QF's New 1% hike on Internet Bookings

[mkh]

This is a really daft move if ever there was one! First, they tried to take business away from the travel agents by offering cheaper fares on the 'net(which is fair game if travel agents are too slow to go on the 'net). Now QF has done the travel agents a BIG favour by adding an extra 1% CC surchage!

I reckon there'll be many travel agents who will benefit from this as some of their previous customers who went to QF's Internet way will return. And why not? If the two prices are the same, at least I have the service of a travel agent if I need it. Me thinks Qantas is getting too Quaint-coughd for their size!

 

[shillard]

This is a really daft move if ever there was one! First, they tried to take business away from the travel agents by offering cheaper fares on the 'net(which is fair game if travel agents are too slow to go on the 'net). Now QF has done the travel agents a BIG favour by adding an extra 1% CC surchage!

I reckon there'll be many travel agents who will benefit from this as some of their previous customers who went to QF's Internet way will return. And why not? If the two prices are the same, at least I have the service of a travel agent if I need it. Me thinks Qantas is getting too Quaint-coughd for their size!

Completely and utterly irrelevant. The VAST bulk of international bookings are already made through travel agents - so no sweat off QF's back there.

Domestic bookins are largely net deals for those who pay their own fare, and what's the big deal with a 1% surcharge on a $188.00 return red e-deal SYD-MEL?

$1.88?

You really think that's enough to get people off their cough and down to the travel agent, to save two bucks?

Like hell it is.

Even on a J OWE ticket, the surcharge will amount to $90-$100, big deal when you're talking $10,000 of airfare, and 20,000 QF points if you put it on your QF Visa. Worth the $100 bucks if you ask me.

Looks to me like the impact on both QF and Travel Agent business will be negligeble.

 

[mkh]

Ummmm..."irrelevant"?! You must be a QF employee or at least one of their "paid members". Forget domestic fares. For International fares, there could be any thing between A$10-A$30 extra charges. And that's around 10-30% of the taxes already being imposed by the govt and airports! Get real!

I've been in the airline/travel industry for over 10 years and I can tell you that most travel agents are going to go out of business if they don't get their act together soon. I prefer to book via the 'net because it's cheaper, and travel agents don't offer any thing extra service to me. That's a customer base QF is likely to lose by adding such extra surcharges.

 

[thadocta]

mkh - I would shut up now, whilst you have only made a partial fool of yourself. If you keep going, you might make a TOTAL fool of yourself.

Dave

 

[shillard]

Ummmm..."irrelevant"?! You must be a QF employee or at least one of their "paid members". Forget domestic fares. For International fares, there could be any thing between A$10-A$30 extra charges. And that's around 10-30% of the taxes already being imposed by the govt and airports! Get real!

I've been in the airline/travel industry for over 10 years and I can tell you that most travel agents are going to go out of business if they don't get their act together soon. I prefer to book via the 'net because it's cheaper, and travel agents don't offer any thing extra service to me. That's a customer base QF is likely to lose by adding such extra surcharges.

Listen up, newbie.

1: I am neither a QF employee, nor a "paid member" (whatever that might be).

2: Like most posturing fools who "have been in industry x for y years", you clearly know SFA about the industry, and even less about running a business. If you seriously think that travellers will think twice about a $15 cc surcharge on a $1500 discount Y SYD-LAX return, you're an idiot. Surcharge after surcharge has been added to tickets over the past decade by both airlines and guv'mint, and it hasn't made a single dent in the number of people travelling, or their spend. This won't make a lick of difference.

If travel agents are going down the tubes, it's because they're employing too many clueless clowns. Make of that what you will.

 

[mkh]

To shillard & thadocta:

Thanks for your somewhat patronising if not rude replies. ("Newbie"?! I've been on this message board from day-1 of the website!) I thought this was a respectable discussion board for people serious about consumer rights. It seems not with the likes you two.

