Unless you’re a regular traveller to the Land Down Under, not being aware of QantasLink isn’t an automatic disqualification from the globe-trotter category. However, it does prevent you from taking advantage of great deals if you plan to fly within Australia or to neighbouring areas. That’s because QantasLink, a busy regional arm of Qantas Airlines, runs an extensive flight network across Australia while linking the country with nearby destinations in New Zealand and the South Pacific.
You can now book flights with Avios on QantasLink across its regional network. In this article, we’ll look at where QantasLink flies, how Avios redemptions work on these routes, and whether this is a good way to fly with Avios.
An Overview of the Changes
Because Qantas Airlines is a member of the oneworld alliance, its flights have long been accessible through partner airlines such as British Airways. What’s new is that this access now appears to extend to QantasLink as well. Until recently, QantasLink flights were mainly bookable using Qantas Frequent Flyer points, with paid tickets also earning points and status credits. However, these flights can now be booked through the British Airways Club using Avios. These routes now often appear alongside other partner airlines when you use your Avios login.
Where Does QantasLink Fly?
Although QantasLink operates as a subsidiary of Qantas, its operations are firmly regional. The airline focuses on domestic services within Australia, alongside a handful of international routes connecting Australia to neighbouring island nations. These include flights to Wellington in New Zealand, Nouméa in New Caledonia, Port Vila in Vanuatu, Honiara in the Solomon Islands, and Dili in Timor-Leste. While the network doesn’t extend beyond Oceania, it covers many popular routes for both business travel and short leisure breaks. Many of these routes provide convenient access to major natural attractions that would otherwise require long drives or multiple connections.
According to its website, the airline operates 2,000 flights each week. Its network connects major cities with regional and remote destinations across Australia, with flights primarily based out of Qantas’ domestic terminals. QantasLink services operate from Terminal 3 in Sydney, as well as from domestic terminals in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, and Perth.
The airline flies a mixed fleet of narrow-body and regional aircraft, including Airbus A220, A319, and A320 jets, Embraer E190, Fokker 100s, and De Havilland Canada Dash 8 turboprops. Across the board, QantasLink flights include online check-in, complimentary drinks, and either a snack or a light meal, depending on flight length.
Redeeming British Airways Avios on QantasLink
The good news for travellers flying on QantasLink is the opportunity to reduce fees when redeeming British Airways Avios. For example, when you fly with Avios on a QantasLink route, a flight from Brisbane to Port Vila in Vanuatu costs around 12,500 Avios plus around $82 in taxes and fees. The same flight typically costs about $210 when booked with cash. Using Qantas Points for the route is slightly more expensive, costing 13,800 points plus additional surcharges. Short domestic routes can be even cheaper in Avios terms. Flights such as Melbourne to Sydney or Melbourne to Hobart can be booked for as little as 6,500 Avios one-way.
That said, these ultra-short routes are often competitively priced in cash, which means redeeming Avios won’t always deliver strong value. As ever, it’s worth comparing cash fares before committing to a redemption, especially on routes where competition keeps ticket prices low.
Is This a Good Use of Avios?
The key question, however, is whether redeeming British Airways Avios on these flights makes sense. To answer that, it helps to understand just how broad the QantasLink network really is. For travellers looking to reach regional Australia or nearby Pacific destinations without complex routings, this new option definitely adds a lot of flexibility. But value will vary by route, and Avios redemptions are likely to make the most sense where cash fares are high, or availability is limited.
As with any Avios flight redemption, checking cash prices before you commit is essential to understanding real Avios value. Ultimately, this is another great, practical way to utilise British Airways Avios for those looking to fly with Qantas on regional routes.
