QANTAS: Public servants wait until Double Status Credits promotions to book official travel

There are obviously some key points and status accumulators in the Australian Public Service. We already know from research done by The Canberra Times that public servants prefer Qantas over Virgin Australia for travel due to their better reward and status benefits. Now, the Finance Department reports anecdotal evidence of public servants waiting until a Double Status promotion with Qantas before they book flights. That way, they can earn double their status credits while flying on the government’s dime.

Who knew?`

Naughty public servants!

The problem is, the airlines should not be offering these inducements to public servants, and now the Department of Finance has warned them to adjust their reward schemes accordingly.

The Canberra Times in May revealed that the travel bookings of public servants surge by 20% during the Double Status Credits promotions Qantas holds. That means there is a correspondingly large bias towards Qantas away from competitor Virgin Australia at these times. And that contributes to an overall bias towards flying with Qantas, rather than choosing Virgin Australia.

Airlines to stop bonus Status Credit offers

The Australian Financial Review reports that the Department of Finance has formally written to airlines, urging them to stop offering bonus status credits to government travellers. The warning underscores the concern that such promotions can skew airline choice and conflict with taxpayer-first travel policies.

Incentives under scrutiny

This move reflects mounting scrutiny on how status incentives affect public service travel decisions. A recent government review—including the 20% booking spike during Qantas promotions—has already pressed for tighter controls. These include requiring economy class for flights under three hours, booking systems requirements, and mandating a justification process for fare upgrades.

Virgin Australia, ever wishing for a more level playing field, supports the abolition of status credit accumulation altogether. Virgin argues it distorts the ‘lowest practical fare’ mandat for public servants travel and disadvantages more affordable carriers. Let’s face it, Qantas is rarely the lowest base fare option on most routes.

Status Credit dilemma

Even though frequent‑flyer points have been banned for government travel since 2010, status credits remain. The status they bring offers perks like lounge access, priority boarding, and increased baggage allowances.

It’s apparent that these perks still heavily influence airline preference among public servants, contributing to Qantas’s dominance in government travel.

2PAXfly Takeout

I don’t have an issue with public servants accruing status credits with an airline. Some government workers travel a hell of a lot, and that is no picknick. I’ve done it myself. I don’t begrudge a worker of anything that eases the life disruption that constant travel provides.

So let them have their status credits. Just don’t let it interfere with the good conduct of their responsibilities. So that means double status credits promotions are out.

That also means that favouring one airlines is not on either, and policies need to be adjusted to deter that.

Maybe its time the government made and enforced a stricter policy. A mandate of reflecting the split of airlines share of the travel market by department might be one way. Regular reporting within departments might enable them to remedy purchasing inequities more speedily. Or, maybe Virgin and Qantas need to bid directly for contracts with departments – like private enterprise does?

Now, I have never been a federal or state public servant, although I have run a business that has completed work for them on many occassions. But if I did work for the government and I could see my travel benefit my status credits bottom line, I know that would influence my flight booking decisions. So end the double status credits game for public servants.

Lets make sure that Australian citizens get the best value for their tax dollar when our government travels.