Here is everything covered in this week’s episode.
Melbourne Airport Drop Off Changes
Melbourne Airport is introducing changes to its drop off zones later this year. If you’ve gone up the ramp to drop off travellers at Tullamarine, this will change later this year as a dedicated drop off area is introduced for Terminals 1 (Virgin Australia), 2 (International Terminal) and 3 (Qantas and Qantaslink). Current arrangements will remain for Terminal 4 (Jetstar and Rex).
Qantas and Philippine Airlines Partnership
Qantas has announced a new partnership with Philippine Airlines, opening up a new way to spend points between Australia and the Philippines. The new agreement improves redemption options for Qantas Frequent Flyer members travelling to Manila, other destinations in the Philippines, the Middle East and USA.
A New Low Cost Carrier for Australia?
Peter Kelly is seeking $200 million from investors to launch Zinc Airlines, a new low cost carrier targeting the Australian market. The airline will have it’s base at the new Western Sydney Airport and will be based on the European Ultra Low Cost Carrier Ryanair. Whether it gets off the ground depends on securing that funding, but if it does it could add competition to the domestic market.
This Week’s Travel Deal: Celebrity Cruises
This weekend deal closes at midnight tonight. The offer includes up to 75 percent off the second guest fare, savings of up to $800 per room, and an additional saving of up to $300 per room on cruises departing in 2026. An example cruise was ‘Best of Greece’, an 8 night cruise visiting ports in Türkiye and Greece, available for under $150 per person per day for an inside cabin.
Q&A: How Many Qantas Points are Required to Fly Sydney or Brisbane to Manila?
This week’s question covered redemptions for a route that will be helpful in the new Qantas/Philippine Airlines partnership.
On a Classic Reward fare, the points required from Sydney or Brisbane to Manila are fixed regardless of when you fly, making it one of the more straightforward redemptions in the Qantas program. Classic Reward availability is limited but represents the best value when seats are accessible. You can currently pickup a one way fare from Sydney to Manila for 29,000 Qantas Points.
Classic Plus fares use dynamic pricing and will cost more points, with the exact amount varying depending on demand and timing. The gap between Classic Reward and Classic Plus on this route can be significant, so checking Classic Reward availability first before looking at any other option is your best bet.
As a general rule, when redeeming Qantas Points for any route: Classic Reward first, Classic Plus only if availability is exhausted and you need to stick to certain dates.
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