Qantas frequent flyer points: Record number of seats released as bookings boom

Millions of seats will be available for booking on frequent flyer points after Qantas releases what it says is the biggest single release of reward flights in the airline's history. The airline says seats will be available on both international and domestic routes, with the number of reward seats per flight increasing by 50% until the end of 2022. Qantas also revealed plans to launch several more "points planes" - where every seat on board can be booked using frequent flyer points - as international and domestic travel restrictions ease. "Throughout the pandemic, many Qantas frequent flyers have been stockpiling points they have earned on the ground so they can use them to travel once travel restrictions are lifted," Qantas loyalty CE Olivia Wirth said. "With members keen to travel internationally and domestically, we have released more reward seats to make it easier for our frequent flyers to use their points to go on holidays and be reunited with family and friends in 2022." Qantas said frequent flyer members had redeemed more than two billion points since the airline announced international flights would resume in December. With the relaxing of restrictions, the relaunch of international flights has been brought forward to the start of November for flights departing from Sydney to London and Los Angeles. The travel industry has reported a boom in inquiries and bookings since the prospect of opening international borders became more likely as vaccination targets have been met.<br/>