Aussies Rewarded For Getting The Jab

The Australian travel industry – including Qantas and Virgin – has moved fast to reward people who’ve received a double jab of the COVID-19 vaccine.

You could call it ‘the gift of the jab’, with major travel brands offering points, discounted hotels, cheap fuel and free flights to Australians who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Australia’s flag carrier Qantas launched its rewards program with a new ad campaign (above) that links vaccination with the freedom to travel overseas once more. It was the top-trending video on YouTube within a day of its release.

A surge in delta variant cases in New South Wales in recent weeks suggests the country still faces further pain even as hundreds of thousands of people line up for their shots each day.

Vaccination has been identified as a critical requirement before state and federal governments will consider opening national and international borders to help the travel industry recover.

The Australian government aims to lift restrictions on outbound travel once Australia reaches 80 per cent vaccinations, expected by the end of 2021.

To encourage more people to get vaccinated, Qantas is offering its frequent flyers rewards for getting the jab. They can claim either 1,000 Qantas points through the Qantas app, 15 status credits or a $20 flight discount for use on Qantas or Jetstar until the end of the year.

They’ll also be entered into a “mega prize draw” to win a year’s worth of flights, accommodation from Accor hotels and fuel from BP.

To participate, frequent flyer members will need to upload their COVID-19 digital vaccination certificate and select their reward.

The new vaccine push from Australia’s national carrier builds further on an industry-wide ‘It’s our best shot for travel’ campaign launched last week by Tourism Australia to see as many workers in the tourism industry vaccinated as possible. offering COVID-19 vaccination rewards.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said it was the airline’s way of saying “thank you to Australians for stepping up and protecting themselves and others.”

At rival Virgin Australia, 1 million Velocity points are up for grabs for fully vaccinated travellers. The VA-X & Win competition also includes free Business Class flights and incentives for its staff, including bonus annual leave and lounge memberships.

Gift of the Jab: What’s on Offer

Travel package website Luxury Escapes is offering ‘vaccine vouchers’ worth $200 to members who log in and prove they’ve been vaccinated. The vouchers can be redeemed on a range of limited time international Lux Exclusive offers.

Luxury hotel brand Crystalbrook Collection will offer free upgrades to vaccinated guests at its Australian resorts, including Cairns, Newcastle, Byron Bay, Sydney and Brisbane.

Melbourne Airport is giving away one $10,000 Travelex Money Card to vaccinated Victorians aged 18 and over every month until the end of the year.

The Lord Gladstone Hotel at Chippendale in Sydney has temporarily renamed itself ‘The Lord Jabstone’ and is giving vaccinated patrons a free Young Henry’s beer in September.

Rideshare service Didi is offering up to $1 million in discounted rides to vaccination appointments.

Uber is offering 10,000 free rides to vaccination hubs for people living with a disability, and their carers.

One Big Switch has launched the BigVaxBonus.com website, showcasing all the special rewards, discounts and savings that Australian businesses are now offering to vaccinated Australians.