The situation with Ansett changes daily, so keep up-to-date with all the latest news by visiting www.frequentflyer.com.au. The latest news items, and in particular what they mean for you as loyalty program members, are posted to the home page.

Ansett's administrators have frozen the Ansett Global Rewards program, meaning passengers cannot redeem reward flights with Ansett Mark II or accrue points for flying with the revived airline. Discussions regarding the changes are also taking place on our very busy Bulletin Board.

Finally, this will be my last issue as editor of the Australian Frequent Flyer Gazette. In November I will begin touring around Australia not in a plane, but in a 4WD, and am very much looking forward to it. Thank you to all those kind readers over the past two years who have offered support, tips and their personal stories. Our new editor begins next month, in not one of the quietest periods of Australian aviation history!

And now the news..

1. TRAVEL TIPS
 

SMS Updates

Use SMS technology to be notified of flight departure times. From November 12, Qantas Frequent Flyers, Qantas Club and Chairmans Lounge Members will be notified with an SMS text message if the Qantas or Qantaslink Domestic or Qantas International flight on which they are booked is significantly delayed or cancelled. Register by updating your Frequent Flyer Profile.

Airline Security

The government has issued heightened security guidelines. All knives, sharp objects or cutting implements of any kind and any length (whether of metal or other material) and some sporting goods, must be packed in your checked baggage. They cannot be carried in your cabin baggage or on your person.

Dangerous goods include paper knives, carpet knives, box cutters, letter openers, scissors of any kind, tradesman's tools, screw drivers, cork screws, darts, hypodermic needles, knitting needles, catapults, sporting bats and billiard, snooker or pool cues.

US Travel

Most major airports in the United States have returned to normal operations, with some operating on a 'proportionate' basis until full operations are resumed. Because of heightened security at United States airports, travellers should check in at least 2 hours before their flight on domestic routes and 3 hours before their scheduled international flight. Be prepared for delays as a result of the additional security measures in place.

How can you help?

As increased security measures require more checking of baggage, you can help by arriving early at the airport prior to your flight, being patient and co-operative with airline and security personnel, and minimising hand luggage (check with the airline - some have reduced hand luggage to bare essentials).

Travel Warnings

The government is urging all Australians considering travel to the Middle East, Central and South-West Asia to review their travel plans. If you decide to proceed with travel to these areas, you should exercise great care. Travellers should avoid any large public gatherings or demonstrations and keep themselves well informed of developments that might affect their safety.

Travel warnings can be found at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade web site: www.dfat.gov.au

2. THE REWARD PROGRAMS' LOWDOWN -  ANSETT UPDATES
 

Some flights honoured

Ansett will begin flying some Australian passengers who have paid for flights by Bankcard, Mastercard or Visa before Ansett was placed into voluntary administration.

Eligible passengers who used any Australian brand of Visa, Mastercard or Bankcard to make forward bookings through Ansett's merchant facility will soon be contacted by the airline to reconfirm their travel itineraries.

Pre-confirmed flights will be available during the administration to eligible passengers who booked and paid for flights on e-tickets scheduled for or after October 8, 2001, by either Bankcard, Mastercard or Visa, on routes now serviced by Ansett (to see these routes, go to the bottom of the newsletter).

For latest information on Ansett, visit www.frequentflyer.com.au.

Star Alliance reverses decision

The Star Alliance will not honour frequent flyer trips booked in the weeks before Ansett's collapse. Contrary to its original position, it will now only accept tickets issued before the airline's grounding on September 14, and that are in the passengers' possession.

Elite Status
Ansett Global Rewards customers with Star Alliance Gold level status will continue to receive the following benefits: priority reservation, waitlist, airport standby, boarding, award travel and check in; additional baggage allowance and world wide airport departure lounge access. Ansett Global Rewards customers with Star Alliance Silver level status will continue to receive Star Alliance silver benefits, including: priority reservation waitlist and airport standby.

Class action to redeem Global Reward points

A Melbourne law firm is considering the possibility of launching a class action against Ansett's former directors. Cohen Woolf and Weinberg have begun collecting details of creditors, ticket holders and frequent flyer points holders. The class action would depend on whether Ansett board members had breached their duties in presiding over the airline's decline and collapse. Michael Lipshutz, partner, said: "They would owe a duty of care to Ansett's customers not to allow them to rack up points and buy tickets when that was happening".
                 
Our View
Before committing yourself to any class action, make sure you understand:
1) What are (if any) the up-front costs in joining the class action?
2) What is the fee (usually a deduction from any benefits awarded) the lawyers will be charging? Is this dependant on them winning the case, or do you have to pay it anyway?
3) Does joining their class action restrict your ability to join another class action, or initiate your own legal action?

Class action is usually a long (we can be talking years) and expensive process; there is no guarantee of success, and the benefits received by the individual participants is often small (compared to the lawyer's fee).

Our view is that it is probably better to wait and see what happens. Our strategy of applying consumer pressure is already delivering great results. We are not yet at the end of the road - class action should be a last resort and may be unnecessary in this case.

For the time being, Global Rewards points cannot be earned or burned. It is possible in the future the program may be reinstated.

How can I tell which airline my ticket was issued from?

Look on either the top right hand corner or the bottom centre of the ticket. There should be an airline code on your ticket. This tells you which airline the ticket was issued from. Airline codes are as follows:
Air New Zealand: 086
Ansett: 090
Singapore Airlines: 618
All Nippon Airways: 205
Austrian Airlines: 257
British Midland Airways: 236
Lauda Air: 231
Thai Airways International: 217
Tyrolean Airways: 734
United Airlines: 016

Can I redeem my points for travel on Singapore Airlines?

No.

Can my Ansett ticket be used on a Qantas service?

If you bought your ticket from Ansett and:
1. it was issued before 13th September for travel on a Qantas flight, Qantas will accept your ticket. They will not accept any tickets which were originally booked for travel on Ansett flights and then transferred to Qantas flights.
2. it was issued by Ansett after 13th September 2001, Qantas won't accept your ticket. NB: Qantas will not accept any tickets issued by Ansett for Ansett flights.

When does the Special Assistance Fare time period expire?

All travel on Special Assistance Fares must be commenced and completed by 31 October 2001. You can earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points travelling on a Special Assistance Fare, if you are a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer programme. Virgin Blue also have an assistance fare. More information can be found at www.virginblue.com.au.

Where can I find out more about the Travel Compensation Fund?

http://www.tcf.org.au/annual_report/defaultansett.asp

Virgin Blue