Qantas embraces Disruption with Airbnb Partnership

Declares it a ‘world-first’.

Qantas has shown it won’t shy away from disrupting itself by striking a “world-first” partnership with Airbnb.

The airline said this week that it would reward frequent flyer members that book Airbnb accommodation through qantas.com with extra points.

It will give one Qantas Point for every dollar spent booking one of Airbnb’s 2.5 million accommodation listings across 191 countries.

“The partnership marks the first time Airbnb has worked with an airline in this way … and is the next step in Qantas’ partnerships with innovative digital and technology businesses,” Qantas said in a statement.

Traditionally, passengers have been able to book regular hotel accommodation through the Qantas website and earn points for doing so.

By embracing Airbnb, Qantas is not only disrupting the way it offers accommodation bookings but is also aiding Airbnb’s ongoing disruption of the traditional hotel industry.

The hotel industry was suitably unimpressed, according to at least one report, but that kind of sentiment is unlikely to slow the gravitation of big companies towards embracing disruptive business models.

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