Frequent flyers often complain that it is difficult to use their points to get flights they want. This is because airlines only have a certain number of seats available for points redemptions as they would rather sell their inventory for cash.

Qantas are putting on what they call the points plane. This is a flight where every single seat will be available to frequent flyers, and those with cash need not bother applying.

The Points Plane

An Airbus A380 will be flying from Melbourne to Tokyo on 21 October 2019, according to the Qantas press release. Bookings will open at 07:00 Australian Eastern Standard Time on 16 May 2019. The entire aircraft is reserved for frequent flyers, so that is 14 First Class, 64 Business Class, 35 Premium Economy and 371 Economy Class seats available.

You can opt to return on the Airbus A330 points plane on 26 October 2019, or you can return on any other service with frequent flyer seats available. All frequent flyers, regardless of status, will have the same opportunity to reserve a place on these flights.


To make it even more fun, the flight to Tokyo Narita will have bespoke on board service. There will be a unique cocktail available, a special meal service as well as signature pyjamas and inflight giveaways.

One way tickets cost 35,000 points plus A$182 for Economy, 54,000 and A$257 for Premium Economy, 72,000 and $A272 for Business Class, and First Class will set you back 108,000 points and A$272. It sounds like it will be a bit of a party flight to me!

Overall Thoughts

Having taken a couple of flights where there were a number of frequent flyers on board, I have to say it’s always a good atmosphere. Scaling that up to an entire aircraft should make the journey a hell of a lot of fun.

Coveted First Class seats will go in seconds, I imagine. Anyone planning to get on board the flight had better make sure they are on the ball, otherwise you could miss out. There is a dedicated Qantas web page here.

What do you think of Qantas doing this points plane for frequent flyers? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.

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Featured image by Vismay Bhadra via Wikimedia Commons.