Closing a Frequent Flyer Account

Closing a frequent flyer account can forfeit the points, Status Credits (the separate currency that counts towards status tiers), and tier benefits attached to it. On the Velocity side, account closure may be permanent and can never be reactivated. Membership in both major Australian programs is free. If you leave an account inactive, its points can eventually expire under the applicable expiry rules.

Closing an account is often unnecessary and expensive, and can result in the loss of points and other benefits. It still makes sense in some circumstances, provided the account is emptied first. Here is what closure means for each program. We cover when closing makes sense, and what to do before requesting closure. We also explain why keeping the account open is often the better option.

What account closure forfeits in each program

Both programs forfeit balances and benefits when an account is closed, and the official terms are blunt about it. On the Qantas Frequent Flyer side, the Qantas close account page states that once the account is closed. This includes points and Status Credits balances accured over the lifetime of the account. all current points and Status Credits are forfeited, including those accrued over the lifetime of the account. Any status tier and its benefits, such as lounge access and priority services, are also forfeited. Existing Qantas Club memberships and complimentary lounge passes are also forfeited. This includes passes already linked to an upcoming flight, subject to the current terms.

On the Velocity Frequent Flyer side, the Velocity terms, effective 17 August 2026 allow members to end their membership by phone, email or through the Velocity app. On closure, members forfeit all their benefits, Points, Status Credits and Status. A closed Velocity account cannot be reactivated. If you rejoin later, you must create a new account, and your previous benefits are not carried over. Future Qantas bookings have separate rules after account closure. A ticketed Classic Reward booking, a seat booked with points at the program’s fixed reward rates, can remain valid after account closure. However it cannot be changed and points cannot be refunded. An unticketed booking is cancelled. A ticketed Points Plus Pay booking can only be changed using cash after closure.

What closure affects	Qantas Frequent Flyer	Velocity Frequent Flyer
Points balance	Forfeited immediately	Forfeited immediately
Status Credits and tier	Forfeited, including lifetime accrual	Forfeited with all Status
Rejoining later	New membership; $99.50 joining fee applies unless waived	New account only; closed accounts cannot be reactivated
Existing reward bookings	Ticketed bookings frozen, no changes or points refunds	Redemption benefits end with the membership

When closing an account makes sense

Closure is the right call when the account is at zero, will stay at zero, and keeping it offers no benefit. One example is when you deliberately leave a program. A member who has used all their points, moved their earning to another program and does not plan to return may have little reason to keep the account open. A second situation involves duplicate accounts. Accidental duplicate accounts should be resolved rather than left open. For Qantas, merging duplicate accounts is separate from account closure. Complete that process first to ensure your points are consolidated correctly.

Two situations require different processes rather than standard account closure. An account for a member who has died is handled through the program’s estate process rather than a standard closure request. That process has separate rules for what happens to the points. A member worried about how their personal information is handled does not need to close their account to make a privacy request. Privacy requests are separate from membership status. Closing an account does not remove the program’s legal obligations or the records relating to it. Closure ends the membership. On the Velocity side, the current terms state that a closed account cannot be reactivated.

Both major Australian programs have separate processes for deceased estates rather than treating them as a standard closure request. Under the Qantas terms, an executor can request the transfer of a deceased member’s unexpired points to an eligible family member. Velocity allows executors to redeem the points or transfer them. Our guide to closing a deceased family member’s account and transferring the points covers the required evidence and deadlines. It also explains which programs may forfeit the remaining balance. Transferring points to family while the member is alive is a separate process. The ordinary transfer rules are covered below.

What to do before you close

Use or transfer any eligible points before closing the account, as closure can result in their forfeiture. You can use the balance for redemptions, including reward flights and program stores. Our rewards points valuations guide compares the value of these options based on its December 2025 update. You can also transfer points to eligible family members under each program’s rules. Qantas allows transfers to an eligible family member. An assistance fee may apply when a consultant processes the transfer. Velocity’s Family Points Transfer allows 5,000 to 125,000 points per transfer. Members can make up to 4 transfers each year. As of August 2026, transfers are handled by phone while the online service is offline. The contact centre fee is waived during this period.

Family Transfers are free when done online. The minimum transfer is 1,500 points. These transfers do not count as qualifying activity for expiry purposes on either account, according to the Family Transfers page. Points moved to a family member inherit that account’s expiry position. The receiving member still needs qualifying earning or redemption activity to reset the expiry period. The transfer moves eligible points out of the account before closure. It does not restart the 18-month timer.

The timing of closure matters. If a credit card still transfers points to the account, wait for its final transfer before requesting closure. Points credited after closure are forfeited, subject to the card and program terms. Review any reward bookings before closing the account. Qantas applies specific rules to ticketed reward bookings after closure. If you are leaving one program, our overview of Qantas and Velocity partners can help you identify redemption options for your remaining balance. A person leaving cards behind entirely can still earn through the routes in our guide to the best ways to earn Qantas Points.

Why leaving the account open is usually cheaper

An open, empty, inactive account does not incur a membership fee. Closing an account may cost you if you later want to rejoin. Neither program charges a membership fee. If the account has no points balance, there are no points at risk of expiry. Under the points expiry rules, Qantas Points expire after 18 months of inactivity, while Velocity Points expire after 24 months. Points expiry is separate from membership closure. Our points expiry round up compares the rules across programs. An inactive account therefore requires no action if it has no points balance. Keeping the account open preserves the membership and its associated history without a membership fee, subject to the program’s terms.

The costs can arise if you want to rejoin after closing an account. Qantas Frequent Flyer charges a $99.50 joining fee for new members. Some credit cards and sign-up links can waive the fee, subject to their terms. A returning Velocity member starts a new account without their previous history. Before requesting closure, ask one question. What does closing the account achieve that leaving it open does not? If there is a specific reason to close the account, use or transfer eligible points first. Otherwise, if the goal is to simply tidy up, keeping the account open may be the simpler option. If you resume earning points, compare current options in our round-up of the top Qantas points earning credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

Fees, rates and figures quoted are correct at the time of publication and should be verified directly with each provider before acting on them.