Qantas Distribution Platform FAQs

New Distribution Capability (NDC) is an industry initiative supported by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). NDC is a new ‘standard’ or common way of communicating between airlines and Trade Partners including GDSs and travel agents. It provides enhanced flexibility to meet the retailing, booking and servicing needs of travel agents and their customers. More information about NDC can be found on IATA’s websiteOpens in a new tab or window.

The Qantas Distribution Platform has been developed to meet the evolving preferences of travellers and make it easier for our travel agencies to sell Qantas and service our mutual customers. The Qantas Distribution Platform will modernise the way Qantas delivers content and the way you offer Qantas products to customers.

No, the Qantas Distribution Platform is not a website nor does it have an agency user interface. To access Qantas Distribution Platform offers and content, Travel Agencies must connect via an Certified Technology Partner or as a direct agency connection.

Public and private fares that have traditionally been available in the GDS will also be available in the Qantas Distribution Platform. In some cases, the offer provided via the Qantas Distribution Platform will be better than the published public and private fare. For instance, there may be an additional discount applied in the Qantas Distribution Platform offer or an ancillary may be included in the offer. 

Qantas Distribution Platform has a limitation on interline flight offerings as we are dependent on other carrier’s development timelines. 

Please see Interline carriers page to view which interline carriers are currently available via the Qantas Distribution Platform. 

This partly depends on the status and roadmap of your Technology Partner. The majority of shopping, booking and servicing capabilities are now available in the Qantas Distribution Platform and in some cases these capabilities are better than those traditionally available in the GDS. There are, however, a small number of features that are not yet available in the Qantas Distribution Platform which Qantas intends to implement during 2021. It is also possible that your Technology Partner has not yet developed their system to manage all of the services available in the Qantas Distribution Platform. Qantas encourages you to engage with your Technology Partners to understand their current capabilities and roadmap. 

NDC offers should be flagged and distinguishable from traditional GDS offers in your GDS. Qantas encourages travel agencies to engage with your GDS to understand how NDC offers will be displayed.

This depends on the capability of your Technology Partner. Your Technology Partner may not yet have developed the capability to distribute all offers made available via the Qantas Distribution Platform. Your Technology Partner may also choose not to develop their  system to distribute some offers. Qantas encourages travel agencies to engage with their Technology Partners to understand if and when new offers made available in the Qantas Distribution Platform will be available to that travel agency. 

Please continue to use qantasgrouptravel.comOpens in a new tab or window or follow your existing groups process for all of your group travel requirements.

Qantas will continue to provide updates to our travel agencies about the Qantas Distribution Platform, including information and learning modules via Qantas Agency Connect and the Qantas Learning Hub.

Travel agents may require support with their Qantas bookings from time to time and to assist you with this, your first point of contact should always be your Technology Partner.

When agents shop via the Qantas Distribution Platform, interline flights may be included as additional journey options in the offers returned.

Qantas-operated and marketed flights will be given preference over interline flights.

If your agency is accessing Qantas New Distribution Capability (NDC) content and offers via a Technology Partner, please speak with them to confirm the interline flights are available.

If your agency is accessing Qantas NDC content and offers via the portal, your agency will be able to shop, book and service interline flights. 

Please see Interline carriers page to view which interline carriers are currently available via the Qantas Distribution Platform. 

Interline is available to all countries where Qantas NDC is available. Find out if Qantas NDC content is available to access in your country here. 

Qantas fares that include supported interline airlines can be booked in the Qantas Distribution Platform.

As each interline carrier is added to the Qantas Distribution Platform, the carrier’s operated routes will automatically be available and accessible to shop, book and service for your customer. 

When you are shopping for our Qantas Frequent Flyer customers, always include your customer’s Qantas Frequent Flyer number. This ensures the Qantas Distribution Platform will recognise your customer and provide the relevant offers available to them at the time as well as ensuring your customers maximise their benefits as a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.

Your customer may be able to earn Qantas Points or Status Credits on eligible interline flights. For further information, please refer to the Alliances, oneworld and Partner Airlines page to confirm your customer’s eligibility to earn Qantas Points.

Special price offers for Qantas Frequent Flyers will also be made available from time-to-time and on specific flights, routes and destinations.

No, currently special price offers for Qantas Frequent Flyers are only available to Qantas Frequent Flyer members, however you will still have access to other offers relevant to your customer’s journey.  

Qantas Frequent Flyers earn points on eligible oneworld® and partner airlines as per the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program. 

For other carriers, you should refer to their respective airlines loyalty programs terms and conditions, however other carrier loyalty program flyer numbers should be added to the passenger name record (PNR) so your customer can receive loyalty recognition throughout their journey. 

Yes, you will be able to earn base commission on the total value of the ticket. Your agency may be able to claim base commission on interline flights. For further information on commissions, please visit the Base Commission policy on Qantas Agency Connect.

Additionally, Dynamic Commission offers may be offered from time to time. 

No, you cannot book an unaccompanied minor on a journey that includes an interline carrier flight. When you are shopping for your customer and requesting an unaccompanied minor, the Qantas Distribution Platform will not return any offers that include an interline segment. Please refer to the Unaccompanied Minor and Young Passenger policy for further information. 

Yes, dietary required meals for interline flights can be requested using standard IATA meal codes. The Qantas Distribution Platform will continue to offer dietary requirements and ensure the relevant Special Service Request (SSR) is included in the passenger name record PNR. Please refer to the Dietary Required Meals policy for further information. 

Policies for acceptance of customers with specific needs differ by operating carrier. Please refer to the travelling with specific needs policy guide for further information.  

You will receive a UN/TK or TK status notification in your Technology Partner or Qantas Distribution Partner Platform queue after a schedule change has occurred. You are required to contact your customer to advise of the schedule change, update the booking and arrange for the ticket to be reissued. Revalidation of interline tickets is not permitted. Please refer to the Qantas Schedule Change Policy for further information.

Free seating is available for eligible customers on Qantas-operated and marketed flights. Please refer to the Qantas Seating Policy for further information and eligibility rules. 

Yes, you can book ancillaries e.g. paid seats or baggage, for Qantas-operated or marketed flight segments but not for the interline segment within the booking.