This was published 2 years ago
Qantas frequent flyer points: Record number of seats released as bookings boom
By Craig Platt
Qantas has released a record number of seats for bookings on frequent flyer points.
Millions of seats will be available for booking on frequent flyer points after Qantas releases what it says is the biggest single release of reward flights in the airline's history.
The airline says seats will be available on both international and domestic routes, with the number of reward seats per flight increasing by 50 per cent until the end of 2022.
Qantas also revealed plans to launch several more "points planes" - where every seat on board can be booked using frequent flyer points - as international and domestic travel restrictions ease.
"Throughout the pandemic, many Qantas frequent flyers have been stockpiling points they have earned on the ground so they can use them to travel once travel restrictions are lifted," Qantas loyalty chief executive Olivia Wirth said.
"With members keen to travel internationally and domestically, we have released more reward seats to make it easier for our frequent flyers to use their points to go on holidays and be reunited with family and friends in 2022."
Qantas said frequent flyer members had redeemed more than two billion points since the airline announced international flights would resume in December. With the relaxing of restrictions, the relaunch of international flights has been brought forward to the start of November for flights departing from Sydney to London and Los Angeles.
The travel industry has reported a boom in inquiries and bookings since the prospect of opening international borders became more likely as vaccination targets have been met.
Qantas said flights to London and Los Angeles had been the most popular for bookings, with Fiji, Honolulu and Japan rounding out the top five.
Flight Centre reported a surge of more than 191 per cent in inquiries after the federal government's announcement on borders. Since then, according to Flight Centre, Fiji has become the focus for customers, with an incredible 90 per cent of all international enquiries focused on the Pacific island destination.
Virgin Australia also reported strong bookings for Fiji, set to become the airline's first international destination since its relaunch, with particular interest in the January and April school holiday periods next year. People can make a booking now and change it if they need to.
Airfare comparison site Skyscanner reported an immediate spike, with visits to its site more than doubling after NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet's announcement on Friday that hotel quarantine would be phased out in NSW.
Skyscanner said international bookings were focused on the UK, India and the US.
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