Qantas and PAL Open 15 New Island-Hopping Routes for Members

Qantas Frequent Flyers now have a new way to island‑hop their way through Southeast Asia, thanks to a fresh partnership with Philippine Airlines (PAL) that unlocks 15 new Classic Reward destinations via Manila. Members can now use Qantas Points across PAL’s entire network, giving one‑stop access not only to the Philippines’ famed islands but also to North America and the Middle East via Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Full partnership details and booking options are available on Qantas’ site at the Philippine Airlines partner page: qantas.com.

15 New Island Destinations with Classic Rewards

Under the new tie‑up, Qantas Frequent Flyers can book Classic Flight Rewards on PAL to 15 island destinations across the Philippines, many of which were previously missing from the Qantas partner map. Highlights include:

• Boracay – Home to world‑renowned white‑sand beaches and a major drawcard for Australian holidaymakers.
• Cebu – Often called the diving capital of the Philippines, with easy access to coral reefs and marine life.
• Palawan – A UNESCO World Heritage‑listed province featuring dramatic limestone lagoons and island scenery around El Nido and Puerto Princesa.

New figures from the Philippine Department of Tourism show Australian visitor arrivals up 19% in Q1 2026 year‑on‑year, underscoring growing demand for exactly this kind of island‑hopping access.

You can see how far your Qantas Points will take you on PAL using the Classic Flight Rewards section of qantas.com.

How the Partnership Works in the Air

Philippine Airlines operates 22 weekly flights between Australia and Manila, including daily Airbus A330 services from Sydney and A321neoLR flights from Brisbane, with Melbourne also featuring on select schedules. On these routes, Qantas Frequent Flyers can redeem Classic Rewards in Business, Premium Economy and Economy, then connect onwards to the islands or long‑haul PAL services to the U.S., Canada and the Middle East.

Qantas Loyalty CEO Andrew Glance says the partnership reflects a clear trend among members who want their points to reach beyond traditional hubs to “destinations that feel like a true reward” such as Boracay and El Nido. PAL President Richard Nuttall adds that the tie‑up also extends value to Mabuhay Miles members and deepens the flag carrier’s long‑standing ties with Australia.

More Reward Seats and a Powerful New Search Tool

These new PAL reward options sit on top of the 20 million Classic Reward seats already available each year across Qantas, Jetstar and more than 30 partner airlines, including Emirates, American Airlines and Cathay Pacific. The number of partner airline Classic Rewards booked has doubled over the past five years, reflecting a broader shift toward multi‑carrier itineraries.

To make searching easier, Qantas launched a new Flight Reward Finder tool on qantas.com in March 2026, allowing members to scan a full 12‑month window by region, destination and cabin class in seconds. Instead of checking route by route, travellers can now see Classic Reward availability across Qantas and partners – including PAL – in a single view, then filter by Economy, Premium Economy or Business.

You can try the new reward finder and search PAL routes directly at qantas.com.

Why This Matters for Australian Island Hoppers

For Australian travellers, the combination of 22 weekly PAL flights to Manila and 15 new island reward destinations makes it far easier to build a full points‑powered island‑hopping itinerary. From a single Qantas Points balance, members can now stitch together Sydney or Brisbane–Manila legs in Business or Premium Economy and then hop onwards to resort islands, dive hubs and lesser‑known provinces that once required separate tickets or cash fares.

Given the surge in Australian arrivals to the Philippines and the broader trend toward “second‑city” and nature‑led escapes, this partnership is well‑timed for frequent flyers who want to stretch their points even further into Southeast Asia.

You can learn more about using Qantas Points on Philippine Airlines, including eligible routes and booking tips, on Qantas’ PAL partner page at qantas.com.

If you were planning an island‑hopping trip using Qantas Points, would you base yourself mainly around Boracay and Cebu, or build a longer loop that also takes in Palawan and a few lesser‑known islands?