Qantas: you mean my business class amenities are worth less than AU$25, and that’s including the tim tams?

Qantas launched an apparently successful promotion to get rid of an excess stock of First and Business class ammenities.

Given that they are not flying internationally at all, presumably these have been sitting in a Qantas warehouse somewhere, gathering dust.

Unfortunately, it looks like they have currently out of stock due to popular demand. Well at least if I search for Qantas Care Packs – I don’t see them in the Qantas online store, and even if I search for ‘pyjamas’, I get no results.

Content of this Post:

Gift Giving

Qantas promo department has formulated a very good approach to this promotion – placing it as a kind of altruistic giving proposition, or as they put it:

Qantas has put these items together in a care package that can be sent anonymously as a surprise ‘random act of kindness’ to a friend, family member, anyone that might be doing it tough or as a “treat yourself” gift.
Qantas Media Release

What you got

If you had been lucky enough to nab a care pack before they sold out, this is what you would have received:

1 Qantas Business Class sleeper suit L/XL
1 Qantas Curates Business Class amenity kit featuring ASPAR Travel Essentials (Sweet Orange & Shea Hand Cream, Ultra Hydrating Face Moisturiser & Sweet Orange Lip Balm)
12 individually wrapped Tim Tams
200gram pack of smoked almonds (served in Qantas First Class)
Packet of 10 T2 Lemongrass and Ginger tea bags

Measly amenities for premium passengers

Unfortunately there is a different perspective on this, which I am sure Qantas would prefer if I didn’t highlight.

By selling these ‘Qantas Care Packs’ for AU$25 or 4,350 Qantas Points, including Tim Tams and delivery, they are demonstrating what measly value you get out of the onboard amenity packs. Less than AU$25 of pampering after paying upwards of AU$9,000 for a return Business Class fare to say, London. And that price is pre-COVID-19.

2PAXfly Takeout

The aviation industry has a difficult road ahead when it comes to sustainability. It’s going to require a relative revolution in technology, with ‘electric planes’ or hydrogen planes, or some form of jet engine that doesn’t require a carbon based fuel. And that is going to require the development of an alternative to jet engines probably.

It’s a big ask. It will take time to develop.

This move to home grown and manufactured SAF is a first step – maybe even a baby step in a very long road of innovation. In the long run, US$200 million won’t even touch the sides.

Still, what would I know – apparently plenty of people were prepared to order up to 10 of these, and send them to people or hoard the items themselves.

Or, maybe just like me, they are desperate for a flight experience, and maybe if you watch some slow video treatment of an airline trip and use the items in your ‘Qantas Care Package’, that is as close as Australians can get at the moment.

Mind you, I am seriously thinking about acquiring some of that Marc Newson Noritake china.