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Qantas Telstra Visa Card has taken out the best international frequent traveller credit card at America's
Freddie Awards last month. It's the second year in a row that the card has claimed the award in the 14-year-old competition. The judges awarded the prize because the card offered the best combined benefits and opportunities to earn bonus miles or points.
The tough fight for the Australian flier may soon force Virgin to consider launching some type of reward program to lure a stable pool of customers, especially the frequent business traveller. So far the no-frills carrier has resisted the option of starting up a program but there are rumours of a discount Virgin credit card heading for Australia later this year. If this happens who's to say a frequent flyer program tied into the card won't be lurking just around the corner?
"20 Minutes or 20,000 Miles." That's the innovative catch-cry from America's Delta Shuttle which is running a prompt service promotion. The company's offering 20,000 bonus miles if it takes its frequent flyers more than 20 minutes to get through the check-in on routes between Boston or New York and Washington D.C. Delta is showing off its improved security clearance processes.
It's the type of service Qantas should take notice of. Following the collapse of Ansett,
Qantas check-ins have grown long tails, with an increasing number of
frustrated customers are reportedly forced to wait longer for the
backlog to clear. Qantas says it's addressing the problems with plans to
increase the number of counters and plans to start separate check-ins
for business customers. There are also plans for a $50million lounge
facelift, starting with Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane terminals.
Albury hosted a special three-day air safety forum
recently. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority held the series, which
focused on the latest in aircraft maintenance, safety management,
understanding weather and pilot decision making.
Perth travellers will benefit from Virgin's decision to
add another return flight to its Melbourne to Perth return leg. The
additional morning service from Melbourne is aimed at demand from
business and leisure travellers, says Virgin. The return flight will
leave Perth at lunch-time. Virgin Blue has also introduced connections
for travellers between Brisbane and Sydney to Perth.
The new kid on the block is taking bigger and bigger
chunks out of the flying kangaroo with Virgin vowing to snatch 50
percent of Australia's domestic aviation market. Virgin has set itself a
tough course and will almost certainly have to look to non-leisure
markets to maintain and strengthen its presence in the skies. Meantime
Qantas has answered the challenge launching a line of Boeing 717s on new
regional trips and issuing 1.5million discount tickets. And then there's
Qantas' Australian Airlines targeting Asia-bound holiday makers due to
start in October. And yes, you will be able to earn Qantas Frequent
Flyer points on the new Australian Airlines! Virgin isn't far behind
though, with Richard Branson hinting a link up between Virgin Blue and
Virgin Atlantic to service the Asia-Australia market.
Not one to be left behind, Virgin's boss Richard Branson
says he'll soon buy an extra 40 aircraft worth more than $3.5billion to
increase the number of flights on some of its routes. Sir Richard is
hoping the cheap airfares will drive demand on local flights sky-high,
perhaps doubling by 2005. Virgin has recently entered into a partnership
with Patrick Corporation which is worth $260million.
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