Qantas Award Charges Outrageous

[cove]

We use Qantas points for J redemptions mainly between Perth and the eastern states in refurbed A330s.

 

[Lonely Flyer]

We use Qantas points for J redemptions mainly between Perth and the eastern states in refurbed A330s.

We are flying BNE-LAX-BNE soon. Virgin to LAX fees for 2 in J $278. Qantas to BNE in J. Fees $1150.00.

 

[cove]

Virgin is bleeding cash Lonely Flyer and their last quarter results were not pretty. Virgin are doing things that they cannot do so they make losses for their shareholders. That $1,150 does look high for Qantas charges.

 

[Lonely Flyer]

Virgin is bleeding cash Lonely Flyer and their last quarter results were not pretty. Virgin are doing things that they cannot do so they make losses for their shareholders. That $1,150 does look high for Qantas charges.

It was US$868

 

[cove]

Prices this week are super low for economy tickets to the US and back. Using frequent flyer points for economy would be a poor idea.

 

[Limewood]

We are flying BNE-LAX-BNE soon. Virgin to LAX fees for 2 in J $278. Qantas to BNE in J. Fees $1150.00.

This the point is while Qantas make millions of $ we are still slammed with this massive award booking fee impost, you don't see this caper on CX or AA and most other major airlines so like others we are annoyed. We have more than enough points for 2 x J to the USA can't come at paying so much extra to use them.

 

[juddles]

This the point is while Qantas make millions of $ we are still slammed with this massive award booking fee impost, you don't see this caper on CX or AA and most other major airlines so like others we are annoyed. We have more than enough points for 2 x J to the USA can't come at paying so much extra to use them.

Qantas "making millions"?? They have just crawled back into the black.

 

[JohnK]

This the point is while Qantas make millions of $ we are still slammed with this massive award booking fee impost, you don't see this caper on CX or AA and most other major airlines so like others we are annoyed. We have more than enough points for 2 x J to the USA can't come at paying so much extra to use them.

You also see it on SQ, TG, VS, PG to name a few.

 

[clifford]

Emirates fees tend to be higher, as does the number of points required for an award booking in any class. Best use of Emirates points IMHO is to book Qantas flights (which can be much cheaper).

 

[Limewood]

Qantas "making millions"?? They have just crawled back into the black.

And in a big way.

You also see it on SQ, TG, VS, PG to name a few.

But we want to go OZ to US its about $1700 for 2 in J return in fees and charges for the award flights, how in the hell can that be justified??.

 

[jgm]

Qantas "making millions"?? They have just crawled back into the black.

They would be making millions if they weren't giving them to Jones et al!

 

[JohnK]

But we want to go OZ to US its about $1700 for 2 in J return in fees and charges for the award flights, how in the hell can that be justified??.

Have you looked at going via HKG on CX using QFF points? Sure a few extra points but taxes and surcharges negligible.

 

[DaveB]

QF fees and charges aren't the issue, availability online sure is though. Probably cutting my nose off but hate ringing even for partner flights doing all bookings online.

Rarely able to use QF points for long haul QFi though still handy for across the ditch (particularly on EJ) where the youngest daughter is now ensconced and QFd.

As a comparison to OneWorld, today booked eldest daughter to Mexico over Xmas/NY's who would fly to the moon and back to avoid Y/Y+ (and almost did) involving the following fees:

EY J SYD-AUH-CDG using VA points - 140,000 points with no fees, think it was $128K + a few hundred $$;
AM J CDG-MEX using DL points - 65,000 points + 112.98Euro;
AM/DL J multi CUN-LAS-LAX using DL points - 62,500 points + US$70.77;
SQ R LAX-NRT-SIN-SYD using SQ points - 233,750 points (Savers all gone at 119,000 points) + US$440.28.

 

[Limewood]

Have you looked at going via HKG on CX using QFF points? Sure a few extra points but taxes and surcharges negligible.

Yes have done that John in the past, currently under consideration, we have few Aussie mates in HK too - but they drink a lot as we found out yet once again recently while there. Looking at using QF HKG/US return or possibly back through LA.

 

[Limewood]

So Red Roo gone well I was hoping for a good result on removing these huge fees and charges

 

[hossein_au]

Have you looked at going via HKG on CX using QFF points? Sure a few extra points but taxes and surcharges negligible.

Last week I booked 2xJ tickets CBR-MEL-HKG-SYD-CBR with QF on QF metal. It cost 132,000 QFF points plus just over $420 in fees PER PASSENGER! Well over 50% of the fees were YQ (and labeled as such on the booking on Amadeus). And I thought YQ for flights to and from HKG were regulated? Even if it is, it apparently does not apply to QF! :-(

 

[marki]

Last week I booked 2xJ tickets CBR-MEL-HKG-SYD-CBR with QF on QF metal. It cost 132,000 QFF points plus just over $420 in fees PER PASSENGER! Well over 50% of the fees were YQ (and labeled as such on the booking on Amadeus). And I thought YQ for flights to and from HKG were regulated? Even if it is, it apparently does not apply to QF! :-(

Fee's can be steep and can be discouraging in booking future travel with QF. They say the best value is when upgrading an upgradable Y ticket to Business. ( I am not suppose to write that):mrgreen:

 

[hossein_au]

Fee's can be steep and can be discouraging in booking future travel with QF. They say the best value is when upgrading an upgradable Y ticket to Business. ( I am not suppose to write that):mrgreen:

Not really; to bid for upgrade one needs to book in at least S fare class. This means paying extra few hundreds of dollars in addition to the required points. It's the case of 6 of one or half a dozen of another.

 

[marki]

Not really; to bid for upgrade one needs to book in at least S fare class. This means paying extra few hundreds of dollars in addition to the required points. It's the case of 6 of one or half a dozen of the other.

I realise this, but have been impressed that discount Red E deals are upgradable. ( unfortunately not all the time ==> ! popular heavily booked out routes and times )

Not sure if this is true or not (the Red E deals I get quoted are upgradable) Not sure if that's to do with an underlying status ? Hidden unpublished benefit of WP status. The amount of points upgrades cost on these fares can be high. Also on award fares there are no points eran.
At least when paying for a Y class ticket one can get some SC and Points and with S fare class and above the points earn is higher then the base.

 

[hossein_au]

I realise this, but have been impressed that discount Red E deals are upgradable. ( unfortunately not all the time ==> ! popular heavily booked out routes and times )

Not sure if this is true or not (the Red E deals I get quoted are upgradable) Not sure if that's to do with an underlying status ? Hidden unpublished benefit of WP status. The amount of points upgrades cost on these fares can be high. Also on award fares there are no points eran.
At least when paying for a Y class ticket one can get some SC and Points and with S fare class and above the points earn is higher then the base.

I've noticed if I book flights out of German site of QF, they are all upgradeable (even the cheapest fares). I've found red-e-deals on Aussie site of QF are rarely upgradeable.

It's a pity QF site does not provide fare class before the reservation is finalised. For what is worth there is a GreaseMonkey script that shows you fare class on QF site before the booking is finalised.