Established (http://www.airlinecustomeradvocate.com.au/General/Default.aspx) 01 July.

Where's the popcorn? This will be funny!:}

Given it is not a public department what's the story? Is it some backdoor way of a law firm trying to drum up lawsuits?

The ACA is funded by the participating airlines.

Owned and operated by Qantas, apparently...Whois lookup entry (http://tools.whois.com.au/whois/?domain=airlinecustomeradvocate.com.au&rd=1)

Whois response for airlinecustomeradvocate:
Domain Name airlinecustomeradvocate.com.au
Last Modified 29-Jun-2012 02:34:20 UTC
Registrar ID Melbourne IT (http://javascript<b></b>:whoisQuery('REGISTRAR ID Melbourne IT');)
Registrar Name Melbourne IT (http://www.melbourneit.com.au/)
Status ok
Registrant Qantas Airways Limited
Registrant ID ABN 16009661901
Eligibility Type Company
Registrant Contact ID 06641O1296575
Registrant Contact Name Bradley Tate
Registrant Contact Email qfdnsadmin@<hidden> (Emailqfdnsadmin@<hidden>)
Tech Contact ID 06642T1296575
Tech Contact Name Bradley Tate
Tech Contact Email qfdnsadmin@<hidden> (Emailqfdnsadmin@<hidden>)
Name Server ns3.netregistry.net (http://javascript<b></b>:whoisQuery('HOST ns3.netregistry.net');)
Name Server ns1.netregistry.net (http://javascript<b></b>:whoisQuery('HOST ns1.netregistry.net');)
Name Server ns2.netregistry.net (http://javascript<b></b>:whoisQuery('HOST ns2.netregistry.net');)

Under the about us tab......

The Airline Customer Advocate (ACA) provides a free and independent service to eligible customers of major Australian airlines by facilitating the resolution of unresolved complaints about airline services.

Not really independant is it? Couldn't be trying to dig up dirt on other airlines could they? :suspect: And nowhere do they disclose their rather direct link to QANTAS only.

Given it is not a public department what's the story? Is it some backdoor way of a law firm trying to drum up lawsuits?

5 seconds on Google would tell you that it is set up by the Federal Government and the Advocate is appointed by the Transport Minister. It is funded by the participating airlines.

The fact that the domain name is owned by Qantas is a bit suspect. The whole thing is a toothless tiger anyway because the Advocate has no power to make binding decisions.

I heard a spokeswoman from them interviewed by phone on ABC radio this morning. After she used the phrase "The airlines are committed to this process" twice, Red Symons hung up on her. I was rolling on the floor laughing.

Oh please tell me that's true! That made my day.

Oh it's true dude... she was "GONGED" in olde Red style...:O

Audio link.... That's all I want for xmas.... Please tell me it is on teh interwebs somewhere..... Please...

Can anyone find a Red Symons morning show on ABC 774 Melbourne Podcasts? I can't find it. Stubbsy has one but I can't see one for Red.

Can they silence screaming babies? That's all that really matters when I am SLF.