Qantas launches world first green FF initiative

Qantas Frequent Flyers has launched a world-first Green Tier to its program to reward members who make sustainable choices at home and when they travel. To be rolled out next year the Green tier will sit alongside existing flying tiers and is designed to educate, encourage and reward the airline’s 13 million frequent flyers for everything from offsetting their flights, staying in eco-hotels, walking to work, and installing solar panels at home. To achieve what will be become a prestigious level members will need to complete at least five sustainable activities across six areas – flying, travel, lifestyle, sustainable purchases, reducing impact and giving back – each year. The reward will be bonus Qantas Points or status credits. Qantas says that the initiative has been driven by feedback from frequent flyers, with research showing almost two-thirds want to be more aware of their impact on the environment and would like support in their efforts to be more sustainable. The airline said that while the program will not officially start until early next year, from today frequent flyers who offset their flights, home and car, install solar panels or make a contribution towards protecting the Great Barrier Reef will see these actions go towards meeting their sustainability target as part of attaining Green tier status. Qantas Group chief executive Alan Joyce said sustainability was set to become a core part of the Frequent Flyer program and of the national carrier’s approach more broadly. “Our customers are concerned about climate change and so are we. There’s a lot of action we’re taking as an airline to reduce our emissions and that means we have the framework to help our customers offset and take other steps to reduce their own footprint. “This new Green tier is a way of encouraging and recognizing those who want to do their part by offering Qantas Points or status credits, which we know helps shape customer choices. “This isn’t the first time we’ve used points to reward members for taking positive action in their own lives. “We’ve seen it work when we’ve provided points for walking through our wellbeing app, while the vaccination reward has been taken up by more than 600,000 members already. “Offsetting is one of the main ways Australia can reduce its net emissions in the short to medium term until new low emission technology becomes available. “As an airline, we’re looking at structural changes to reduce our greenhouse gases, including investment in more efficient aircraft that can cut emissions by 15 percent and using sustainable aviation fuel that typically cuts it by up to 80 percent. “In Europe and the United States, there’s a growing sustainable aviation fuel sector that proves the potential for Australia to create one of its own. We’re having conversations with the rest of the industry and governments on how we kickstart that. In the meantime, we are finalizing our first significant purchase of sustainable aviation fuel.” These new initiatives for frequent flyers are an extension of the Qantas Group’s commitment to taking action on climate change and achieving net zero emissions from its own operations by 2050. Qantas was only the second airline in the world to commit to net-zero emissions, back in 2019. The Group is currently developing a pathway towards interim 2030 targets and will provide a significant update early next year.