FYI, amongst other reasons, people who are in the travel BUSINESS persevere to make travel more accessible to more people. I don't side with either airlines or travel agents. On this board, I am a traveller just like everyone else. My point is the increasing of the total COST of travel due to prior mis-management by senior "executives" who have destroyed the business. And in case you're wondering, I don't make any real profit in travel because I focus on other industries which are better managed. I left the industry because of daft CEOs and GMs who are no better qualified to run a street stall. Frankly QF is no better than any of them - they're just damn lucky that Air NZ screwed Ansett. Now they're taking advantage of a monopoly - at the consumer's expense.

It's good to know that there are people like you around to make the others have a laugh (and you DO make me laugh!). Please, if you have millions to spend because you don't care about an additional A$10-20 surcharge, that's OK with me. But please repsect the views of everyone. This forum is to share the views of every (frequent) traveller and learn something new. Please have more respect for other's points of view.

 

[thadocta]

Looks like he chose to make a TOTAL fool of himself.

btw, how does someone who joined on 06 Mar 2003 and have made 4 posts qualify as someone who has been here since day 1? What previous nicks have been used?

Dave

 

[mkh]

thadocta - I joined the BB when it first started, but it has since been re-vamped and didn't get a chance to re-join due to my travels. But I've been reading the BB for a while, and re-joined only because I saw people like you trying to be too smart and mislead others. I can see you insist on being a hegemonious git. The fool is you for thinking that you know everything.

 

[shillard]

To shillard & thadocta:

Thanks for your somewhat patronising if not rude replies. ("Newbie"?! I've been on this message board from day-1 of the website!) I thought this was a respectable discussion board for people serious about consumer rights. It seems not with the likes you two.

So there's nothing "rude" or "patronising" about your little accusations of others being gits, QF toadies, etc?

Pot, kettle, black.

Your whingeing is as baseless as it is pointless. There is no "increasing cost of air travel" - open your history books. Can you recall anyone getting a fare SYD-MEL for under $100 in 1996? 1992? 1990?

No?

Funny that - must be because the cost of travel has DROPPED. Not just domestically, but also internationally. A OWE in J will get you across 4 continents for less than a SYD-LHR J fare just a few years ago. Down and down the costs go, as the volumes go up.

Your pathetic bleating about "mismanagement", "corporate greed", and other socialist nonsense speaks volumes, as does your posturing about your alleged time working in the "airline and travel industries".

FYI, "thadocta" has a rather unique perspective on air travel, with extensive experience as both an industry employee, and a paying traveller. My experience is confined to the latter, but is certainly extensive. Over the past decade or two we have both travelled extensively, learned much, and helped many. We've also seen such johnny-come-latelys have a go and then disappear into the ether, with much huffing and puffing, and not much in the way of useful or accurate contributions.

Your predictions of mass defections from QF because of a 1% cc surcharge will amount to nothing. I'll place any wager you care to name.

Your claims of "increases in the cost of travel" are rubbish. Travel costs - airfares, accomodation, etc have all declined remarkably in the past decade, particularly air travel - and will continue to do so.

Your remarks on QF are complete rubbish. QF has nothing like a "monopoly" domestically, with DJ offering low-price competition on all the really profitable, high-demand routes in the country.

Internationally, QF faces increasing competition from Emirates, Singapore, etc, etc, as well as the UA & NZ pests across the Pacific. Yet, despite your allegations of incompetence, QF still manages to be the most profitable airline in the world.

Luck? "In my experience, there's no such thing as luck".

I'd be very interested to see you air your views on www.flyertalk.com - if you think you got a rough reception here, there are plenty of other people there with REAL experience who won't hesitate to jump down your throat for posting such errant nonsense.

If anything, thadocta & I have been pretty soft on you - particularly given your posturing, hypocrisy, and outright lack of understanding when it comes to the most basic aspects of airline operations.

 

[mkh]

Ooh! Threatening words and big sentences! You guys REALLY crack me up! I don't actually disagree with some of the things you stated. Fair enough about the international competition - by god, QF DOES need more competition in Aus! More choice for the public.

