This month we look at how Australian residents can use overseas rewards programs as an alternative to the Qantas and Ansett programs with significant benefits (depending on individual circumstances).

We are planning some major enhancements to our site. Before we get too carried away with our own enthusiasm we want to check in with you. To ensure that we are addressing your needs we have compiled a brief (eight question) survey, which shouldn't take more than five minutes to complete.

We would be most appreciative if you could complete the survey. We are offering those readers that fill out the survey either a $10 discount off our popular Award Booking Service OR a $10 discount off the PocketMiles licence fee. The survey can be found at www.frequentflyer.com.au/survey1.htm.

And now the news... 

1. TRAVEL TIPS
 

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has uncovered that Mondays and Fridays in peak hours and during school holidays often have no room set aside for frequent flyers bookings (awards bookings).

If a flight starts booking almost a year ahead of the departure time, Qantas and Ansett allocate a set rate of frequent flyer seats founded on an analysis of that route and previous bookings. This means, obviously, some flights will have no seats available to redeem on awards points, but others will have more seats available. Therefore, your best chance of grabbing an award seat comes in the first days of a flight opening so, as you've heard before, book well in advance. However, as some readers know, just before the flight leaves more awards seats booking may become available - but not if it is a busy flight.

Each airport in a city has a unique identifying code, which is often used to book online fares. A great resource can be found at http://codes.managementreporting.com/.

If you really want to get somewhere with no delays on your flight, you will have more chance of that happening if you book an early morning flight. Once a delay happens during the day, it is likely to affect the flights succeeding it on the schedule. Try also to get a non-stop flight if possible.

2. THE REWARD PROGRAMS' LOWDOWN
 

We are running an ongoing analysis into ways that travellers who fly a lot of international routes can use the alliance programs for maximum benefit. This month we'll look at American Airlines and United Airlines for those travellers that make a lot of trips to the U.S.

It is worthwhile remembering that just because you live in Australia, it doesn't mean that an Australian rewards program is the best for your needs. Local travel on a (Australian) partner airline will still earn points on the non-Australian frequent flyer program. For convenience's sake, we'll take a look at the points earned and burned on the Sydney-Melbourne and Sydney-Los Angeles routes.

Qantas Frequent Flyer members

Qantas Frequent Flyer can be transferred to AAdvantage (American Airlines) points on a point-for-point basis if you are a member of both programs, as part of the oneworld alliance program. (Update for clarification: one cannot actually transfer points between the programs. One can earn/ redeem AAdvantage points on Qantas flights, or one can earn/redeem Qantas Frequent Flyer points on American Airline flights. Apologies if this caused any confusion. As always, these offers are subject to conditions and you should always check with the airlines for the latest information.)

Ansett Global Rewards members

Ansett Global Rewards points can be transferred to United Airlines Mileage Plus points on a point-for-point basis if you are a member of both programs, as part of the Star Alliance. (Update for clarification: one cannot actually transfer points between the programs. One can earn/ redeem Mileage Plus points on Ansett flights, or one can earn/redeem Global Reward points on United Airlines flights. Apologies if this caused any confusion. As always, these offers are subject to conditions and you should always check with the airlines for the latest information.)

Notes

1) All flights on Qantas. Current values are quoted, QF have announced changes to their program effective 15 September.
2) Syd-Mel flights on Ansett. Syd-LA flights on United Airlines.
3) All flights on Qantas
4) Syd-Mel flights on Ansett. Syd-LA flights on United Airlines.
5) The same number of points are required for any destination in the US..

So you can see by the table above that if you were a member of UA Mileage Plus it would only take four flights from Sydney to LA to receive a free flight, but it would take a Global Rewards member 4.8 flights (and a Qantas Frequent Flyer member six flights). Also, on United Airlines, it is the same amount of points for any flight in the U.S. (60,000).

The conversion rate table works better for Global Rewards members rather than Frequent Flyer members, but the advantages are still there.

