NEW ROUTE: Qantas to connect Melbourne and Delhi for the first time
As Qantas’ international flights resumed in Melbourne on Monday, the flying kangaroo revealed it would launch flights between the Victorian city and Delhi for the first time within this year.
The airline said it would kick off flights between the Indian Capital and Melbourne on 22 December, marking the first time a Qantas-operated flight has made the journey.
The new route will operate four times a week, with same-day connections also available from Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra. Flights from Melbourne to Delhi will initially operate via Adelaide, while flights from Delhi to Melbourne will operate non-stop.
The news follows Qantas’ recent announcement of flights from Sydney to Delhi, which start next month.
According to the airline, when this route went on sale, it saw the fastest booking surge for flights leaving Australia since it announced its international restart plans in August.
In other Qantas news, the airline has struck up some new partnerships through its rewards programs.
Members who link their Qantas Frequent Flyer and ALL – Accor Live Limitless accounts can earn points in both programs on eligible hotel bookings and Qantas flights.
Together, the two loyalty clubs have a combined membership of almost 30 million in Australia and the Asia Pacific.
Frequent Flyer members will also be able to earn Qantas points on mobile phone plans with Optus, giving them the opportunity to earn up to 20,000 bonus Qantas points and up to 10 points for every dollar spent on their monthly plan fee through three new Optus SIM Only mobile plans.
Qantas Business Rewards will now be available to merchants who use Mint Payments, especially within the travel industry, allowing Mint platinum-tier merchants to earn one Qantas point for every $5 transacted.
The reward program will be rolled out across Mint’s credit card product suite and the Mint EFT Portal, and will later be expanded to include new Mint payment products as they come online in the future.
The offer will replace Mint Rewards, and will provide merchants with a significant opportunity to earn Qantas points by doing their normal business, with the ability to reward themselves, their staff or even their customers depending on how they choose to redeem or share the points.
Featured image source: iStock/hadynyah
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