Qantas Award Charges Outrageous

[casanovawa]

The two calculations you want to make, which are:

1. Am i getting more value from the points that what it cost me to earn them... That's easy enough to do, take the cash fare price and then deduct the fuel surcharge/taxes off of that and divide it by 18000 or 36000 and see what value you are getting per point, than have a think about how you earnt them... Are they from free signups from credit cards or freely earnt at coles/woolies or are a certain amount from bills where they might have cost you around 1 cent a piece or more and how does it average down with the free points etc...

2. Is it the best value i can get out of redeeming these points... For that it will require pricing up a few short and long haul international economy/business tickets and see from a base caluclation above of what value you are getting for these particular flights (say in economy ASP-MEL-SYD - $309-$109 = $200/18000 = 1.1 cents per point) and then do a few other calculations on the point value of say a redemption to Europe or the States to see if you should keep your points for that instead...

Flying airlines like CX or those outside of the QF/EK arrangement might cost a few more points (extra 10-20k) but the cash component you pay can often be much less again getting a different valuation per point...

 

[Limewood]

I've used ponts a few times out of HKG on CX found additional charges cheap as chips, recently booked a one way in J and fee was only about AUD$80, Qantas should reduce theirs out of OZ to an acceptable level, then that word "enhancement" would ring true

 

[dajop]

I've used ponts a few times out of HKG on CX found additional charges cheap as chips, recently booked a one way in J and fee was only about AUD$80, Qantas should reduce theirs out of OZ to an acceptable level, then that word "enhancement" would ring true

Same with any carrier to/from HKG as surcharges are regulated (now to zero). It just happens to be the CX hub so they can't charge surcharges on any of their flights.

 

[Limewood]

Same with any carrier to/from HKG as surcharges are regulated (now to zero). It just happens to be the CX hub so they can't charge surcharges on any of their flights.

Yes understood, pity same doesn't apply out of OZ, sorry Qantas its wrong, wrong, wrong.

 

[Captain hum]

and we should keep this thread going until such time they change those impost costs.

Get onto them via Twitter. Seriously, I use twitter all the time if I want results. A simple full stop in front of the @qantas will ensure it can be seen by all. These big companies hate airing their dirty laundry in public and you will at least get a response.

 

[Limewood]

Here is another example in another post of the rip off...

[h=2]Re: JAL F awards- plenty of availabilty Sydney-Tokyo- 2 pax[/h]

For those interested, SYD-NRT/HND-LHR in JAL F comes to 80,000 + $150.78 using AAdvantage (priced last week).

Qantas was 192,000 + around $660 for SYD-DXB-LHR (priced in January).​

 

[AndyGoodyear]

It doesn't really matter whether it is a fuel surcharge or a reward surcharge - the fact of the matter is Qantas still can not compete with VA when it comes to redemptions. We have known this for a long time, but it is good to see the AusBT article which highlights some interesting comparisons.

I have amassed 400,000 points so far - and to be honest as soon as I have 560K to get 2x tickets RTW in J, I'm going to consider where my frequent flyer loyalty lies.

 

[Limewood]

Yes Im in the same boat have 400K in kitty and reviewing what to do.

 

[JohnK]

SYD-MEL-DXB-BKK in economy for 60,000 QFF points and ~AUD270 in taxes.

Seriously think that's good value even though I don't look forward to DXB transit.

 

[Happy Trails]

SYD-MEL-DXB-BKK in economy for 60,000 QFF points and ~AUD270 in taxes.

Seriously think that's good value even though I don't look forward to DXB transit.

That sounds crazy to me when you can go direct in J for about the same cost.

 

[JohnK]

That sounds crazy to me when you can go direct in J for about the same cost.

That's out of the question for the date I want to travel end September.

The selling point is 2 trips on A380 and I leave late Sunday night and arrive BKK Monday evening in time for last flight to CNX.

Looked at SQ and they want ~AUD380 in taxes one way.

If I do book it please don't tell the wife as she'll think I am nuts.

 

[Happy Trails]

That's out of the question for the date I want to travel end September.

The selling point is 2 trips on A380 and I leave late Sunday night and arrive BKK Monday evening in time for last flight to CNX.

Looked at SQ and they want ~AUD380 in taxes one way.

If I do book it please don't tell the wife as she'll think I am nuts.

Your wife would be correct, but your secret will be safe with me.

 

[bismarck]

I'm with Happy Trails. Not for me to go BKK via DXB in Y.

 

[drewbles]

Yes Im in the same boat have 400K in kitty and reviewing what to do.

I've been hovering between 450k and 550k for the past 12 months (keep burning upgrades).

I think once i've hit 560k again, i'll be doing similarly.

I just redeemed 80k AA miles (prior to devaluation) for BA/QF AMS-LHR-DXB-SYD-MEL in J/F/F/J for $104USD. QF want 192,000 for AMS-DXB-MEL on EK all the way and €440.36. That's $145ish AUD vs $685ish AUD, and a metric butt-load more points.

Even after the AA devaluation (going to 110k) QF is still not attractive. Lifetime gold is coming this year, and i'm crossing everything that with the return of AA to Australia, the Credit Card and FF bonus offers come with 'em!

 

[JohnK]

Your wife would be correct, but your secret will be safe with me.

LOL. Why fly direct when you can connect?

 

[andye]

LOL. Why fly direct when you can connect?

Mine not to reason why, but I thought the idea was to avoid flying longhaul Y unless you earn masses of points doing so

 

[tania73]

Looked at coughet to Madrid today - taxes in J or F were $640 - using Emirates
Brisbane to Madrid was $668 - using Emriates

You would have thought that a much shorter sitance would require less fuel tax - clearly not.

BTW, using CX 139,000 points plus $98

Lets hope someone will listen one day. As for the AA comment above, I think AA and QF are bed with each too much on this, would think there might be a non compete on credit card in their codeshare agreement

 

[andye]

I've been hovering between 450k and 550k for the past 12 months (keep burning upgrades).

I think once i've hit 560k again, i'll be doing similarly.

I just redeemed 80k AA miles (prior to devaluation) for BA/QF AMS-LHR-DXB-SYD-MEL in J/F/F/J for $104USD. QF want 192,000 for AMS-DXB-MEL on EK all the way and €440.36. That's $145ish AUD vs $685ish AUD, and a metric butt-load more points.

Even after the AA devaluation (going to 110k) QF is still not attractive. Lifetime gold is coming this year, and i'm crossing everything that with the return of AA to Australia, the Credit Card and FF bonus offers come with 'em!

It has been possible to earn AA for ages: 0.625 withAmex MR, 0.78 with Diners MC and 1.78 with Diners. I wouldnt expect a putative specific AA card to earn better

 

[JohnK]

Mine not to reason why, but I thought the idea was to avoid flying longhaul Y unless you earn masses of points doing so

Personally I like to think I can get good value out of my points and 2 long haul flights on A380 are pretty good value.

Another option is 42,000 points on CX with only $94 taxes. It would only be 35,000 points with QF/EK combination via HKG but can't get the website to give availability on the EK flight paired with the QF flight even though there is availability on the EK flight when paired with CX flight but points cost increases.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Personally I like to think I can get good value out of my points and 2 long haul flights on A380 are pretty good value.

Another option is 42,000 points on CX with only $94 taxes. It would only be 35,000 points with QF/EK combination via HKG but can't get the website to give availability on the EK flight paired with the QF flight even though there is availability on the EK flight when paired with CX flight but points cost increases.

The CX option would seem like a lot less pain. And good value from the Pier/Wing F class lounge in HKG.