Qantas launches first flight bookable only with frequent flyer points
The "Points Plane" will fly from Melbourne to Tokyo in October
Qantas has announced its inaugural "Points Plane" flight where seats are only available to people using their Qantas Points.
The flight will take place on 21 October 2019 from Melbourne to Tokyo (Narita) on board an Airbus A380. All seats on board, including business and first class, will be bookable with points based on the standard Award Flight rates (included at the bottom of this article).
There will also be a return "Points Plane" A330 flight on 26 October 2019, which frequent flyers can also book with Qantas Points to get home. That would only give you five days in Tokyo. So, if you wanted to go for longer, you could try your luck with a regular reward flight redemption or pay for a return flight on a different date.
Qantas has also announced special on-board extras including signature pyjamas and a "bespoke cocktail and meal service". Qantas hasn't announced whether or not these extras will apply to all passengers or whether it depends on your reward fare class.
Seats will be bookable from 7am AEST 16 May 2019 on the Qantas website.
Frequent flyers often have to start searching for rewards flights up to a year in advance for the best chance of finding seats. While this flight takes place in approximately five months, the additional availability could make it easier for frequent flyers to redeem their points.
According to Qantas, the flight is the first in a series which the airline is exploring as a reward to loyal frequent flyers.
Qantas points plus fees and charges required to fly one-way from Melbourne to Tokyo (Narita)
Class | Points and fees (accurate at 2 April 2019) |
---|---|
Economy | 35,000 Qantas Points plus $182 |
Premium Economy | 54,000 Qantas Points plus $257 |
Business | 72,000 Qantas Points plus $272 |
First | 108,000 Qantas Points plus $272 |
Source: Qantas
If you're looking to book this flight or other flights using Qantas Points read our full guide to earning more Qantas Points.
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Image: Qantas