Qantas increasingly enforcing 'two-factor' account verification

18 replies

NSunners

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 30 Oct 2018

Total posts 4

Last night I had a flight out of Auckland cancelled and was offered changes as usual. But I couldn't accept the changes because I was asked to verify myself via text message - something I never set. I never got that text message then realising my phone plan couldn't accept Australian calls in New Zealand. So I tried to enter my details but the website said they were wrong and locked my account. I had no choice but to call to sort out the issue - thankfully I only waited 5 minutes despite the call centre saying 3 hours, I hang up then rang again. The agent was able to accept my flight (although he couldn't unlock my account) told me in the last couple of weeks Qantas were increasingly enforcing two factor verification. Has anyone else had similar problems, particularly when outside Australia?

patrickk

Qantas

Member since 19 Apr 2012

Total posts 736

It is a big hassle if you are travelling and switch SIM cards. I am getting it almost on a daily basis here in the US but haven’t changed my SIM, but my wife who is staying longer has has to register her new SIM to get almost anything done.

Ricardo

SQ

Member since 23 Oct 2015

Total posts 49

Funnily enough, I was just going through the same thing about 3 minutes ago. I switched between my wife’s and my account and when I came back to mine it wanted a SMS confirmation. With my phone elsewhere, I selected the ‘verify another way’ option.


Mother’s maiden name? No problem!
My DOB? No problem!
My postcode? No problem!
My month and year of joining QFF?????? Seriously?? Who would even consider remembering that useless piece of trivia?

The option of “WGAF” doesn’t appear to be valid.

Ah yes the joys of totalitarian web designers. It’s a qantas website - not my bank account or the state jewels!

Metoo

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 25 Nov 2016

Total posts 93

I use the “verify another way “ option when OS, better than the hassle of inserting the Australian SIM and charged for roaming. It’s an airline, many FF members could be OS when accessing their account so a text is not the best option. I contacted the call centre and asked why they don’t send an email to the registered address as some banks/CCs do to verify but was told that was not an option. I now have a pic of my Qantas card on my phone so I can find when I joined. We all like security but it needs to be user friendly.

X

British Airways - Executive Club

Member since 24 Jan 2012

Total posts 87

I'm all for a bit of 2FA, but would prefer if they could build the rotating code into their app (like RSA SecurID). It works without needing a mobile or internet connection.

markpk

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 29 Nov 2013

Total posts 457

Funnily enough, I was just going through the same thing about 3 minutes ago. I switched between my wife’s and my account and when I came back to mine it wanted a SMS confirmation. With my phone elsewhere, I selected the ‘verify another way’ option.

Mother’s maiden name? No problem!
My DOB? No problem!
My postcode? No problem!
My month and year of joining QFF?????? Seriously?? Who would even consider remembering that useless piece of trivia?

The option of “WGAF” doesn’t appear to be valid.

Ah yes the joys of totalitarian web designers. It’s a qantas website - not my bank account or the state jewels!

My month and year of joining QFF?????? Seriously?? Who would even consider remembering that useless piece of trivia?

It's printed on your Qantas FF card...

markpk

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 29 Nov 2013

Total posts 457

If you're a business/executive traveller and head o/s on a phone plan that doesn't have basic international roaming/data/text options then the fault lays pretty much with you. Qantas has communicated with members a few times re implementing 2FA.


Sure, how Qantas delivers 2FA could be improved but that's a statement that applies to all airlines/major corporates.

Ricardo

SQ

Member since 23 Oct 2015

Total posts 49

Funnily enough, I was just going through the same thing about 3 minutes ago. I switched between my wife’s and my account and when I came back to mine it wanted a SMS confirmation. With my phone elsewhere, I selected the ‘verify another way’ option.

Mother’s maiden name? No problem!
My DOB? No problem!
My postcode? No problem!
My month and year of joining QFF?????? Seriously?? Who would even consider remembering that useless piece of trivia?

The option of “WGAF” doesn’t appear to be valid.

Ah yes the joys of totalitarian web designers. It’s a qantas website - not my bank account or the state jewels!

