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Qantas double points and status credits are back – but you’ll need to be quick

Qantas’s most popular loyalty promotion is back, allowing frequent flyers to fast-track their status or points balance.

Qantas has brought back its much-loved double rewards promotion, giving members a short window to squeeze more value out of flight bookings. Qantas frequent flyers must book by 2 September, decide whether they want to earn double points or status credits – you can’t have both – and fly on any QF domestic or international flight between 3 September 2026 and 14 August 2027.

If that dream trip has been sitting in your tabs, consider this your nudge to finally lock it in, with more than 100 destinations across Qantas’s global network in play.

It comes after the airline overhauled its loyalty status rules earlier this year, announcing that members will need more status credits to retain their tier starting from 2027. For example, Gold will require 700 status credits annually (previously 700 to attain and 600 to retain) and Platinum will require 1400 as opposed to 1200. In other words, the loyalty ladder is about to get a little steeper – making those extra status credits all the more tempting.

qantas double points
Qantas is doubling points and status credits for members. (Credit: Jeffry Surianto)

Double status credits enable members to climb the airline’s loyalty tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Platinum One) faster and subsequently reap rewards such as lounge access and priority check-in.  

Not fussed about status? There’s another way to play it. Those more interested in boosting their points balance can instead opt to score double Qantas points, which can be used to purchase flights, upgrades, hotel stays and thousands of retail goods.

This is the third time the airline has run a double status credit promotion this year, following an offer that ran from late February to early March and another covering domestic and trans-Tasman flights in May.

For anyone already plotting their next escape in the diary but who hasn’t yet booked flights, the promotion is an easy way to make your money go further. Or if you’ve simply been looking for an excuse to book the trip you’ve been daydreaming about, this may just be your sign.

How to redeem Qantas double points

qantas
The promotion ends on 2 September 2026. (Credit: Akshaya Nandyala)

To redeem, you must first register your choice of double status credits or Qantas points via the Qantas App or the Qantas website. Then, simply book any Qantas-operated flight with a QF flight number before 11.59pm 2 September 2026. Travel dates must be between 3 September 2026 and 14 August 2027. 

While codeshare and partner airline flights (including Jetstar and Emirates) are not eligible for the promotion, all new Qantas-operated flight bookings made within the promotion period will qualify. For more information, visit the Qantas Twice as Rewarding offer page.

Discover which frequent flyer program is better between Qantas and Virgin.

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Eleanor Edström
Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or hunting down Sydney's cosiest cafes.
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7 Lake Macquarie secrets the locals don’t want you to know

Credit: Beau Pilgrim

An untapped side to this popular holiday spot is hiding in plain sight.

Laidback Lake Macquarie draws in holidaygoers and day trippers with its casual coastal allure and raw beauty. But even though it’s just 90 minutes from Sydney, most visitors have only scratched the surface of what this region has to offer.

Foodie hotspots, quaint towns, tranquil waterways and compelling art are all waiting to be discovered. You just need to know where to find them.

1. Most visitors don’t make it to the western side

Explore beyond the western side. (Credit: Beau Pilgrim)

While there’s no harm in walking the well-worn path in this idyllic pocket of the world, the area west of Lake Macquarie is defined by stretches of ancient rainforests and quaint towns with a more local feel. Toronto is the largest town on this side and features a golf course and sailing clubs, while peninsula-based Wangi Wangi is fantastic for bushwalking and swimming.

2. There’s a booming arts scene

Museum of Art and Culture, YAPANG
Discover the Museum of Art and Culture, YAPANG.

Lake Macquarie is a must-visit destination for creatives. Discover the Museum of Art and Culture, YAPANG; this modern gallery is set on a five-hectare sculpture park and showcases a free rotating program of exhibitions and events, with a strong focus on contemporary Aboriginal art. In Wangi Wangi, explore the Wangi Owl Trail, which includes Dobell House, the preserved home of prolific artist Sir William Dobell. And enjoy live music every Saturday evening at the recently renovated Toronto Hotel.

3. It’s a nature lover’s paradise

three people swimming in lake macquarie
In and out of the water, find a natural paradise. (Credit: Beau Pilgrim)

Lake Macquarie is a playground for nature lovers. It’s home to Australia’s largest saltwater lake, a 110-square-kilometre haven for swimming, fishing, boating and sunset views. Another oasis is the Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area, a 761-hectare protected reserve with wildflowers, Second World War heritage sites and spectacular views to Pulbah Island. The upgraded Toronto baths, complete with jetty decking and netting, make for a sheltered spot for a refreshing dip, while the Awaba Mountain Bike Park gives adrenaline junkies their fix.

4. The dining scene is unbeatable

8 at Trinity lake macquarie
Treat yourself to 8 at Trinity.

Gourmands are well looked after in Lake Macquarie. At Emerson’s on the Lake in Toronto, the modern Australian fine dining menu spoils seafood lovers with the freshest ocean produce and stunning lake views. Sitting on Trinity Point’s waterfront, 8 at Trinity is another standout offering, serving Mediterranean fare in an open-air setting. For a more relaxed affair, the microbrewery trail lets craft beer enthusiasts sip on inventive brews from The Yard, Lake Mac Brewing and Bread & Brewery.

5. There are hidden coves and waterways

kayakers on lake macquarie local secrets
Get out onto the lake. (Credit: Beau Pilgrim)

There’s no better way to experience Lake Macquarie than directly on its waters, and in doing so you’ll discover a world of hidden coves and secluded waterways. Jump in a kayak for a tour with the friendly team at School of Yak and paddle to Cockle Creek, Awaba Bay, Green Point and Fennel Bay, discovering underwater life along the way. Or go all in and stay the night on one of Lake Macquarie Houseboats’ spacious vessels or hire a BBQ pontoon boat for the day from Lake Macquarie Boat Hire to enjoy a feast in the sunshine while admiring the marine life and picturesque waterscape.

6. It’s a birdwatcher’s paradise

ll blue wren sitting on a tree branch
Keep an eye out for local birdlife. (Credit: Walter Coppola)

Twitchers are in for a real treat as hundreds of fascinating bird species such as Australian pelicans, black swans, white-bellied sea-eagles and superb fairy-wrens call this area home. Take a self-guided tour around top spots including Bird Cage Point and Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area (near Morisset) or be guided in a clear-bottom kayak through the waterways with Lake Macquarie Kayak Adventures, observing feathered friends as you go.

7. The lake has islands

sail lake macquarie
Charter a boat to see Lake Macquarie’s islands.

Hop on a private boat, kayak or charter around the lake to discover the plethora of small islands peppered around Lake Macquarie. The largest is Pulbah Island, a 69-hectare nature reserve home to goannas and sugar gliders with secluded beaches. Sandy islands such as Spectacle Island and Pelican Island have a tropical lagoon-like look to them as they sit in the tidal path of Swansea Channel, which filters the sand and creates a pristine environment. Stop by for a dip and a picnic.

Start living like the locals at visitlakemac.com.au.