Oz Gold members - get 10,000 bonus points now.

Well that is how it looks to me anyway. In typical Star Alliance ham-fisted style I do not think this has been announced to eligible fliers, despite it already being in operation for some weeks. I saw this by accident when looking up a fare on UA Australia website. If it has been posted before, my apologies. The offer is at:

http://www.star-alliance.com/cgi-bin/sa.storefront/


Get 5,000 bonus points every time you fly. Plus we'll match your current frequent flyer status.

There's never been a better time to be a member of a Star Alliance airline frequent flyer program. That's because we'll give Australian residents 5,000 bonus points or miles with every eligible outbound flight taken from Australia. Plus to add another cherry on the cake, if you hold the equivalent of Gold or Silver status within your current frequent flyer program, we'll match it. To register, please click here.

Terms and conditions - Offer open only to residents of Australia.

To earn bonus points or miles and status match, you must fly on an outbound flight from Australia that is eligible for points or mileage accrual and operated by: Air Canada - Air New Zealand - Lauda Air - Singapore Airlines - Thai Airways - United Airlines.

Bonus points or miles promotion period is August 7 - November 30, 2002.

Bonus points or miles do not count towards tier status.

Bonus points or miles are awarded by the frequent flyer program for which you are registered.

Bonus points or miles will be posted to your account 6-8 weeks after your flight.

Status match promotion period is August 7 - September 30, 2002.

Customers will be awarded the Star Alliance Gold or Star Alliance Silver level that is equivalent to their current status in their non-Star Alliance frequent flyer program.

Members with current Star Alliance Gold or Star Alliance Silver level cannot earn equivalent status in another Star Alliance program.

Former Ansett Global Rewards members who were Diamond, Platinum or Sapphire levels must provide proof of their status during the period January 1 - September 14, 2001.

etc

I registered and got this email

Your registration is complete. You are now eligible to receive 5,000 bonus points every time you fly from Australia on an eligible outbound flight operated by a Star Alliance airline. Your bonus points will be posted to your account 6 - 8 weeks after your flight. Offer valid August 7 - November 30, 2002.

Seems to me that for a Gold member they will give us 10,000 unexpected points, for flights after August 7. Well thats how I read it. There does not seem to be a limit either of number of times you can do it. As Joh and flew to the USA on August 8, that timing was pretty sweet.

Offer also does NOT specify 'round trip' AFAIK, which is of great interest, as it would apply to RTW journeys I imagine? That $US800 Star RTW from Australia I highlighted in The Buzz recently would be all the nicer with 10,000 extra miles added to it.

Or a $400 type ($US200) cheapie R/T SYD-AKL on TG or Air NZ is almost worth doing for the extra 10,000 miles, as a NZ Gold up (I presume?) earns 10,720 miles normally on the flight - thus 20,720 miles for about $US200.

Interesting also that ex-Ansett Elites are included in the offer.

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~ Glen ~

[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 08-24-2002).]