If you are a Mileage Plus member, you can earn one mile for each paid mile of your United Airlines or alliance partner flight, or 500 miles (whichever is greater) on economy flights. On a business flight you earn 125% of the miles flown, and first class receives 150% of miles flown.

Another advantage of the non-Australian programs is that you can top up your account by buying points if necessary if you are short. This is not currently possible on either Global Rewards or Frequent Flyers programs.

This type of arrangement doesn't suit all flyers. Some questions to ask when selecting your frequent flyer program should include:
* Where do you do most of your paid or free travel? If it's in Asia, then consider using the Asian carriers (Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and their alliance partners). Likewise with other destinations.
* What are the programs' partners? One major disadvantage of non-Australian programs is that you cannot accumulate points with your Australian-issued credit card. If you have chosen the Qantas-Telstra Visa Card in order to accumulate points, this plan may not be the way to go.

Stay tuned for our analysis of other overseas frequent flyer programs in future editions of The Gazette. (If you are interested in a particular program, please email us with details and we will do our best to include your nominated program in our analysis.)

Gadgetry galore

To push more people through Heathrow airport with less delays James-Bond style, the airport is introducing a new eye-scanning device at customs and immigration control in October. It may mean the end of queues at immigration, visa and passports. A camera registers the passenger's iris patterns, and the whole process takes less than two seconds. The passenger's iris pattern may be coupled with a passport number and check-in computer details in the future.

West coast budget flights possible

Rumours have been flying about the possibility of Virgin Blue establishing budget flights to the west coast of Australia. After announcing profits in June, Virgin Blue have rebutted claims that their current fare prices are unsustainable. Virgin Blue will not confirm the rumour, for fear of the major airlines increasing their capacity on the Perth route.

ACCC pushes for accountability on flights

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is pressuring Qantas and Ansett to release details on the exact number of reward seats available on all flights to the 5.5 million members of their schemes. The same investigation also wants the airlines to introduce minimum service standards and better complaints procedures. International airlines' codes of conduct are currently being examined to see whether they are appropriate to the Australian situation.

The ACCC announced it would add an extra three months on to the year-long inquiry into frequent flyer programs to examine hard-to-obtain locations, times when reward flights are impossible to rebate, and to identify routes which have no frequent-flyer seats at all. The investigation has already initiated the introduction of written accountability on the Qantas FF programs, and Global Rewards and FlyBuys programs are looking into overhauls to address action to address misleading conduct.

For example, Ansett had to compensate thousands of passengers after short-changing those taking Singapore Airlines flights earlier in the year, and the Fly Buys scheme was ordered to give 2,000 points to members after misleading them on how to attain bonus credits with a Global Rewards Westpac Visa (when monthly payments are made).

New Global Rewards program

In response to the ACCC investigation, Ansett will be revealing a new Global Rewards program.

$1 Airfares Sold Out

Virgin Blue's $1 airfares to celebrate its first birthday have all sold out. The 1000 seats that were sold were worth over $100,000. At least 30,000 more customers tried for $1 airfares and were unsuccessful. Just after midnight on Friday, Virgin Blue experienced 22 times their highest volume previously recorded on the Web site.

Frequent Flyer email updates for QFF members

Qantas hopes in the near future to send out last-minute emails to advise program member of available seats on flights that have not been filled.

New look economy meals on Qantas

Qantas has a new menu and new environmentally friendly packaging for their economy class meals. You will now receive a space saving meal box instead of the tray service for snacks, lunch and weekend breakfasts on most domestic economy flights. The cup you drink from will be converted into buckets, planter pots, recycling crates, cable reels and other injection moulded products. See more at www.visyrecycling.com.au/qantas.

Fly Buys

Columbus Direct is offering frequentflyer.com.au readers a discount of 10% off their already discounted travel insurance policies. Visit http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/insurance.htm to find out more. (Note that to get the discount, you will need to book your policy from this link.)