The big news doing the rounds this month concentrates
around the changes to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. It is the first
time in almost two years that the program has been altered. The reforms
will be implemented at two stages � part now and part from the start of
next year.
We have examined the changes in detail and have reported our findings in the Frequent Flyer Club�s News Watch section. As you are probably aware the Frequent Flyer Club is our premium subscription service, and you need to be a paid-up subscriber to use its services.
However, given the importance of the changes, we have made this article available to readers of the Frequent Flyer Gazette.
To access the article go to
www.frequentflyerclub.com.au, click on the 1st item in News Watch. You will be asked for a UserName and Password. The �special� login to access this report is UserName: �qantaschange� Password: �password�.
Important note: this is a temporary account which give you access to the article entitled �11/07/03: Changes to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program� only. To access other features and services, you will need to
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Like Qantas, Virgin Atlantic has also made a few changes to its Flying Club program.
But instead of reducing economy class benefits, it�s increased the number of points earned on full economy to 125 percent, while qualifying discount economy earns 100 percent of miles flown.
Flying Club Gold members will earn an extra 25-percent irrespective of which class they choose to travel.
Reward costs to several destinations and upgrade costs have also been reduced. And you can upgrade directly from economy to the top class for 60,000 miles.
Status upgrades costs have also been reduced, while gold members will get a free companion ticket for any class when they renew their membership.
Qantas has issued a reminder that while it owns
Australian Airlines some of its privileges do not extend to the Asia
dedicated carrier.
While it�s possible to redeem Qantas Frequent Flyer
points for award flights on Australian Airlines, the benefits of being a
frequent flyer stop there.
�We would like to remind members that you cannot earn
Frequent Flyer points when travelling on Australian Airlines,� Qantas
says.
�Additionally, Qantas Club members are not able to
access lounge facilities when travelling on Australian Airlines.�
We hear United has ditched its plans to start a low-cost carrier Starfish.
It�s hard to say why the plans have been dropped, some say unions may have blocked the go-ahead worried the airline would be staffed by workers on lower wages than at United Airlines.
United is offering free economy tickets to any of its or Star Alliance�s international destinations for first and business class travellers.
All that�s required is a purchase of an international roundtrip ticket in one of those classes before September 14. There are no limits on how many tickets can be earned.
Star Alliance partners include Singapore and Thai airlines.
Meanwhile, United�s freebie has urged its competitors to offer similar deals.
American Aadvantage, Continental OnePass and Northwest WorldPerks are offering almost identical deals and in the same time frame.
Alaska Airlines is offering its Mileage Plan members 1,500 bonus points for taking out one of their vacations packages.
America West FlightFund � voted Best Elite Level program at the recent Freddie Awards � will fast track members to the Silver Elite status if they book six round trips with the airline before the end of September.
In Canada, Membership Rewards members who transfer their points into Delta SkyMiles before August 31 will get a 34 percent bonus.
Delta is offering 15,000 SkyMiles for business class passengers flying from the US to Europe and up to 10,000 for economy class travellers.
