How often do QF update exchange rates in their systems?

[adrian]

I have been looking at redeeming a QF award ticket from Europe to Sydney:
DUS-LHR-LAX-SYD in economy class (BA/BA/QF), without stopovers (there is only availability via LAX). The points are 64000, which seems correct, but the surcharges are $578 per passenger. Does this seem quite high?

A reverse award flight from SYD-SIN-LHR-DUS costs 64000 miles and $386. The fuel levy charges are probably a more when they are via LAX compared to SIN, but I am wondering if most of the difference is due to the recent fall in the AUD, and QF systems are still using a AUD/EUR exchange rate that is a week old.

Other instances where surcharges look really, really high are for flights from NRT, where the AUD has fallen greatly against the JPY.
NRT-LHR prices out at 28340 JPY in surcharges, or AUD$448, one-way at the current exchange rate.

 

[thegurio]

What class is it? Remember that a J award attracts a 40 euro (I think) surcharge for a transit through LHR.

 

[adrian]

What class is it? Remember that a J award attracts a 40 euro (I think) surcharge for a transit through LHR.

Was economy class, but in any event, there is no surcharge where transit is under 24 hrs

 

[Lendav Orav]

IATA airlines use the exchange rate as set once a week by IATA. It's called the BSR (bank seller's rate, I think), you'll see it in the fare calculation on your ticket (if you're into reading them...) So it's only once a week although I seem to remember they can update it more frequently if there's a major fluctuation (but it's been a while since I worked for an airline...)

 

[Dave Noble]

What class is it? Remember that a J award attracts a 40 euro (I think) surcharge for a transit through LHR.

If there is a stopover in London ( >= 24 hours ) then the UK Air Passenger Duty is payable which is GBP80 for LHR-LAX

If transitting London ( < 24 hours ) then the APD does not apply

ON SYD-SIN-LHR-DUS the YQ surcharge is AUD192 plus taxes

If issued in Australia then

ON DUS-LHR-LAX-SYD the BA YQ is USD256 plus the QF YQ is AUD112. With the current exchange rate , that comes out at AUD356+112 = AUD478

If issued in Gemany then

ON DUS-LHR-LAX-SYD the BA YQ is EUR175 plus the QF YQ is AUD21.42. With the current exchange rate, that comes out at AUD334+21.42 = AUD355.42

The US route does add a lot in fuel fines. AUD163 to AUD286 additional fines plus , of course, the additional real taxes would explain the difference

For booking DUS-SYD , I would recommend calling the Qantas office in Germany for getting the tickets since it will save a significant amount

Dave

 

[adrian]

If there is a stopover in London ( >= 24 hours ) then the UK Air Passenger Duty is payable which is GBP80 for LHR-LAX

If transitting London ( < 24 hours ) then the APD does not apply

ON SYD-SIN-LHR-DUS the YQ surcharge is AUD192 plus taxes

If issued in Australia then

ON DUS-LHR-LAX-SYD the BA YQ is USD256 plus the QF YQ is AUD112. With the current exchange rate , that comes out at AUD356+112 = AUD478

If issued in Gemany then

ON DUS-LHR-LAX-SYD the BA YQ is EUR175 plus the QF YQ is AUD21.42. With the current exchange rate, that comes out at AUD334+21.42 = AUD355.42

The US route does add a lot in fuel fines. AUD163 to AUD286 additional fines plus , of course, the additional real taxes would explain the difference

For booking DUS-SYD , I would recommend calling the Qantas office in Germany for getting the tickets since it will save a significant amount

Dave

Ouch. I wish I had of realised I could have issued the ticket in Germany. I just called the Plat desk in Australia (even though I am in Germany) as I thought it would be easier to issue an award ticket thru them. I have had them issued now, so it is too late to change.

Would have made quite a bit of difference on the 2 tickets, as they came to A$1157 for both. That was more than AA charged in taxes for 2 RTW revenue tickets issued 2 weeks ago (and I have had many multi-sector award tickets issued by AA for under AUD100). I have been using AA for almost everything for the last couple of years, so I had forgotten how bad the QF and the rest were with their "surcharges". Oh well, I don't have many more QF points left to burn now.

 

[serfty]

If there is a stopover in London ( >= 24 hours ) then the UK Air Passenger Duty is payable which is GBP80 for LHR-LAX

If transitting London ( < 24 hours ) then the APD does not apply ...

OT: perhaps AA define a stopover differently to this. i.e. Stopover > 24 Hours, Transit <= 24 hours.

The LHONE4's I purchased earlier this year had ORD-LHR,LGW-DBV scheduled to arrive into LHR at 10am and depart LGW at 10am the next day - no £10 (European destination) Air Passenger Duty (GB) was levied:

BASE FARE               TAXES     TOTAL
AUD3484.00              369.10XT  AUD3853.10ADT
XT 33.80US 6.00YC 7.70XY 5.50XA 11.00AY 38.00AU 15.04QR 6.92QR 9.06QR 
9.00WG 45.28WY 58.70UB 21.30HR 16.60SG 34.00HK 25.20TS 21.00SW 5.00XF

MEL QF X/SYD QF NYC AA X/CHI AA SEA AA X/DFW AA X/CHI BA X/
LON BA DBV BA X/LON QF SIN CX HKG CX BKK Q4.70 CX HKG CX TYO
QF SYD QF CNS QF MEL3470.00LHONE4 AUD3483.70END XFORD4.5

 

[Dave Noble]

OT: perhaps AA define a stopover differently to this. i.e. Stopover > 24 Hours, Transit <= 24 hours.

The LHONE4's I purchased earlier this year had ORD-LHR,LGW-DBV scheduled to arrive into LHR at 10am and depart LGW at 10am the next day - no £10 (European destination) Air Passenger Duty (GB) was levied:

BASE FARE               TAXES     TOTAL
AUD3484.00              369.10XT  AUD3853.10ADT
XT 33.80US 6.00YC 7.70XY 5.50XA 11.00AY 38.00AU 15.04QR 6.92QR 9.06QR 
9.00WG 45.28WY 58.70UB 21.30HR 16.60SG 34.00HK 25.20TS 21.00SW 5.00XF

MEL QF X/SYD QF NYC AA X/CHI AA SEA AA X/DFW AA X/CHI BA X/
LON BA DBV BA X/LON QF SIN CX HKG CX BKK Q4.70 CX HKG CX TYO
QF SYD QF CNS QF MEL3470.00LHONE4 AUD3483.70END XFORD4.5

The rules for APD are defined by the UK Government and not up to the airline to define. I got my equal sign in the wrong place. No APD is due for international connections where the stop is no more than 24 hours

Full details at HM Revenue & Customs

Dave