “Where Can I Go?” tool or “Book a Classic Flight Reward” option.

What This Tool Lets You Do:

• Browse destinations from your city to see where Classic Rewards are available soon.
• View points needed for economy, premium economy, business, or first class.
• See upcoming availability without having to enter exact dates.
• Filter by cabin class, number of passengers, and points budget

Why It’s So Helpful:

• Saves time instead of checking dates one-by-one.
• Helps you discover new destinations you might not have thought of.
• Perfect for flexible travelers who want to fly wherever good points seats are available.

Pro Tip: If you’re flexible with dates and destinations, using this tool can help you snap up rare Classic Flight Reward seats faster, especially for Business or First Class!

Using Points for Flight Upgrades

Don’t forget, you can also use Qantas Points to upgrade paid tickets. This is usually how I secure a Business class seat!!

How Upgrades Work:

1. Book an eligible Economy fare (Saver/Flex fares usually).
2. Go to “Manage Booking” on Qantas.com.
3. Select “Request Upgrade with Points.”
4. Your upgrade will either confirm immediately or closer to departure.

⚡ Things to Remember About Upgrades:

• Priority is based on Frequent Flyer status (Platinum and Gold get first dibs).
• Availability varies based on flight loads
• Plan early – request as soon as possible after booking.

Pro Tip: Upgrades to Premium Economy are often easier to secure and offer excellent value!

How to Use the Qantas Points Calculator

Not sure how many points you’ll need? Use the Qantas Points Calculator to work out before your trip. That way you can know straight away if your trip is even possible!! Each destination is a set value by distance.

How to Use It:

1. Enter your departure and destination cities.
2. Select your travel cabin (Economy, Premium, Business, First).
3. Click Calculate to see how many points are needed.
4. See estimated taxes and fees too.

Why It’s Helpful:

• Plan exactly how many points you need.
• Choose between Classic Reward vs Upgrade vs Points Plus Pay.
• Avoid surprises when booking!

Pro Tip: Always check the calculator before transferring points from a credit card or partner to make sure you have enough! You can also calculate how many points or status credit you can EARN from a flight. As well as weork out points needed for upgrades too.

Top Tips to Maximise Your Reward Flights

Now here are the tips and hacks you were looking for to help you secure those seats!!

Split your trip with Multi-City

Sometimes booking your trip in parts (e.g. MEL → SIN then SIN → LHR) opens up availability or saves points. Also checking partner airlines and alterate routes.

Split up your group

Travelling with 4 people but only 2 reward seats are available? Book them separately or perhaps a day apart! It’s better to have some points flights than none.

Be flexible with dates

A day or two can make a huge difference — both in availability and the number of points needed.

Book 353 days in advance

That’s when Classic Rewards are released — set an alert if you’re eyeing a popular route!

Classic Plus can sometimes be cheaper

Always check both red and blue rewards — if Qantas is running a sale, Classic Plus may be a better deal than Classic.

Check return vs one-way separately

Sometimes booking two one-way trips instead of a return can unlock better value or more availability.

Mix cabins for long haul

Can’t find Business all the way through? Consider flying Premium or Business one leg, and Economy the other. It still beats paying full fare and gives you a taste of the luxe life.

Check regularly

Qantas often adds more reward seats closer to departure, or when flights change schedules. Check daily or a few times a week, especially if you’re still a few months out.

Sign up to sales alerts and newsletters

Qantas often runs points promotions and sales. Subscribe to the Qantas Points email list and keep your eye on their offers page.

Follow the Qantas Points Instagram @qantaspoints

They sometimes give early access or tips on limited-time offers or new features, plus inspo for where to go next.

Join Qantas Points Facebook Groups

There are a few Aussie-run communities where people post seat drops, best-value redemptions, and personal booking hacks.

Use ExpertFlyer or other reward seat finder website (paid)

For those really into it, these tools let you monitor reward seat availability across airlines. It’s a bit of a learning curve, but useful if you’re hunting unicorn seats.

Points aren’t just about flying for free, they’re about flying smarter.

Always look for Classic Flight Rewards first, target premium cabins for long-haul trips where possible, and use the Qantas Points Calculator to maximise every point you’ve earned.

Whether you’re booking a quick domestic getaway or planning your dream international adventure, every point you spend wisely brings you closer to more amazing travel memories.

Happy flying! ✈️✨