VH-OQB was the first Qantas A380 to return to Australia after storage in March 2020. (Qantas)
Qantas has announced its plan to make every seat on its Airbus A380s available for purchase with frequent flyer points as it prepares to bring back its superjumbos as early as March.
The airline said the decision was made based on record-breaking demand for award seats after Qantas frequent flyers continued to accumulate points through partnership programs and credit cards without spending them throughout the pandemic.
“We had record day after record day redeeming classic award seats.” Olivia Wirth, head of Qantas Loyalty, said in an interview with Bloomberg.
“Our customers want international flights.”
According to Wirth, Qantas frequent flyers have spent a total of over seven billion points on flight redemption in the four weeks since NSW’s international border reopened – followed shortly afterwards by Victoria and ACT.
It comes after Qantas hinted in October that it would increase points planes – where any seat in any cabin on a flight can be booked as an award seat – as more states and territories relax domestic and international travel restrictions
Wirth confirmed that the Qantas flagship A380 will be included in the program as soon as the airline resumes its superjumbos, so that all 485 seats can be secured with points.
Qantas has officially brought the planned resumption of A380 flights forward to April 2022, but the four-engine jet appears to be back on the flight schedule as early as the end of March.
The airline currently intends to put five of its twelve mothballed A380s back into operation by the end of 2022 and to use the superjumbo as early as April from Sydney-LA and Sydney-London in July.
In the meantime, frequent flyers can also use Qantas’ second online frequent flyer points auction to unload their accumulated points, which continues today.
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Over the course of nine days, Qantas will auction 10 items and experiences, with Qantas frequent flyers being able to use some of their saved points on luxury experiences, vacations and collectibles that cannot be bought.
While the borders are finally opening, this round of points auction also includes flights and vacation experiences like a ski trip to Whistler, Canada, an eight-day stay in London and a private jet trip to Hamilton Island.
At the time of going to press, two auctions have already been closed, and a third is currently underway.
On Wednesday, December 1st, a luxurious five-day trip to South Australia including round-trip business class seating, four nights, a rental car, a wine tour and a 30-minute helicopter flight over the Barossa Valley won the highest bidder with a bid of 900,510 Points.
Thursday’s auction featured an eight-day stay at a five-star London hotel, plus business class round-trip flights, a half-day helicopter tour of the city, lunch at Heston Blumenthal’s Michelin-starred restaurant, and more , valued together at over $ 40,000. The award came to 2.52 million points.
The auction is currently running on Friday for a luxurious New Year’s Eve experience in Sydney.
The package includes three nights for two in a King Opera Deluxe room in the Park Hyatt Sydney with a view of the Sydney Opera House, dinner for two in the dining room of the Park Hyatt, a long champagne lunch for two on December 30th, a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne and two pairs of Qantas pajamas.
At the time of going to press, the current bid is 600,000 points.
The auctions will run until Thursday, December 9th, with the following packages under the virtual hammer:
Day 4 – Saturday 4th December: Winter Whistler: Luxury Ski Package
- Two round-trip business flights to Vancouver.
- Six nights for two guests at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.
- Four-day ski access in Whistler including equipment rental and ski pass.
- A day of private experience on the slopes with an Olympian.
- A full day helicopter assisted backcountry ski tour with Extremely Canadian and Blackcomb Helicopters.
- Special Private Snowmobile Dinner to Bearfoot Bistro Dinner in a Private Wine Cellar Experience, Including Champagne Sabers and a Trip to the Ketel One Vodka Ice Room.
- Starting bid = 500,000 Qantas points
Day 5 – Sunday 5th December: First Class Continuous: Neil Perry x Pommery Dining Experience
- A tailor-made five-course menu with the freshest seasonal ingredients, prepared by Neil Perry for 15 people in Qantas’ First Lounge in Sydney.
- Pommery champagne on arrival and a cuvée for each course.
- A selection of still wines from the Qantas First Lounge.
- Starting bid = 100,000 Qantas points
Day 6 – Monday, December 6th: Tee: A day on the green of the Huntingdale Golf Course
- Members-only, four-person, 18-hole golf course at Huntingdale Golf Course.
- Lunch or dinner (depending on tee time) in the clubhouse restaurant.
- Puma Golf clothing package for every player.
- Garmin Approach S62 golf watch for all four players (valued at $ 799 each).
- Use of Garmin golf equipment during the day, including rangefinder and start monitor.
- Starting bid = 100,000 Qantas points
Day 7 – Tuesday, December 7th: The Private Jet: A luxury day trip to Hamilton Island
- Luxurious private jet, formerly owned by the Dutch royal family, for up to 24 people from the VIP terminal of Brisbane Airport to Hamilton Island.
- Champagne and continental breakfast on board.
- Scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef.
- Luxurious, private charter boat to world famous Whitehaven Beach including a gourmet picnic.
- Visit Catseye Beach by kayak, paddleboard, or catamaran, or take in the views by the main pool.
- Starting bid = 3.5 million Qantas Points
Day 8 – Wednesday, December 8th: With Ricky on the pitch: Tour of the MCG with Ricky Ponting
- A tour of Melbourne Cricket Ground and dressing rooms for six accompanied by Ricky Ponting, lunch and wine tasting from Ponting Wines.
- Starting bid = 100,000 Qantas points
Day 9 – Thursday, December 9th:
Point 1 – upgrade your living room
- A pair of popular A380 Premium Economy seats
- Also includes a popular full size bar cart with Qantas crockery and cutlery.
- Starting bid = 100,000 Qantas points
Point 2: Heavenly sleep
- A popular A330 business seat
- Also includes a popular full-size bar cart with Qantas crockery and cutlery and a converter for connecting to a power outlet (for reclining and reading lights).
- Starting bid = 100,000 Qantas points
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