Airlines

Qantas expands Frequent Flyer deal with China Airlines

Frequent flyers can now use their Qantas Points to travel to more than 75 destinations around the world with China Airlines, as Qantas expands its partnership with the Taipei-based carrier.

The expansion means Qantas Frequent Flyers can use points to book Classic Flight Reward seats on all China Airlines flights, adding more destinations to the 1,200 they can already fly to using points and providing another option to many other destinations particularly across Asia and Europe.

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Frequent Flyers were previously able to use points to travel on China Airlines between Australia and Taipei only. Members can travel from Sydney to Da Nang in Economy using 37,800 points, from Melbourne to Amsterdam in Business using 159,000 points or from Sydney to Taipei in Business using 75,000 points (plus taxes, fees and carrier charges). Bookings will also be able to be made through the Contact Centre shortly.

China Airlines offers full-service (Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins), and operates thousands of flights each week across its extensive international network spanning 23 countries.

Qantas recently extended its commitment to 50 percent more reward seat availability on international flights for an additional six months, releasing tens of thousands of new reward seats.

China Airlines Classic Flight Reward seats include:

Route (one-way)	ECONOMY		BUSINESS
Route (one-way)	Qantas Points	TFCCs	Qantas Points	TFCCs
Sydney to New York	66,200	248.7	159,000	248.7
Brisbane to London	66,200	192.6	159,000	192.6
Melbourne to Amsterdam	66,200	179.77	159,000	179.77
Brisbane to Tokyo	37,800	167.6	90,000	167.6
Sydney to Osaka	37,800	165.3	90,000	165.3
Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh	45,000	154.77	104,500	154.77

*Values displayed are current as at 14 March 2023 and are subject to change. Taxes, fees and carrier charges are payable to Qantas (excluding any amounts payable to third parties at the airport) in addition to the points required.

Airlines

Flying to Europe or the UK? Air India Introduces New Baggage Charges

For travelers heading to Europe and the UK with Air India, the journey is about to come with a slight change in the baggage policy.

Starting October 17, air india plane will implement new charges for passengers checking in a second bag, bringing its policies in line with several leading international carriers. This adjustment reflects the airline’s broader efforts to modernize its operations and enhance competitiveness in global markets.

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Under the new policy, air india economy fares will be divided into categories or “fare families.” The most budget-friendly option will now include the allowance of a single 23 kg checked bag.

Passengers requiring an additional bag will need to choose a higher fare category, with additional baggage charges starting at approximately INR 4,000 for a one-way flight.

This shift aligns Air India with the practices of other major international airlines like Lufthansa and British Airways. Lufthansa, for instance, allows only one checked bag for economy passengers, while British Airways offers tiered fare levels, some of which include up to two checked bags.

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This policy update is part of air india retrofit transformation journey under the Tata Group, which has been investing heavily in upgrading the airline’s fleet, service quality, and customer experience.

With air india new routes 264 weekly flights between India, Europe, and the UK, these routes form a critical part of Air India’s network, and aligning with global standards is seen as a necessary step to remain competitive in these markets.

While the move reflects the airline’s intention to modernize and streamline its such as air india wifi services, some passengers have expressed concerns.

Many feel the timing could have been better, given that visible improvements, such as enhancements to its wide-body aircraft and better on-time performance, are still underway.