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Qantas offers redemption-only A380 flight
May 17th 2019
Opportunity arises from using charter flight dead legs. Read More »
Airlines have long been challenged with what to do about the dead legs of aircraft used to position for charters. Qantas’ trial solution is to sell the flights but via frequent flyer loyalty redemptions. Qantas is calling these flights “Points Planes”.
Qantas has a charter A380 flight from Tokyo to Melbourne in October 2019 with a return A330 service later in the week, reports Australian Business Traveller. The positioning flights have been opened up for loyalty redemptions, with every seat available. Revenue ticket purchases are unavailable on the Qantas website.
Qantas says passengers on the Points Plane will have a special experience including cocktails and meals, pyjamas and unspecified inflight giveaways. It is the first time it is offering an entire flight for loyalty redemption, but expects to repeat it in the future.
Australian Business Traveller suggested more Points Plane flights could be on aircraft returning from maintenance work, such as the interior change programme on the A380. These flights will depend on airline confidence the aircraft will be available on time.
