Federal Transport Minister Catherine King has accepted lifetime access to Qantas’ top-tier platinum status membership.
The Australian Financial Review reported that King had listed the status on her register of interests on Monday to include the gift she had received from the airline.
The benefit offers full access to first and business class lounges, priority upgrades, additional baggage allowance, priority check-in, boarding and baggage and support from the airline’s VIP services team. Qantas’ Platinum Status also includes further oneworld benefits with Emirates and China Eastern.
Housing Minister Clare O’Neil told Nine’s Today earlier this morning that King had travelled an “unbelievable amount” and had “probably been away for a third of the last 25 years”.
“The important thing is … she made a declaration of it, and she’s been transparent about it,” O’Neil said.
Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles also defended King in a doorstop interview at Parliament house.
“Catherine King has appropriately declared it, but it’s a function of how much she travels,” Marles said.
“And you would want our transport minister, someone in her position who’s been in the Parliament for a considerable period of time with great experience to be travelling the country and engaging with Australians all over all over the nation.”
Controversy has surrounded King before after a Qatar Airways bid for additional capacity was blocked in 2023.
How to achieve lifetime Platinum Status
Normally, achieving lifetime Platinum Status requires 75,000 status credits.
A Sydney to Melbourne flight earns 10 status credits on a Discount Economy ticket, 20 on a Discount Premium Economy and 45 status credits on a Flexible Business ticket.
In the long-haul sector, the trek from Sydney to London (LHR) is worth 420 status credits when flying First Class, and 95 credits when flying in Economy.
According to Point Hacks, a weekly Sydney to Melbourne flight on flexible economy earns 40 status credits. Taking one return flight over 46 working weeks will have commuters achieving Lifetime Platinum status in roughly 40 years.
