Qantas are once again running their bonus points offer on gift vouchers as we get closer to Christmas, with 5 Qantas Points per $ available on gift vouchers until 31 December.
It seems the 5 points/$1 earn rate is the new norm, having dropped to this level for what is now the second year after previously offering 10 points.
If you know you’ll consistently book paid flights with Qantas throughout the course of 2017, this offer is worth considering. However, the reduction in points makes it less of a ‘sure thing’ as you’ll be holding your cash with Qantas on the assumption you’ll be able to use it within the terms of the voucher, which are not completely straightforward.
The offer is available until the end of December, and bonus points will take up to 8 weeks to credit.
There is a $2,000 limit on the voucher, with the following value options available:
There are some terms, so you can’t use these for any Qantas flight out there, unfortunately:
- A maximum of $2,000 per person per ticket
- Flights must be booked departing from Australia
- Vouchers can’t be used as payment for taxes/fees on Classic Awards – they can only be used for paid fares for example
- They also can’t be used on a multi-city itinerary (so one-way or return flights only)
- You need to purchase vouchers for a specific number of people (this can be one traveller) to be included on the ticket, so unless you definitely know you’ll be booking flights for multiple people, just buy single vouchers and link the bookings later
On the plus side:
- They can be redeemed online, thus avoiding the phone booking fee
- Vouchers are valid for 12 months
- The balance of a voucher that’s not used is given back as another voucher to be used again within the same expiry period
- Using a voucher negates the need to pay credit card fees on bookings
The full terms are here and the offer page is here.
Offer history
- 2016 (current offer): 5 points per $
- 2015: 5 points per $
- 2014: 10 points per $
- 2013: 10 points per $
- 2012: 10 points per $
- 2011: 10 points per $
Purchase a gift card to trigger 2,500 bonus points with Amex Qantas Ultimate card
By purchasing a $50 gift voucher (the minimum value), you’ll get not only 250 Qantas points for the transaction with this promotion, but it will also trigger the 2,500 bonus points offer for making your first Qantas purchase with the American Express Qantas Ultimate card.
Summing up
This is a good deal if you (or someone you will gift the voucher to) know that you will inevitably be purchasing a Qantas flight in the next twelve months.
It also saves having to pay a credit card fee on bookings.
I just used my gift voucher, purchased December 2016. One very big negative you don’t mention is that booking flights through the redeem gift voucher portal on the qantas website (the only way you can use them) means you pay more for the flight than booking and paying without using the gift voucher. I was redeeming a $200 gift voucher for a flight which cost $212 if using a gift voucher but only $183 if paying without a gift voucher (for the exact same flight)!
Anyone who has used recently:
Say I purchase 01JAN17 with expiry 31DEC17. Can I redeem on say 01DEC17 for a flight departing say 01OCT18? (Some conflicting posts above)
Just did this to book a flight for a friend and for those wondering how long the voucher takes to become active it was instant. As soon as you confirm and pay you get a voucher code on the Qantas website and which I used straight away. Interestingly the e-ticket for the flight actually came through to my email before the voucher did, but everything was there within 6 minutes
Hi. Thanks for the update
How quickly are the vouchers emailed? Is it a matter of minutes or days?
In my experience they are pretty quick (minutes, not hours or days) but I haven’t purchased any this year so can’t confirm 100% from a recent purchase.
Are you able to book Qantas hotels with this gift voucher?
No, Qantas flights only unfortunately.
How quickly does Qantas email the vouchers after purchase? Could I find a flight and then purchase the vouchers to pay for that flight within hours or is there a significant delay?
In my experience they are turned around pretty quickly – but haven’t bought any this year so can’t confirm whether this is still the case.
Does buying these gift vouchers count as buying qantas products and services in regards to the criteria for credit card bonus points, such as the Qantas Discovery Amex?
Great question – it should, we’ll try and do a test and confirm.
