** The Australian Frequent Flyer Gazette - November, 2000 **
A FREE newsletter for Qantas Frequent Flyers, Ansett Global Rewards and Fly Buys members sponsored by The Australian Frequent Flyer.
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Contents:
1. Editor's Note
2. Travel Tips
3. Did You Remember?
4. The Airlines Lowdown
5. Bonus Points and Competitions Promotions
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1- Editor’s Note
Well, there is so much news for November’s edition of the Frequent Flyer Gazette that I don’t know where to fit it all in! Most importantly, the Australian Frequent Flyer Web site has had a fabulous new makeover, proving we are at the forefront of the Internet travel industry. Visit our new-look site at www.frequentflyer.com.au. You will notice our new partners on the ‘Netwaves’ - Asiatravelmart.com so you can book your airfares online, and Wishlist.com.au for all your travel product needs - we’ve thought of everything!
We were also written up in the October 20 edition of BRW. Journalist James Kirby examined the Australian Frequent Flyer’s PocketMiles software, which enables you to download a program that tracks and analyses frequent flyer information from airlines including American Airlines, Ansett, Lufthansa, Qantas and United Airlines. In August, the Australian Frequent Flyer became the first of an estimated 100,000 software developers to register a frequent flyer software application with Palm Inc. You can find the artice at www.brw.com.au/frame.asp?page=/stories/20001020/7556.htm Remember, you can download your free evaluation copy at www.pocketmiles.com.
While you’re being dazzled by the new Australian Frequent Flyer Web site, don’t forget to visit Best Fare (www.bestfare.com.au) Name your price for a trip, and let us try to find a travel agent who will accept your offer!
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2 - Travel Tips
Often when travelling overseas you find yourself needing lots of small change for tollbooths, vending machines, laundromats, public transport - almost anything. Rather than carry your wallet around in an easily accessible spot (and risk getting it stolen), a good idea is to keep your spare change in an old film canister. They’re waterproof, small enough to store in the pocket of your bag, and will never hold enough money in them to be an issue if they do get pinched. And you won’t have to keep bringing out your wallet or purse so no-one will know where you keep it!
Constant business travelling is the dieters’ worst nightmare. Even for those not watching their weight know those last-minute meetings and time differences can lead to a spate of unhealthy meals, and often there is no time to do anything about it. Eating-on-the-run is increasingly becoming an issue for the health-conscious traveller. Here are a few tips to help you eat healthily while on the road: Try to eat a light, healthy meal before a plane flight. Don’t overdo it, as having a very full belly will stop you from sleeping well, especially as your movement is restricted on an aeroplane. Pack lots of low-fat, energy bars to stop you from getting hungry at the wrong times, but don’t rely on them as a meal. Try to eat at the normal times of the day - this will help overcome jetlag also. Finally, restaurants usually serve you more than a one-person serving, so don’t feel compelled to eat everything on your plate when you are eating out.
Not so much a tip as an interesting fact: how much radiation would you say you were receiving during your flights? A story from the London Independent said a study was launched on October 8 to investigate the effects of long-flight radiation on flight crew. A long flight of 35,000ft is said to be the equivalent of one chest X-ray. Since May, all cabin crew on European flights must have regular radiation tests, and most pregnant flight crew members have been assigned ground duties. The study involves attaching radiation-monitoring equipment to Virgin Airlines’ aircraft.
Many travel newsletters are full of warnings issued from DFAT. You can access these warnings from the Department of Foreign Affairs and trade yourself by going to: http://www.dfat.gov.au/consular/advice/index.html. The latest warnings are for the areas of the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Jamaica, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
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3 - Did You Remember?
Have you been paying attention to the media? Quiz yourself on these stories:
Q: Which Frequent Flyer plan leaked personal information about its members earlier this month?
A: SAS (Scandinavia) discovered a loophole in their online Frequent Flyer Web site, allowing personal information about members to be readily accessible by the public. No further information about the loophole is being issued until the issue is resolved (understandably), however, the personal details released included members’ e-mail addresses, mobile phone numbers and home addresses. The Frequent Flyer member who noticed the loophole said he contacted the company three times expressing his concern, but received no answers to his messages.
Q: Which travel organisation has invested in an Internet/telephone booking operation that will directly link to travel consultants?
A: Flight Centre. The initiative was enacted to fulfil its forecasted life in online revenues to $100,000,000 by early 2001. Interesting, considering this quote from Graham Turner, founder of Flight Centre: “Our deliberate policy is not to automate too much. We have found that our highest sales conversion comes from people walking through our stores”, in response to the phenomenal sales by Impulse and Virgin Blue’s Web site specials.
Q: Which Australian Airline bought out 5.4% of SkynetGlobal?
A: Qantas. This follows an earlier plan to rollout high-speed Internet access through the airline's 40 Global Club Lounges.
Q: Where will Virgin Blue launch next?
A: Virgin Blue’s new Brisbane-Adelaide route will begin six weeks ahead of schedule, starting on December 15 with a $149 one-way fare. Virgin will make two return Brisbane-Adelaide flights daily. (As a side note, Virgin Blue auctions its unsold tickets off on the online auction site GoFish.com.au. Melbourne Cup specials and Christmas specials are ones to look out for.)
