QANTAS: extends codeshare with Indian airline IndoGo

Qantas is expanding its codeshare agreement with IndoGo, India’s largest domestic all-economy carrier, initially launched in August 2022.

Qantas now flies directly to two Indian destinations, Delhi and Bengalauru (formerly Bangelore), from which passengers could use IndiGo to move on to other cities like Mumbai , Chennai, Pune and Goa. Now, that network has been expanded, adding another 8 cities, making a total of 21, and over 250 different flights available.

Frequency

Qantas flies to India from Melbourne and Sydney.

• 4 flights per week between Melbourne (MEL) and Delhi (DEL) Monday. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on 2 class A330-200, QF67/QF68
• 4 flights per week between Sydney (SYD) and Bengaluru (BLR) Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday on a 2 class Airbus A330-200, QF69/QF70

The roughly 12 hour flight from Sydney to Bengaluru will cost around AU $2,600 in Economy and Business just shy or AU $10,000 currently. The Melbourne to Delhi trip will cost you closer to AU $9,000.

Status and Points

The codeshare means Qantas flyers can earn and burn points on connecting IndiGo flights that also have a QF code and also have their status and benefits recognised including priority check-in and baggage. This carries through to luggage allowance, which will be the same as whatever they are allowed on their international Qantas flight from Australia. Flyers will also get complimentary food and drink on IndiGo.

‘The new codeshare flights will allow our customers to enjoy more connections across India from our Delhi and Bengaluru gateways and have their luggage checked straight through to their final destination.

Our frequent flyers in particular benefit from booking these flights, with more opportunities to earn points and status credits.’

Markus Svensson, Qantas Chief Customer Officer

Codeshare Destinations

Here are the total of 21 destinations from Bengalauru and Delhi, IndiGo can take you on to. The Asterisk indicates new destinations added

• Ahmedabad
• Amritsar
• Bengaluru
• Chandigarh*
• Chennai
• Delhi
• Goa
• Guwahati*
• Hyderabad
• Indore*
• Jaipur*
• Kochi
• Kolkata
• Lucknow
• Mangalore*
• Mumbai
• Nagpur*
• Patna
• Pune
• Thiruvananthapuram*
• Visakhapatnam

2PAXfly Takeout

Last time I went to India which was back in 2014, business airfares were closer to AU $4,000 but were via Hong Kong with a combination of Qantas and Jet Airways – which no longer exists. Mind you, I don’t think Qantas offered any direct flights at all.

Current prices make this an expensive trip using Qantas. Air India are cheaper at loser to AU $6,000, and if you are happy to have one stopover, then Malaysian and SriLankan Airlines have more competitive offers closer to AU $5,000 in Business.

I would love to go back to India, and Bengaluru would be a good starting point to explore the south.