Changes to how you use your $450 Travel Credit

[Daver6]

Well that was 40 minutes of my life I won't get back again.

The economy fare difference was 229 to 241 and I can wear that difference but $600 difference from the business class fare is ridiculous.

They gave me BS about what they get given and I think it's just outright gouging and totally unethical.

@Mattg maybe it's time to contact Amex travel and tell them they're dreaming.

The outcome was tough biccies - they can't price match but they will raise it with their support team. I have to use it within 3 days (and yes I know I should have done it sooner but waiting on some other trips to come together)

Does anyone think it is worth contacting ACCC about it

The problem is I dont even think Amex know why their fares are more expensive. Or they do know and they're just chucking on an extra margin because they can.

 

[bits]

Does anyone think it is worth contacting ACCC about it

IANAL and its an annoying situation, but generally well known issue. Whether it's a Amex or Qantas issue we don't know. What would your specific complaint be?

- Amex isn't forcing you to use the travel credit on Qantas fares, so can't argue deceptive conduct.
- Amex isn't under any obligation to offer price parity (or even anything close) to Qantas.
- Qantas isn't under any obligation to make sale fares available to Amex.

 

[VPS]

IANAL and its an annoying situation, but generally well known issue. Whether it's a Amex or Qantas issue we don't know. What would your specific complaint be?

- Amex isn't forcing you to use the travel credit on Qantas fares, so can't argue deceptive conduct.
- Amex isn't under any obligation to offer price parity (or even anything close) to Qantas.
- Qantas isn't under any obligation to make sale fares available to Amex.

I just think it's price gouging. Do you really think Qantas is selling AMEX a $600 fare at $1100 - if so why aren't they doing that to all travel agents.

 

[VPS]

Something I just remembered - the lady in the travel section section said they couldn't price match but when she put me through to Customer Care to complain the customer care lady said if she had referred it to her supervisor they could have authorised the price match

 

[33kft]

I just think it's price gouging. Do you really think Qantas is selling AMEX a $600 fare at $1100

They aren't, though. There are seats in a $600 far bucket, and seats in a $1100 fare bucket. They will have different conditions and SC earn. You can only see the $1100 bucket on AMEX travel. If you book via QF's website you should see both the sale and regular fare and the conditions, SC earn etc.

 

[bits]

I just think it's price gouging. Do you really think Qantas is selling AMEX a $600 fare at $1100 - if so why aren't they doing that to all travel agents.

Price gouging is not illegal.

Setting prices: what's allowed

Businesses are generally able to set their own prices. But they mustn't mislead consumers about what they will be charged or why, and must set prices independently of their competitors.

www.accc.gov.au

 

[VPS]

They aren't, though. There are seats in a $600 far bucket, and seats in a $1100 fare bucket. They will have different conditions and SC earn. You can only see the $1100 bucket on AMEX travel. If you book via QF's website you should see both the sale and regular fare and the conditions, SC earn etc.

All I see on the Qantas website is $601 and no other prices for a J fare

 

[sudoer]

Amex isn't forcing you to use the travel credit on Qantas fares, so can't argue deceptive conduct.

They do for the Amex Qantas Ultimate card.

 

[andyrb]

Amex Qantas Ultimate card.

That's because it's a Qantas co-branded card.

Like someone else said, Amex probably don't have access to all pricing tiers offered by Qantas.

And yeah, it's annoying it's hard/impossible to get a decent price on QF fares via Amex. But you know what I do? I move on with my day and don't let it upset me. I also use my travel credit on accommodation, which has the same net outcome.

 

[sudoer]

That's because it's a Qantas co-branded card.

I understand the rationale.

The problem is that a potential new customer has no visibility of Amex Travel pricing before applying for the card. I'm sure the fineprint mentions pricing may different, and a 10-20% difference might be reasonable, but the example in this thread is egregious.

Amex probably don't have access to all pricing tiers offered by Qantas.

Undoubtedly so. The real question is whether Qantas is intentionally blocking Amex from accessing the discount fares/fare classes to bump their revenue from voucher holders. As it's already been mentioned, there are plenty of OTAs out there can book QF Red eDeals for practically the same price as the QF website.

But you know what I do? I move on with my day and don't let it upset me.

Not sure this is called for. It's a valid complaint.

 

[andyrb]

It's a valid complaint.

Never said it wasn't a valid complaint m9.

Just pointing out there's more important things to worry about than the cost of an airfare.

 

[VPS]

Never said it wasn't a valid complaint m9.

Just pointing out there's more important things to worry about than the cost of an airfare.

This travel credit is Qantas flights only and I don't think $600 extra for a $600 airfare is trivial

 

[DC3]

Just pointing out there's more important things to worry about than the cost of an airfare.

Yes, but not everyone is in that position.

 

[andyrb]

$600 extra for a $600 airfare is trivial

Ok, so drop the card and move to one that is more suited to your circumstances then.

 

[VPS]

Ok, so drop the card and move to one that is more suited to your circumstances then.

I'm planning to but I still have credit that I'd like to use

 

[andyrb]

I'm planning to but I still have credit that I'd like to use

good luck with that.

 

[33kft]

All I see on the Qantas website is $601 and no other prices for a J fare

Hmm okay, that's different to what I've encountered in the past (J sale vs J "regular"). What is the route? Would be good to do a search and see if any logic can be attributed to what you're seeing

 

[VPS]

Hmm okay, that's different to what I've encountered in the past (J sale vs J "regular"). What is the route? Would be good to do a search and see if any logic can be attributed to what you're seeing

ADL SYD 3rd June 2025

 

[TomVexille]

From my quick look, QF haven't released those sale fares to the OTAs

 

[33kft]

ADL SYD 3rd June 2025

Cheers, sorry, missed your earlier post.

I just did dummy bookings with QF and with AMEX, looks like the reason this doesn't reflect what I've seen before is that QFi and QFd J fares (specifically) have different approaches. For QFi you have sale and saver buckets in J but QFd does not. In Y, both have saver and sale buckets.

QFd classes for Business are D and I. Amex only shows options for D fares:



Did a dummy booking with QF, the $601 fare is an I fare:



Seems AMEX isn't seeing I inventory?