Qantas Joins Forces with Airbnb to Reward Frequent Flyers

For every Airbnb booking, Qantas Frequent Flyer members will be rewarded with Qantas Points.

It’s a match made in travel-heaven: Australia’s national carrier, Qantas, and Airbnb have joined forces. The new partnership means that Qantas Frequent Flyer members can earn Qantas Points when they book their Airbnb accommodation on Qantas.com.

A tree-house in southern California, a houseboat on the Thames in London, an apartment in a converted convent in Paris’s 11th arrondissement or even a villa in the Tuscan countryside. These are some of the travel experiences that have opened up since the advent of Airbnb in 2008. The company is the intermediary between property-owners and accommodation-seekers, and it’s caught on in a major way.

SEE ALSO: The Best Airbnb Properties in Melbourne

“The way that people around the world plan, book and experience travel is changing rapidly with the digital revolution,” says Qantas CEO Alan Joyce. “We know many of our customers are just as likely to arrange an Airbnb as they are to book a hotel, and we wanted to recognise and reward them for that.”

It’s the first time Airbnb, which offers 2.5 million properties in 191 countries (from private Fijian islands to igloos in Austrian ski fields), has partnered with an airline anywhere in the world to reward frequent-flyer members.

So why Qantas? Well, the company has a proven track record of innovation and a knack for reinvention – something that’s indispensable in this rapidly evolving digital climate. Co-founder and CEO of Airbnb Brian Chesky says it’s that innate understanding of the new ways people are choosing to travel which makes Qantas the perfect ally.

“People around the world are experiencing a different way to travel through Airbnb. We’re focused on connecting people with the hospitality of locals, welcoming travellers into their communities so they can truly belong anywhere,” he says. “There are just a handful of global brands who understand that travel is now changing for the better. Qantas is one of those brands.”

The new partnership means Qantas Frequent Flyer members earn one point for every dollar they spend on Airbnb accommodation when it’s booked through Qantas.com.

It’s pretty exciting stuff – and that’s not the end of it. To celebrate the collaboration, Qantas and Airbnb are offering Qantas Frequent Flyer members the chance to win a dream Qantas/Airbnb experience. The winner and three guests will fly Qantas Business class to San Francisco (with access to Qantas First Lounge, natch) with an Airbnb voucher worth $5000 to spend on five nights accommodation. There’s also $4000 spending money and return transfers.

For a chance to win, book an Airbnb property through Qantas.com by the end of October 2016. Visit qantas.com/stay

SEE ALSO: The Best Airbnb Properties in Sydney