If you have tried to log into your Qantas Frequent Flyer account this week, you may have had to enter a code sent to your mobile phone. This is all part of a rollout of Two-Factor authentication that Qantas promised to roll out this week.
From now, in addition to entering your Number, Surname and PIN, you will have an additional step to go through. For most, this will be a code delivered by SMS to your registered mobile phone. Alternatively, you will be asked to answer a number of questions based on your profile.
What is two-factor authentication?
The purpose of two-factor authentication is to add an extra layer of security when accessing your Qantas Frequent Flyer account. In general, the idea is to add something extra to using a simple Password. Or in the case of Qantas, a 4 digit PIN.
There are a number of ways of achieving this. The most common ways include sending an SMS code, or sending a code via email. There are also a range of devices that can be used to generate a one time key.
In the case of Qantas Frequent Flyer, customers are send an SMS verification code which they then enter during the login process. You won’t get sent the SMS every time. If you are always logging in from the same device, Qantas say you will get it once a month. On the other hand, if you log in from various devices, you may see it more often.
On screen, you will see the following:
A code will be sent to your mobile phone, which you enter in the box. You need to do this within 10 minutes, as the code is only valid for that period of time.
Of course, you may not always have your mobile phone handy. Or, if you are overseas, it may have a foreign SIM and on a different number.
In this case, there is an alternative approach – answering a series of questions. The default set of questions is based on various pieces of information held in your account.
Date of joining is a tricky one – but fortunately it is written on your Frequent Flyer card (which defeats the security aspect of the question a bit)
Qantas has put together a handy FAQ, that walks you through the process.