Budget Australian airline Quantas is making travel more flexible during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by allowing consumers to change their flight bookings until January 2022. The airline is offering unlimited flight date changes for customers with a new 'Fly Flexible' policy that "applies to all new domestic flight bookings for Qantas and QantasLink, as well as and trans-Tasman services booked from February 08 until at least the end of April."
Allowing customers to change flights up to 355 days in advance, the airline will cover flight change fees in an effort to make travel journeys more flexible and safe during an uncertain time where many are hesitant to book travel arrangements in advance.
"As the national carrier, we have an important role to play in helping the industry recover from COVID-19, and we know that given the right opportunity, people are keen to travel...By giving customers unlimited flight date changes for almost a year, we think it will encourage more people to book, helping to boost tourism which is so vital to local economies and businesses around the country," said Qantas Group’s chief customer officer Stephanie Tully about the recent announcement.
Flexible Travel Bookings
Qantas' Flight Change Feature Makes Flying More Flexible during COVID-19
Trend Themes
1. Flexible Travel Plans - The trend of airlines allowing unlimited flight date changes presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in travel insurance and accommodation booking industries.
2. Long-term Booking Offers - A trend of airlines offering extended booking dates and flexible change policies may cause disruption for traditional short-term travel booking platforms and encourage the development of more long-term booking options.
3. Health and Safety Travel Measures - With the ongoing concern for health and safety during travel, a trend of airlines implementing flexible booking policies may encourage disruptive innovation in the travel industry towards the development of new hygiene and safety standards.
Industry Implications
1. Travel Insurance - In the travel insurance industry, the flexible travel trend creates an opportunity for new policies that provide more comprehensive coverage for changes to flight arrangements and protect against travel restrictions.
2. Accommodation Booking - The trend of airlines offering unlimited flight date changes incentivizes the development of more flexible and accommodating booking options for hotels and vacation rentals.
3. Technology-enabled Travel Solutions - As airlines adapt to changing needs, there is an opportunity for technology-enabled travel solutions to emerge that enhance direct bookings with airlines and provide more personalized and flexible travel experiences.