Any interest in implications on possible taxation on FF programs teleconference

[admin]

Last month I attended an Loyalty conference in the US. The highlights were probably the chat I had with Randy Peterson (Flyer Talk and now Mile Point) and attending a presentation by Nathalie McCaughey, a Monash University academic, entitled Taxation: A threat for Loyalty Programs. See her bio at the end of this post.

While this presentation was focussed on the implications for the airline industry when (rather than "if") the Australian government starts taxing Loyalty Payments, there clearly is an implication to travellers as well. Especially those who earn points on business travel, but burn them on leasure travel.

As I thought this topic would be of interest to our AFF members, I asked Nathalie if she could present (via a tele-conference) her thoughts on this topic to interested AFF members. She kindly agreed.

As this stage, I am simply trying to gauge interest (we have never had a tele-conference before) to see if it is worth while putting on the event.

The proposed date/time for the conference is Sunday 3 April at 8pm (AEST). We haven't yet finalised the technology to be used, but probably will involve something like gotomeeting (Web Conferencing | GoToMeeting™ Australia) where you can listen/watch over your PC. There will be no charge to attend.

Please complete this poll, to indicate your interest.

Nathalie-Chantal McCaughey (PhD Scholar- Economics Department - Monash University, Melbourne) is a researcher in the field of applied micro-economics and industrial organisation. Her research focuses on the taxation issues, monetary valuation, economic impact and competition implications of loyalty programs and loyalty payments.

She is a sought after expert on the tax implications and monetary valuation of loyalty payments and has successfully established relationships with a number of international airlines. She is one of a few researchers globally working closely with international airlines on issues of loyalty program valuation. One of her most recent research achievements, in conjunction with an econometrician at the VU-University (Amsterdam), has been the first econometrically robust valuation of the increased willingness–to-pay of travellers related to membership of a frequent flier program.
Nathalie has significant lecturing experience in third year subjects such as ‘Competition and Regulation’ and ‘International Economics’ at Monash University and speaks four languages fluently.

 

[serfty]

Unfortunately, I'm not scheduled to experience a 3rd April this year as I'm winging my way back from LAX on the 2nd* - arriving on the 4th.

Which is about 6pm in Melbourne as daylight saving finishes earlier that day. ...

 

[admin]

Given the (relatively low) interest level, both Nathalie and I think that an online presentation will be an over-kill. (Its a shame because she is a great presenter!)

Instead, Nathalie will be preparing a short article which summarises her opinion. We will publish this on AFF, probbaly at the end of the month.

Thanks to all those who responded to our survey.

 

[medhead]

Thanks for the efforts, looking forward to the article.