Qantas extends flexible flying for all passengers until the start of 2022

Qantas has extended its flexible flying initiative for all passengers in attempt to ensure travel plans can have some certainty while sporadic state border closures remain a threat.

The major airline on Monday announced that all passengers would have “unlimited” flexibility with travel dates until January 2022 while state and international border closures remained uncertain because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Passengers booking a domestic flight on either Qantas or QantasLink, or a trans-Tasman journey, will be able to change the date or time as many times as needed.

The extension of Qantas’s flexible flying coincides with the airline’s one million seats sale, which has fares to 55 destinations starting from $99.

Qantas chief customer officer Stephanie Tully said Australians were incredibly eager to begin travelling but wanted certainty around borders.

Qantas chief customer officer Stephanie Tully said Australians were incredibly eager to begin travelling again. Picture: Christian Gilles / NCA NewsWireSource:News Corp Australia

“Customers have told us that sudden changes to border restrictions by state governments are giving them second thoughts about going on holidays or taking a business trip,” Ms Tully said.

“To help manage the uncertainty, we‘ve introduced the highest level of flexibility in the market so people can plan their next trip with confidence.”

Qantas will also reintroduce hot food and alcohol as part of its in-flight service this month.

Complimentary beer and wine will now be available daily on domestic and regional flights, while hot food will resume on routes between major capital cities.

The airline intends to roll out hot food – gourmet pies, quiches and roasted chicken with vegetables – on shorter-haul flights in March.

Complimentary beer and wine will now be available daily on domestic and regional flights, while hot food will resume on routes between major capital cities. Picture: Christian GillesSource:News Corp Australia

“People know exactly what to expect when they book with Qantas, whether its complimentary food and drinks, baggage, fast Wi-Fi or access to dozens of lounges around Australia,” Ms Tully said.

“While COVID-19 has forced a reduction in some in-flight services, we’re pleased to bring back some of our most popular options as customers take to the skies with Qantas again.”

Qantas’s flight sale begins o n Monday and runs till February 15 for flights in mid-March.

Deals include $99 flights between Sydney and Byron Bay (Ballina), $124 fares from Brisbane to Cairns and $204 tickets on services between Melbourne and Perth.

Ms Tully noted more certainty around flying would boost travelling and ensure regional and rural locations heavily reliant on tourism had some reprieve from the restrictions that plagued 2020.

“By giving customers unlimited flight date changes for almost a year, we think it will encourage more people to book, helping to boost tourism which is so vital to local economies and businesses around the country,” she said.

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