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I’m sure you’ve heard of Qantas Airlines, famously dubbed the safest airline in the world by Raymond in Rain Man. But you may not be as familiar with QantasLink. It’s a growing subsidiary of Qantas that serves domestic destinations across Australia.
Because Qantas is part of the Oneworld alliance, it’s long been possible to book its flights through partners like British Airways. Now, it appears that QantasLink flights are bookable through British Airways as well.
But is this a worthwhile use of Avios? Let’s take a closer look.
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Where Does QantasLink Fly?
QantasLink flies to a surprising number of destinations across Australia from major hubs throughout the country. It even serves Wellington, New Zealand. This includes remote locations as well as smaller airports that make it easier to reach popular attractions. Cairns (CNS) for the Great Barrier Reef and Alice Springs (ASP) for Uluru are just a couple of examples.
You Can Now Book QantasLink Flights With Avios
When comparing award prices through British Airways versus other options, the rates are quite good. This Cairns (CNS) to Horn Island (HID) flight is just under 500 miles. An award ticket prices at 6,500 Avios plus £39 ($52).
Horn Island is a popular spot for fishing and is rich in World War II history.
From the far north to the far south, Tasmania is also within reach. This Melbourne (MEL) to Hobart (HBA) flight prices at the same 6,500 Avios plus £28 ($38) when booked through British Airways.
As a point of comparison, this same flight costs 9,200 points and $57 when booked directly through Qantas.
This more traditional Brisbane (BNE) to Canberra (CBR) flight checks in at the same 6,500 Avios and £38. British Airways doesn't have a published award chart, but its awards are distance-based. All of these flights fall in the shortest distance band, making this is a reasonable price to pay.
Related: How to Earn, Transfer, And Redeem Avios With British Airways Partners
It's a challenge to find bookable QantasLink flights
Finding specific QantasLink flights can feel a bit like a treasure hunt. I didn’t see a wide range of dates and routes available, but it can still be worth the effort given the lower cost of booking through British Airways instead of Qantas.
Another potential hurdle is where you live. Searches made from a British Airways account with a United Kingdom residency were successful, while the same searches from a United States–based account may return “no options.” Your experience may vary.
Related: The Best Points and Miles Options to Australia and New Zealand
Bottom Line
Booking QantasLink flights through British Airways is another nice option to have. The award rates can be lower than other options, and depending on the cash rates, this can be a reasonable award price to pay.
If you can time a transfer bonus from a transferable points program to British Airways (or to any Avios program that you can combine with), the value can be even better.
If you need to transfer points to Avios, there are many options at your disposal.
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