Qantas prices

[IKAROS]

Can anyone in the game explain to me how Qantas can justify the prices for econony airfares originating from Australia to the UK compared to the same prices charged for similar fights fron the UK to Australia [ BESIDES THE OBVIOUS ANSWER OF "GOTYA "


It would appear to me that the season aspect is not relevent nor could an exchange rate agument stand up when one looks at the differential which is well heading for double the price out of Australia compared to what the Pohms have to pay

It could be worthwhile getting a ticket over there and buying tickets for Australia and back for those who have to travel for family reasons on a regular basis or business for that matter

Come on Qantas do the right thing with us poor Aussies

 

[NM]

Can anyone in the game explain to me how Qantas can justify the prices for econony airfares originating from Australia to the UK compared to the same prices charged for similar fights fron the UK to Australia [ BESIDES THE OBVIOUS ANSWER OF "GOTYA "

Market forces. In any market, the home carrier is generally the most expensive because people are willing to pay more than they will pay for an "unknown" provider.

Come on Qantas do the right thing with us poor Aussies

Remember that they have a legal obligation to do the right thing by their shareholders too

 

[anat0l]

Remember that they have a legal obligation to do teh right thing by their shareholders too

An unfortunate side-effect which can go very much against the grain with keeping the customer happy.


QF must be able to justify them somehow. If every Australian "wasn't stupid" and flew on cheaper carriers because they can charge less than QF, then it would be folly for QF to continue their gouging fares and they just might be out of business, right?

As someone said before, "the best price to charge for something is the highest at which the majority are willing to pay for."


To be fair, air travel out of Australia is pretty expensive no matter which carrier you pick (i.e. evaluate and compare the costs of any carrier for a flight AU->UK vs. UK->AU).

If you do plan on regular travel, your tactic may work, although if you don't have a flexible ticket then your window for booking the return flight will be restricted (not to mention booking the next such ticket). Also note that often a return flight will be much, much cheaper than a one-way (but there are exceptions).

 

[Natt]

How about that a one way price from LA to Brisbane is more than a return ticket??

At least for economy anyway.

I think I will be flying on V Australia instead, if I had a choice it would be Qantas

 

[harvyk]

Because from the UK, Australia is a very long way to travel, and there are many options far closer to home. From Australia, we have south-east asia, and new zealand, but that's the limit.

The issue is we are really isolated from the rest of the world, thus almost anywhere we want to go it's going to be long haul.

From the UK however europe is a short hop away, and even the west coast of the US isn't really that far away.

 

[trooper]

Natt... The next date I am booking a one way for has - for LAX-BNE- ...QF at AUD$1732, VA at $1253 and NZ... my "home FF" airline... at $876.... This is not uncommon.... I have never felt "ripped off' by NZ's one way fares...

If you are going to miss out on miles anyway... why not have a look at that option? Personally I like the stop at AKL... but for that cost saving I think I'd put up with it even if I didn't!

P.S. If you decide to think about that... make sure the Transpac flight is on the 744..... better IMO....

P.P.S. Just had a look at return fares... same time frame.... QF is about AUD$1000..... why not just buy that and chuck the return segment? Will that cause problems later????

 

[IKAROS]

I can appreciate the comments about profit and share holders but when the gouging is almost double the Uk originated fare compared to when you want to originate out of Aust then that's a RIP OFF in my mind anyway ................or is there only me who feels this way ????? .

Last nights,14 Jan , channel 9 news in Sydney had a section telling us all how much cheaper our airfares were both domestic and international .

Well the international to and from Aust to UK on Qantas certainly isn't

 

[Dave Noble]

I can appreciate the comments about profit and share holders but when the gouging is almost double the Uk originated fare compared to when you want to originate out of Aust then that's a RIP OFF in my mind anyway ................or is there only me who feels this way ????? .

They charge that what people will pay. Quite a simple principle, People seem to be happy to pay extra to fly Qantas and so Qantas obliges . Ex UK, ime, people have much less tunnel vision and also ime, much less interested in frequent flyer programmes and will pick an airline on price. Qantas has to compete in this market and charge accordingly

ex-AU there are lots of options to Asia/Europe , many of which may be cheaper than QF. e.g. recently I flew to BKK and QF wanted $1300 r/t with a $300 cancellation penalty and $60 change fees. EK charged $750 r/t with a zero cancellation penalty and a zero change fee. Unsurprisingly I didn't book QF. Whilst people will pay it, Qantas will charge it

It isn't a rip off exactly, since no one is forcing you to book with Qantas; you are free to use any other carrier

Dave

 

[Alanslegal]

I can appreciate the comments about profit and share holders but when the gouging is almost double the Uk originated fare compared to when you want to originate out of Aust then that's a RIP OFF in my mind anyway ................or is there only me who feels this way ????? .

