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Qantas frequent flyers flood bonus scheme

Australians are desperate to get back to travelling, with half a million people signing up for a Qantas Frequent Flyer bonus points scheme.

Joyce: Resumption of international travel the best Qantas news in two years

Australians are desperate to get back to travelling, with half a million people signing up for a Qantas Frequent Flyer bonus points scheme.

As international travel kicks off from November 1 with New South Wales and Victoria opening their borders to returning Australians, Qantas was preparing for an influx in demand.

The company has given away more than 400 million Frequent Flyer points as part of its campaign to reward Australians who proved they were fully vaccinated, which will be a condition of flying.

“The vaccine is the key to being able to reunite family and friends, take a well-deserved holiday, and for Qantas it means getting thousands of our people back to work,” Qantas Group chief customer officer Stephanie Tully said.

“We are incredibly proud to be able to reward more than half a million fully vaccinated Australians for rolling up their sleeves and playing their part in helping get the country out of lockdowns and protecting the community.”

Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet, and Gareth Evans, CEO of Jetstar at the announcement to resume flights on Friday. Picture: James D. Morgan
Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet, and Gareth Evans, CEO of Jetstar at the announcement to resume flights on Friday. Picture: James D. Morgan

The take up of the campaign, which started in August, has shown some of the unmet demand for travel.

More than three quarters of those who signed up have booked Qantas points to their account, rather than a $20 flight discount.

And all those who have signed up were in the running for a year’s worth of free flights.

Australia’s soaring vaccination rates have supercharged the return of travel.

Flight bubbles were being considered with Singapore were being considered.

But flights from Sydney to Los Angeles and London were due to take off on November 1, with Singapore legs due to start on November 23.

Direct flights to Delhi and Fiji were also planned in December, while people will also be able to fly to Japan and Canada.

But Bali flights are not yet scheduled.

The reopening of travel is a major relief for thousands of aviation workers who have been stood down because of the pandemic.

All Australian based Qantas staff will be back on the job by December and Jetstar flights were also due to come online.

stephen.drill@news.com.au

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/coronavirus/qantas-frequent-flyers-flood-bonus-scheme/news-story/c907c687e03c245c5c951cf1ba6670d0