1- Editor’s Note

Welcome to the last edition of the Australian Frequent Flyer Gazette for the famed Year 2000. It seems that this year everyone has jumped on the Internet travel bandwagon - even Qantas have managed to roll out their Frequent Flyer portal. Internet bookings from Impulse Airlines have jumped from an initial 15% to over 60%, and they have just introduced their own Frequent Flyer program!

I hope you enjoy reading the last Gazette for the year, and if you would like to e-mail any information the Gazette, the address is [email protected]. We will be taking a break in January, so the next edition of the Gazette will be out in February - we look forward to new aviation adventures in 2001. Have a happy and safe holiday!!!

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2 - Travel Tips

Q: What is the Impulse Airlines Frequent Flyer program called?

A: Impulse Freebies. It is not a loyalty program in the traditional sense, but is an innovative scheme to encourage travellers to stick with their airline. It basically gives one free flight for ten direct flights flown at the carrier's economy fare rate. Every time you fly on a full economy fare, make sure you hang onto your customer receipt. Collect 10 receipts, place them in an Impulse FREEBIES folder and then forward the information to their National Reservations Centre. There they will process your requested FREEBIE flight within 48 hours of receipt of the info.

Q: Which airline recently went on a Christmas shopping spree?

A: Qantas bought 13 Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft, six Boeing Longer-Range 747-400 aircraft with enhanced performance capability to handle growth on international long haul routes, and 12 Airbus A3XX aircraft for delivery between 2006 and 2011 to meet passenger growth on selected long haul routes. How much? Chairman Jackson estimates US$4.6 billion over the next 10 years. At today's exchange rate this is approximately A$9 billion.

Q: Whose 80th birthday occurred during November?

A: Qantas celebrated their 80th birthday by - what else - releasing a CD, and enhancing their Web site at www.qantas.com.au. The CD features singers and musicians aged eight to 18, and is called ‘The Spirit of Australia’. The Web site had historical information, e-cards - on-line postcards that can be emailed to friends and family with a personalised message - downloadable wallpaper, and a screensaver. There was also an interactive game based on an actual event from the airline's past that involved one of the founders of Qantas returning a satchel a passenger had left on board by dropping it from an aircraft onto a train.

Q: Where can you find information about airlines and commercial aviator operations on the Web?

A: Air travellers now have access to detailed new information on airlines and commercial aviation operators across Australia. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is opening up official aviation documentation to the public for the first time. Important certificates issued to airlines and other aviation organisations are now available on the Internet. Air Operators Certificates (http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/aoc/index.htm) are issued to organisations undertaking commercial flying in Australia, while Certificates of Approval (http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/coa/index.htm) are issued to aviation maintenance organisations.

Q: Who introduced WAP at their airline this month?

A: Now Ansett customers can access flight departure and arrival information, gate information and flight status, via mobile phones with WAP technology. You can also access all Star Alliance schedules and even check your Global Rewards points balance. You can also use your Palm Pilot to manage your reward programs from the palm of your hand, by tracking and reconciling your points, determining where they can take you, and calculate how many points you need. Read more at www.pocketmiles.com.

Impulse Airlines will be moving house from December 4 onwards. Their new home will be the Domestic Express Terminal in Melbourne, just to the left of the Ansett terminal.

For those who missed it, there was an interesting interview on Channel Nine’s Business Sunday program with Gerry McGowan, CEO of Impulse Airlines, and Brett Godfrey, CEO of Virgin Blue, by reporter Michael Pasco about the future of the airlines. A full transcript of the interview can be accessed here: http://finance.ninemsn.com.au/businesssunday/Interviews/stories/story_1318.asp and here: http://finance.ninemsn.com.au/businesssunday/Interviews/stories/story_1317.asp. The main topics covered were Impulse’s obstacles to expansion, how they perceived the ‘threat’ from companies like Virgin Blue, Impulse’s proposed float in 2002, and the state of Sydney Airport, the profitability of both airlines, and Virgin Blue’s relationship with the troubled Virgin Express.

The previous week there was also an interview with Qantas’ new chairperson, Margaret Jackson, by Helen McCombie. Read this interview at http://finance.ninemsn.com.au/businesssunday/Interviews/stories/story_1313.asp. The interview mainly covers Jackson’s expected management style.

Even though Media Watch’s Paul Barry will be greatly missed, it seems like Australia is full of aspiring Media Watch hawkeyes! Last month I issued a statement about the Qantas Web site, saying you had to enter your credit card details before you can check flight times. In fact, if you wish to check schedules through the 'Internet Bookings' button and you are not a Qantas Frequent Flyer, you do need to enter your name, telephone number and e-mail address. If you are a QFF, after logging in, you only need to confirm your details…one to the readers.

Speaking of Qantas, their new portal for their Frequent Flyers has been rolled out at www.qantasfrequentflyers.com.au. Not as snazzy as our site, which you can find at www.frequentflyer.com.au, but they look remarkably similar don’t they?? At the Qantas site you can explore the Qantas Portfolio of Financial Services with ANZ, Citibank and Macquarie Bank, Qantas Mobiles with Telstra, and Qantas Box Office with online bookings from January 1.

Virgin Blue will increase frequency on its Brisbane-Melbourne route on December 8, introducing a 7.00am Melbourne departure to Brisbane allowing business people a full working day in Queensland

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Impulse Airlines:

Impulse still are running their Web Hot specials, and will be until March 31 2001. These specials include $72 between the capital cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane or Canberra. They run on what Impulse call their ‘use it or lose it’ policy - non refundable, non transferable, no upgrades. There are a limited number of flights at these prices, so if you are intending to use them, a bit of planning wouldn’t go astray.

Virgin Blue:

Ansett:

FlyBuys:

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The Australian Frequent Flyer is independently owned and is not affiliated with Ansett, Qantas or Fly Buys. While every effort has been made to ensure accurate information in this newsletter, it should be regarded as a guide only. You are advised to confirm all details before making any travel arrangements.

All information published in The Australian Frequent Flyer Gazette has been made available for public use. This information is freely available and subject to change without notice.