By Joseph Hellman-Benjamin, Founder and CEO of The Points King. Last updated: October 12, 2026. Editorial Policy
Why did my Qantas points disappear? Almost always because the account went 18 months without earning or using a single point. Under the Qantas Frequent Flyer terms, points then expire at midnight Sydney time at the end of the 18th month, and Qantas says it warns members within the 60 days before that happens. Expired points can sometimes be restored at Qantas’s discretion if you contact it quickly and start earning again. The other causes are rarer: a closed or suspended account, or someone else getting into it.
I am Joseph Hellman-Benjamin, and I have run The Points King since 2017. We buy Qantas points, so a balance that vanishes is a problem I take seriously. This page replaces an older article we published in 2018, when a wave of members found their balances at zero. The rule that caught them is still the rule. There are no affiliate links on this site.
The Expiry Rule, in Qantas’s Words
- Points do not expire while you are an “Active Member,” meaning you earned or redeemed points, or earned Status Credits, in the previous 18 whole months (clauses 2.1 and 9.2.1).
- Without activity, points “will expire at midnight Sydney, Australia time at the end of the 18th consecutive month” (clause 9.2.2).
- Qantas says it will notify you within the 60 days before your points expire (clause 9.2.3).
- If you cancel your own membership, your points “will immediately expire” (clause 5.9).
From the Qantas Frequent Flyer terms, effective August 27, 2026. Two details catch people out, according to Australian Frequent Flyer: a family transfer into your account does not count as activity, and points moved into an account that has already been inactive for 18 months expire straight away.
Qantas decides each case, and the two sources disagree on the window and on how much is restored, so treat both as reports rather than a promise. Contact Qantas as soon as you see the points have expired.
Can You Get Expired Qantas Points Back?
Sometimes. Qantas does not publish a reinstatement policy, but members report a goodwill process, sometimes called the Qantas Points Challenge. Reports differ on the details:
| Executive Traveller (May 2025) | Australian Frequent Flyer (updated March 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact Qantas within | 6 months of expiry | 12 months of expiry |
| Then earn | 2,500 points within 3 months | At least 2,500 points from at least 2 sources within 6 months |
| Restored | All expired points | 50% or 100%, at Qantas’s discretion |
Sources: Executive Traveller and Australian Frequent Flyer. Treat this as a discretionary process that can change, not a right. What both agree on: call or write to Qantas as soon as you notice, and ask what you need to do.
Other Reasons Points Disappear
- Suspension or closure for a rule breach. The terms let Qantas suspend an account at once on suspected fraud or a material breach, and then reverse points, cancel rewards or end the membership (clauses 8.1 and 8.3). Selling or buying rewards, and taking payment for a family transfer, are listed as breaches (clauses 7.1 and 11.3).
- Someone else using the account. Under clause 6.5 you are responsible for activity on the account until you tell Qantas it has been used without permission, so report it straight away. Disputes must be raised within 12 months for flights and 6 months for other transactions (clause 7.3).
- A transaction that never posted. Check your activity statement; missing points are a claim, not an expiry.
The 2025 Qantas Data Breach
In July 2025 Qantas disclosed a breach affecting about 5.7 million customers. For many, the stolen data included name, email and frequent flyer number, and for some, points balances and status. Qantas said passwords, PINs, passport details and financial data were not taken (Executive Traveller). In October 2025 the hackers published the data online (Travel Weekly). The practical advice is unchanged: change your frequent flyer PIN, turn on two-step verification, and treat any email or message offering “points” as a likely scam.
How to Keep Qantas Points From Expiring
- Earn or use one point every 18 months. Any earning counts: a flight, a partner purchase, a Qantas card.
- Note your next expiry date: log in at qantas.com or in the Qantas app and check your activity statement.
- Do not rely on family transfers to keep an account alive; they do not count.
- If the balance is small and you never fly, use it before it expires. For earning ideas, see ways to earn Qantas points.
What Changes Next at Qantas
Qantas is overhauling status, not the points expiry rule. From December 8, 2026, Status Credits will roll over and can be earned on the ground, and Points Club and Green tier will close; from late 2027, keeping status will need the same Status Credits as earning it (Executive Traveller, August 27, 2026).
If You Have Qantas Points You Will Not Use
Brokers, The Points King included, buy Qantas points for cash. The Qantas terms forbid it: clause 7.1 bans selling or offering to sell any Reward, and clause 12.10 says points cannot be exchanged for money. A breach can lead to cancelled points and a closed account. Read the risks first, then see selling Qantas points.
Our expiry date calculator works out your Qantas date from your last activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Qantas points last?
Indefinitely, as long as you earn or use at least one point every 18 months.
Does Qantas warn you before points expire?
The terms say Qantas will notify you within the 60 days before expiry.
Can expired Qantas points be reinstated?
Sometimes, at Qantas’s discretion. Members report having points restored after contacting Qantas soon after expiry and earning at least 2,500 new points.
Does a family transfer stop points expiring?
No. Family transfers do not count as activity.
Were Qantas points stolen in the 2025 data breach?
Qantas said passwords and PINs were not accessed, but frequent flyer numbers and some balances were exposed. Change your PIN and watch for scams.
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Jul 2025Qantas discloses a data breachAbout 5.7 million customers; passwords, PINs, passport details and financial data were not taken.
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Oct 2025Hackers publish the data online
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Dec 8, 2026Points Club and the Green tier closeStatus Credits roll over and can be earned on the ground.
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Late 2027Keeping status needs the same Status Credits as earning it
From the breach and What Changes Next sections on this page (Executive Traveller, Travel Weekly). The points expiry rule is unchanged: earn or use one point every 18 months. Change your frequent flyer PIN, turn on two-step verification and treat any message offering points as a likely scam.
Sources
- Qantas: Frequent Flyer terms and conditions, effective August 27, 2026
- Executive Traveller: expired Qantas points, May 7, 2025
- Australian Frequent Flyer: reinstating expired Qantas points, updated March 12, 2026
- Executive Traveller: Qantas data breach, July 18, 2025
- Travel Weekly: Qantas data released, October 13, 2025
- Executive Traveller: Qantas status changes, August 27, 2026