Qantas Reaps Windfall In Frequent Flyers.
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Qantas Reaps Windfall In Frequent Flyers.
Airline reaps windfall
By: KAREN COLLIER
QANTAS stands to reap tens of millions of dollars as ditched frequent flyers defect from Ansett.
Thousands of passengers are paying up to $82.50 to join the airline's loyalty program after Ansett's downfall.
Qantas yesterday said that official figures were unavailable, but confirmed that membership had swelled since Ansett's rival scheme was frozen last month.
Qantas had about 2.8 million frequent flyers worldwide before Ansett's collapse.
Industry analysts believe it could gain up to one million more over coming months in a huge loyalty coup.
The frequent flyer scramble has sparked fears that prized free flights on domestic routes will become even tougher to secure.
Westpac is believed to have struck a deal with Qantas and other carriers on behalf of 650,000 credit card holders previously linked with Ansett's Global Rewards scheme.
Former Ansett partner Diners Club has already teamed with Qantas and other international airlines under an expanded loyalty program for 300,000 card holders.
But they will have to pay a $50 fee if they are not already Qantas frequent flyers and want to redeem flight rewards, the Herald Sun has learned.
It usually costs $82.50 to join the Qantas frequent-flyer program, but a discount was arranged for Diners members.
Card holders will also be charged $22 a year to be in the firm's relaunched loyalty system, which also lets spending points be converted into car hire, accommodation, holidays and gift vouchers.
Existing customers will have that fee waived for the first year.
Meanwhile, Ansett's 2.5 million Global Rewards customers are still waiting to learn the fate of stockpiled points in the hands of administrators from accounting firm Andersen.
Lawyers in Melbourne and Adelaide are considering launching class actions for compensation as fury mounts.
Any action would be taken against the Ansett directors, the airline's former owner Air New Zealand, Westpac and Diners Club.
Ansett administrators Mark Mentha and Mark Korda have floated the idea of translating outstanding points into shares in any revived Ansett company.
By: KAREN COLLIER
QANTAS stands to reap tens of millions of dollars as ditched frequent flyers defect from Ansett.
Thousands of passengers are paying up to $82.50 to join the airline's loyalty program after Ansett's downfall.
Qantas yesterday said that official figures were unavailable, but confirmed that membership had swelled since Ansett's rival scheme was frozen last month.
Qantas had about 2.8 million frequent flyers worldwide before Ansett's collapse.
Industry analysts believe it could gain up to one million more over coming months in a huge loyalty coup.
The frequent flyer scramble has sparked fears that prized free flights on domestic routes will become even tougher to secure.
Westpac is believed to have struck a deal with Qantas and other carriers on behalf of 650,000 credit card holders previously linked with Ansett's Global Rewards scheme.
Former Ansett partner Diners Club has already teamed with Qantas and other international airlines under an expanded loyalty program for 300,000 card holders.
But they will have to pay a $50 fee if they are not already Qantas frequent flyers and want to redeem flight rewards, the Herald Sun has learned.
It usually costs $82.50 to join the Qantas frequent-flyer program, but a discount was arranged for Diners members.
Card holders will also be charged $22 a year to be in the firm's relaunched loyalty system, which also lets spending points be converted into car hire, accommodation, holidays and gift vouchers.
Existing customers will have that fee waived for the first year.
Meanwhile, Ansett's 2.5 million Global Rewards customers are still waiting to learn the fate of stockpiled points in the hands of administrators from accounting firm Andersen.
Lawyers in Melbourne and Adelaide are considering launching class actions for compensation as fury mounts.
Any action would be taken against the Ansett directors, the airline's former owner Air New Zealand, Westpac and Diners Club.
Ansett administrators Mark Mentha and Mark Korda have floated the idea of translating outstanding points into shares in any revived Ansett company.
