Qantas Frequent Flyers Gain New Opportunities for Business Class Upgrades
Qantas frequent flyers are now presented with more opportunities to redeem their points for business class upgrades, but the catch is that these upgrades are available on budget airline Jetstar. This new development comes as part of Jetstar’s latest initiative called ‘Points Plus Pay,’ which allows travelers to bid for a seat on an international flight using a combination of Qantas points and cash.
This announcement coincides with the rollout of Jetstar’s updated Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. According to frequent flyer expert Adele Eliseo, who spoke to Yahoo Finance, Jetstar is more than doubling the size of its Dreamliner business cabin and increasing capacity by 110 per cent.
“This will create significantly more premium inventory for Jetstar to fill on every flight,” The Champagne Mile founder said. “More seats will mean more upgrade opportunities and better availability for frequent flyers looking to use Qantas Points for Jetstar’s premium cabin.”
For instance, on Jetstar’s Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh route, customers can bid for a business class upgrade from $180 per person. Points Plus Pay allows up to 80 per cent of the bid to be covered by Qantas Points.
Jetstar Business Class: A Step Above Economy, But Not Luxury
Flying business class with Jetstar has its added perks, but it’s nowhere near as luxurious as some other airline experiences. Business class passengers can get benefits like 30kg of checked baggage, meals, and drinks, which most economy passengers need to pay extra for.
However, there are no seat back entertainment screens, and while the seats recline, they won’t allow you to lie flat completely. “Jetstar business sits somewhere between Qantas domestic business class and international premium economy,” Eliseo said. “For travellers on leisure-focused routes, the wider seat pitch, increased recline and included extras can compare favourably against premium economy alternatives.”
More Redemption Options for Jetstar Travellers
Jetstar executive manager of customer and digital Prue McKenzie stated that Points Plus Pay gives customers more flexibility when bidding for business class, with customers also able to make cash-only bids. “Points Plus Pay with Jetstar gives customers another simple way to use the rewards they’ve earned to upgrade to Business and takeoff more,” McKenzie said.
“The ability to combine Qantas Points and cash gives customers more options, offers great value and makes premium travel more accessible, while an upcoming Classic Upgrade Rewards-style product will provide even more choice for Frequent Flyers.” Jetstar said it plans to introduce Classic Upgrades soon.
“While pricing hasn’t yet been announced, frequent flyers should keep in mind that Classic Rewards and Classic Upgrades typically offer a higher-value use of points than Points Plus Pay,” Eliseo said.
Qantas Cracks Down on Lounge Access for Jetstar International Flights
This change comes as Qantas cracks down on lounge access for those travelling on Jetstar international flights. From July 1, Qantas lounge access will no longer be available to platinum, gold and Qantas Club members travelling on international Jetstar flights.
Travellers will only be able to access the lounge when booking a Qantas codeshare flight operated by Jetstar, a Jetstar flight operating under a domestic flight number or a Jetstar Business Max fare.
