POOCH LOVERS YAP UP NEW QANTAS DEAL WITH PETSTOCK
QANTAS’ behemoth frequent flyer program is tapping into the $3.2bn pet industry with a new partnership with retailer Petstock, but the airline’s pet friendly move will not extend to dogs and cats in the cabin.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority changed the rules on the carriage of animals in late 2021, handing responsibility for pets in the cabin to the flight operator and pilot-in-command.
As yet, none of Australia’s domestic carriers has seen fit to allow animals out of the cargo hold other than certified assistance dogs.
Qantas and Jetstar were the first to rule out pets in the cabin when CASA first flagged the rule change and as of Wednesday, they were sticking to that.
On the other hand, Virgin Australia continued to consider the regulation change, after a Facebook survey showed strong support for the move.
Rex was also not ruling out pets in the cabin at some point in the future, while new budget airline Bonza was not allowing pets in the cabin or cargo hold as yet.
Under the Qantas tie-up with Petstock, pet owners could earn frequent flyer points on every purchase from the retailer, which offered vet services and grooming as well as supplies.
The move extended the frequent flyer program’s reach even further, with opportunities to earn points in almost every aspect of consumerism, including finance, fuel, insurance, energy, groceries, exercise and holidays.
Companies such as Petstock, Woolworths and banks pay Qantas to offer frequent flyer points to customers, resulting in revenue of $1.33bn in the 2022 financial year.
Qantas Loyalty chief executive Olivia Wirth said they were sure the opportunity to earn points for pets would be popular.