Welcome to AFF IKAROS

Even though I understand what you are saying, I have to disagree to the point that flying SYD-LON-SYD is not equal to flying LON-SYD-LON. Yes the flight segments are the same, the planes are the same but it still doesn't make it equal.

I have utilised ex-SIN fares to Australia where they are often cheaper than buying them starting here - so that means I am forced in a nice way to go visit family in SIN each year.

 

[Natt]

Natt... The next date I am booking a one way for has - for LAX-BNE- ...QF at AUD$1732, VA at $1253 and NZ... my "home FF" airline... at $876.... This is not uncommon.... I have never felt "ripped off' by NZ's one way fares...

If you are going to miss out on miles anyway... why not have a look at that option? Personally I like the stop at AKL... but for that cost saving I think I'd put up with it even if I didn't!

P.S. If you decide to think about that... make sure the Transpac flight is on the 744..... better IMO....

P.P.S. Just had a look at return fares... same time frame.... QF is about AUD$1000..... why not just buy that and chuck the return segment? Will that cause problems later????

Thanks for all the info - thats great

I was keen on qantas mostly for the chance to use points to upgrade to business.

I was just a tad bemused that it can be cheaper to book a 2 way fare. Seems odd to me.

But anyway, I did notice the Air NZ flights, and they look good, the other choice was to come back via Fiji (how tough would that be lol)

What will probably happen is that we will stalk V Australia for a one way fare - at the moment its $751

With Qantas though, if you buy an two way and don't get the flight back do you get any credit with them?

I would be more than happy to do that but don't want to through away an entire leg when for the same money I could check out our Kiwi nighbours

 

[serfty]

Natt... The next date I am booking a one way for has - for LAX-BNE- ...QF at AUD$1732, VA at $1253 and NZ... my "home FF" airline... at $876.... This is not uncommon.... I have never felt "ripped off' by NZ's one way fares... ...

With airNZ, SFO/LAX-NZ return fares are often more expensive that SFO/LAX-Oz.

I purchased two AirNZ LAX-MEL fares last November in USD for ~AUD975 each all up. These fares are UPGRADEABLE.

Since I travel to the states 2-3 times per year these days I am heading to LAX in June on a one-way award and intend to book my returns based from the USA.

It's the same from AKL to SE OZ, AKL-MEL-AKL with Qantas.co.nz costs as little as ~NZD430 or ~AUD350.

Same Flight number on the reverse (MEL-AKL-MEL), still with a sale, cost AUD380 ($388 with CC fee)

 

[anat0l]

I can appreciate the comments about profit and share holders but when the gouging is almost double the Uk originated fare compared to when you want to originate out of Aust then that's a RIP OFF in my mind anyway ................or is there only me who feels this way ?????

I don't like to use the word "rip off" - it implies something being done which is illegal/immoral and forced.

No one forces you to purchase QF fares - in fact, you have many other options. The fact that QF can go on charging these fares despite the "stiff" competition surrounding it must be testament to something.

A good example of where QF was forced to reconfigure its fares (so it couldn't go on charging the same thing) was on the Trans-Pacific routes with the introduction of VA and DL. If the same kind of thing was to happen on Kangaroo routes, then we might see a real reduction in prices.

 

[ChrisBNE]

I agree with what most have said regarding economies of scale. One other important point to note is of course seasonality. A low season to Ex UK may correspond with a high season ex Australia. This also will have a massive impact on pricing.

For example, June ex Australia to the UK is high season, ex UK to Australia is low season.

 

[bossreggie]

Hey All.

I travel Trans Tasman 6 - 8 times per year and I always book QF from the NZ website. The past several times I have been able to do the return in J for $1198 NZD. This has always been $700 - $1000 AUD cheaper than booking from QF AU site. Usually this is on QF132/133 which is the old coughPO 737-400 but I have always been able to change flights to the far superior 737-800.

As a regular traveler on this route I would have to comment the level of service with the Jetconnect Kiwi crew has been of a much higher standard than the QANTAS staff.

 

[trooper]

You hit the nail on the head there serfty !

The US based return idea won't work for me... don't think I haven't considered it! Quite happy then that NZ's one ways are reasonably priced!

Got to love the fact that ALL NZ fares are upgradeable... (I've missed ONE Y>J UG across the Pacific since hitting GE.. that'll teach me to fly LAX-AKL on the last Sunday of the NZ school holidays!)

