‘The number of points members have earned through retailers has doubled’: Act fast before new rules kick in!
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Loyalty programs have long been a favourite way for Australians to stretch their spending and enjoy exclusive perks.
But in a surprising turn, several of the country’s biggest brands are making major changes that could affect how—and where—you earn and spend rewards.
From retirements to unexpected partnerships, the new financial year is bringing a loyalty shake-up.
Some of Australia’s most recognised brands braced for a dramatic shake-up to their loyalty schemes as the new financial year began, leaving shoppers and frequent flyers with mixed feelings about what’s to come.
Not all changes were created equal—some perks quietly disappeared, others merged into bigger networks, and one program was shut down entirely.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Here’s how the shake-up unfolded.
The biggest crossover of the year came from Qantas Frequent Flyer and department store David Jones, who unveiled plans for a partnership that would allow customers to swap points between the two.
Qantas Frequent Flyers would soon be able to spend their points in-store, while David Jones shoppers could use their rewards for Qantas flights—once they linked memberships through the retailer’s mobile app.
David Jones CEO Scott Fyfe said: ‘Our customers are at the heart of the 187-year-old David Jones business, and we look forward to recognising and rewarding them with a new market leading premium loyalty experience.’
Qantas Loyalty chief executive Andrew Glance added: ‘The number of points members have earned through retailers has doubled in the last five years, and we anticipate it will double again by 2030, as we expand our footprint across a growing range of retail categories.’
The program was set to launch later in the year.
Meanwhile, Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer made headlines for tweaking how travellers could rise through its status levels. From 1 October, half of the credits needed to earn silver, gold or platinum membership would need to come from Virgin Australia flights flown by the member themselves—a move aimed at simplifying the pathway to elite status.
But the changes didn’t stop with airlines.
The Just Shop Rewards program—once used across brands like Dotti, Jacqui E, Jay Jays, Just Jeans and Portmans—was gearing up for its final days. Following Myer’s acquisition of the Just Group, the standalone program was set to dissolve by 1 August.
In its place, customers would begin earning Myer one credits when shopping at any of the Just Group stores.
While shoppers could still use their existing points, those would only remain valid until 26 July—after that, they would be forfeited.
Over at Supercheap Auto, customers had to say goodbye to a popular price protection feature. The retailer’s ‘Best Price Credit’ perk, which refunded customers with store credit if a product dropped in price within 14 days of purchase, was officially retired on 30 June.
In its place came a new system—‘Spend & Get’—offering $5 in credit for every $100 spent.
And for shoppers at Target, the change was more permanent.
The company announced that Target Shop+, its app-based loyalty program, would be discontinued from 21 July. While rewards already earned could still be redeemed, the decision marked a clear shift in strategy.
A spokesperson for Target said the brand made a ‘business decision’ to move away from the app, signalling the end of the digital program.
Whether these changes prove to be upgrades or setbacks will depend on how—and where—you’ve been earning your rewards. But one thing’s for certain: the loyalty game has changed.
With loyalty programs shifting under our feet, will these changes make your points go further—or leave you missing the old rewards? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we looked at how Woolworths’ changes to its Everyday Rewards program left some shoppers feeling short-changed—especially those who had relied on the perks for years.
For seniors who value consistency and savings on essentials, these loyalty updates can feel like yet another system shifting without warning.
If you’ve been rethinking where your points go, that story might strike a chord.
Read more: ‘Not worth it to me anymore’: Customers clamour over changes in Woolworths' Everyday Rewards
But in a surprising turn, several of the country’s biggest brands are making major changes that could affect how—and where—you earn and spend rewards.
From retirements to unexpected partnerships, the new financial year is bringing a loyalty shake-up.
Some of Australia’s most recognised brands braced for a dramatic shake-up to their loyalty schemes as the new financial year began, leaving shoppers and frequent flyers with mixed feelings about what’s to come.
Not all changes were created equal—some perks quietly disappeared, others merged into bigger networks, and one program was shut down entirely.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Here’s how the shake-up unfolded.
The biggest crossover of the year came from Qantas Frequent Flyer and department store David Jones, who unveiled plans for a partnership that would allow customers to swap points between the two.
Qantas Frequent Flyers would soon be able to spend their points in-store, while David Jones shoppers could use their rewards for Qantas flights—once they linked memberships through the retailer’s mobile app.
David Jones CEO Scott Fyfe said: ‘Our customers are at the heart of the 187-year-old David Jones business, and we look forward to recognising and rewarding them with a new market leading premium loyalty experience.’
Qantas Loyalty chief executive Andrew Glance added: ‘The number of points members have earned through retailers has doubled in the last five years, and we anticipate it will double again by 2030, as we expand our footprint across a growing range of retail categories.’
The program was set to launch later in the year.
Meanwhile, Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer made headlines for tweaking how travellers could rise through its status levels. From 1 October, half of the credits needed to earn silver, gold or platinum membership would need to come from Virgin Australia flights flown by the member themselves—a move aimed at simplifying the pathway to elite status.
But the changes didn’t stop with airlines.
The Just Shop Rewards program—once used across brands like Dotti, Jacqui E, Jay Jays, Just Jeans and Portmans—was gearing up for its final days. Following Myer’s acquisition of the Just Group, the standalone program was set to dissolve by 1 August.
In its place, customers would begin earning Myer one credits when shopping at any of the Just Group stores.
While shoppers could still use their existing points, those would only remain valid until 26 July—after that, they would be forfeited.
Over at Supercheap Auto, customers had to say goodbye to a popular price protection feature. The retailer’s ‘Best Price Credit’ perk, which refunded customers with store credit if a product dropped in price within 14 days of purchase, was officially retired on 30 June.
In its place came a new system—‘Spend & Get’—offering $5 in credit for every $100 spent.
And for shoppers at Target, the change was more permanent.
The company announced that Target Shop+, its app-based loyalty program, would be discontinued from 21 July. While rewards already earned could still be redeemed, the decision marked a clear shift in strategy.
A spokesperson for Target said the brand made a ‘business decision’ to move away from the app, signalling the end of the digital program.
Whether these changes prove to be upgrades or setbacks will depend on how—and where—you’ve been earning your rewards. But one thing’s for certain: the loyalty game has changed.
With loyalty programs shifting under our feet, will these changes make your points go further—or leave you missing the old rewards? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we looked at how Woolworths’ changes to its Everyday Rewards program left some shoppers feeling short-changed—especially those who had relied on the perks for years.
For seniors who value consistency and savings on essentials, these loyalty updates can feel like yet another system shifting without warning.
If you’ve been rethinking where your points go, that story might strike a chord.
Read more: ‘Not worth it to me anymore’: Customers clamour over changes in Woolworths' Everyday Rewards
