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Qantas has significantly lowered the number of points businesses need to accumulate on its loyalty program in order to receive cheaper fares.
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The changes mean users of its Business Rewards program will now only have to amass 15,000 points to get 6 per cent off base prices, rather than 20,000.
It comes as airlines are beginning to see a bounce-back in demand following the omicron wave, and after Prime Minister Scott Morrison ruled out more restrictions.
Qantas’ domestic and international chief executive, Andrew David, said, “Small and medium-size businesses are back flying at greater than 80 per cent of pre-COVID levels, which shows they are keen to reconnect with their teams, customers and clients and make up for lost time.”
The airline also announced further changes that will see individuals who book through its business loyalty scheme earn points for their company alongside 250 points for themselves.
Points can now also be reinvested back into the company to redeem on more flights or transferred to individual team members as a reward.
It comes just one month after Qantas permanently reduced the number of points members of its separate Frequent Flyer program needed for holiday and hotel bookings.
Now customers need 45 per cent fewer points when combining accommodation and Qantas or Jetstar flights in one booking.
Passengers will also need 30 per cent fewer points across almost 500,000 hotels when using the Qantas Hotels platform.
Loyalty schemes have been used as a tool for airlines during COVID to poach rival’s customers as businesses reset during the pandemic downtown.
In April 2021, for example, Qantas made an audacious pitch to woo Air New Zealand frequent flyers by allowing top-tier members to be fast-tracked onto its own loyalty scheme.
It came after it used the same deal to target Virgin Velocity members months previously, shortly after its partner airline emerged from administration.