My month and year of joining QFF?????? Seriously?? Who would even consider remembering that useless piece of trivia?

It's printed on your Qantas FF card...

Sorry, just not enough of a fanboy to carry my card with me. I use the e-version of my card.


This has two problems for 2FA - 1 it doesn't have the join date and 2 if I had my phone handy I would have been able to use the sms as 2FA.

My beef is not with the 2FA, my beef is with the stupid question - ask me something useful (after mother's maiden name, DOB and postcode - assuming we need to ask 4 (four!!) questions) something I might have a chance of knowing

markpk

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 29 Nov 2013

Total posts 457

Funnily enough, I was just going through the same thing about 3 minutes ago. I switched between my wife’s and my account and when I came back to mine it wanted a SMS confirmation. With my phone elsewhere, I selected the ‘verify another way’ option.

Mother’s maiden name? No problem!
My DOB? No problem!
My postcode? No problem!
My month and year of joining QFF?????? Seriously?? Who would even consider remembering that useless piece of trivia?

The option of “WGAF” doesn’t appear to be valid.

Ah yes the joys of totalitarian web designers. It’s a qantas website - not my bank account or the state jewels!

My month and year of joining QFF?????? Seriously?? Who would even consider remembering that useless piece of trivia?

It's printed on your Qantas FF card...

Sorry, just not enough of a fanboy to carry my card with me. I use the e-version of my card.

This has two problems for 2FA - 1 it doesn't have the join date and 2 if I had my phone handy I would have been able to use the sms as 2FA.

My beef is not with the 2FA, my beef is with the stupid question - ask me something useful (after mother's maiden name, DOB and postcode - assuming we need to ask 4 (four!!) questions) something I might have a chance of knowing

Whether you decide to carry your QFF card is your decision - fact is the information Qantas is requesting is available on your card. Given how much effort Qantas has made to increase the utility value of the card I'm not sure why you wouldn't carry it. You could turn up at an airport with a phone/tablet that has zero battery and not be able to check in etc...

patrickk

Qantas

Member since 19 Apr 2012

Total posts 736

If you're a business/executive traveller and head o/s on a phone plan that doesn't have basic international roaming/data/text options then the fault lays pretty much with you. Qantas has communicated with members a few times re implementing 2FA.

Sure, how Qantas delivers 2FA could be improved but that's a statement that applies to all airlines/major corporates.

Do note it is $10 a day for roaming so changing SIMs for trips of more than a week or so makes sense. Having an email verification may work better. It is odd though the electronic version of the card does not have the joining date. No reason it cannot.

Brandon Loo

Member since 10 Jul 2018

Total posts 105

Also in my experience, although there are four 2FA fields to answer, I saw that only three were needed for a successful login. So in my case, DOB, mother's maiden name and post code was all I needed.

Ricardo

SQ

Member since 23 Oct 2015

Total posts 49

Given how much effort Qantas has made to increase the utility value of the card I'm not sure why you wouldn't carry it.”


Because I fly many airlines, not just Qantas. I fly them enough to retain Platinum each year. Which means I use them a bit but if I carried the bits of plastic from each airline, then I’d probably need an extra wallet just to ram it all in. To me, there is zero ‘utility’ in the card.

As for checking in with a flat battery etc. there are other ways of checking in - like using a drivers licence/passport etc. Sure, Qantas has invested a lot in the the ‘techie’ check in and it is very good (and very useful) but the other ways still work well enough for the unlikely flat battery scenario.

patrickk

Qantas

Member since 19 Apr 2012

Total posts 736

It seems the utility of the card is the date of joining!!!! Seriously though I find the card is more useful than finding an app on a phone which is the cause of endless holdups at boarding (and my wallet is full of cards) Sometimes the bar card to be scanned from a phone won’t fit under a scanner (and I could go on!!!!). It is not as foolproof as some suggest.

Red Cee

Member since 15 Feb 2018

Total posts 151

Modern day problem, I am afraid.

tommygun

Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles

Member since 16 Oct 2017

Total posts 291

This is the first I have heard of Qantas 2FA. Ups to NSunners for the info. Downs to Qantas for no info.

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