Many Qantas loyalists sitting on a stash of frequent flyer points remain frustrated by the limited availability of ‘reward seats’, despite the airline’s efforts to release more of those across domestic and international routes.

But a new option has just opened up, and it’s put plenty of international business class reward seats on the table.

Qantas is expanding its frequent flyer partnership with Taiwan’s China Airlines to encompass the carrier’s entire global network, rather than the previous limitation of flights between Australia and Taipei. 

China Airlines flies to more than than 75 destinations across 23 countries including London, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Vienna, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Rome – plus of course scores of cities throughout Asia.

And the SkyTeam member has a superb business class offering, with well-appointed flatbed seats arranged in a passenger-pleasing 1-2-1 layout, plus world-class lounges at its Taipei hub.

A one-way business class trip with China Airlines from Sydney to New York, Melbourne to Amsterdam or Brisbane to London will set you back only 159,000 Qantas Points, while the modest fees and taxes on those routes span from $180-$250.

Business class to Japan via Taipei lobs in at just 90,000 Qantas Points, with a cash co-payment of around $170 – and many of these regional routes feature an Airbus A321neo with its own lie-flat business class.

And with bookings now open through the Qantas website, this is the best time to make your move and snare your pick of dates and destinations at those low Classic Flight Reward rates – at the time of writing August and September are wide open in business class and premium economy between Taipei and London, for example.

“We receive great feedback from our members who have travelled to Taipei with China Airlines, and we know that having access to their full and expansive network will be welcome news” says Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth.

More to follow…