Holding elite Status with Qantas means that you can skip lines, enjoy complimentary food and drink in lounges, and gain preferential access to award seat inventory when flying Qantas and its partner airlines such as Emirates, Cathay Pacific and American Airlines.

In this guide, we outline how to move up the five status tiers, the benefits available at each level, and how to extend your status.

Given that both the American Express Qantas Ultimate and ANZ Qantas Black cards are currently offering a headstart on Qantas Frequent Flyer status with 75 Status Credits for signing up, that means you are almost a third of the way to achieving Silver status, which would give you lounge access, priority check-in and an extra baggage allowance.

Membership tiers

There are five membership tiers in Qantas Frequent Flyer, from lowest to highest:

Complimentary seat upgrades and access to award seat inventory clears in reverse order, starting from Platinum One down to Silver.

Note that you’ll earn a nifty ‘loyalty bonus’ of 8,000 Qantas Points or 50 Status Credits (SCs) for every 500 SCs you earn on eligible Qantas and Jetstar flights each year (up to four times, i.e. 4 x 500 SCs to a maximum of 2,000 SCs).

The figures for achieving and maintaining each status level are based on membership year.

You can find more detailed information on Status Credits and tier benefits on the Qantas website.

1. Bronze

To achieve: 0 SCs
To maintain: 0 SCs

There are no substantial benefits to this entry status level. It just means you are a member of Qantas Frequent Flyer and is a base to start earning Status Credits to move up.

2. Silver

To achieve: 300 SCs (7,000 SCs for lifetime Silver)
To maintain: 250 SCs
oneworld equivalent: Ruby

• One complimentary entry to a Qantas Club or Qantas International Business Lounge per year
• Use of Business Class check-in counters, regardless of class
• One extra checked bag on international flights
• Complimentary seat selection (except QantasLink flights)
• Priority telephone line
• Priority waitlisting
• 50% bonus points on Qantas and Jetstar and 25% on American Airlines flights

3. Gold

To achieve: 700 SCs (14,000 SCs for lifetime Gold)
To maintain: 600 SCs
oneworld equivalent: Sapphire

In addition to Silver privileges, you’ll get:

• Access to Qantas, oneworld partner, Emirates and China Eastern Business Class lounges, regardless of class
• One or two extra checked bags
• Access to Premium Security Lanes at Sydney (Domestic), Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth Airports
• Priority boarding
• Priority baggage handling
• 75% bonus points on Qantas, Jetstar and American Airlines flights

Check out our guide to some of the cheapest ways of earning Qantas Gold status in one trip available now.

4. Platinum

To achieve: 1,400 SCs
To maintain: 1,200 SCs
oneworld equivalent: Emerald

Qantas First Class Lounge, Sydney

In addition to Gold privileges, you’ll get:

• Access to Qantas, oneworld partner and Emirates First Class lounges, regardless of class
• Use of First Class check-in counters, regardless of class
• Priority immigration
• Priority Economy seat purchase when holding or purchasing a Full Economy ticket for up to two people, including the Platinum member
• 100% bonus points on Qantas, Jetstar and American Airlines flights

If you reach each 2,400 Status Credits in one membership year (about halfway between Platinum and Platinum One status), you’ll receive one of three Platinum Bonus Rewards:

• A complimentary Gold membership for a family member or friend; or
• Three complimentary Qantas Valet Parking or Chauffeured Transfer invitations; or
• 50,000 Qantas Points

5. Platinum One

To achieve: 3,600 SCs (at least 2,700 on Qantas-marketed flights)
To maintain: 3,600 SCs (at least 2,700 on Qantas-marketed flights)
oneworld equivalent: Emerald

In addition to Platinum privileges, you’ll get:

• Complimentary Platinum membership for partner
• Highest upgrade and award availability priority
• Access to a dedicated 24/7 Platinum One Team
• Free transfer to earlier flight if seats available
• Waived fees for phone-assisted bookings and family points transfers
• Complimentary extra legroom seating on selected international flights
• Complimentary Premium Qantas Golf Club membership
• Complimentary Premium Qantas epiQure membership
• Access to the Museum of Contemporary Art Lounge in Sydney
• Double Qantas Points at participating Qantas restaurants

If you reach each 5,000 Status Credits in one membership year, you’ll receive 75,000 bonus points; by reaching 7,000 status Credits, you’ll get another 100,000 points.

Status hold for new parents

Qantas Silver, Gold and Platinum status holders (Platinum One is excluded) are eligible to put an 18-month hold on their status when they take a break from travel as a new parent.

We have more information in our guide to Qantas status holds.

Summing up

Qantas Frequent Flyer status is a valuable benefit for those who are loyal to flying Qantas and its partner airlines.

Given the specific figures required to achieve and maintain each status level, if you are chasing status with Qantas, having this information is important in devising your flight booking strategy and where your allegiance lies.

Remember, once you have status with one airline, you have your foot in the door and can status match to other airlines and alliances.

Supplementary images courtesy Qantas Frequent Flyer.