Aussies, Your Next Adventure Awaits: Qantas Unveils a Game-Changing Move Relating to Paris, Bali and Santiago for 2026

Published on December 2, 2025

Qantas has unveiled a significant expansion of its frequent flyer rewards, offering an additional 100,000 international seats for popular holiday destinations such as Paris, Bali, Santiago, and Vanuatu. These extra seats are available to travelers through the airline’s Classic Reward tier, which is a part of its frequent flyer program. This new offering adds to the airline’s annual release of five million Classic Reward seats, providing Australians with more opportunities to travel to some of the world’s most sought-after destinations using their Qantas Points.

The additional seats will be available for booking between December 2 and December 6, with travel dates extending throughout 2026. The seats can be redeemed for a wide range of destinations, giving frequent flyers more flexibility in their travel plans for the coming year. This announcement comes as Qantas gears up for a busy period of bookings, particularly in January, one of the peak months for travelers looking to redeem their Qantas Points.

A Boost to Popular Travel Routes

The newly released Classic Reward seats are expected to cater to some of the most popular travel routes for Australians. Paris, Bali, and Santiago are just a few of the highlights that will be accessible through this additional offering. With travel dates available throughout 2026, the seats provide ample opportunities for Australians to plan their vacations well in advance and secure spots on some of the most popular international routes.

For example, Business reward seats from Sydney to Paris can be booked for 166,300 points, with an additional cost of $637. On the other hand, Jetstar seats from Melbourne to Bali are available for 20,700 points, offering a more budget-friendly option for travelers. These competitive redemption rates make international travel more accessible to a wider range of Qantas frequent flyers.

Available Redemption Locations

The Classic Reward seats will be available for departures from a variety of major airports across Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin, Perth, Adelaide, Cairns, Newcastle, and the Gold Coast. This broad availability ensures that frequent flyers from different parts of the country have access to international rewards, further increasing the accessibility of Qantas’ frequent flyer program. Whether traveling from major metropolitan cities or regional hubs, more Australians will now have the opportunity to use their Qantas Points for international travel.

Qantas’ Strategic Move to Address High Demand

According to Andrew Glance, the Qantas Loyalty chief executive, this announcement was made to encourage early bookings, particularly as January is often a peak month for frequent flyer bookings. With the increase in demand for Qantas Points flights, Glance emphasized the importance of securing these additional reward seats before the rush of New Year’s bookings begins. This proactive release is designed to give frequent flyers a chance to plan their trips before the usual surge in demand, ensuring they can make the most of their points and travel on their desired dates.

This move follows Qantas’ previous announcement in September, when the airline revealed a 20% increase in the number of points required for Classic Plus rewards for premium seats on international flights. The Classic Plus redemption was first introduced in 2024 in response to customer feedback about the scarcity of available reward seats, particularly for those seeking premium cabin experiences.

Classic Plus Redemptions: A Shift in Points System

The Classic Plus redemption option allows frequent flyers to use their Qantas Points for premium economy, business, or first-class seats on international flights. Initially, these redemptions were calculated at a rate of 1.5 cents per point. However, following customer feedback, the rate was adjusted to 1.25 cents per point, making it slightly more favorable for those seeking premium travel options. Despite the increase in points required for these redemptions, many travelers still consider Classic Plus a valuable option for securing premium seats, as it provides an opportunity to travel in style while using their accumulated points.

Returning Flights to Papua New Guinea and NRL Connection

In a separate announcement, Qantas also revealed that it would be resuming flights between Sydney and Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. This move is significant as it aligns with the debut of Papua New Guinea’s team in the National Rugby League (NRL) competition, further strengthening the connection between Australia and Papua New Guinea. The return of these flights offers more opportunities for business and tourism travel between the two nations, fostering closer ties as Papua New Guinea enters the Australian sports scene.

Boosting Tourism and Economic Ties

By offering more reward seats for international travel, Qantas is not only catering to the demand from frequent flyers but is also contributing to the growth of tourism and business relations between Australia and various international markets. Destinations like Paris, Bali, and Santiago attract millions of travelers each year, and the availability of more reward seats means that Australians will have easier access to these popular destinations. This, in turn, can help stimulate economic growth through increased tourism, both inbound and outbound, and open up new business opportunities for Australian companies looking to expand their presence in international markets.

Looking Ahead: More Opportunities for Frequent Flyers

With the continued success of its frequent flyer program and the increasing demand for Qantas Points flights, the airline is well-positioned to offer even more options for travelers in the future. As Qantas continues to grow its network and expand reward seat offerings, Australians can expect more opportunities to redeem their points for international travel. Whether for vacation, business, or family visits, Qantas’ expanded seat options allow frequent flyers to plan their travel more easily, ensuring they can experience the world with the help of their accumulated points.