What are Qantas reward flights and how do you book them?

What are Qantas Classic Flight Rewards?

Short answer: Classic Flight Rewards are fixed-price seats you book with Qantas Points instead of cash, on Qantas and partner airlines. You pay the points plus taxes, fees and carrier charges, and seats are limited, so flexibility and booking early help most.

If you want to get the most value from your Qantas Points, this guide is for you. And if you use B2Bpay to make or receive payments, chances are you have already built up a healthy balance.

You can use Qantas Points to book Classic Reward flights almost anywhere in the world, and Business Class seats are available too. You can fly with Qantas or with partner airlines, including Jetstar, oneworld airlines, Emirates and more.

Qantas releases only a limited number of Classic Reward seats, and only on certain flights and routes. There are still plenty to choose from, so you are not necessarily limited in your travel plans.

You can search for Classic Reward seats directly on the Qantas website. It shows which flights are available, how many points you need and what taxes you must pay, and it lists partner airline flights too, so you can see everything in one place.

How many points does a reward flight cost?

The points needed depend on how far you fly and when you travel. Domestic flights can be excellent value, and you can travel around Oceania and Southeast Asia with a modest balance. With a larger balance you can go as far as Tokyo, Los Angeles or London.

The trick is earning enough points, and knowing how to find the best flights. Both are covered below.

How to book a Classic Reward flight

Start by finding a reward seat that fits your travel plans. You can browse the Qantas website without logging in, but if you are booking Business Class it is worth logging in so you can search from your Qantas Business Rewards account.

Business and First Class are among the best ways to use Qantas Points, because that is where you save the most. Those seats are also the scarcest, so check well before you travel.

1. Sign in to your Qantas account.
2. Open the flight search and turn on the "use points" toggle, or select "make a reward booking".
3. Enter your travel dates and press search.
4. Browse the results using the map or the list of available flights. Add filters to narrow down destinations or cabin classes.

Tips for finding the best reward seats

• Be flexible. More seats are available if you can move your dates or destination.
• Check early and often. For a business trip, start looking early and keep checking back for reward seats.
• Use search tools. Some travellers use third-party tools such as Award Nexus to search for Qantas reward seats.
• Look at partner airlines. The Qantas site is limited when searching across a wide range of dates, so you may find a better seat by checking partner airline websites such as British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways.
• Leave yourself time. Finding the right seat can take a while, so do not leave it until the last minute.

How to earn more Qantas Points, faster

A Business Class Classic Reward seat takes a lot of points, there is no way around it. There are plenty of ways to boost what you earn:

• Get a Qantas Points-earning credit card.
• Buy through Qantas earning partners, including hotels, car rental companies and online retailers.
• Fly with Qantas or partner airlines.
• Watch for Qantas bonus offers that give extra points for certain activities.
• Use B2Bpay to make and receive business payments.
• Refer other businesses to B2Bpay through the Refer and Earn program.

Earn Qantas Points with B2Bpay in three steps

1. Sign up for B2Bpay

B2Bpay is a secure payment platform for Australian businesses. Signing up gives you:

• all your invoices in one place
• secure payment processing
• points when you make and receive payments.

To earn Qantas Points for your business you need a Qantas Business Rewards membership; the join fee is waived when you join through B2Bpay's link. Read Qantas Business Rewards for business bills.

2. Add your points-earning card

B2Bpay connects with Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks, so your bills can flow straight in. To maximise your points, use (or apply for) a Qantas Points-earning credit card. Most affiliated cards offer 1 point for every $1 to $3 you spend, and some offer sign-up bonuses. Compare the rewards programs and annual fees before you choose.

Add the card to your B2Bpay wallet and use it for your business payments. You keep your card's own points, and on the Earn Plus and Earn Max plans you also earn B2B Points, which convert 1:1 to Qantas Points. See choosing a card for business bills.

3. Keep earning from your bank account

Once you reach the points-earning limit on your credit card, pay the rest of your bills from your bank account through B2Bpay and keep earning. On Earn Plus, bank account payments earn 1 B2B Point per $2, and on Earn Max, 1 B2B Point per $1, convertible 1:1 to Qantas Points. Fees and plans are set out in what's included in your B2Bpay fees.

Start earning points for your next reward flight

If you want to earn points and fly for the best value, register for B2Bpay and start your journey. It is easy to sign up, and it is a simple way to earn points on payments you already make.