Qantas Frequent Flyer has recently opened up points-based bookings on China Airlines flights between Australia and Taiwan. It’s now possible to redeem Qantas points to fly with China Airlines from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to Taipei in Economy, Premium Economy and Business class.
Award availability on China Airlines is surprisingly good. Many flights between Australia and Taipei have at least two reward seats available in Premium Economy and Business. Some flights (e.g. from Melbourne to Taipei) have even more premium seats available. And many flights have as many as 8 (or more) Economy seats available.
The taxes and carrier charges payable on China Airlines award flights are also fairly reasonable. In addition to government taxes and airport charges, you’ll pay just $28 in carrier charges for a one-way China Airlines reward flight to Taipei in any class of travel.
China Airlines uses brand new Airbus A350s on its flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. These modern aircraft offer lie-flat Business seats and a comfortable Premium Economy product.
A China Airlines award seat from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane to Taipei costs 35,000 Qantas points in Economy, 52,500 Qantas points for Premium Economy or 65,000 Qantas points for Business. On the Sydney-Taipei route, the taxes payable are $122.30 one-way. This amount is slightly lower in the opposite direction as Australia’s departure taxes don’t apply.
China Airlines award seats can be booked using Qantas points on the Qantas website.
Note that it is only possible to redeem Qantas points on China Airlines routes between Australia and Taipei, which Qantas also codeshares on. The agreement does not extend to other routes such as flights within Asia, or flights from Taipei to Europe or North America.
China Airlines is not in the Oneworld alliance and is not a full Qantas Frequent Flyer partner. As such, it is not normally possible to earn or redeem Qantas points on China Airlines flights (unless booking a Qantas codeshare flight between Australia and Taipei). You also won’t receive any Qantas Frequent Flyer status benefits when flying with China Airlines.
The ability to redeem Qantas points on selected China Airlines routes is similar to Qantas’ arrangement with Air Tahiti Nui. It is possible to redeem Qantas points for Air Tahiti Nui flights, but only on a few routes that Qantas also codeshares on (Auckland-Papeete and Papeete-Los Angeles).
Would you like help using your frequent flyer points?
AFF’s Frequent Flyer Concierge service to take the hard work out of redeeming your frequent flyer points!
Our experts can help you to find the perfect flights using your points. Just let the team know how many points you have, where you’d like to go and when you’d like to travel. They’ll work their magic to find the best available reward flights for you.
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