Irene King: Aviation Commentator on the launch of Qantas' new loyalty scheme

Changes to Qantas’ loyalty scheme are taking off today. 

They’re raiding the competition, with other airlines’ frequent flyers of gold status or higher able to get Qantas Gold by earning just 100 credits – a discount of 600 credits. 

Air New Zealand also updated its Airpoints system in 2024, increasing flexibility for its flyers.  

Aviation Commentator Irene King told Andrew Dickens that this move from Qantas is hugely tactical. 

She says it’s about cash flow and getting more engagement from high spending, high value customers. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So we have changes to Quantus's loyalty scheme. It's taking
off today. They're raiding the competition as part of it.
I mean it's a good deal for Quantus people, but
also they're raiding the competition with frequent flyers of other
airlines at Gold status or higher able to get Quantus
Gold by earning just one hundred credits just buy a
ticket and where you go, rather than the usual seven hundred.

(00:20):
Air New Zealand also updated its airpoints system last year.
So I'm joined by aviation commentator Irene King. Hello, Irene,
good morning. Is this a big deal?

Speaker 2 (00:31):
I think that's hugely technical. And you know we're starting
to see more and more sales in the market and
this is just a different form of a sale.

Speaker 1 (00:40):
Well, will this attract an Air New Zealand's frequent fire
to suddenly switch allegiance to Quantas Oh?

Speaker 2 (00:47):
I think people now are pretty smart. They have allegiances
all over the place, and you know you just go
for the best sale.

Speaker 1 (00:54):
Is the Air New Zealand competitive. We see Quantus making
these changes. Their New Zealand made some changes last year.
Are we keeping up?

Speaker 2 (01:01):
Look? I think there's two things this Quantus announcement is
hugely technical. It's about cash flow in getting law engagement
from high spending, high ball customers. Any Zellans is more
about you know, brand refresh It's not as technical. It's

(01:22):
about setting a simple, smart responseive platform. And that's what
any Zealand does well. You know, it does things generally
very simply, very smart and can respond very quickly.

Speaker 1 (01:38):
For those people who do like the quantus and are
frequent fliers and going through the tears, this new scheme
offers frequent fires. It has to step through those tears
faster and so you can then access better service or
you can use your points to buy flights. So what
do travelers prefer? Better lounges or bonus flights?

Speaker 2 (01:56):
Bonus flights? You know, I think the lounge are all
pre much of a muchness now, but you get this
and centers around bonus sites or the ability to secure
your status for a longer period of time. You know,
those are the things that customers really respond to.

Speaker 1 (02:16):
Irene, I thank you once again for waking up for us,
Irene and King the aviation commentator. So check out your
point scheme, particularly if your quantit so you can really
double your points very very quickly. Indeed. Now for more
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