The enhanced program combines a range of new and expanded benefits.

The Qantas Group today unveiled its new Qantas Frequent Flyer program, offering over five million members the option of using points to book any seat on any Qantas or Jetstar flight.

The Chief Executive of Qantas Frequent Flyer, Mr Simon Hickey, said the enhanced program combined a range of new and expanded benefits with the more traditional fixed points redemption option that had been available to members for many years.

"These changes will establish the program as a world leader among loyalty programs in terms of the value it offers members and the breadth of product choices," Mr Hickey said.

He said that from today, Qantas Frequent Flyer members had three different options for obtaining award seats:

• Qantas and Jetstar Any Seat Awards, which allows members to use points for any seat including taxes and charges on any flight with a QF or JQ number. Not all special promotional fares are available as Qantas and Jetstar Any Seat Awards and Award flights must be booked at least 24 hours before scheduled departure;
• Points Plus Pay, which allows members to use a combination of points and a credit/charge card payment, for Qantas and Jetstar Any Seat Awards and in the Qantas Frequent Flyer online store; and
• Qantas and Partner Classic Awards - the traditional option of using a set number of points for a limited number of seats on Qantas, Jetstar and partner airlines, with no change to the points required.

Mr Hickey said Qantas had analysed feedback from Frequent Flyer program members in Australia and New Zealand as well as assessing the best aspects of loyalty program offerings by major companies around the world to develop the new program.

"The enhancements we are introducing today will make Qantas Frequent Flyer an even more powerful loyalty program, as well as a strong business in its own right," he said.

"Over its 21 year history, Qantas Frequent Flyer has become one of Australia's most popular and recognised loyalty programs. More than five million people are members, and more than 5,000 people join each week.

"Last year, Qantas Frequent Flyer members redeemed points for more than three million seats. Under the new Any Seat Award option, members with sufficient points can access more than three million seats each month in all classes covering more than 140 destinations in 38 countries.

"The Qantas and Jetstar Any Seat Awards are an incredible offering to add to the popular current Classic Awards. Obviously, Any Seat Awards will generally cost more because they reflect the commercial fares available and include all taxes and charges.

"Our research strongly indicates that many of our members want a guaranteed seat on the day they want to travel, and are happy to pay more for this. For other members, who have more flexibility in their itineraries, we are not changing the Classic Awards option."

Mr Hickey said at 9am today, members could have taken advantage of the following Any Seat Award options for return Economy flights inclusive of taxes and charges:

• Sydney-Gold Coast in July (Jetstar) from 18,000 points
• Sydney-Christchurch in July (Jetstar) from 57,012 points
• Melbourne-London in November (Qantas) from 223,925 points
• Sydney-Melbourne in July (Qantas) from 26,792 points

He said members had the opportunity to earn points with more than 350 program partners including airlines, hotels, financial institutions and retailers, and could use their points - or the points plus cash option - to purchase a broad range of merchandise from an expanded online Qantas Frequent Flyer Store.

"The Qantas Frequent Flyer Store now offers an expanded range of more than 700 products and gift vouchers covering everything from hot air ballooning and Qantas Holidays travel, to music downloads from Sony BMG*," Mr Hickey said.

He said Qantas Frequent Flyer would be supported by a new advertising campaign, launched today, that focused on its extensive range of partners and great new rewards.

Key partners include:
Airlines - Qantas, Jetstar, nine oneworld™ alliance partners and 15 other airlines
Cards - ANZ, Westpac, American Express, Diners Club, National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank, St George, Suncorp and Citibank
Cars - Avis, Hertz, Budget, Thrifty, Volvo, Trivett and Beaurepaires
Hotels - Hilton, Choice, Intercontinental, Sofitel, Medina, Best Western and Hyatt
Travel and Travel Services - Travelex, Qantas Holidays, Skimax, Qantas In Sky Shopping, Nuance, DFS, QBE and Cruiseco
Retail and Entertainment - Qantas Box Office, Qantas Frequent Flowers, Cellarmasters, Optus, Fletcher Jones and Qantas Frequent Flyer collection
Finance, Business and Real Estate - LJ Hooker, E-Trade, Leveraged Equities, SNAP Printing and Rental Rewards