We really want to fly QF, but can't justify the price

[harvyk]

I posted the following up on QF's facebook page (yes I realize that for the determined who don't already know me this might give away who I am)

Hi Qantas,
We really want to fly on QF for out next family holiday, however 2 Adults and 4 Kids from SYD-LAX comes in at $10,157 where as if we fly with Air New Zealand on the same days it comes in at $5,746. It’s not just the selected days which have made your fare so expensive; I’ve tried several combinations to get the price down.


So please tell me you’re planning some sort of sale fare for flights around May, because as much as I want to fly QF, I can’t justify an extra $4,400, since that covers all our expenses whilst there.
Andrew

I realize that you can't compete solely on price, but seriously the only difference between the QF option and the AirNZ option is a quick stop over in AKL... My time might be valuable, but it's not $2,200 per hour valuable. (The total extra time it will take).

I tend to have QF blinkers on when booking, and I will normally think nothing more of paying an extra $50 to have the red rat on the tail, but even I draw the limit somewhere...

[/rant]

 

[MH_fan]

Couldn't agree with you more there. I find it very hard to justify flying QF overseas (even when they do have sales) because they are so much more expensive than the competition. Unless there's something like the .br trick, I'll end up flying with someone else unfortunately.

 

[TomVexille]

Agreed, $4400 is too much

 

[11sjw]

Looks like it will happen domestically as well.

Qantas cuts to force fares up - The West Australian

I posted the following up on QF's facebook page (yes I realize that for the determined who don't already know me this might give away who I am)



I realize that you can't compete solely on price, but seriously the only difference between the QF option and the AirNZ option is a quick stop over in AKL... My time might be valuable, but it's not $2,200 per hour valuable. (The total extra time it will take).

I tend to have QF blinkers on when booking, and I will normally think nothing more of paying an extra $50 to have the red rat on the tail, but even I draw the limit somewhere...

[/rant]

Good on you for posting on their FB page. Feedback is important to give and, hopefully, it will be received in the correct manner.

 

[cjd600]

Hi Qantas,
We really want to fly on QF for out next family holiday, however 2 Adults and 4 Kids from SYD-LAX comes in at $10,157 where as if we fly with Air New Zealand on the same days it comes in at $5,746. It’s not just the selected days which have made your fare so expensive; I’ve tried several combinations to get the price down.

[/rant]

Shame...the SYD Flight Centre travel expo Feb 1 and 2, had QF SYD-LAX-SYD for $1199/adult for departures 5 May-19 June

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Every flight I've taken in the last 12 months I've compared around for the best fares, and in every single case, Qantas was more expensive, both domestically (when compared to Virgin) and internationally (BNE-AKL-SYD was 33% cheaper on NZ than QF, and my Virgin status had me upgraded to Premium Economy, and in one case QF Premium Economy to London was more expensive than business class on some airlines).

QFF points have been devalued too much for me to spend wads of extra cash just to fly on QF.

 

[scheps]

My brother did exactly what you mentioned recently, going via AKL instead of QF. And actually ending up spending similar, with the skycouch option!!

 

[Isochronous]

Getting rid of the overpaid baggage handlers and their staff travel entitlements and replacing them with contractors will slash that cost centre by 30% at least (that's the premium QF pays its baggage handlers over VA). Hopefully that happens.

 

[alieninperth]

That's awesome. The 30% of wages per hour for what 4 hrs per flight should easily see the drop in fare by $1k per person. /sarcasm off.

 

[eosphoros]

Getting rid of the overpaid baggage handlers and their staff travel entitlements and replacing them with contractors will slash that cost centre by 30% at least (that's the premium QF pays its baggage handlers over VA). Hopefully that happens.

Maybe their replacements will understand what priority baggage means.

