Pre-seating/exit row fee increase effective today

[Comoman]

My sister (travel agent) has just received this increase effective immediately:

"In order to be more consistent with competitor pricing, Qantas will increase the current pricing of international Exit Row Seats and Paid Seat Selection.

This will come into effective immediately.
Please advise all relevant people

Details:
[TABLE="width: 308"]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 3"]International Exit Row Seats
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Flights
[/TD]
[TD]Current - AUD
[/TD]
[TD]New Pricing - AUD
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Short Haul
[/TD]
[TD]$40
[/TD]
[TD]$45
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Medium Haul
[/TD]
[TD]$80
[/TD]
[TD]$90
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Long Haul
[/TD]
[TD]$160
[/TD]
[TD]$180
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 3"]International Paid Seat Selection
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Flights
[/TD]
[TD]Current - AUD
[/TD]
[TD]New Pricing - AUD
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Long Haul
[/TD]
[TD]$20
[/TD]
[TD]$25"
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[sarvowinner]

****e - Cathay doesn't charge elite OW members for exit row seating.

 

[Mal Ware]

Used to be free, sigh.

 

[dajop]

Interesting. I know at least one competitor who has a flat fee of $50usd per sector (ie $100usd from oz-Europe).

 

[Robert Qld]

That entire paragraph just comes across as price fixing (not that I'd assume the ACCC would even bother about something as minor as exit row prices - but it could've been worded a lot better)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My sister (travel agent) has just received this increase effective immediately:

"In order to be more consistent with competitor pricing, Qantas will increase the current pricing of international Exit Row Seats and Paid Seat Selection.

This will come into effective immediately.
Please advise all relevant people

Details:
[TABLE="width: 308"]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 3"]International Exit Row Seats[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Flights [/TD]
[TD]Current - AUD[/TD]
[TD]New Pricing - AUD[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Short Haul[/TD]
[TD]$40[/TD]
[TD]$45[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Medium Haul[/TD]
[TD]$80[/TD]
[TD]$90[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Long Haul[/TD]
[TD]$160[/TD]
[TD]$180[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 3"]International Paid Seat Selection[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Flights [/TD]
[TD]Current - AUD[/TD]
[TD]New Pricing - AUD[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Long Haul[/TD]
[TD]$20[/TD]
[TD]$25"[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

wow oh wow oh wow.

Consistent with competitor pricing? Like who?

 

[whatmeworry]

So for a return trip to Europe the added fee is $720! Oh for the days when you could select the seats for free!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So for a return trip to Europe the added fee is $720! Oh for the days when you select the seats for free!

this brings it right in to line with SQ ($200 return) or CX (free if you are OWR or above).

Actually i don't believe QF on this one. I think it is actually in response to customer demand, not to bring it in to line

 

[jetlagger]

From any angle it is simply.... Scandalous... :evil:

 

[MEL_Traveller]

From any angle it is simply.... Scandalous... :evil:

It is a shame both Qantas and the company representative din't provide any advance warning of this. That shows the charge was introduced with complete disregard for passengers who may already hold bookings.

 

[dajop]

So for a return trip to Europe the added fee is $720! Oh for the days when you could select the seats for free!

Only if there is two of you travelling. For one it is $360. Remembering Long Haul = Australia to Europe, US, JNB, SCL; Medium Haul = Australia -Asia, Asia-Europe, LAX-JFK. The most expensive option is $540 return if you want to do MEL/BNE-LAX-JFK. (whereas SYD-JFK is only $360 return).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Only if there is two of you travelling. For one it is $360. Remembering Long Haul = Australia to Europe, US, JNB, SCL; Medium Haul = Australia -Asia, Asia-Europe, LAX-JFK. The most expensive option is $540 return if you want to do MEL/BNE-LAX-JFK. (whereas SYD-JFK is only $360 return).

it says the charge is per sector... so if you fly Adelaide to London, via sin then aren't you up for the charge on both the ADL sin and sin lhr?

 

[eastwest101]

Only if there is two of you travelling. For one it is $360. Remembering Long Haul = Australia to Europe, US, JNB, SCL; Medium Haul = Australia -Asia, Asia-Europe, LAX-JFK. The most expensive option is $540 return if you want to do MEL/BNE-LAX-JFK. (whereas SYD-JFK is only $360 return).

Correct - I think the real question a lot of people are asking is where does the Dubai transit fit in? Are you saying SYD-DXB-LHR exit row Y is $360 return? Assuming one flight number on QF in each direction. The other stuff could be more complex with transits in DXB and onto other Europen ports with code-share partners.

ps: what a brilliant piece of timing for announcements of unpopular fee increases - has everyone gone to "in the thick of it" or "the hollow men" school of PR? Or maybe I'm just cynical.

 

[dajop]

it says the charge is per sector... so if you fly Adelaide to London, via sin then aren't you up for the charge on both the ADL sin and sin lhr?

Yes you are. Charge is Aus-Asia + Asia-Europe = 2 x $90. Same as if you flew from MEL or SYD to London on one flight number.

 

[Cassiel]

"In order to be more consistent with competitor pricing, Qantas will increase the current pricing of international Exit Row Seats and Paid Seat Selection.

This will come into effective immediately.

Well - lets hope Qantas are just as hasty to make the rest of their pricing more 'consistent' with competitors - but I won't hold my breath.

 

[Limewood]

Lucky us we chose 2 x exit seats SYD/HNL/SYD before this increase, but I do wonder why Q are annoying more of its customers.

 

[markis10]

Lucky us we chose 2 x exit seats SYD/HNL/SYD before this increase, but I do wonder why Q are annoying more of its customers.

Its the bean counters at work, increasing charges so that executives get their bonuses (and hopefully shareholders might get a dividend).

 

[Mal Ware]

I flew from Manila to Syd two days ago and was given an exit row for free, would not let me book it online it was blocked out, no charge for it upon check in.

 

[Blackadder]

Isn't seat selection free once you are OWS or above??

 

[Limewood]

Isn't seat selection free once you are OWS or above??

Except exit seats in Y.