Unsure about the vaccine? Would you get it quicker if you knew you’d there were bonus frequent flyer points waiting for you? Or perhaps travel vouchers? Qantas could be incentivising passengers with travel perks.
Qantas has revealed it is thinking about rewarding travellers who get both doses of the coronavirus vaccine with points and vouchers to use towards their next trips.
In a bid to boost vaccine numbers in Australia, the airline is indicating those who roll up their sleeves could be gifted with travel incentives.
In a recent statement, Chief Customer Officer Stephanie Tully said as a large company that relies on travel, the airline is eager to get its planes back in the air, as well as wanting to assist the government with the national vaccine rollout.
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The plan is yet to be confirmed, but the incentive could see newly vaccinated travellers bag themselves Qantas points, Qantas or Jetstar flight vouchers, or status credits for frequent flyers.
This could include 1000 Qantas points to each person who get vaccinated, which equates to between $20 to $25 in value.
It’s no secret that Qantas Group CEO, Alan Joyce is all for mandatory vaccinations for international travel, as well as pushing for the vaccine rollout to happen faster, in the hope that the reopening of international borders can happen before mid-2022, which is the current ETA from the Australian Government.
He said authorities had done a great job keeping Australians safe during the pandemic.
“Imagine if we put the same focus on the vaccine rollout,” he told a media conference.
“Opening by the end of the year seems very achievable under those circumstances.”
Qantas recently has to push back its October date for the reboot of international travel to December, in the hope that with more of a speedy rollout, borders could open sooner than expected.
Meanwhile, Victoria’s 7-day circuit breaker lockdown started from 11:59pm 27 May, as the COVID-19 SA hotel quarantine breach outbreak continues to spread.
From 28 May, vaccine eligibility in VIC will be expanded to include the 40-49 age group.
“If you’re under 50, so between 40 and 49, you will be eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, from those state-run centres, that have that capacity to deliver Pfizer,” Mr Foley said.
“My message to all Victorians is if you are eligible, if you’re eligible to get vaccinated, make yourself a plan to do that today, and get it done.”
Travel agencies as vaccine hubs?
Karryon pondering: Perhaps travel agencies could double up as a temporary vaccine home to help speed up the rollout?
While waiting for a health professional to administer the jab, people could flick through brochures or watch videos to get inspired and talk to travel agents about the international destinations they’ve been dreaming about travelling to for when we can all leave again.
What do you think? Would you convert your agency into a temporary vaccine centre if the government needed more? Do you think the Qantas travel incentive is a good idea? Let us know – email editor@karryon.com.au.
Please note: This is purely a concept and, as far as we are aware, is not actually happening.