Record-breaking response to Qantas vaccine rewards

Qantas has given away more frequent flyer points in the last week than at any time in the loyalty scheme’s history, thanks to a vaccine campaign.

Qantas is trying to accelerate the vaccination rate in Australia by offering rewards for the jab. Picture: William West/AFP

Qantas has given away more frequent flyer points in the last week than at any other time in the loyalty scheme’s history, thanks to a Covid-19 vaccine reward program.

Since the launch of the campaign last Tuesday, more than 170,000 people have uploaded their Covid-19 vaccination certificate to the Qantas app, in return for frequent flyer points, status credits or a $20 travel voucher.

Of those 170,000, the vast majority – or 120,000 – opted for 1000 points each; more than 30,000 chose 15 status credits, with another 10,000-plus people claiming the $20 discount.

As a result of the response, Qantas has given away 120 million points – the largest allocation of points in such a short time frame in the program’s history.

The strong uptake of the vaccine rewards came on the back of the airline’s new “Fly Away” advertisement which has now logged more than one million views online.

Set to the song by Tones and I, the tear-jerker ad aimed to equate vaccination with the freedom to travel overseas after 18 months of border closures.

Qantas chief customer officer Steph Tully said it was clear the campaign had struck a chord with Australians.

“This is about recognising those who have made the effort to protect themselves and the community,” said Ms Tully.

She said the response had exceeded expectations but Qantas would continue to reward people for getting fully vaccinated until the end of the year.

“The impact of the pandemic on the travel industry and on Qantas and Jetstar team members means we have a clear vested interest in the success of the vaccine rollout,” Ms Tully said.

Currently more than 8000 Qantas workers have been stood down due to lockdowns and state and international border closures.

Qantas chief Alan Joyce has indicated the airline would be ready to operate commercial flights overseas by Christmas, to destinations including Britain, the US, Canada, Japan, Fiji and New Zealand.

But the services are dependent on the vaccination rate hitting 80 per cent of the eligible population, the federal government relaxing the ban on overseas travel, and an easing of mandatory hotel quarantine on return to Australia.

All passengers boarding international flights will be required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, as will all Qantas employees.

Virgin Australia announced on Monday it would join Qantas in mandating vaccinations for employees, with all flight and cabin crew required to have the jab by November 15.

The remainder of the workforce have until March 31, 2022, to be fully vaccinated, the same as Qantas.

Virgin CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said any move towards making vaccination mandatory for domestic passengers would be up to government.