Frequent flyer and wife of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Therese Rein, topped the list of Qantas passengers who enjoyed free upgrades. A Fairfax investigation showed that Ms Rein, a millionaire businesswoman, got 22 domestic and international upgrades.

The data came from the declaration of Mr Rudd, now a backbencher. The former PM is also on the list but ranked lower at sixth place with just eight free upgrades. Overall, the Rudd family had a total of 31 upgrades in the MP's declaration which included one for a child.

The data covered 289 flight upgrades over a two-year period. The bulk or more than 200 were given for free by Qantas, which is financially challenged.

Next to Ms Rein was House Speaker Peter Slipper who got 15 upgrades including five for his wife and was followed by former Tasmanian Senator Nick Sherry with 14 upgrades.

Most of the upgrades were made by Qantas when Mr Rudd was still minister for foreign affairs. A spokesman for Ms Rein explained the frequency which the politician's wife was given flight upgrades as related to her business travels for Ingeus, a recruitment firm.

"As managing director of the international Ingeus group of companies Ms Rein travels very frequently, resulting in a greater quantity of upgrades," Fairfax quoted the spokeswoman.

Besides the free upgrades, the report disclosed that the politicians and their families also got freebies from the flag carrier such as free membership to Qantas's Chairman's Lounge. That privilege, extended to 226 politicians, provided privacy and free food at domestic airports the MPs and their families.

Other freebies given in 2010 by Qantas to favoured passengers include iPads and tickets to the AFL grand finals which were enjoyed by Bill Shorten and Martin Ferguson, as well as tickets to the Australian Grand Prix extended to Stephen Conroy in 2011 and Joshua Frydenberg in 2012.

Eleven politicians said in their disclosure that they received the free iPad from Qantas but only three plan to donate the tablet computer to charity or pay for its since the cost of the gift is beyond the $750 cap.

Fairfax theorised that the freebies could be part of Qantas's lobby with politicians to lift the flag carrier's cap of foreign ownership at 49 per cent.

Among Australian air carriers, Qantas was the most generous in terms of free upgrades having given a total of 206 for the two-year period, while Emirates gave only 17, Etihad 7 and Virgin Australia just 1.

It includes involuntary or not requested upgrades that Qantas gave to MPs Chris Hayes and Kelly O'Dwyer.

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