Things are tough all over.

In what a spokeswoman described as a response to global events, Australian carrier Qantas has implemented changes to its program, including making it harder for passengers using budget air fares to earn upgrades, and requiring more points to use partner airlines.

The changes, the first major amendments in two years, are only all too familiar to economy-minded passengers. Higher revenue tickets will earn more, and reduced rate fares will earn less.

Beginning in 2004, status-credit upgrades will jump from 250 to 450 points, and the number of regular points to upgrade will rise as well.

On the positive side (those seem more and more rare these days), Qantas has repealed the service fee for booking award flights up to 24 hours in advance.