Weekly News Roundup: Oct 5 - Oct 11, 2026
By Craig McNamara · Published on 12 October 2026
This backfill covers Monday 5 to Sunday 11 October 2026. I wrote it on 12 October 2026. Westpac added Status Credits to a Qantas card offer, and Qantas opened a short domestic reward-seat sale.
Westpac adds Status Credits to its Qantas Black offer
On 8 October, Westpac announced that eligible new Westpac Altitude Qantas Black cardholders could earn up to 150,000 bonus Qantas Points and 50 Status Credits. The Status Credits are the new part of the extended offer.
Westpac's offer terms split the points across two years. Eligible applicants get 90,000 bonus points and 50 Status Credits after at least $6,000 of eligible purchases within 90 days of approval. Another 60,000 bonus points require at least $6,000 of eligible purchases within 90 days of the card's anniversary in year two. The 150,000-point headline therefore requires keeping the card into a second year and meeting a second spend target. Westpac excludes people who have held a Westpac credit card in the previous 24 months.
The standard annual card fee is $295, plus a $155 annual Qantas Rewards Program fee, or $450 a year in total. Westpac lists a $200 first-year card fee for eligible existing customers who sign in to apply; with the program fee, that is $355 in year one. I would check the full terms and both years' costs before valuing the second bonus.
Qantas discounts domestic Economy Classic Flight Rewards
On 9 October, Australian Frequent Flyer reported a Qantas sale on domestic Economy Classic Flight Rewards. Qantas's published terms set the booking window from 11am AEDT on 9 October to 11.59pm AEDT on 16 October 2026. The booking window is still open on this article's 12 October publication date; it ends on 16 October.
The points discount is 20% for travel from 1 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 and from 1 March to 30 April 2027. It rises to 30% for travel from 4 January to 28 February 2027 and from 1 May to 27 September 2027. The discount applies to eligible Qantas-operated Economy Classic Flight Rewards with a QF flight number within Australia. Flights to external Australian territories, mixed-cabin trips and trips with transfers are excluded. Seats remain subject to availability, and taxes, fees and carrier charges are extra. The discount cuts the points required, not those cash charges.
If you already need a domestic Economy reward seat in those travel periods, compare the discounted points and cash charges with the cash fare before booking.