Qantas Award Charges Outrageous

[dajop]

So looks like 5 airlines out of a 1000 - well maybe not that many, but gee these charges should be reduced big time.

Oh there's more. The others I can think of include TG, AF, LH, VS, KL, LX and I'm sure there are others.

 

[tania73]

Limewood you might be interested in this link - really demonstrates how QF rips us off compared to VA Qantas Virgin Australia frequent flyer points award seat bookings - Australian Business Traveller

 

[andye]

BA have to be one of the worst offenders as you can't even avoid the surcharge using AA miles.

(OTOH their short-haul reward flight saver redemptions are good value)

 

[Limewood]

Limewood you might be interested in this link - really demonstrates how QF rips us off compared to VA Qantas Virgin Australia frequent flyer points award seat bookings - Australian Business Traveller

Good to see ABT taking up the mantle and showing it as it currently.

Ive never used QF points domestically or for upgrades only for long haul and was so p....ed off having to pay so much BNE/DFW/BNE plus 384K points for 2 in J, its wrong and we want them to fess up and stop these huge additional charges

 

[Happy Trails]

BA have to be one of the worst offenders as you can't even avoid the surcharge using AA miles.

(OTOH their short-haul reward flight saver redemptions are good value)

There's a timely piece in the UK Independent.

I love this line: "We believe that it is better to be transparent with our customers by showing the level of fuel surcharge they are paying rather than hide the costs by raising fares behind the scenes like some other airlines choose to do."

BA's fuel surcharge and frequent flier airline loyalty: Don't expect a fall in 'carrier-imposed surcharges' soon | News & Advice | Travel | The Independent

 

[Deleted member]

I have always maintained that "adding" extras to any cost of a good or service is offensive.
For example, My big bug bear is if you're going to charge 3% for. CC transaction, hike the price by 3%, and then offer a discount for cash.

 

[Limewood]

I have always maintained that "adding" extras to any cost of a good or service is offensive.

Totally agree, we all should keep fighting to stop these charges.

 

[Tortuga]

Totally agree, we all should keep fighting to stop these charges.

I also stopped accumulating QF points because of the redeem rates. If enough people start changing who they fly with and hit their bottom line then maybe it will give them a wake up call. It is a shame how things seem to have gotten worse in terms of service right when the company begins performing better financially.

 

[Limewood]

Well yes they are making money like no tomorrow yet we continue to be slugged these fees, certainly wont win best practice award

 

[Limewood]

Just more proof what do you think?.

 

[Pleb Status]

I was looking last night and found that LHR=PER ow in J is 112000 QFF+AUD1135 on QF/EK and 110000 VFF+AUD401 on EY (using VA). A difference of AUD734. If I did not have almost 1M QFF to burn, it would be VA every time....

 

[knasty]

Reality is the average punter uses their points for Y redemptions on QF/JQ, pays the 'taxes' and feels good about themselves thinking they got something for free. Until that changes Qantas won't unless its forced to by regulation. It gives me great satisfaction to book AA awards on high surcharge airlines without paying the surcharge, and compare the price against booking through QFF (BA excl of course).

 

[exceladdict]

Reality is the average punter uses their points for Y redemptions on QF/JQ, pays the 'taxes' and feels good about themselves thinking they got something for free. Until that changes Qantas won't unless its forced to by regulation. It gives me great satisfaction to book AA awards on high surcharge airlines without paying the surcharge, and compare the price against booking through QFF (BA excl of course).

When you calculate the cost of the points in wow gift cards or similar and add that to the cost of taxes, it should really equal lower than a cash purchase ticket in cash equivalent...

 

[eminere]

exceladdict, I hope you don't mind me posting my question in your thread as it relates to award charges and I could use the advice of the brains trust. I've never used my points against flight redemptions before, only on upgrades, so don't know if the charges component QF is quoting me are reasonable or not.

I am looking to travel from Alice Springs to Sydney (one-way) in June and the commercial fares are:
$309 ASP-MEL-SYD in economy
$330 ASP-SYD in economy
$1,470 ASP-SYD in business
$1,479 ASP-MEL-SYD in business

(For comparison I was able to snag a sale fare from SYD-ASP for $199.)

If I search for a Classic Flight Reward the options are:
18,000 points ASP-ADL-MEL-SYD in economy
36,000 points ASP-SYD or ASP-ADL-SYD or ASP-ADL-MEL-SYD in business

The charges payable for both economy and business awards are the same at $109.29. Is this decent? I don't mind the multiple connections (after all, why fly direct when you can connect, right?) and 36,000 points would get me three sectors in business. Pricing these sectors individually they would normally cost 56,000 points. So is it then "worth it" to redeem for a business award?

 

[exceladdict]

exceladdict, I hope you don't mind me posting my question in your thread as it relates to award charges and I could use the advice of the brains trust. I've never used my points against flight redemptions before, only on upgrades, so don't know if the charges component QF is quoting me are reasonable or not.

I am looking to travel from Alice Springs to Sydney (one-way) in June and the commercial fares are:
$309 ASP-MEL-SYD in economy
$330 ASP-SYD in economy
$1,470 ASP-SYD in business
$1,479 ASP-MEL-SYD in business

(For comparison I was able to snag a sale fare from SYD-ASP for $199.)

If I search for a Classic Flight Reward the options are:
18,000 points ASP-ADL-MEL-SYD in economy
36,000 points ASP-SYD or ASP-ADL-SYD or ASP-ADL-MEL-SYD in business

The charges payable for both economy and business awards are the same at $109.29. Is this decent? I don't mind the multiple connections (after all, why fly direct when you can connect, right?) and 36,000 points would get me three sectors in business. Pricing these sectors individually they would normally cost 56,000 points. So is it then "worth it" to redeem for a business award?

To be honest, I'm not fussed flying business unless it's a long ish flight - so it will always be a subjective call.

If you take off the cost of the YQ at 109, 18,000 points gets you $211 of value, 36,000 points gets you $1300 odd of value.

Comparatively those points would get you $120 or $240 odd worth of Woolworths gift cards at 0.67c/p.

You're definitely getting more dollars per point in the J example but its totally your call as to whether short haul J flights are worth it. Im personally saving mine up for long haul but YMMV!

 

[knasty]

When you calculate the cost of the points in wow gift cards or similar and add that to the cost of taxes, it should really equal lower than a cash purchase ticket in cash equivalent...

It should, but often doesn't. I've demonstrated this calculation a number of times to colleagues who have made the mistake...

 

[medhead]

Had a good example today. JNB-CPT. When I checked last week this was available in J for about $660 return. Just checked a Qantas award today, to see. 52000 points +~$540! All options were via Durban or Port Elizabeth, and the latest departure was 12:30pm.

 

[Danger]

Had a good example today. JNB-CPT. When I checked last week this was available in J for about $660 return. Just checked a Qantas award today, to see. 52000 points +~$540! All options were via Durban or Port Elizabeth, and the latest departure was 12:30pm.

For like a 90 minute flight. That is outrageous. I wonder, though, what the taxes would be if the flight was operated by CX, for example.

 

[Awesom Andy]

JNB-CPT.

Somewhat surprising that this would even come back with a result.

 

[medhead]

For like a 90 minute flight. That is outrageous. I wonder, though, what the taxes would be if the flight was operated by CX, for example.

The cash price is from BA website. I'm not sure how to search on CX, but might give it a go.

Somewhat surprising that this would even come back with a result.

QF can only sell awards for domestic south africa. So only the award was from Qantas.