Ansett Australia will honour points earned under its frequent flyer program to all Singapore Airlines passengers until 30 June 1996 following action by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

"Ansett has offered court enforceable undertakings to allocate Ansett Australia Frequent Flyer points to participants who have flown any class of Singapore Airlines flights," ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today.

"Information circulated to award program participants in Ansett's Travelling Life magazine and its Member's Mini Guide had indicated that points would be awarded for Singapore Airline flights, although the detailed terms and conditions of the program did not allow points for economy class passengers.

"The ACCC considered the Travelling Life promotion and Member's Mini Guide booklet were misleading or deceptive. Ansett acknowledged that the information may have misled program participants and co-operated with the ACCC in resolving this matter.

"Ansett has agreed to:

  • remove the Mini Guide and the December-January issue of Travelling Life from circulation;
  • place corrective advertising in the next two issues of Travelling Life.
  • The advertising will offer points to passengers who travelled or are booked to travel as economy or discount economy class passengers on Singapore Airlines;
  • allocate AAFF points at the rate of one point per kilometre for economy class travel and 0.7 points per kilometre for discount economy class to those passengers who can prove they took Singapore Airlines flights or are booked to travel on Singapore Airlines up until 30 June;
  • to include in all frequent flyer application forms a statement that a person can request a copy of the AAFF Terms and Conditions prior to applying for membership;
  • to continue updating, developing and implementing a comprehensive trade practices education program; and
  • to provide for an annual independent audit of effectiveness of the compliance program and to report to the ACCC on its effectiveness for three years."