Qantas Award Charges Outrageous

[alieninperth]

Ansett, changing the departure will remove the UK APD (I think about GBP 140), PAR will still allow you to use the CX/QF combo.

 

[Limewood]

LHR to MEL is one thing try out of OZ then totally different fees.

 

[bmcc]

Have just finished booking a QF classic award itinerary and was actually surprised at how modest the taxes were!

SIN > BNE (EK F)
BNE > ADL (QF J)
ADL > SYD (QF J)
SYD > MEL (QF J)
MEL > DXB (EK F).

192k points and AUD$187 in taxes. I seem to recall last year when I flew SYD>MEL>DXB>FCO on the same type of award it was more like AUD$600+

What gives?

 

[dajop]

Have just finished booking a QF classic award itinerary and was actually surprised at how modest the taxes were!

SIN > BNE (EK F)
BNE > ADL (QF J)
ADL > SYD (QF J)
SYD > MEL (QF J)
MEL > DXB (EK F).

192k points and AUD$187 in taxes. I seem to recall last year when I flew SYD>MEL>DXB>FCO on the same type of award it was more like AUD$600+

What gives?

How did you manage that? I'm seeing $1227 SGD for SIN>MEL, MEL>DXB on EK in F. Did you book via phone or online?

 

[Limewood]

Think if you commence flight award in Asia its a hell of a lot cheaper in fees?.

 

[bmcc]

How did you manage that? I'm seeing $1227 SGD for SIN>MEL, MEL>DXB on EK in F. Did you book via phone or online?

Tried to book online but computer said no. Then booked via phone...took around 5 goes before they were finally able to sort it out. In case it's an error, shhh don't tell! This booking was nigh on impossible to organise and I only just got my ticket now! Note also that it's booked as a single through-itinerary (i.e. no stopover more than 24 hrs, which makes it cheaper).

 

[JohnK]

Think if you commence flight award in Asia its a hell of a lot cheaper in fees?.

Fuel surcharges have dropped considerably but it is supposed to be more noticeable for itineraries ex-Australia.

Fuel surcharges can still be high for itineraries ex-Europe and USA.

 

[dajop]

Tried to book online but computer said no. Then booked via phone...took around 5 goes before they were finally able to sort it out. In case it's an error, shhh don't tell! This booking was nigh on impossible to organise and I only just got my ticket now! Note also that it's booked as a single through-itinerary (i.e. no stopover more than 24 hrs, which makes it cheaper).

Yes ... sssh ...

FWIW the surcharges online are:
SIN-MEL, EK F .... $370 AUD
SIN-MEL-DXB (not stopover), EK F... $1092 AUD
MEL-DXB, EK F .... $395 AUD (includes ~ $90 in genuine taxes, so surcharge component is $305)

So clearly booking ex SIN, results in a $500 higher surcharge on the MEL-DXB sector than booking ex AU!

I really don't like this differentation in surcharges on award tickets based on ticket issuing location . But I guess most QFF'ers are AU based, so it doesn't affect the vast majority.

 

[dajop]

Think if you commence flight award in Asia its a hell of a lot cheaper in fees?.

Nope, if booking online, and commencing in SIN, BKK, KUL etc it is a hell of a lot dearer. Cheaper only (I think) from MNL. Even booking HKG-xx_-YYY could result in high surcharge on xx_-YYY sector, although airlines are now forbidden for charging a fuel surcharge on HKG-xx_ sectors.

 

[bmcc]

Yes ... sssh ...

FWIW the surcharges online are:
SIN-MEL, EK F .... $370 AUD
SIN-MEL-DXB (not stopover), EK F... $1092 AUD
MEL-DXB, EK F .... $395 AUD (includes ~ $90 in genuine taxes, so surcharge component is $305)

So clearly booking ex SIN, results in a $500 higher surcharge on the MEL-DXB sector than booking ex AU!

I really don't like this differentation in surcharges on award tickets based on ticket issuing location . But I guess most QFF'ers are AU based, so it doesn't affect the vast majority.

Wow - I didn't realise the surcharges were so exorbitant. Will consider myself lucky this time. Will pocket the savings as recompense for the ~4 hours I've spent dialling QF internationally (from HK) to straighten this booking out.

 

[NoName]

That seems extremely low to me. Did you get it all on the one booking? My recent experience is that it makes a significant difference if one booking as compared to multiple one ways. As mentioned in another thread I originally had 2 pax F AUS-US returning in Y but booked as two one way bookings. Co-payment was approx $2100 for 2 PAX. When I rang and asked them to fix it up all into one booking as I suspected I was charged too much as a result, it dropped to around $1400.

 

[bmcc]

That seems extremely low to me. Did you get it all on the one booking?

All on one booking. Approximately 20hrs in each city except for Mel, which is a short connect to EK407 to Dubai.

This is a zone 10 F award, 192k points.

 

[Danger]

Have just finished booking a QF classic award itinerary and was actually surprised at how modest the taxes were!

SIN > BNE (EK F)
BNE > ADL (QF J)
ADL > SYD (QF J)
SYD > MEL (QF J)
MEL > DXB (EK F).

192k points and AUD$187 in taxes. I seem to recall last year when I flew SYD>MEL>DXB>FCO on the same type of award it was more like AUD$600+

What gives?

Wow. I would have thought there's a zero missing as either the second or even third digit. Very impressive.

 

[madrooster]

Wow. I would have thought there's a zero missing as either the second or even third digit. Very impressive.

It contains no fuel fines based on the tax pricing from the GDS.

 

[Tortuga]

Good to see the argument "If you don't like it don't fly with them - airlines need to make a profit - people are willing to pay so who cares" is not being used.

 

[serfty]

One just needs to look at opportunity ...

Business U award on QF93/QF95 MEL-LAX has +++ of AU$428.

Business U award on QF94/QF96 LAX-MEL has +++ of US$453 (~AU$600).

Business U award on QF93/QF95 - QF94/QF96 MEL-LAX-MEL has +++ of AU$845.

It's 96K o/w and 192K return.

Save ~$200 if you have the 192K.

 

[bmcc]

It contains no fuel fines based on the tax pricing from the GDS.

Given that it has ticketed and been confirmed, do you think there is any risk to this booking?

 

[madrooster]

Given that it has ticketed and been confirmed, do you think there is any risk to this booking?

Very unlikely that there'd be any risk.

 

[JohnK]

Given that it has ticketed and been confirmed, do you think there is any risk to this booking?

Don't make any changes as there is a chance the fuel surcharges will be recalculated.

 

[snabbu]

Was looking for a J or better seat BOS-SYD for next year and up popped 3 options, CX, QR, BA.

CX - $USD52.19



QR - $USD296.89



BA - $USD792.96 :shock::shock::shock::shock:



With CX my preferred carrier (even if QF was an option) I'm quite pleased with the taxes.