Shutdown apology: Qantas offers bonus frequent flyer points
By David Flynn, November 16 2011
Qantas is offering bonus frequent flyer points to passengers travelling in the next five weeks, as the latest make-up measure following last month's unprecedented 48-hour shutdown of all Qantas flights worldwide.
The deal is available to almost all Qantas Frequent Flyers, apart from low-ranking 'selected' Bronze members (and no, we have no idea what that qualification means, either) and applies to "all eligible Qantas flights from 16 November 2011 until 23 December 2011, including new bookings and those already made."
“We deeply regret the impact on our Frequent Flyers of the recent industrial action and grounding of the Qantas fleet,” said Qantas CEO Alan Joyce. "We are delighted to be offering these special bonuses to our valued Frequent Flyers.”
All Platinum and Platinum One members will rake in double their usual number of frequent flyer points; Gold members will enjoy a 50% points bonus; while all Silver "and selected Bronze" members get a 25% points bonus.
In addition, frequent flyers who were "directly impacted by industrial action" will be offered goodies such as complimentary membership to Qantas' epiQure online food and wine community, a Qantas First Lounge or Qantas Club invitation, a voucher for Qantas Valet or Qantas Drive, or a complimentary Q Bag Tag.
Those gifts will be allocated depending on the member’s tier status.
In addition to compensating its passengers for any direct costs incurred during the shutdown, Qantas is already giving away free domestic or trans-Tasman flights to passengers directly affected by cancelled flights during that 48-hour period.
Those flights are available to all passengers booked on Qantas flights between 5pm Saturday October 5, and midnight Monday October 7. Bookings can be made from November 31 for travel from December 14.
Passengers delayed on UK and other European flights are also entitled to a €600/A$800 lump sum payout in addition to Qantas' reimbursement offer of up to A$350 per day. So passengers who were scheduled to depart from Frankfurt or London may be entitled to up to A$1800 in total.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
15 Apr 2011
Total posts 580
Is this before or after minimum points kick in?
10 Nov 2011
Total posts 10
I'll fly MEL-SYD tomorrow on QF so by Friday I'll see how it works. Hopefully they add the bonus after the minimum points and not before.
10 Nov 2011
Total posts 10
Well I did take my flight and Qantas did credit the points on my account but despite the fact I am a Gold FF member the points were just the usual and haven't seen the additional 50%.
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
Is this really going to encourage anybody to fly Qantas, just because they can earn extra points for the next few weeks? Sorry Red Roo, I hopped over to Virgin, they did a status match and then looked after me during your strikes.
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
12 Sep 2011
Total posts 332
I had my flight from MEL-ADL in C And a a silver no difference - is this just another publicity stunt on Qantas' behalf
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