Flight Centre Travel Group\u2019s executive general manager of customer loyalty, Clinton Hearne, believes Australia\u2019s looming payment reforms could open the door to new players in the travel loyalty market.<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaking to Travel Weekly<\/em> ahead of the 1 October changes, Hearne said the reduction in interchange fees could create opportunities for travel companies to challenge established loyalty programs.<\/p>\n \u201cI actually think it allows for new entrants to be a little bit more disruptive and innovative,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Hearne revealed that Flight Centre had anticipated changes to the credit card rewards landscape when developing its World360 Rewards program.<\/p>\n \u201cThis would have been on the table for a while, we just didn\u2019t know when it would be or for how much,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He said the company had factored potential regulatory changes into the design of the program, including how it would reward customers across its travel brands and non-travel partners.<\/p>\n The reforms come as credit card providers face pressure to reassess their loyalty offerings, with Hearne pointing to reductions in points-earning rates, fewer card benefits and higher annual fees.<\/p>\n \u201cTraditionally, a lot of loyalty propositions have been funded by the credit cards interchange,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He said some cards that previously offered one point per dollar spent could reduce their earning rates to 0.75 or even 0.5 points.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s probably the best time ever if you\u2019re a customer or a loyalty person to look at what reward systems you have and what loyalty programs you\u2019re a part of,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you want the most value, there is a bit of a flux at the second, so you might have to shop around.\u201d<\/p>\n The comments come as Flight Centre expands its loyalty offering, with World360 Rewards attracting around 600,000 members in Australia since launching (based on the FY2026 financial results).<\/p>\n The company described the program as a proactive approach to customer engagement in its latest financial results, with plans to extend it to Corporate Traveller and Flight Centre Business Travel later this year.<\/p>\n Flight Centre is also investing in AI to support its loyalty offering, with its financial results revealing that a new AI agent supports World360 Rewards.<\/p>\n Hearne said the program\u2019s broad network of travel and non-travel partners had been central to its design, particularly as the traditional credit card rewards model comes under pressure.<\/p>\n World360 Rewards allows members to earn and redeem points across more than 500 airlines, 900,000 hotels and 41 cruise lines.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not trying to compete with your airline loyalty programs,\u201d Hearne said.<\/p>\n Travellers booking eligible flights through Flight Centre, Travel Associates or Cruiseabout can earn airline frequent flyer points alongside World360 Rewards points, with the potential to earn a third set of points when paying with an eligible rewards credit card.<\/p>\n Hearne said the approach allowed customers to benefit from multiple loyalty programs rather than having to choose between them.<\/p>\n Flight Centre\u2019s frontline travel agents also have a role to play in helping customers navigate the changing loyalty landscape.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d say we have two and a half thousand points hackers for you,\u201d Hearne said.<\/p>\n Agents could help customers identify available rewards, check their points balances and combine points with cash when booking holidays.<\/p>\n The program also allows customers to use points towards flights, hotels, cruises and experiences, rather than relying solely on the availability of airline reward seats.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/travelweekly.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Clinton-Hearne-Executive-General-Manager-at-World360-Rewards-headshot-1.jpg\"\/)
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Flight Centre\u2019s loyalty strategy<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nTravel agents become \u2018points hackers\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n