One more for the OP.... Unless you are really keen to build Fiji into the trip I'd look at that with a gimlet eye.... FJ (Air Pacific) are not an airline I'd be too keen to fly in Y... YMMV of course....

FWIW.. for the same dates we've been talking about (-ish) you COULD fly LAX-RAR/stopover/RAR-AKL-SYD on NZ for USD $970....:mrgreen:

 

[Natt]

Hi all

slighty off topic we have decided on a route back from the US on our handmade RTW - unless of course somehow masses of QFF points lob into my account

Theres a nice combination with Air New Zealand

Los Angeles - Cook Islands - Auckland - back to Australia (stops on the way)

the LA to cook islands is a coughpy night flight - so we are looking at doing that economy its too much to upgrade for pretty ordinary seating, the rest business

seems to work really well and if you went all economy it was about AUD$850

thanks for the comments about Air Pacific - thats good info to know

 

[JohnK]

How about that a one way price from LA to Brisbane is more than a return ticket??

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 can appreciate the comments about profit and share holders but when the gouging is almost double the Uk originated fare compared to when you want to originate out of Aust then that's a RIP OFF in my mind anyway ................or is there only me who feels this way ????? .

You are not alone. Unfortunately in Australia we have been plagued with high airfares for a number of years and it is not just Qantas that is doing it.

Once upon a time we had a few European carriers flying to Australia and because of the competition the airfares were reasonable. I remember purchasing a SYD-ATH return on Olympic in the 90's for ~AUD1800 with a side trip to LHR for another AUD100. Now the same type of trip costs well over AUD2000 unless one is able to secure a cheap off-season airfare during the sale periods.

As you, and a number of people, suggest get a one-way airfare on points to your destination and then purchase return airfares back to Australia from there. I did this for a number of years going to Thailand but unfortunately had to stop doing it when I scaled back the number of trips per year.

 

[serfty]

... I did this for a number of years going to Thailand but unfortunately had to stop doing it when I scaled back the number of trips per year.

Time to start replanning ....

I recently booked ex AKL LONE4's with planned travel extending to March 2011 in three stages. Positioning, I have booed LAX-MELvv on AirNZ for ~$300 each less than what was available with Qantas. In march I intend to book ex SIN on QF for ~$300 less each than the same flight numbers/period ex MEL.

 

[bossreggie]

Just booked another Trans Tasman for under 1/2 what it would have cost booking from the Australian web site.

It's pretty annoying that we have to pay DOUBLE what our Kiwi neighbours do to travel in the same cabin!


Flight Out: From To Flight Departure Terminal Fare Conditions Check-in
Closes Checked Baggage Seats
Mon 8 Mar 10 20:50 Auckland 22:55 Melbourne QF134 International Business Saver 90 minutes before departure Included:30kg 2C

More flight info
Weather Airport Info Destination Guides Status: Confirmed

Travel Class: Business (I)

Flight Duration: 4h 05m

Flight Back:
Wed 19 May 10 16:10 Melbourne 21:40 Auckland QF131 2 Business Saver 90 minutes before departure Included: 30kg 2C
More flight info
Weather Airport Info Destination Guides Status: Confirmed

Travel Class: Business (I)

Flight Duration: 3h 30m

Total Price = $1246.10* NZD
Key: = Qantas flight * Excludes local airport taxes collected at the time of check-in.

 

[dajop]

Once upon a time we had a few European carriers flying to Australia and because of the competition the airfares were reasonable. I remember purchasing a SYD-ATH return on Olympic in the 90's for ~AUD1800 with a side trip to LHR for another AUD100. Now the same type of trip costs well over AUD2000 unless one is able to secure a cheap off-season airfare during the sale periods.

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.

Whilst there are no longer any continental European carriers flying to Australia (but of course BA & VS fly to SYD at least), there are now a plethora of Asian and Middle Eastern carriers that carry pax between Australia and Europe, and at increased frequencies compared to 10-15 years ago. (in the 1990s, there was no Emirates, Etihad or Qatar, and SQ, CX, TG & MH all operated at lower frequencies, and forget the peripheral carriers on the Kangaroo route like the Chinese Airlines, KE, OZ, VN, VS) or the options via the US.

Also $1800 in 1995, if you take into account CPI adjustments, is worth about $2800 today. Or if you look at average weekly earnings in 1995, $1800 was about 2.7 weeks pay. Translate to 2009 that would mean an airfare of $3100.

Some friends booked flights last year MEL-Milan return in June, return July (on Emirates) and cost was about $1700 AUD) (or about 1.4 weeks pay compared to average weekly earnings).