QFF using points and taxes

[Alan66]

I spend a lot of time in asia and I was recently looking at using qantas points, so i thought do a trip Singapore-Bangkok-HongKong-Jakarta with all 3 flights (and easily available!)business class 90,000 points total and taxes of $189 sing. Now try booking a Sydney London return trip and the taxes seem disproportionately large at $957 aud. Has anyone else noticed that the taxes within asia are a lot cheaper or is just qantas charging more for flights out of Australia because they can?

 

[tuapekastar]

I spend a lot of time in asia and I was recently looking at using qantas points, so i thought do a trip Singapore-Bangkok-HongKong-Jakarta with all 3 flights (and easily available!)business class 90,000 points total and taxes of $189 sing. Now try booking a Sydney London return trip and the taxes seem disproportionately large at $957 aud. Has anyone else noticed that the taxes within asia are a lot cheaper or is just qantas charging more for flights out of Australia because they can?

Don't know the general answer to your question, but of that AUD957, around AUD270 (about 28%) will be the extortionate UK APD (Air Passenger Duty) charged when departing LHR, assuming it is J class (that rate is from 1 April onwards, around AUD20 cheaper today). The rate varies according to cabin and destination. I suppose it is charged from other UK airports as well.

 

[cjd600]

$580 of the SYD-LHR-SYD 'taxes' would be fuel surcharge

 

[Alan66]

why would the asian fuel surcharges be so much lower, also the 3 flights business class using QFF points I will be going on are about 9hrs total flight with take off and landing fees at Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Jakarta but the total taxes and fuel surcharges are $140 aud. seems that the $957 for doing 4.5 times more in the air with qantas is a bit steep?

 

[ric_melb]

A few ideas on this. Presumably the Asian flights are mainly on Cathay. Maybe they dont charge as much for fuel surcharges as Qantas.
But anyway if flying for 4.5 hours as long as the Asian trip, one would imagine the fuel surcharges might be 4 times the cost. I know the figure of $140 had other elements but 4x $140 is $560, compares with the $580 quoted by cjd600. Then add the exoritant $270 UK Passenger duty and you are up to $850. :shock:

 

[markis10]

Different airlines levy fuel fines at different rates, it can make a big difference, especially when you compare regional with long haul.