Is Classic Rewards over?

I have a look and could not find any business Classic Rewards seats to any SE Asia destination (SIN, HKG, Japan) for wide range of dates. Even economy seats are scarce. Instead everything infested with Classic Scam (QF call it "Classic Plus") that required 3 times or so more points. So is Classic Rewards times over and gone forever?

We booked 3 Business Class reward business seats on QF35 from Melbourne to Singapore at the end of October. there are also still 3 seats on QF37 on the same date.

Also got 1 home from Jakarta and 2 to Seoul and 2 home from Tokyo all in business in December/January

From time to time one can be lucky. I just finished Classic Reward trip to LHR for two half in Business and half in First. IMHO you should feel very lucky for snatching 3 seats on the same day - it is not that easy. I am talking about trend rather than particular examples.

Classic reward availability is influenced by your status, as listed in the travel benefits.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/status-and-clubs/status/platinum.html#travel-benefits

I've secured 14 Classic reward seats across the domestic and Tasman network this past 10 months. Worthwhile use of points in the high fare port which is my home in Darwin.

sounds like vhojm is grabbing all the reward seats!!

Domestic and Trans-Tasman usually not that big deal. Europe and USA is biggest problem.

They are there, you just have to look and if you can't find any, ask Qantas to release them.

Internationally its dire for business class rewards ...Classic Plus a chance but ridiculously expensive, Classic Rewards no chance. Im booking through Cathay occasionally and SQ often. SQ has plenty of options and both CX and SQ charge less points. Dont bother with QF anymore

I'm currently in the process of (attempting to) book J class redemption seats to Europe for Sep next year for the family of 3. Waiting patiently for the day seats are released.

I have enough VA points for one way and enough QF points for the way back.

In short, no problem at all finding 3x J class seats using my VA points (via SQ) - BNE-SIN-AMS. All booked and ticketed.

But good luck finding anything on the return via QF or partners. Europe to Asia there is the odd AY availability but that is it. (QF Club Silver, so as good as nil status). Not to mention the level of service on SQ vs QF is like night and day.

Velocity is the far better program these days IMO and I expect/hope it will improve further with the QR tie up.

Good luck. Last year I manager to get mixture of J and F tickets from AUS to UK for two and I felt incredibly lucky. However getting tickets for 3 on the same plane in my experience is close to impossible.

It is totally over. The "Classic Plus" PR blitz was one of the most skilfully executed exercises in point devaluation that an airline has ever perpetrated. The breadcrumbs were there in Qantas' financial accounts prior to the move. The notes on the frequent flyer program suggested unease about the redemption model and they clearly needed to come up with a way to increase the customer burn rate on points without it being seen as a devaluation move.

Now there are no classic rewards and "Classic Plus" seats trade at a significant premium. One of the many reasons that loyalty points programs should be properly regulated.

I have a look and could not find any business Classic Rewards seats to any SE Asia destination (SIN, HKG, Japan) for wide range of dates.

HKG isn't usually classified as SE Asia, and I don't think Japan is within anyone's definition of SE Asia.

There are business Classic Award seats for destinations that are classified as SE Asia, including:

- Manila (Philippines): I found a business redemption on QF97 (Brisbane to Manila) on 25/2/2025, 26/2/2025 and 3/3/2025. I didn't look at too many other dates, but found 3 in fairly short order. There were also return options on several days I checked in March.

- Jakarta (Indonesia): I found a business redemption on QF41 (Sydney to Jakarta) on 26/2/2025, 27/2/2025 and 1/3/2025. Again, I stopped after finding availability on 3 dates in a short range, and found some return options on QF42 in March as well.

Technically you correct - HKG and Japan not really counted as SE Asia. Though it does not make much difference - availability of classic reward to destination mentioned in OP is incredibly scarce.

Classic reward availability is abysmal relative to pre covid-there is no doubt about that. Thanks Qantas.