Undoubtedly the most satisfying way to earn frequent flyer points is on somebody else's pocket.  Earning points whilst traveling for business is clearly a huge perk for those whose employment requires air travel.  The downfall of such an attractive prospect comes if an employer prohibits the use of frequent flyer points earned while traveling for company business.  A German company did exactly that!

The German executive had earned enough points to secure himself over $11,000 worth of free flights when his employer claimed ownership of the points.  The disgruntled employee took the matter to court to establish the ownership of the points.  The judge ruled in favour of the employer stating that frequent flyer points collected on business trips belonged to the company that paid for the trip.  The court ruled that points earned whilst flying for business purposes could be used by the employee only at the discretion of the company.

The case may set an unfortunate precedent for further litigation, it is the first to declare that companies have the right to use frequent flyer points earned on business trips to subsidize future business trips.  It is estimated companies could save as much as 10 percent of their travel costs by commandeering their employees' air miles.

One can only hope Australian companies do not follow suit.

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Commuting By Air

Our members discuss the wonderful world of commuting by air.  Add your experiences HERE.

Best Fare of the Day Policy

It seems companies all around Australia are instituting 'the best fare of the day' policy which means when flying for company business, employees must fly on the best priced flight of the day.  DISCOVER our member's tricky tactics for getting the flight they want at the companies expense.

Quarantine Query

One member discusses the possibility that quarantine determines who bypasses x-ray based on what country the passenger has spent the most time in.  DISCUSS your view here.

Organising Abbreviations and Acronyms

One member has taken the initiative and began a very useful thread listing all the acronyms and abbreviations used on this site.  THIS GUIDE is perfect for a newbie or anyone else a little befuddled by the frequent flyer dialect.

First Class vs. Business Class

Is the jump from business class to first class worth it?  One member makes the valid point that there is a greater difference between economy and business than business and first.  Whilst, another member is adamant that once you've experienced first class, you'll never go back.  Follow the discussion HERE.

The Veracity of Virgin Velocity

A few months on, our members DISCUSS if joining virgin's loyalty program was worth the effort.  The consensus seems to be it is providing a little healthy competition to Qantas.

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Jetstar Job Joke

Jetstar has taken cost-cutting to new and unheard of lengths.  The airline is charging would-be international flight attendants $89.00 for a job interview.  The $89 fee does not even cover the fee for a medical examination if the applicant is a success.  The charge covers a $40 personality test fee and a $49 fee for a security check.

Jetstar management alleged the airline receives no economic benefit from the fee but is rather an efficient method of recouping costs.  So far, Jetstar have had a reported 1000 expressions of interest for the 240 long-haul crew jobs currently up for grabs.

Stranded Soccer Team Blames Jetstar

Jetstars' reputation received a further battering last month with reports that Jetstar staff refused to help a group of Hobart school soccer team whose flight home from Melbourne was cancelled.

It's alleged the boys were asked to leave the airport after their flight was cancelled as the terminal was closing.  The boys and their parents were not offered accommodation for the evening but instead were forced to spend the night at another terminal.  Jetstar claims the boys were displaying aggressive behaviour and their removal from the terminal was a security measure.

Jetstar Not Ready to Fly International Qantas Pilots Warn

To continue the current theme of Jetstar bashing, Qantas pilots last month raised safety concerns over the ability of Jetstar to fly international routes.  The pilots seek the new Jetstar international services to be delayed amid anxiety about the type of aircraft used to fly over remote stretches of ocean.

The pilots warned the civil aviation authority that giving Jetstar permission to fly routes that take them up to 180 minutes away form emergency airports would expose the public to unacceptable risk.

Air Travel Increase

Qantas has carried 2.75 million more passengers in May this year compared to May 2005.  This represents a 6.1% increase in passengers overall.  Virgin Blue have reported an increase of 7.6% in overall passengers.

With both airlines in the black, it is evident healthy competition will remain in Australia for some time.

Qantas to offer in-flight Internet

Qantas is set to offer in-flight Internet when it starts flying its new fleet of Airbus A380�s.  Travellers will have fast broadband access to internet, email, sms and telephone to ensure travellers can stay in touch throughout their journey.

The new technology is said to become available mid 2007.

The head of Boeing, Alan Mulally suggested last month that plastic planes are the way of the future.  Mulally suggested all of Boeings planes would be made from non-metal materials or composites in the coming years.

Critics of the proposal suggest it is a misguided prediction, unlikely to get off the ground (pardon the pun!). Boeing admitted the technology is unlikely to be available until the middle of next decade.

The idea, however, should not be prematurely dismissed.  Mr Mulally said composite material would be used to build up to 50% of each aircraft and would significantly reduce the cost of building and maintaining them.  Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner- which is expected to make its first flight next year is already being constructed using some carbon fibre-reinforced plastic composites.

The need for a material that is strong, light and does not corrode may make plastic a fantastic alternative.