Thanks for article Keith & for question Danny, was wondering same thing – if this triggers the free flight or not too, can’t quite tell if vouchers included in the T&C’s for a free flight:
“Selected Qantas products and services are: (a) Qantas passenger flights
with a QF flight number purchased on the Qantas merchant account i.e.
directly with Qantas or some travel agents or (b) purchases from Qantas
Travel shops. Excludes: Qantas Holidays, Qantas Freight, Jetstar and
Qantas branded non-airfare products operated by third parties e.g. Qantas
Box Office.”
I bought a voucher and result on AMEX statement is as below so looks like it qualifies for both card bonus (2500) and free flight):
10/12/2016 QANTAS AIR AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA $100.00 200 2,600 2,800
– Qantas First Spend Bonus 0 2,500
– Qantas Airlines 0 100
– Call 1800507104 to redeem your QF flight 0 0
Hi – there is a 12 months expiry (let’s say it’s 20 December 2016).
Does that mean I have to redeem the voucher by 20 December 2016 for a trip that departs no later than 20 December 2016?
Or can I redeem the voucher by 20 December 2016, for paying for a 2017 trip?
Hey Ashley – you’ll need to travel by the voucher expiry date, rather than just book.
Hi, I realise this is on a 12 month old post but thought I would let people know that I just did an online chat with Qantas and asked “when you buy a gift voucher is it that as long as you book within 12 months the booking can be outside of the following 12 months? eg if I buy a voucher now which expires in December 2017 can they book within 12 months for a flight in 2018?”
Qantas response was: “that is correct. As long as you are able to book the voucher within 12 months from the time it was purchased.”
Is this something new from previous years? I’m looking to purchase flights in 2017 for 2018 and don’t want to be stung by having a large value voucher I can’t use
Yeah, T&C’s say:
“Valid for bookings made on or before the expiry date stated on the voucher.”
I agree that it is definitely a bit stingy compared to previous years. I travel a lot for work and get reimbursed so last year I purchased $11,000 worth and received the 110,000 points, plus 22,000 on the card that I put them on, plus another ~100,000 from the flights I booked with them. Not a bad haul considering someone else was paying for it! So probably still worth it, if affordable!
Awesome work. Kudos!
Be careful – if you book a flight using a gift voucher and then cancel the fight QF issues credit voucher with different terms and conditions to the original gift voucher. This is never made clear at the time of he purchase of the original gift voucher.
You the have to use the credit voucher in full forcing you to spend….and cannot change the name…
Hi Michael thanks for the warning regarding using these for children. I am just about to book a $10k trip to Newcastle UK via Dubai and saw this offer. I was going to do $2000 per traveller until I saw your post. This is really sneaky of Qantas as nothing mentioned in the terms.
Do you still earn points per mile and status credits if you book using a voucher?
Yes, absolutely!
Great – thank you!! Buying one now 😀
Can I buy the voucher for myself to redeem it? For example, if i’m going to BKK. Instead of just booking normally and pay by my credit card, but then buy the voucher first and use it.
Yes, absolutely you can buy these for yourself.
Can you use Qantas Gift Vouchers to book on Jetstar?
Unfortunately not.
Can you explain what you mean by “you can’t use these for any Qantas flight out there, unfortunately”
Sure – just the fact that itineraries starting outside of Australia are excluded, as are multi city too.
Thanks Keith, I see that there is now a very testy discussion on AFF about the T&C attached to these vouchers
Just checked it out… indeed. Why I really love forums!
I can’t see anything about the $500 voucher per person per ticket limit?
My mistake, old terms. Updated to $2k.
Hi, This seems like a great deal but I can’t seem to find information regarding what happens if you fail to use the full value of the voucher before the expiry date. Any ideas?
It expires, unfortunately. That’s the game though – you have to know you’ll use them.
The other limitation I think worth mentioning (which I got stung last year) is that you can’t use it to book child’s fare. So if your trip plan involves kids, don’t buy vouchers for use on kids. You’ll end up paying adult’s fare as voucher redemption doesn’t offer child’s fare, which is a whopping 25% difference. The most expensive QF points I bought…..
I even called Qantas customer service and there is nothing they can do about it.
Nice tip!