Qantas prices

[dede]

From memory Qantas mentioned sometime ago that it was going to go to one-way airfares for international flights as well as domestic. This does not appear to have eventuated. So they will continue to overcharge on one-way flights.

I guess if they went to one way fares then I could book two one way fares from the US website and circumvent the local site. That way we could take advantage of the cheap Qantas fares over there. I don't think they'd like that!

 

[JohnK]

Sorry, but I can't let this comment go completely uncontested. I think there's some rose tinted glasses in your comment. You simply cannot compare $1800 in the 1990s and say it is the same as $1800 in 2010.

Actually the comparison from the 1990s to 2010 is relevant when you consider that Qantas airfare SYD-ATH back then was AUD2200+ for peak season and I paid AUD1900 (with side trip to London) on a reputable European carrier. Qantas airfares were more expensive and are still more expensive.

And just to add to the silly comparison in the 1990s an ATH-SYD return airfare on Olympic was noticeably cheaper than a SYD-ATH return airfare on Olympic. So in Australia we have been paying more for airfares. Some people like to call it supply and demand. I call it gouging.

I guess if they went to one way fares then I could book two one way fares from the US website and circumvent the local site. That way we could take advantage of the cheap Qantas fares over there. I don't think they'd like that!

You would not be able to purchase SYD/MEL-LAX one way airfare (or return airfare) from the Qantas USA website.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I think it's all about thinking outside the circle when it comes to buying airfares. There is quite a large Greek population in DRW & a lot of them buy the cheapest JQ fare DRW/SIN/DRW (or TR when they used to fly that route). In may this year it's about AUD363.00 return including taxes.

They then either go onto the SQ website & book SIN/ATH/SIN separately or EK SIN/DXB/ATH/DXB/SIN. A colleague bought return tickets on TG SIN/BKK/ATH/BKK/SIN for a bit over AUD1,000.00 through the TG ticket office in SIN.

Forget trying to get the cheapest through fare on Qatar Airways ex Oz all the way to Europe via Doha.

FWIW my first international ticket back in 1982 (OMG was that really 28 years ago?) SYD/LAX/SYD on QF was AUD975.00 return! Late last year it was actually less than that on QF for the same route still on QF. Don't know what that equates to salary wise then as I was still at skewl but for a lot of people that would barely be a fortnight's pay in this day and age.

Anybody know what it costs to buy a ticket ex LAX to the Yoo Kay & return eg on VS. Might be cheaper to add that to a SYD/LAX/SYD tickete rather than go via the EH/Kangaroo route. Think of the baggage allowance too - 2 pieces @ 23kg per person!

Some time ago, well last century anyway you could save a few bucks by getting a return package (flights & accomm) to Hawaii then getting an airpass on a US carrier ex HNL to the mainland and return which would include a couple of internal flights within continental USA also.

Happy trails.

Oz

 

[dajop]

. Qantas airfares were more expensive and are still more expensive.

I do see your point regarding QF fares being more expensive and always being that way - I guess that is the perogative of the home carrier. We see many on this board who would use QF over other carriers, and that sentiment is only amplified in the broader community. This sentiment clearly translates in $$ for QF. I wonder if we will ever see VA get some home carrier sentiment to translate into $$.

It is not unique to Australia and Qantas, I can relate my own experiences now that I am based in Singapore. I rarely flied internationally ex-MEL on QF because they were usually more expensive (and often less convenient) than alternatives - in fact in economy for personal travel (and in J for business travel) I found myself most frequently flying SQ. Now I live in SIN, I rarely set foot inside an SQ plane. Every time I've flown (for personal travel) back to Australia - other than redemptions - I have flown on EK or QF, who have always been cheaper than SQ. But they love SQ here so SQ get away with it, in the same way QF do in Australia.

 

[anat0l]

I wonder if we will ever see VA get some home carrier sentiment to translate into $$.

I see it a lot like VS vs. BA in the UK. VS go so far as to say that they are England's Flag Carrier; in any case, the competition of VS and BA is fierce to say the least. Of course, just like in our country, the incumbent flag carrier - BA - are "bad guys". (I don't really see why; I find VS less superior to BA in a number of ways, even if BA just might be more expensive).

At least BA has many destinations out of LON which VS has not matched route for route. On the other hand, VA is intending to tackle QF on all of its long haul routes, where QF previously was the incumbent carrier of choice. This leaves QF in a much more precarious position. To the consumer, it really just means "new blood" on new sectors and active competition driving down prices.

 

[JohnK]

I do see your point regarding QF fares being more expensive and always being that way - I guess that is the perogative of the home carrier. We see many on this board who would use QF over other carriers, and that sentiment is only amplified in the broader community. This sentiment clearly translates in $$ for QF.

I have been looking at return airfares SYD-BKK for travel on Boxing Day 2010 and returning early January 2011. Depending on where you look QF is ~AUD1650+, SQ is ~AUD1450 including earning miles. If last year is any indication then over then next couple of months I would expect the SQ airfare will drop to ~AUD1200 (~AUD1280 miles earning) where as QF will more than likely increase. I cannot see any TG airfares yet but again if last year is any indication I would expect the airfare to be ~AUD1400.

Why would I fly QF for an extra ~AUD200, possibly ~AUD400? For 60 SCs and ~18,000 QFF points? If I did not have Platinum status then it would only be ~9,000 QFF points. On both SQ and TG I would earn ~9,000 KrisFlyer miles and would be able to redeem an award trip to BKK/SIN/TPE after 5 flights and a saving of at least AUD1000.

I used to religiously book on QF/BA but I find their pricing too high most of the time. If I ever return to purchasing airfares ex-SE Asia then I may look at QF/BA again as an alternative.