Q: What effect did ballooning oil prices and the low Aussie dollar have on airfares?
A: Impulse will implement an average 9.5% fare increase across all services from October 23rd.
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4 - The Airlines Lowdown
Malaysia Airlines have opened up their codeshare agreement with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. What will this mean for Australian flyers? An extra 49 services from eight cities in Australia and New Zealand to Europe. These services will be on Malaysian Airlines aircraft (Boeing 747-300).
On a separate note, Malaysian Airlines recently received government approval to hike up its domestic airfares. At this stage the increase will only apply to flights in the peninsula, but it is possible they will extend to Sabah and Sarawak.
British Airways have announced plans to cease their operations to Kuala Lumpur from the end of March 2001. They cite poor sales and adjustments to their global network. Flights will be cut to only five a week as of distribution of this newsletter and would cease totally by April next year.
News from the U.S.: In America, even though (from the airlines’ point of view) selling a ticket over the Internet is the cheapest way to sell a ticket, many airlines do not tell people booking flights over the phone that there are cheaper alternatives on the Internet. This is all set to change, as the US Department of Transportation has issued an order that requires airlines to inform customers booking flights over the phone if there are cheaper alternative flights on their Web site. The idea is to avoid discrimination against people who don’t use the Internet. Some Internet analysts have slammed the ruling, saying that due to the large quantity of flights being sold on a daily basis, it would be near impossible to track and compare all flights available. In the U.S. Web site bookings account for 58% of all flights sold, while in Australia the figure is a mere 10%.
StarNet will share information with 15 Start Alliance Members. StarNet is an IT system which allows online and real time access to airlines without changing existing computer systems.
It’s not only the Australian Frequent Flyer that has had a makeover - Impulse Airlines are revamping their image in a bid to keep up with ‘Snazzy Branson’s’ Virgin image. $2.5 million will be spent on advertising, including items such as regional turboprops, new livery for the airline’s jets, new terminal signage, promotional material and uniforms.
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5 - Best of Bonus Points and Competitions for November!
Impulse Airlines:
Impulse Airlines has released over 100,000 discounted seats for January, February and March next year. These seats start at $72 (one way) for Sydney to Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra routes. Conditions: must buy online and travel before the end of March next year.
Virgin Blue:
Want to save up to 30% on flights? Keep your eagle eye on www.virginblue.com.au if you don’t mind paying online. These cheap fares aren’t advertised and appear randomly on the Virgin Blue website.
Ansett and Qantas have released new specials - $99 one-way fares flying between Sydney to Melbourne, Canberra or Brisbane (conditions apply). Melbourne-Brisbane tickets are $297 one-way. You will have to ring Ansett and Qantas for the restrictions on these tickets, or visit their Web sites.
Ansett (full fare):
From Melbourne return to: Sydney - $310 (2 nights) Adelaide - $333 (2 nights) Brisbane - $486 (2 nights) Perth - $680 (3 nights)
From Sydney return to: Melbourne - $332 (2 nights) Adelaide - $443 (2 nights) Brisbane - $321 (2 nights) Perth - $691 (3 nights)
From Brisbane to: Adelaide - $575 (2 nights) Perth - $834 (3 nights) Darwin - $778 (3 nights) Hobart - $641.60 (2 nights)
**Prices are per person twin share from Melbourne. For travel from 1 October 2000 until 15 December 2000, seasonal surcharges apply for travel 16 December until 24 December 2000. Airfares are non-refundable and non-transferable and non-changeable. Special booking, payment, minimum stay away conditions apply and are subject to change without notice. Airfares and accommodation are subject to availability. Price includes GST. Other taxes and duties are not included.
Qantas:
Qantas have changed their online system so that you have to enter your personal details (including your credit card number) before you can even check flight times, which is not so user-friendly. Nonetheless, special Qantas deals this month include (full fare):
From Melbourne return to: Perth - $542 (3 nights) Sydney - $279 (2 nights) Adelaide - $543.20 (3 nights)
From Sydney return to: Perth - $542 (3 nights) Brisbane - $343.20 (2 nights) Adelaide - $654.30 (3 nights)
From Brisbane return to: Sydney - $389 (2 nights) Adelaide - $799.50 (3 nights) Perth - $924.80 (3 nights) Hobart - $629.60 (3 nights)
* * Prices are per person twin share based on low season travel. Seasonal surcharges may apply depending on departure date. Special conditions apply. Government taxes and local authority charges may apply. All prices are quoted in Australian dollars.
FlyBuys:
The biggest bonus points from FlyBuys this month come from Harris Technologies. You’ll get lots of points this month if you purchase specified Kodak digital cameras (1000 points), specified Yamaha products (500 points), specified Logitech products (500 points), Shintara products (1000 points), Xircom Rex products (500 points), or HP products (500 points0. All Harris Technology offers end November 30.
Coles also have some deals if you buy certain Hampers for Christmas (if you are more organised about Christmas than I am!). The bonus points range from 50 - 500, all offers ending Christmas Eve.
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You have received this newsletter because you registered with The Australian Frequent Flyer.
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.
© THE AUSTRALIAN FREQUENT FLYER , 2000.