Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has responded angrily to claims he had a direct line to Qantas boss Alan Joyce and sought free flight upgrades and perks when he was transport minister.

The accusations of special treatment worth tens of thousands of dollars are made in a book by former Australian Financial Review columnist Joe Aston, revealed on Monday.

The book says Albanese received 22 upgrades from economy from Qantas and he would liaise personally with the former airline boss for them.

On Tuesday, Albanese said all of the flights had been listed in accordance with rules for federal MPs.

“I’ve been completely transparent about this. All of my flights have been declared in an appropriate way,” he said in Newcastle on Tuesday.

“What you need to do is make sure you stick to the rules. I’ve done that at all times.”

Albanese said 10 of the 22 flights were made during a leadership contest for the Labor Party in 2013.

He said he could recall only twice having direct discussions with Joyce about flights — and not on the phone. They were in relation to a Qantas flight to Dubai and a flight to Perth, he said.

Albanese accused Opposition Leader Peter Dutton of making vague allegations.

“There is no accusation being made with any specifics at all about any of this. None,” he said.

“People are … Peter Dutton is making this statement. If there is a suggestion to be made, let it be made. Specifically. And I’ll answer it.

“But I have said … very clearly that I recall direct discussions with Alan Joyce over the flights, the Emirates, or Qantas flight to Dubai, and, of course, the first flight to Perth.

“They’re the only times that I was on a plane with Alan Joyce.”

Albanese also went on the attack, saying Coalition MPs had received more upgrades from Qantas for flights, while accusing Dutton of concocting the criticism.

“Peter Dutton seems to be obsessed with making attacks on myself, my family, and to try and engage in this obsession,” he said.

“Peter Dutton seems to be determined to just be arrogant and nasty every day. That’s up to him, but I’ll continue to do my job.”

Albanese challenged Dutton to explain flights he had received from mining billionaire Gina Rinehart.

On Tuesday, the opposition kept the heat on and raised questions about ministerial integrity.

Coalition transport spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie said Albanese should specially answer if the allegations in the book were true.

“So far, despite two press conferences, we don’t have an answer to that question,” she said.

She said voters had a right to be “furious” over the travel upgrades, calling for Joyce to be called before a Senate inquiry.

“I do not have a hotline to request upgrades. I have received an upgrade — in 2018 — that I declared. But, to my knowledge, no transport minister, other than Anthony Albanese, has done this.”

Workplace Minister Murray Watt said Albanese had complied with all rules for parliamentarians.

“If anyone looks at Anthony Albanese’s record, he hasn’t been delivering favours to Qantas. He has consistently taken on Qantas over a range of issues,” he said.

“The suggestion that his relationship with Qantas or its former CEO has influenced his decision making is completely at odds with the actions that he’s taken.”

Independent senator David Pocock said the revelations about travel arrangements highlighted the need for change for political entitlements.

“There are very legitimate questions to be answered. There is a terrible, terrible look,” he said in Canberra.

“But I think this has to be part of the broader conversation around just how shocking and basically useless our lobbying laws are in this country.”

-with AAP