 

[dajop]

Every flight I've taken in the last 12 months I've compared around for the best fares, and in every single case, Qantas was more expensive, both domestically (when compared to Virgin) and internationally

Perhaps not surprisingly, QF are often one of the cheapest offerings ex-SIN whether they be on their own metal or on a codeshare, such as EK to Europe via DXB (the only carrier that usually has the same prices is of course EK.) On SIN-MEL they are even often cheaper than JQ for luggage inclusive fares (and sometimes cheaper even for fares without luggage), and almost always cheaper if you want a meal, QFF points, IFE and luggage!

 

[JohnK]

Looks like it will happen domestically as well.

With Virgin likely to follow suit?

 

[marki]

Every flight I've taken in the last 12 months I've compared around for the best fares, and in every single case, Qantas was more expensive, both domestically (when compared to Virgin) and internationally (BNE-AKL-SYD was 33% cheaper on NZ than QF, and my Virgin status had me upgraded to Premium Economy, and in one case QF Premium Economy to London was more expensive than business class on some airlines).

QFF points have been devalued too much for me to spend wads of extra cash just to fly on QF.

And Hey Qantas Mr Joyce please get rid of that booking fee from your Phone booking service, In Fact make it 30 dollars cheaper to book by phone and remove the Credit card charges and see how much this move will lift business your business! My Joyce, I guarantee business will pick up instantaneously

Thats my two bob worth ......why two BOB, because I am in the UK at the moment. UTI

 

[Limewood]

OP could have a gander here...

 

[harvyk]

OP could have a gander here...

Just did, it sure helps make the case for AirNZ a bit more compelling, prob is that I won't be in a position to make any bookings until the 14th, after the promo period has ended.
Also I noticed that QF have put up sale fares which took a little over $3,000 off their price since my FB feedback. I'm almost wondering if a system bug with their extremely reliable website had dropped the sale fares from offer, since the cheapest where all red-e-deals.

 

[TomVexille]

Just did, it sure helps make the case for AirNZ a bit more compelling, prob is that I won't be in a position to make any bookings until the 14th, after the promo period has ended.
Also I noticed that QF have put up sale fares which took a little over $3,000 off their price since my FB feedback. I'm almost wondering if a system bug with their extremely reliable website had dropped the sale fares from offer, since the cheapest where all red-e-deals.

So if $3k has come off the QF price, would you pay the extra $1400 to fly QF?

 

[harvyk]

So if $3k has come off the QF price, would you pay the extra $1400 to fly QF?

Maybe, for the extra $1,400 we'd get nearly 100,000 points and lounge access, neither of which we'd get on AirNZ... Plus it's a non-stop flight, rather than having to have a stop over in AKL both ways. So there are certainly some pluses. The big negative is that $1,400 can also be put to good use on the ground in LA...

 

[TomVexille]

Maybe, for the extra $1,400 we'd get nearly 100,000 points and lounge access, neither of which we'd get on AirNZ... Plus it's a non-stop flight, rather than having to have a stop over in AKL both ways. So there are certainly some pluses. The big negative is that $1,400 can also be put to good use on the ground in LA...

Just depends on what value you place on those things.

 

[willjd]

I posted the following up on QF's facebook page (yes I realize that for the determined who don't already know me this might give away who I am)



I realize that you can't compete solely on price, but seriously the only difference between the QF option and the AirNZ option is a quick stop over in AKL... My time might be valuable, but it's not $2,200 per hour valuable. (The total extra time it will take).

I tend to have QF blinkers on when booking, and I will normally think nothing more of paying an extra $50 to have the red rat on the tail, but even I draw the limit somewhere...

[/rant]

I have the same problem for Mel-LHR in January. Qf comes in at $6300, but Malaysia and Singapore is $5200. That's nearly 20% more.??

 

[harvyk]

Just depends on what value you place on those things.

Well there is certainly a lot I could do with 100K points, and lounge access will be nice considering we will have 3 to 4 hours to kill at SYD (driving up from CBR early that morning, since the kids are experts at stuffing around, we want as much time up our sleeve as possible)