I have also been an airline employee and a fair-paying traveller. And I speak from my experience too. So, I don't agree with your point of view and neither of you are going to change that! Too bad you can't win this one. Go be with your wimpy buddies who don't have the intelligence to challenge you.

 

[thadocta]

thadocta - I joined the BB when it first started, but it has since been re-vamped and didn't get a chance to re-join due to my travels. But I've been reading the BB for a while, and re-joined only because I saw people like you trying to be too smart and mislead others. I can see you insist on being a hegemonious git. The fool is you for thinking that you know everything.

If you can find one misleading post I have made, that I have not subsequently corrected when I have found out the information was erroneous, I will buy you a beer.

FWIW (why am I justifying myself to you???) I am a Gold FF with Qantas, racking up around 1000 status credits per year, with 75% or so being on domestic discount Y tickets. 750 status credits in discount Y is no mean feat, since you only get 10 status credits for flights of less than 1000 miles, and 20 status credits for those over 1000 miles. I know of no domestic flight falling into the 25 SC band.

This means I do a LOT of travel with Qantas. Last year, I spent in excess of $16,000 with them. If that $16K had been spent on two properly constructed OWE tickets, I could be Platinum with Partner Gold by now.

My experience flying on Qantas - along with having worked for them in reservations and at various airports, at both ticket desks and check-in - has given me a great deal of knowledge about Qantas, the way they operate, and various aspects of the FF scheme.

So that is where I am coming from.

Now what about you? Probably a Bronze who has earnt only 30 SC's in his whole life.

Dave

 

[QF WP]

mkh, whilst everybody has a point of view, we should "agree to disagree". I personally have met thadocta and look forward to meeting Shillard in 2 weeks. I'd never take thadocta up on his challenge, because you'll be waiting for a beer for a very long time (by which time thadocta will have sampled a few ). I respect their opinion, knowledge and the time they put in both here and FlyerTalk discussing topics and giving their opinion.

Thadocta is also as down to earth as the day is long. Shillard is well into Platinum (and I would hazard a guess, has been Gold or Plat for a very long time).

 

[thadocta]

mkh, whilst everybody has a point of view, we should "agree to disagree". I personally have met thadocta and look forward to meeting Shillard in 2 weeks.

So you will be there at YSSY T3 on 23 March? Kewl. What time you getting there? I will feel a bit embarrassed (but not overly) checking in at 1300 for a 2025 flight, and explaining that I am there for an "FT get together".

I'd never take thadocta up on his challenge, because you'll be waiting for a beer for a very long time (by which time thadocta will have sampled a few )

You can hold your own too (although you piked out in BNE the other week - piker, should have contributed to the financial well-being of the local cab industry).

I respect their opinion, knowledge and the time they put in both here and FlyerTalk discussing topics and giving their opinion.

Thadocta is also as down to earth as the day is long. Shillard is well into Platinum (and I would hazard a guess, has been Gold or Plat for a very long time).

Thanks for that. What I find really galling is that someone pops into a forum with a post, claims to have been here since day 1 (this board has been around for about 18 months, yet they registered 3 days ago), claims to have worked in the industry, pontificates about all sorts of things which they know everything about, and yet completely ignores - nay, belittles - the posts of those who do a LOT of flying, including people (like myself) who pay their own airfares (rather than having a company do it).

FGS, give us all a break, I wish they would come back either when they know what they are talking about OR when they can give some evidence that they know what they are talking about (to refute the claims of us FF's).

Dave

(btw, Lindsay, see you on 23MAR).

 

[mkh]

I run my own business, and have always paid my own fares. I'm hardly able to "partake" in such intellectual discussions as much as I would like to because I'm always travelling. (I am a silver/gold member in three FFPs). But I do read the posts. As I stated before, I have been registered on this BB form day-1, but forgot my user original user id/pw after I had been overseas for a long time.

