Hi all

As you will know Impulse Airlines are now actively competing with Qantas and Ansett.

Ansett and Qantas are matching Impulse's prices but there is still one very important differentiating feature as far as the existing carriers go. Impulse does not have a frequent flier program whilst Ansett and Qantas do.

This means that fliers have a choice of airlines at a set price but only two of the three will give the added benefit of occasional free flights by way of frequent flier points.

Australian fliers aren't fools - they'll make the most of the competition by enjoying the cheap prices AND getting their frequent flier points by choosing to fly Qantas or Ansett.

Even if Impulse do introduce a frequent flier program they then have the additional headache that their route network can't provide award tickets to favorite destinations for Australians eg Bali. They will need to find some partners to make the scheme work.

So this is what they have to do...

1. Introduce a very generous frequent flier scheme (they have plenty of empty seats currently - why not be extra generous?)

2. Get non-Star Alliance and non-Oneworld airline partners to provide award seating to favoured overseas destinations namely...

- KLM (Europe)
- Continental/Northwest (Hawaii to North America)
- Garuda (Bali/Asia)
- Canada 3000 (Fiji, Hawaii, Canada)
- AOM (New Caledonia)

That should easily provide award seats to Los Angeles, London, Paris, Fiji, Hawaii, Bali, Bangkok, Japan etc etc etc

Then the competition would be a little more interesting.

There is also another point that needs to be made. In Australia the existing carriers do not provided a full first class premium product - as I understand it their First Class is really just a rebadged business class. Impulse could provided a genuine first class product including 4 course meals on short flights, neckrubs, oodles of legroom, pampering, premium wines, silver service, legrests, fully reclining seats, personal video (select movie when booking ticket), internet access etc etc etc

Naturally they would charge excessively for this but that's where they could make extra money. I'll bet there are executives out there who would love to be able to utilise this service. And Qantas and Ansett aren't offering it.

cheers peter


[This message has been edited by ffhound (edited 08-06-2000).]