Qantas and British Airways to launch new Range of Flexible Fares

Qantas and British Airways are to launch a new, more flexible fare structure for Economy Class travel between Australia and the United Kingdom and Europe from 26 April 2005.

The new structure will offer customers three fare types:

- Qantas Red e-Deal or British Airways Value Deal – competitively priced fares;
- Super Saver – mid-range fares with fewer conditions and a wider range of Stopovers
- Flexi Saver – the most flexible fares offering full choice, variety and additional stopovers.

Qantas Executive General Manager John Borghetti said the changes represented a fundamental shift in the airlines’ approach to fares for long-haul international travel.

“The new fares offer greater choice and meet the needs of a wide range of market segments, from the price-conscious traveller to those planning short journeys.”

Mr Borghetti said the benefits of the new structure included:

- a greater range of prices from which to select;
- fares, and the rules governing them, that are simpler, clearer and more easily understood by both customers and their travel agents;
- greater flexibility for customers when it comes to planning their travel; and 
- a simpler and faster way for customers wanting to change their travel plans.

“This initiative builds on the successful introduction of new fare structures for travel on Australian Domestic and trans-Tasman routes,” Mr Borghetti said.

“These changes will also benefit customers who travel to Australia from the United Kingdom and Europe, making inbound tourism simpler and easier,” he said. “Customers can expect to see similar changes occur across the rest of the Qantas network.”

British Airways’ premium economy World Traveller Plus fares will also be available in the new structure.

British Airways Area General Manager Asia Pacific Jenny Lourey said, “The fare changes and joint network of Qantas and British Airways destinations mean that customers can travel to an expanded network of destinations, with a wide range of stopover options on the way. 

“For the first time, Qantas and British Airways customers can also stop over in Australian cities during their journey and choose from 106 destinations in the UK and Europe,” Ms Lourey said.

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