Agreement expands on existing code-share
relationship
CALGARY, May 24, 2016 /CNW/ - Today WestJet and Qantas
Airways (Qantas) announced a reciprocal frequent flyer agreement
where members of the airlines' frequent flyer programs can earn
their choice of WestJet dollars or Qantas
Points when travelling on flights of either airline. This
agreement expands on the existing code-share relationship between
Qantas and WestJet announced in 2014.
"We are thrilled to team up with Qantas to bring significant
benefit to guests of both airlines," said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President,
Commercial. "We are confident that our members are going to love
earning WestJet dollars while flying on the Qantas global network,
and we are equally excited to welcome Qantas frequent flyers aboard
and offer them a new opportunity to earn Qantas Points everywhere WestJet flies.
"This will be a significant improvement to our reward program
value proposition," Cummings continued. "Our research showed that
global travel is a significant aspirational attribute that our
program needs. We have come a long way with our rewards program and
airline partnerships since launching in 2010, and will continue to
add value to our guests through these vehicles going forward.
Adding these capabilities to our rewards program and working with
our airline partners are all part of our long-term strategic
plan."
Effective May 24, 2016 Qantas
Frequent Flyers can also redeem Qantas
Points on Qantas code-share flights operated by WestJet,
giving Qantas Frequent Flyers access to numerous WestJet
destinations throughout Canada and
the USA when connecting to or from
a Qantas international service. WestJet and Qantas are currently
working on plans to introduce fully reciprocal redemption for both
airlines in 2017, so WestJet members will be able redeem on Qantas
flights and Qantas Frequent Flyers will be able to redeem on
WestJet flights.
"Not surprisingly, travel is the number one interest of Qantas
Frequent Flyers so we know our members will be excited about being
able to earn and use their points when travelling with WestJet,"
said Lesley Grant, Qantas Loyalty
CEO. "Qantas Frequent Flyer has more than 50 airline partners and
affiliates, which gives our members access to over 1,200
destinations and this partnership with WestJet opens up even more
new routes for them to fly while earning and using their
Qantas Points."
WestJet Rewards members earn WestJet dollars on flights and
vacation packages with WestJet, WestJet Vacations, and select
partner airlines, as well as on purchases made with the WestJet RBC
MasterCard. WestJet dollars act like cash and can be redeemed
anywhere WestJet flies, at any time. Full details of the program
can be found at westjet.com/rewards.
About Qantas
Founded in regional Queensland in 1920 – as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial
Services – Qantas is one of Australia's most iconic brands and has played
a central role in the development of the Australian and
international aviation industry. Today the Qantas Group is a
diverse global aviation business, comprising Qantas Domestic,
Qantas International, the Jetstar low-cost carrier group and Qantas
Loyalty. The Qantas Group operates more than 7,300 flights each
week and, together with its code-share and oneworld partners,
offers flights to more than 1,200 destinations around the world,
carrying over 50 million passengers each year. Qantas is ranked one
of the top 10 airlines in the world by Skytrax, and holds many
major awards for service, food and wine, technology and innovation.
There are more than 11.2 million members in the Qantas Frequent
Flyer program. For more information on how to earn and use
Qantas Points as a Qantas Frequent
Flyer, visit www.qantas.com.
About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's highest-rated airline for customer
service, powered by an award-winning culture of care and recognized
as one of the country's top employers. We offer scheduled service
to 100 destinations in North
America, Central America,
the Caribbean and Europe. Through our regional airline, WestJet
Encore, and with partnerships with airlines representing every
major region of the world, we offer our guests more than 150
destinations in more than 20 countries. Leveraging WestJet's
extensive network, flight schedule and remarkable guest experience,
WestJet Vacations delivers affordable, flexible travel experiences
with a variety of accommodation options for every guest. Members of
our WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights,
vacation packages and more. Our members use WestJet dollars towards
the purchase of WestJet flights and vacations packages on any day,
at any time, to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods
̶ even on seat sales. For more information about
everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.
Recent recognition
includes:
2015/2011/2010/2008/2007/2006/2005 Canada's Most Admired Corporate Culture
(Waterstone Human Capital)
2015 Best Employers in Canada
(Aon Hewitt)
2015/2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in
Canada (MoneySense magazine)
2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in the
Canada's Choice ranking
(RewardsCanada.ca)
2014 Interbrand Canada's Best Canadian Brands (Rank #20)
2014 Brands of the Year (Strategy magazine)
2014 Canada's Most Preferred
Airline (Ipsos)
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2014/2013/2012 Canada's Most
Attractive Employer (Randstad)
2014/2013/2012/2011 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package
supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)
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facebook.com/westjet
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youtube.com/westjet
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at blog.westjet.com
SOURCE WestJet