Frequent flyers on point for posh holidays

With international flights likely on hold until 2022, Qantas frequent flyers are finding new ways to treat themselves.

The five-star Emirates One & Only Resort Wolgan Valley in NSW

A good proportion of Qantas frequent flyers have given up waiting to get the green light for international travel, instead splashing out millions of points on luxury holidays at home.

Analysis of frequent flyer ­activity by Qantas Loyalty shows a fivefold increase in the number of flash hotels booked through the airline’s website in the past 12 months compared to the ­previous year.

At the same time, the number of customers using points to book hotels and holidays doubled, with Qualia on Hamilton Island, Sheraton Grand Mirage on the Gold Coast and the Park Hyatt on Sydney Harbour among the most popular picks.

In one instance, a frequent flyer “spent” more than two million points for a single booking at the five-star Emirates One and Only Wolgan Valley Resort.

Another used 1.3 million points to holiday on exclusive Orpheus Island on the Great Barrier Reef.

Purchases from online stores were less popular, with close to 80 per cent of frequent flyer members preferring to use their points on travel-related items.

Qantas Loyalty chief executive Olivia Wirth said it was ­encouraging to see the demand for holidays at home.

“With international borders closed, we’re seeing more and more frequent flyers investing in their domestic travel experiences and booking high-end getaways to treat themselves to a little luxury,” Ms Wirth said.

“Australians see the value in being a Qantas frequent flyer and continue to chase Qantas points to help bring them closer to their next dream holiday.”

With fewer points being earned from flying due to border closures and travel restrictions, members were building up their points balances in other ways.

Most popular was credit card spending, followed by shopping at retailers partnered with Qantas, such as Woolworths, Red Energy and BP. There had also been significant points transfers to Qantas from other credit card reward programs, including one member who recently shifted nine million bank points across.

Point Hacks managing editor Daniel Sciberras said it made sense for frequent flyers with large points balances to seek out an experience on a par with a first class overseas flight.

“We are seeing that interest in luxury products as well, so I suspect people are using points in that direction more than ever ­before,” Mr Sciberras said.

He said it was likely Qantas would bump up the number of reward seats when travel bans were lifted to help meet demand from frequent flyers.

Already, reward seats on domestic services have been increased by 50 per cent for travel until mid-2021.