Qantas brings Malaysia Airlines reward flight bookings online

Qantas Frequent Flyer members can now book Malaysia Airlines reward flights via the Qantas website using their Qantas Points, following IT upgrades revealed by Australian Business Traveller earlier this year.

This means there’s no longer a need to call Qantas to book these journeys – as was previously the only option – with Malaysia Airlines first class, business class and economy reward flights all now available online.

From Sydney to Kuala Lumpur, 65,000 Qantas Points plus $275 in taxes, fees and charges can secure you a one-way business class ticket, with 35,000 Qantas Points plus $250 fetching an economy fare.

First class isn’t offered on Malaysia Airlines’ flights to Australia, but can be booked on the airline’s Kuala Lumpur-London route – either as a standalone ticket from Malaysia or as part of a connecting journey from Australia.

For instance, you could fly in business class from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur and then first class onwards to London for a grand total of 199,000 Qantas Points plus $510 on the side.

However, keep in mind that 192,000 Qantas Points is enough for a ticket from Sydney to London via Dubai with Emirates entirely in first class, or for just 4,000 Qantas Points more than the Malaysia Airlines ticket – being 203,000 Qantas Points – you could also fly first class the whole way with Qatar Airways via Doha or British Airways via Singapore.

Alternatively, a Malaysia Airlines ticket from Sydney to London via Kuala Lumpur entirely in business class can be secured for 139,000 Qantas Points plus $510 in fees, taxes and charges, or for 75,000 Qantas Points plus $460 in co-payments to fly economy.

Along with Sydney, Malaysia Airlines also flies between Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and between Perth and Kota Kinabalu – all of which can now be booked online using Qantas Points, subject to availability.

Qantas plans to offer online bookings for China Eastern and Japan Airlines reward flights from early 2018 as well, with Qantas Frequent Flyer members also gaining access to business class and first class reward flights on El Al Israel Airlines last month, which can be booked online too.

Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.