Must have if you live in Australia (Qantas Frequent Flyer)

Member Name: ANDREWCX

Product:	Qantas Frequent Flyer
Date:	06/06/06 (275 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Near monopoly, can redeem for one-way fares

Disadvantages: More 'expensive' redemptions than many other programs.

Qantas Frequent Flyer may be the least original name for a FF program - and in many ways reflects the basics of the program. It is solid if unexciting, and just competitive enough to be worth it compared to its perceived rivals.

You earn 1 point per mile flown on Qantas and can redeem points for free trips or upgrades on Qantas and its partners (including OneWorld members British Airways & American Airlines).

The program is one of the few in the world to still charge a membership fee (to Australian residents and maybe New Zealand - it is free in the rest of the world).

People living in Australia only have 3 other local programs - Virgin Blue's Velocity, Rex Flyer, and Air New Zealand Airpoints - non have the range of partners or services to earn or redeem that Qantas does and non feels the need to really be competitive (although Virgin Blue likes to play to the press that it is being competitive, in fact it isn't).

Almost every rewards credit card in Australia lets you earn Qantas points so most people are likely to be able to earn miles through that avenue, and Qantas is the only airline with non-credit partners like mortgages, utilities etc in Australia.

Qantas is a great airline in many ways, and in Australia QFF is a good program - compared to most US programs it looks uncompetitive but then again Qantas still makes a profit so perhaps their model is more sustainable and those points are more likely to retain their value.

Final recommendation: If you live in Australia and travel or want to travel you should join. In the rest of the world it may be better to look at a local program or at American Airlines AAdvantage program.

(Disclaimer - I am a shareholder in both Qantas and Virgin Blue)

Summary: Solid program in near monopoly position offers value for Australians