Australian politicians are almost always opting to fly with Qantas on taxpayer-funded trips, despite
Virgin offering cheaper tickets.

Federal MPs flew with the national carrier for 80 per cent of work
trips last year despite it not always being the cheapest route, according to travel data provided to the government.


While politicians and their staffers are required to book the cheapest flight, it also has to
be the most efficient, with Qantas offering the most routes
between major cities.

MPs are banned from accruing frequent flyer points on taxpayer-funded trips like ordinary Aussies
can, but they can can receive lifetime status credits, which allows access to airport lounges and flight upgrades.


'How else can one explain the extraordinary dominance of Qantas in securing bookings by parliamentarians
and their staff?' Myriam Robin wrote in an opinion piece for the Australian Financial Review.


'There's nothing like accruing status credits on someone else's dime.'

Transport Minister Catherine King has since committed to a review of
flight bookings by government officials
which will be conducted by the Department of Finance this year, despite
there being just two months left of 2024.

Politicians' preference for Qantas may also be put down to the airline's exclusive invite-only 'Chairman's
Lounge'.




Australian politicians are almost always opting to fly with Qantas on taxpayer-funded trips, despite Virgin offering cheaper tickets.
(pictured is Anthony Albanese, with former Qantas boss Alan Joyce, and fiancee Jodie Haydon)




Read More


EXCLUSIVE

The Flying Kanga-RORT - why you're footing the bill as airlines wine and dine pollies in VIP club


Daily Mail Australia in August revealed that nearly every single federal politician in the country has accepted free membership of the club.


Qantas and the Albanese government have both denied the airline
enjoys any disproportionate level of influence over the country's political classes.



A Daily Mail Australia audit of the members' interest registers
- in both the House of Representatives and the Senate - revealed almost 93 per
cent of the nation's leaders have been 'gifted' membership to the
lavish, all-inclusive lounge.

The high profile ranks of government giftees include Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as well as every member of his 22-person Cabinet, his seven-person Outer Ministry and all 12 assistant ministers.


While most politicians declared their Qantas' privileges as a 'gift', Labor MP
Marion Scrymgour listed her membership as her 'Chairman Lounge entitlement'.






Daily Mail Australia in August revealed that nearly every single federal politician in the country
has accepted free membership of Qantas' exclusive Chairman's Lounge.



And it's not just politicians on the take, with more than 60
MPs - including Marles, Chalmers, King, Bill Shorten, Zali
Steggall and Tanya Plibersek - disclosing their spouses have also been granted unfettered, independent access to Qantas' luxurious members only
lounge.

Often touted as 'the most exclusive club in the country', membership to the Chairman's
Lounge has long been veiled in secrecy.

Even the entrances to each of the country's six opulent VIP clubs - in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide,
Canberra and Perth airports - are suitably discreet.

Though, once inside, the designer lounges are immediately more ostentatious, with free à la carte fine dining, table service, a decadent selection of wines and Champagne and a discreet army of dedicated lounge attendants.


Membership to the club is 'priceless' - it cannot be bought for any amount of money nor obtained via any amount of
frequent flyers points.

Instead, each member is hand-picked and approved
by the company's chief executive and chairman.


Qantas

Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I'm impressed!
Very helpful information particularly the last part :) I care for such information a lot.
I was looking for this particular info for a very long time.
Thank you and good luck.

This text is priceless. When can I find out more?

Thanks for the good writeup. It actually was once a enjoyment account it.
Look complicated to far added agreeable from you! By the way, how can we be in contact?

Mais uma que ouvi, essa depois do jogo contra o Corinthians

Australian politicians are almost always opting to fly with Qantas on taxpayer-funded trips, despite
Virgin offering cheaper tickets.

Federal MPs flew with the national carrier for 80 per cent of work
trips last year despite it not always being the cheapest route, according to travel data provided to the government.


While politicians and their staffers are required to book the cheapest flight, it also has to
be the most efficient, with Qantas offering the most routes
between major cities.

MPs are banned from accruing frequent flyer points on taxpayer-funded trips like ordinary Aussies
can, but they can can receive lifetime status credits, which allows access to airport lounges and flight upgrades.


'How else can one explain the extraordinary dominance of Qantas in securing bookings by parliamentarians
and their staff?' Myriam Robin wrote in an opinion piece for the Australian Financial Review.


'There's nothing like accruing status credits on someone else's dime.'

Transport Minister Catherine King has since committed to a review of
flight bookings by government officials
which will be conducted by the Department of Finance this year, despite
there being just two months left of 2024.

Politicians' preference for Qantas may also be put down to the airline's exclusive invite-only 'Chairman's
Lounge'.




Australian politicians are almost always opting to fly with Qantas on taxpayer-funded trips, despite Virgin offering cheaper tickets.
(pictured is Anthony Albanese, with former Qantas boss Alan Joyce, and fiancee Jodie Haydon)




Read More


EXCLUSIVE

The Flying Kanga-RORT - why you're footing the bill as airlines wine and dine pollies in VIP club


Daily Mail Australia in August revealed that nearly every single federal politician in the country has accepted free membership of the club.


Qantas and the Albanese government have both denied the airline
enjoys any disproportionate level of influence over the country's political classes.



A Daily Mail Australia audit of the members' interest registers
- in both the House of Representatives and the Senate - revealed almost 93 per
cent of the nation's leaders have been 'gifted' membership to the
lavish, all-inclusive lounge.

The high profile ranks of government giftees include Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as well as every member of his 22-person Cabinet, his seven-person Outer Ministry and all 12 assistant ministers.


While most politicians declared their Qantas' privileges as a 'gift', Labor MP
Marion Scrymgour listed her membership as her 'Chairman Lounge entitlement'.






Daily Mail Australia in August revealed that nearly every single federal politician in the country
has accepted free membership of Qantas' exclusive Chairman's Lounge.



And it's not just politicians on the take, with more than 60
MPs - including Marles, Chalmers, King, Bill Shorten, Zali
Steggall and Tanya Plibersek - disclosing their spouses have also been granted unfettered, independent access to Qantas' luxurious members only
lounge.

Often touted as 'the most exclusive club in the country', membership to the Chairman's
Lounge has long been veiled in secrecy.

Even the entrances to each of the country's six opulent VIP clubs - in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide,
Canberra and Perth airports - are suitably discreet.

Though, once inside, the designer lounges are immediately more ostentatious, with free à la carte fine dining, table service, a decadent selection of wines and Champagne and a discreet army of dedicated lounge attendants.


Membership to the club is 'priceless' - it cannot be bought for any amount of money nor obtained via any amount of
frequent flyers points.

Instead, each member is hand-picked and approved
by the company's chief executive and chairman.


Qantas

Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I'm impressed!
Very helpful information particularly the last part :) I care for such information a lot.
I was looking for this particular info for a very long time.
Thank you and good luck.

This text is priceless. When can I find out more?

Thanks for the good writeup. It actually was once a enjoyment account it.
Look complicated to far added agreeable from you! By the way, how can we be in contact?

Mais uma que ouvi, essa depois do jogo contra o Corinthians