Qantas launches exclusive flights for Frequent Flyer Redemptions

By May 16, 2019 April 1st, 2020 General News

Qantas is launching a series of dedicated Frequent Flyer redemption flights with seats only available to members redeeming Qantas Points with the inaugural Points Plane to feature a distinctive in-flight experience.

The inaugural Points Plane will be an Airbus A380 operating from Melbourne to Tokyo (Narita) on 21 October 2019, with Qantas Frequent Flyers able to book seats from Thursday 16 May, and is one avenue Qantas Loyalty is exploring to reward Qantas Frequent Flyer members and provide more redemption opportunities.

Members will be able to book any seat on board (14 First, 64 Business, 35 Premium Economy and 371 Economy seats) at the standard Qantas Points redemption rate for the route. Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum members will have equal opportunity to secure a booking on dedicated Points Plane flights.

The inaugural Points Plane will feature a “distinctive in-flight service” with on-board experiences including a bespoke cocktail and meal service, signature pyjamas and in-flight giveaways.

The airline said in order to offer maximum flexibility for return travel, members will have the choice of booking on an A330 return Points Plane on 26 October, or departing on an alternative date of their choice by booking a Classic Reward seat with Qantas or a partner airline, or using Points Plus Pay on any commercially available seat.

“This is the first time we have dedicated an entire aircraft – let alone an A380 – to our frequent flyers, and we are expecting to see significant demand for these flights,” commented Qantas Loyalty CEO Oliva Wirth, who added that flight redemptions are Qantas Frequent Flyer members’ favourite way to use their points. “Four flight redemptions are made every minute and sixty upgrades are confirmed every hour. We know our members love to redeem their points on travel, so we’re excited to be able to give them new ways to access these rewards.

“Member-exclusive flights mean more redemption opportunities for our members and less time searching for reward seats.”

Wirth continued that if the concept is successful, the airline hopes to operate more regular Frequent Flyer-only flights to other international and domestic destinations in the future.

Qantas occasionally moves unscheduled aircraft around the network for a range of operational and commercial reasons, which creates opportunities for initiatives like Points Planes.

As Japan is a popular destination for Qantas Frequent Flyers and one of the top five most searched destinations on the airline’s website, Qantas said it is “the perfect first Points Plane port.”

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