New "fare" fee for FF bookings...

[N860CR]

Now this isn't me being cheap! But I just booked a SYD-BKK and HKG-SYD J award (BA/QF). In the price breakdown, the "Fare" is listed as $6 with "Charges/Taxes" at $208.11. I know, $6 for a return business class ticket to Asia - what a rip Any idea what this is?

While I'm asking, unless I'm mistaken, I believe you need to be QF Gold or above to allocate seats? I'm Silver ATM but will be Gold shortly, will the BA manage my booking recognise this and allow me to select seats when I tick over? What would be the better New Club World seat for 2 people travelling together?

 

[Dave Noble]

Now this isn't me being cheap! But I just booked a SYD-BKK and HKG-SYD J award (BA/QF). In the price breakdown, the "Fare" is listed as $6 with "Charges/Taxes" at $208.11. I know, $6 for a return business class ticket to Asia - what a rip Any idea what this is?

While I'm asking, unless I'm mistaken, I believe you need to be QF Gold or above to allocate seats? I'm Silver ATM but will be Gold shortly, will the BA manage my booking recognise this and allow me to select seats when I tick over? What would be the better New Club World seat for 2 people travelling together?

If on QF, then anyone can preselect. On BA, need to be OW sapphire or higher. Dont think that it will auto detect a status change; you'll need to have it removed and re-added

Dave

 

[one9]

Now this isn't me being cheap! But I just booked a SYD-BKK and HKG-SYD J award (BA/QF). In the price breakdown, the "Fare" is listed as $6 with "Charges/Taxes" at $208.11. I know, $6 for a return business class ticket to Asia - what a rip Any idea what this is?

While I'm asking, unless I'm mistaken, I believe you need to be QF Gold or above to allocate seats? I'm Silver ATM but will be Gold shortly, will the BA manage my booking recognise this and allow me to select seats when I tick over? What would be the better New Club World seat for 2 people travelling together?

Shouldn't the fare be $0 for a frequent flyer ticket? Have you tried calling them up to ask about a possible refund of the $6?

I just had a look at a couple of my recent international award tickets and the fare on them showed up as $0 and the charges were only taxes.

 

[serfty]

No, with HKG specifically there is a local tax/levy that by rule must be included in the "Fare", not the

.

ISTR it's HKD120 which is ~AUD6.
ISTR it's HKD33 which was ~AUD6 a few months ago.

 

[samh004]

ISTR it's HKD120 which is ~AUD6.

HKD120 is closer to AUD20. :?:

 

[serfty]

OK, the component that is in the "Fare" is termed the "HONG KONG SECURITY TAX".

It's HKD33 which is ~AUD6.

It is charge for fares departing HKG.

e.g. ITA brings up a fare for MEL-HKG return.

Fare (A1):     QF MELHKG VKBBA1 fare (rules)     AUD 618.00
Fare (A2):     QF HKGMEL VKBBA1 fare (rules)     AUD 623.97

Note the difference between the fares of $5.97 - normally these would be identical.

 

[JohnK]

This has happened to me in the past for an award redemption. I have seen a fare of $6 or $7 and the remainder in taxes. Not sure which award redemption it could be as I would have to go through all my old bookings....

 

[N860CR]

Good to know at least that a computer error or something hasn't ripped me off a whole $6!

On the BA subject... are two seats at the side (window & aisle) the best for couples? Can you talk easily enough between the divider? I'll call BA when I tick over to Gold to have them allocate seats.

While on the subject of seating allocation... QF automatically issued me row 30 on the HKG-SYD flight. 30 being the last row of business. Would these be the worst seats in the J cabin? I'm usually allocated somewhere between 23 and 26, however I can only guess that because I'm on an award ticket they want to "dump us in the back" so to speak.

 

[JohnK]

While on the subject of seating allocation... QF automatically issued me row 30 on the HKG-SYD flight. 30 being the last row of business. Would these be the worst seats in the J cabin? I'm usually allocated somewhere between 23 and 26, however I can only guess that because I'm on an award ticket they want to "dump us in the back" so to speak.

I don't think Qantas distinguishes between paid airfares and award tickets when pre-allocating seats. Well not at least until the new system is in place anyway.

I have a Oneworld award for 2 people in August/September and I had very good seats pre-alocated on QF until I requested exit row on the 3 QF int'l flights and these have now been pre-allocated to me and myfather.

 

[Rick93]

On one of my very few J reward flights, I was on Syd - CBR.

We were allocated 1A / 1B.

About a minute before they secured the hatch, a guy in a suit turns up, staring at us. Just behind him were two Indonesian generals, in uniform.

I was asked to kindly remove ourselves from 1A / 1B and sit in any other vacant J seats.

I sat there for a few seconds, thinking, hang on, these are OUR seats.....

( should have seen the faces on these Indonesian generals - the ' you just ran over my cat ' type look !! )

We did move, only because it suddenly occurred to me, that there could be some sort of trouble if I dug my heals in. Didn't even get any
' compensation ', like a bottle of something to take away.

GORDO