Award Surcharges, fees and taxes

[vt01]

I just received my QFF newsletter which contained the following:

From 14 August 2007, the method used to calculate the points required for an Australian or New Zealand domestic Award flight inclusive of surcharges, fees and taxes, will change. Points required for surcharges, fees and taxes will be calculated per Segment, not per Trip. This amount will initially be set at 6,000 points per Segment. The total number of points required will include the points required for the Award flight, based on the Qantas Award Table, plus the points required for surcharges, fees and taxes.

And once again the programme is 'enhanced'... Makes my decision to put all my points to AA seem even better...

 

[JohnK]

Another exciting enhancement from the QF team!

It don't see it as any great loss for me as I have hardly used it since it has been implemented.

I can see how it will have an impact on someone who earns most points through a credit card and can't spend the points as quickly as they can earn them.

 

[Febs]

Has anyone got a real example of how this will affect redemption?

Am I right in assuming, a one-way SYD-MEL will now be 14,000pts (eg: 8,000 + 6,000), but include all taxes and surchages. In effect, a truly "free" flight?

So basically, the only difference is you now have to use your points to pay for taxes/surcharges on domestic flights?

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[JohnK]

Has anyone got a real example of how this will affect redemption?

Am I right in assuming, a one-way SYD-MEL will now be 14,000pts (eg: 8,000 + 6,000), but include all taxes and surchages. In effect, a truly "free" flight?

Not quite. Currently if you want to travel one-way SYD-MEL-DPO on an award then it would require 12,000 points + $$$ for surcharges and taxes or 18,000 points inclusive of surcharges and taxes.

When the new change takes effect it will still be 12,000 points + $$$ for surcharges and taxes or 24,000 points inclusive of surcharges and taxes as SYD-MEL-DPO is 2 segments.

So basically, the only difference is you now have to use your points to pay for taxes/surcharges on domestic flights?

No. You will continue to have the option to pay surcharges and taxes with $$$.

 

[serfty]

It does not replace the +++ in $'s, it is an alternative.

When implemented back in late October last year it was per trip. i.e. SYD-MEL was 8000 points plus ~$50 or 6500 points. From August It will be f8000 points plus ~$50 or 6000 points.

The big difference is the 6500 was applied to short trips, not segments. i.e. Today MEL-CBR-SYD (with a transit in CBR) is 8000 points plus ~$90 or 6500 points. After August, this will be 8000 points plus ~$90 or 12000 points.

 

[Febs]

Got it, thanks guys.

 

[JohnK]

The big difference is the 6500 was applied to short trips, not segments.

And also longer trips as was the case for my upcoming trip around Australia. Including the 25% discount it only cost me 4,875 points for surcharges and taxes SYD-ADL-ASP-AYS-PER and 4,875 points for surcharges and taxes DRW-GOV-CNS-SYD.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

It does not replace the +++ in $'s, it is an alternative.

When implemented back in late October last year it was per trip. i.e. SYD-MEL was 8000 points plus ~$50 or 6500 points. From August It will be f8000 points plus ~$50 or 6000 points.

The big difference is the 6500 was applied to short trips, not segments. i.e. Today MEL-CBR-SYD (with a transit in CBR) is 8000 points plus ~$90 or 6500 points. After August, this will be 8000 points plus ~$90 or 12000 points.

The points required to pay the fuel surcharge was recently dropped (same time the $ amount dropped). So the new change is "only" making it per segment.

 

[vt01]

The points required to pay the fuel surcharge was recently dropped (same time the $ amount dropped). So the new change is "only" making it per segment.

The same strategy they used with award points - Instead of a number of points per trip, it's now number of points per segment.

 

[JohnK]

The same strategy they used with award points - Instead of a number of points per trip, it's now number of points per segment.

I don't think that statement is quite right. SYD-MEL-DPO is 12,000 points and although it is 2 segments it still fits into zone 2 and is charged accordingly.

If award points were charged per segment then SYD-MEL-DPO should be 16,000 points which clearly it is not.

 

[oz_mark]

Just thought I'd point out that the calculation changes from today!!