THE rules are about to change again for Qantas Frequent Flyers with passengers needing more points from February 20 to score a coveted cabin upgrade.

The changes were flagged by Qantas in November, and mostly affect people buying the cheapest fares or those on sale.

From Monday, frequent flyers will need up to 24,000 additional points to get a “Classic Upgrade Reward” on an international flight and about 2500 more for a domestic upgrade.

The last change to upgrade rates on international fares was in 2005, and in 2014 on domestic fares.

Qantas explained the increase as being “more reflective” of the value of the commercial fare Frequent Flyer members had paid.

“Different fare types have different features with higher fares offering greater flexibility and the opportunity to earn more Qantas points and status credits,” said a Qantas spokeswoman.

“When it comes to requesting upgrades on bookings it makes sense that more Qantas points would be required to upgrade cheaper fares.”

Editor-in-chief of comparison website finder.com.au, Angus Kidman, said the move seemed to design to encourage travellers to buy higher yielding fares.

“If you buy a flexi-fare you earn more points on a flight, and need fewer points to get an upgrade,” said Mr Kidman.

“I do think some of the motivation (of Qantas) is to encourage people to think about the fare they’re buying and what it means to them.”

He said even after the changes, using points for an upgrade was still the best way to maximise their value.

“We calculated that 1000 points was worth $85 towards an upgrade, but if you spent the same number of points in the online store, they’d only be worth $5,” Mr Kidman said.

“So it’s a no brainer, even with those tougher regulations. The number of points you need for upgrading from economy is still the best thing to do with your points.”

The Qantas spokeswoman said since the last increase in points needed for an international upgrade, the airline had given Frequent Flyer members “more opportunities to earn points”.

“We’ve expanded our number of Frequent Flyer partners while demand for upgrades has grown,” she said.

Those facing the prospect of needing more points for an upgrade include people with Red e-Deal fares, Economy Saver to Premium Economy, Economy Saver and Economy Flex to Business, Premium Economy Sale to Business and Business Sale and Saver fares to First Class.

“For me, the key thing is the rules have changed but upgrades are still the best option you can pick for your points,” Mr Kidman said.

“It’s also a reminder that Frequent Flyer points are not money in your hand. They’re controlled by the airline with which you have them.”

Originally published as The rising price of Qantas loyalty