Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
Qantas will offer a range of perks to people who are vaccinated to encourage more people to get a COVID jab.
The company flagged the idea last week, but CEO Alan Joyce has revealed more details of the plan, which will be launched in July.
“We are putting in a discount for people who have had the vaccine,” he told Channel Nine.
“We are looking at giving 1,000 [Qantas] points, flight vouchers, credits and we are going to offer 10 mega prizes — at least one for each state and territory.
“Where you get, for the year, for a family of four, unlimited travel on the Qantas and Jetstar network, anywhere in the network.”
Mr Joyce said hospitality company Accor would offer a million points to each of the winning families to cover their accommodation as well.
Qantas is currently working on the technology to launch the program, but Mr Joyce said the incentives would be offered through the company’s app, and would apply to anyone who has already had the vaccine or gets it before the end of the year.
Mr Joyce also called for other businesses to follow suit and to explore what they could offer to encourage people to get the vaccine.
“We are trying our best to help with this rollout,” he said.
“I’m encouraging a Team Australia moment where every corporate out there helps with this vaccine rollout and to reward people that have had the vaccine.”
The Qantas CEO would not comment on whether he was frustrated by the slow rollout and the government’s handling of it.
But he did admit the company had a “vested interest” in increasing the number of vaccinated Australians, given it is a key factor in when the international border will reopen.
The federal government has been criticised for the slower-than-exected vaccine rollout, and for its mixed messages on vaccine targets and how urgently people need to get a vaccine.
Overseas, a number of countries have put in place incentive schemes, offering rewards from cash prizes to food.
Health authorities have not ruled out introducing incentives in Australia to speed up the rollout, particularly before the flu season hits.
“I think we really do need to look for incentives, as many incentives as we can for people to become vaccinated,” chief medical officer Paul Kelly said last week.
