Hideously High Taxes and Surcharges

[kamchatsky]

How that I have some QF points in my account from Jetstar MC promo, I have started playing around with QF comparing Classics and ASAs, looking at SYD-HKG route which is my most travelled route.

To my shock horror, I noticed the tax/surcharges component is on new high for SYD-HKG Y return:

QF Y: $424.54
VS Y: $431.84
SQ Y: $485.94 (transit/stopover at SIN though)

I haven't checked CX yet.

It is quite amazing that these days fuels/surcharges has accounted for almost of the standard ticket price. I remembered in 2002 my return QF Y award tix was $110. Even in 2009/10 it was like $220. So it must have shot up a lot since then. Whilst I am not surprised about high taxes/surcharges I am amazed that it has gone so high these days. I cannot see that our fuel prices are that high compare to 2007 so I don't know why they can just keep pushing up fuel surcharges.

I know that best way to use these points is on J/F travel, which I have always done for a number of years. But sometimes for me if it is day flights, I don't mind staying at Y for not too long travel as most Ys have IFE and I do have Lounge Access via my status, and I don't drink much alcohol.

But the high taxes/surcharges have put me off redeeming in Y. May as well buy a Y ticket instead and keep the points, and no need to worry on reward availability.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

But the high taxes/surcharges have put me off redeeming in Y. May as well buy a Y ticket instead and keep the points, and no need to worry on reward availability.

This is exactly what airlines want you to do. Everything is done for a reason and 'taxes' are no different.
Frequent flyer programs really are designed for those who fly a lot... happy travels!

 

[yohy?!]

Stick to J, Y is a waste for points!

 

[oz_mark]

To my shock horror, I noticed the tax/surcharges component is on new high for SYD-HKG Y return:

QF Y: $424.54
VS Y: $431.84
SQ Y: $485.94 (transit/stopover at SIN though)

I haven't checked CX yet.

AFAIK, the fuel surcharge in and out of HKG is fixed by the Hong Kong govenrnment, so I would not expect CX to vary much.

 

[dajop]

It is quite amazing that these days fuels/surcharges has accounted for almost of the standard ticket price.

What is even more amazing is that occasionally fuel surcharges can be more than actually buying a fare. I've seen award tickets for Jetstar SIN-MEL return costing more in dollars (plus of course the ludicrous amount of points) than paid tickets. Not that I would dream of ever using points on Jetstar.

 

[Holly]

AFAIK, the fuel surcharge in and out of HKG is fixed by the Hong Kong govenrnment, so I would not expect CX to vary much.

I've just booked a one-way J MEL-HKG using QFF points but booked onto CX. The tax surcharge was exactly the same as that when I looked up the exact same flight if booked with cash instead on CX online.

 

[mushypeas]

Qantas is a bloody joke - MEL > AKL was 36,000 return in Y PLUS $146 in taxes... so I jumped onto Emirates and got a return flight in Y on A380 for $274 inc taxes. Instead I blew my FF points on a return trip LAX > YYZ return in Y for 36,000pts and NO TAXES...

 

[sutho58]

if you're looking for some cheats,, check out the BA site and do a dummy booking for something like say LHR-MAN. Cost of ticket including taxes approx 75 pounds. when you look at the breakdown, it tells you that the "fare" is 20 pounds.. that leaves the rest as taxes... now that is a "bloody joke"

 

[anat0l]

I had a LH LHR-MUC-LHR fare in 2009; the return ticket cost me (when converted to AUD at the rate of exchange at the time) about $190.

Of that $190, the base fare constituted about $10.

I've come to know that almost every Euro carrier is like that. That is why booking awards for intra-Euro travel is a bit of a folly, including redemptions in J.


Trans-Tasman is a similar affair, though at least J redemptions are more reasonable (but also more rare - QF J is one thing (good or bad), but NZ J you need to ensure you don't redeem for a S2S seat. No idea about redeeming for LA J or EK J or EK F).



Needless to say, had we still the higher cash Y prices of some years ago (when the points level was more or less the same), it'd still be worth burning redemptions in Y despite the higher taxes (because the points represent a decent saving on the base cost). But now that Y prices are rock bottom (and still "too high" for some), it's getting harder to justify Y redemptions any more, period. So it's J or F redemptions (and perhaps PE as well) for the best value now.

 

[JohnK]

The airlines know that they can get away with these additional costs in taxes and surcharges whether they are relevant or not.

I still do not understand why the fuel levy is included separately. It should be a cost of doing business and if you are redeeming an award you should not be paying it.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

I suppose the airlines either do it with the current system, or fuel surcharge is part of the ticket and then instead of 30K points for a Y award, it will be 50K.

It does annoy me they gt away with putting the surcharge in te tax section of the ticket. It should show sperately so that people don't think it's the government ripping them off.

I think emirates is the only airline that doesn't con passengers in this way??

 

[elemist]

I don't agree with taxes and fuel costs being seperate at all. Its the cost of doing business. Its not an optional cost like food or drink that some people don't want.



What's next - pilot surcharge to pay for pilot pay rises? Maybe air craft surcharge ?

The whole idea of a rewards system is to reward your paying customers. Why would you cash in a bucket load of points and then pay pretty much the airlines costs of your rewards. So much for the "free flight rewards" you get promised.



The theory of rewards was you cover the costs of your rewards in the profit made from general travel.



I would love to see an airline innovate and abolish charges like these and be upfront about the ticket costs!

 

[kempvet]

Join AAdvantage and fly AA where possible, LAX-HEL as low as 50,000 miles in J and a few dollars tax, QF is at least 92,000 miles in J and heaps of tax, over 350 dollars if flown with BA metal