How hard do your loyalty points really work? Macca’s confirms change to rewards perk
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McDonald’s Australia has confirmed a major overhaul of its MyMacca’s rewards program.
As of May 28, customers need almost double the amount of points to redeem some of the MyMacca’s menu items.
The MyMacca's reward points system has undergone a change. Getty
“I almost always get my takeaway coffees at Macca’s, because the drive-thru makes it easy and the app is so good for collecting points,” a customer told nine.com.au.
“I used to be able to get a free medium coffee every two weeks or so, but when I opened up the app to order over the weekend, I was shocked to see the ‘price’ had gone from 3500 points to 6000.
“That’s such a huge jump, especially considering Macca’s coffee prices aren’t even that much cheaper than cafés any more.”
A McDonald’s Australia spokesperson confirmed it now takes 6000 points to redeem a medium coffee at the fast food outlet as of May 28.
“To ensure we can continue delivering value to our customers, we’ve evolved our rewards program by introducing a new 2500-point tier, and adding some of our most loved menu items to the program for the first time, including our iconic Soft Serve, Hash Browns, Double Bacon and Egg McMuffin, Chicken McNuggets and Frozen Soft Drinks,” they told nine.com.au.
Customers will still earn 100 points per dollar spent via the MyMacca’s app, with the following rewards options.
- 2,500pts: Soft Serve Cone or Small Frozen Drink
- 3,500pts: Small Soft Drink, Hamburger, or Hot Apple Pie
- 4,500pts: Small McCafé Beverage, 2 Hash Browns, Small Sundae, or 3pc Chicken McNuggets
- 6,000pts: Medium McCafé Beverage, McMuffin, Large Fries, McFlurry or Cheeseburger
- 8,500pts: Large McCafé Beverage, McChicken, Filet-O-Fish, Big Mac, 6pc Chicken McNuggets, or Double Bacon & Egg McMuffin
- 11,000pts: Big Brekkie Burger, McCrispy, McSpicy, 10pc Chicken McNuggets, or Quarter Pounder
Customers now need 6000 loyalty points to redeem a medium coffee via the MyMaccas app. Jemima Skelley
The spokesperson added: “At Macca’s, our commitment to value hasn’t changed. Whether it’s through MyMacca’s Rewards, our Loose Change Menu or McSmart Meal, we’re focused on delivering reliable, accessible value our customers can count on, every day of the year.”
When McDonald’s launched the MyMacca’s rewards system in 2022, all sized coffees could be redeemed for 2500.
A McDonald's spokesperson confirmed the points requirement changed. Jo Abi
This increased to 3000 points for small coffees in January 2025 and 5000 for larger sizes. Later in the year the number of rewards points needed for medium and large coffees rose to 5500.
Now, a small coffee takes 4500 points, a medium needs 6000 points, and a large requires 8500 points.
How hard are your loyalty points really working?
Macca’s isn’t the only fast food retailer rethinking its rewards program.
Subway recently announced the impending closure of its Subcard loyalty program on August 31. In its place will be an app-based rewards system for customers, with details yet to be announced.
Subway's Subcard loyalty program will end in August, to be replaced by an app-based system. Subway
Then there are supermarket loyalty programs, which have most noticeably reduced the value customers receive from their reward points.
Coles and Woolies’ rewards programs have rolled back customer benefits over the years.
Flybuys and Everyday Rewards program members now face higher spending thresholds to earn loyalty points that can be used to redeem $10 off a single shop for every 2,000 points earned.
“Shop based on price first and foremost, and not based on points. Prices are real, dollars are real, points are not.”
Boosted items have also shifted to the apps, with customers now required to select ‘boost’ to accumulate bonus points for purchasing particular items.
Both supermarkets have also introduced paid membership tiers offering shoppers double the amount of rewards points. These are called Coles Plus and Coles Plus Saver, and Woolworths Everyday Rewards Extra.
Macca's isn't the only company rethinking its rewards program. Nine
It seems these changes aren’t going unnoticed.
Recent data released by The Point of Loyalty ‘For Love or Money’ report earlier this year showed customer satisfaction in some rewards programs is waning, particularly when it comes to free tiers.
The report ranked everything from entertainment subscriptions, supermarket programs, chemists, and beauty brands.
What customers can do to save
Today money expert Joel Gibson told nine.com.au these recent changes highlight what he deems to be the “biggest issue with all rewards programs – they are not real”.
“They’re fake currencies invented by a business to encourage loyalty among their customers, but because they’re not real they can be adjusted at any time and there’s nothing customers can do about it,” he said.
Today money expert Joel Gibson describes loyalty programs as 'fake currencies'. Jo Abi
“Frequent flyers know the feeling of seeing their points, sometimes collected carefully over years, devalued with the strike of a pen. And now fast food customers are feeling it too.
“It’s yet another reason to shop based on price first and foremost, and not based on points.
“Prices are real, dollars are real, points are not.”
