QANTAS: Nouméa points planes – every seat redeemable for points

Qantas is making over 100 flights available as ‘Points Planes’ from either Sydney or Brisbane to Nouméa bookable from today until 31 July 2022 for travel on eligible flights from August to November 2022.

For Qantas, ‘Points Planes’ is when it declares passengers can redeem frequent flyer points at Classic Reward rates for every seat in every class on the flight.

On Qantas, you have a choice of 5 return flights per week on a Boeing 737-800 (usually seen on domestic flights) aircraft between Australia and New Caledonia. 4 of those flights are out of Sydney, with a single weekly service from Brisbane. Qantas also codeshares with Aircalin on a further seven return flights per week, and these too will have additional Classic Reward seats available from Sydney and Brisbane.

Classic Flight Rewards seat redemptions

Sydney – Nouméa (one way)

• Economy: 18,000 points + $119 fees
• Business: 41,500 points + $119 fees

Brisbane – Nouméa (one way)

• Economy: 12,000 points plus $116 fees
• Business: 27,600 points plus $116 fees

Excluded Dates

Thought this too good to be true? Your right. Some dates are excluded – mostly school holiday periods including flights departing from Australia on:

• 17 August to 21 August,
• 23 September to 4 October 2022
• 19 October to 24 October 2022

Also excluded are flights departing from New Caledonia on

• 3 August to 7 August
• 2 October to 12 October 2022

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

With classic reward seats being rarer than hen’s teeth in premium for nearly every overseas destination Qantas flies to, this is a pleasing development. Don’t expect them to stay around for long, though.

OK, New Caledonia is not the Maldives, but with Pacific relaxed service, European infrastructure, and French food – what is not to like?