Anyhow, I also repeat that I don't entirely disagree with many things both of you have said, and have actually learnt a thing or two. But I do feel that your tone is sometimes dismissive. And, I felt strongly enough about the 1% CC issue, and decided to re-register. Whilst I cannot say that I'd wait too long for that beer (!) but I just want to ensure that our (great) country has more than one international airline to choose its products and services from. That is the basis of a true free market economy, where a single dominant player doesn't exist to do whatever they want - willy nilly. Anyone would think we have a one-airline communist system!

May you both enjoy the discussions (over a beer, or two) when you have your reunion. I have to catch a flight soon.... (but I may yet be back on the BB...!).

 

[thadocta]

May you both enjoy the discussions (over a beer, or two) when you have your reunion. I have to catch a flight soon.... (but I may yet be back on the BB...!).

Under yet ANOTHER user name no doubt.

Dave
(who knows how to look up every single username on this list, and also knows how to get his password easily if it is forgotten, rather than re-registering).

 

[ejh]

I joined for advice and help, not to read continual backbiting.

 

[Rick93]

Hey! Those guys rule this BB.... they know their stuff..... don't even think about disagreeing with them..... but it's fun to get into a 'battle of wits'..... though, usually, one of the sides is 'unarmed'!

keep it comin'......

 

[QF WP]

So you will be there at YSSY T3 on 23 March? Kewl. What time you getting there? I will feel a bit embarrassed (but not overly) checking in at 1300 for a 2025 flight, and explaining that I am there for an "FT get together".

Yes, Mrs LW2B is heading back to BNE (selling her house so needs to be back to see what offers the REA has for her), so I am there from around midday.

You can hold your own too (although you piked out in BNE the other week - piker, should have contributed to the financial well-being of the local cab industry).

Sorry, Mrs LW2B had other plan for me later that night :wink: :twisted: - even drinking more with you came second best to that offer.

Dave, I think you may have overdone it after that in your post. I want you to kiss and make up with mkh now, OK. Lets get this BB back on topic (unlike FT Qantas!! ) and put away the petty squables. I know you are man enough to do it...

Let's just give them them full extent of all our knowledge, after all, that what we are ALL here for. Likewise, they will share theirs with us. Then we will all respect one another but allow each other our differences.

Look, mkh has come half way:

Anyhow, I also repeat that I don't entirely disagree with many things both of you have said, and have actually learnt a thing or two.

now you come the other half....come on, I know you want to....I'll even buy you a Hahn Premium at QC

Now, to get back on topic...hell, what was the topic???

 

[dajop]

Domestic bookins are largely net deals for those who pay their own fare, and what's the big deal with a 1% surcharge on a $188.00 return red e-deal SYD-MEL?

$1.88?

I'm not going to even bother reading all the posts that have gone on in here in the last few days.... but one small point about the surcharge. Whilst I really don't care about paying a 1% surcharge on a $188 red e-deal to pay by CC, ironically this is the one fare that the surcharge should not apply to! If these are true "web-only" fares, the only means of payment is by CC, and the fares already should already have the credit card merchant fees built in to them.

Attitudes like mine (& Shillards) mean that QF know they can get away with it - after all 1% extra is hardly going to dissuade anyone from flying. Nevertheless, one cannot help but get cynical, when QF are one of very few merchants to put a surcharge on, yet they they are one of the few businesses where credit cards have really allowed them to slash their distribution costs. Whereas once upon a time they would have had to pay commissions to agents for just about every ticket booked, credit cards (for phone bookings & more recently internet bookings) have allowed them to cut out those commissions on a substantial proportion of their domestic bookings.

 

[Guest]

surcharge

If the government didnt allow merchants to do this, none of this would be happening!

who will YOU vote for next election?


TIP:: instead of FF points - get a melbourne credit union account.. they pay you (about $40 back in every 1000 spent) .. to use their EFTPOS CARDS!!!

use eftpos at travel agents, avoid the fee and still get rewarded!