Bridget McKenzie flight upgrades 'completely different' from PM allegations, Angus Taylor says

The Coalition has sought to downplay reports Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie failed to declare more than a dozen free Qantas and Virgin flight upgrades since joining parliament in 2011.

The Australian Financial Review first reported McKenzie's alleged breaches of parliamentary disclosure rules last night, citing unnamed sources.

Last week, it was revealed the senator had written to Qantas, Virgin and Rex to check if she had received upgrades that had not been disclosed on her register of interests.

READ MORE: Two MPs to turn down Qantas and Virgin perks to 'restore public trust'

According to the sources, Qantas and Virgin have issued a response to McKenzie, giving details of her domestic and international business class flight upgrades.

Speaking on ABC's Radio National Breakfast this morning, Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said the circumstances surrounding McKenzie's situation and allegations Prime Minister Anthony Albanese solicited upgrades from then-Qantas boss Alan Joyce were a "completely different thing".

"I think the real issue here is this, we have a prime minister who, when transport minister, is alleged to have actively reached out and lobbied for personal upgrades. That's inappropriate," he said.

"Other upgrades that are given by an airline in different circumstances, they should be declared and I'm sure that will be worked out."

Questions over whether airlines should be able to curry favour with politicians by providing free upgrades have dominated the news over the past fortnight - with both sides of politics becoming ensnared by accusations of inappropriate use of flight upgrades.

The furore began with claims by former Australian Financial Review columnist Joe Aston in his book, The Chairman's Lounge, that Albanese personally contacted former Qantas boss Alan Joyce about his personal travel and received "guaranteed" upgrades only Joyce could provide.

Albanese has denied the claims.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has also been under fire after acknowledging his office had asked Gina Rinehart for use of her private jet to help him to attend a Bali bombing memorial service in Sydney.

McKenzie is yet to comment on any reply from the airlines regarding her flight upgrades.

The senator had previously demanded an inquiry into the claims in Aston's book, which she later softened.

"I don't probably believe I should be subjecting other people to standards I'm not prepared to subject myself to. I think the difference between myself and the prime minister is, the prime minister was the minister for transport [when he received upgrades]," she told ABC Radio on Friday.