SQ award charges

[sitdown]

I have a problem with the level off SQ award fees being charged in Australia. Here is one example. Book Business from Perth to CDG Saver return and you pay 170,000 points and $1059 if you can get a seat. Cathay (through HK) are 145,000 points and $332. That rankles but even more booking Business from LAX to Singapore (through Tokyo) - almost the same flight distance and flight time as Perth to CDG the US award charges are 136,000 points and $532. it seems that SQ is fleecing Australian based Kris members or alternatively American flyers would simply not tolerate the level of fees being charged. And no it's not the currency exchange. Convert USD to AUD and Aussies still pay more but remember the $ differences were still the same even when the AUD was worth more than the USD a few years back

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I note that you have been on the Forum since 2009 so I am surprised that it is rankling you now as this has been the case for many, many years.

SQ is not alone QFF is the same. Yes USA based programs are good this way.

However with respect "It seems that SQ is fleecing Australian based Kris members" , SQ does not charge Australians differently.. It does not charge the same high fees from some departure countries due that countries laws which control the fees charged. You get the rate based in where you fly out of, and not where you live. ie Americans pay the same as Australians if they book the same way on SQ.

Also Australians get the same low fees if they book on programs that have low fee which includes many arab based FF programs as well.

With Partner Awards you can access lower fees if applicable. ie I have booked an award through SQ and paid $0 to fly on VA MEL_CNS.

 

[dajop]

Cathay (through HK) are 145,000 points and $332. T

Whilst I agree with that fact these surcharges are annoying (especially now that oil prices have dropped to levels below the trigger for fuel surcharges in the first place), note that fuel surcharges for flights to/from HKG are regulated. That is why CX charge less fuel surcharges than many other carriers - they are simply not allowed to. Also note you can book PER-CDG online for 144,500 points return (15% discount), but of course fuel surcharge still the same.

 

[sitdown]

Not quite sure you are correct when you say...."It does not charge the same high fees from some departure countries due that countries laws which control the fees charged". Countries can only control airport/gov fees and charges. they can't control carrier charges. The example I spoke of (PER to CDG ) has $82 for airport/gov charges and $422 for carrier. So the difference is mostly due to the carrier. I can't understand your comment ..."You get the rate based in where you fly out of, and not where you live. ie Americans pay the same as Australians if they book the same way on SQ". If they book PER to CDG they pay the same but if they book LAX to SIN they do not. my comparison was for these two flights not for the same flight booked by an American or Australian - that doesn't make any sense

 

[sitdown]

I don't think you are correct see my reply to lovetravellingoz. Most of the charges are carrier based - only airport/gov fees are regulated

 

[Fiches Mouser]

They're high fees to be sure, but there are a lot of good things about the KF program (such as pretty decent availability and simple waitlisting) which help offset it. It's just one of those compromises you have to make if you want to fly SQ F and J.

 

[dajop]

only airport/gov fees are regulated

Not correct. In most instances carrier surcharges are not regulated. However, several governments choose to regulate them. Hong Kong do choose to regulate on sectors to/from HKG, details of current surcharges approved by HKG Civil Aviation Department are found here. From memory, NZ, Brazil & Philippines also regulate surcharges for tickets issued locally for travel originating in the country.

A very famous (on AFF) example of that was for ~12 months people were able to purchase QF tickets travelling from Australia to Asia through a Brazilian travel agent without paying fuel surcharges as for some reason the IT implemented blanket rule not to charge fuel surcharges for tickets issued in Brazil (eventually changed, such that tickets originating outside Brazil were charged fuel surcharge).

Also you mention comparison between LAX-SIN and PER-CDG. SQ are, unfortunately not the only offender, I know one particular airline decorated with a marsupial, who charge about $150 in fuel surcharges for MEL-SIN-MEL award ticket, but $360 in fuel surcharge for SIN-MEL-SIN award ticket. Exact same sectors.

 

[sitdown]

You're right about HK which surprises me that they would interfere but glad they do. I'm not sure what their authority would be when the CX flight is booked and paid in Oz. It would be coughbersome (if not impossible) for CAD in HK to try to monitor all through country flight charges

 

[sitdown]

I agree QF are just as bad. I have found SQ used to make plenty of award saver tickets available PER to Europe a few years back but now "not available" is more the case unless you move up to standard (nearly twice the points) or full (5 times the points). That's why i'm now flying Cathay

 

[lovetravellingoz]

.. my comparison was for these two flights not for the same flight booked by an American or Australian - that doesn't make any sense

I was referring to your statement: alternatively American flyers would simply not tolerate the level of fees being charged

Americans do actually tolerate as some Americans actually are Krisflyer Members and redeem on SQ through KF.

As to KF availability. I suspect that there are many more Australians today who have shifted from QFF to KF and that has caused more competition for J/F seats. It is still way better than QFF IMO.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You're right about HK which surprises me that they would interfere but glad they do. I'm not sure what their authority would be when the CX flight is booked and paid in Oz. It would be coughbersome (if not impossible) for CAD in HK to try to monitor all through country flight charges

Their 'authority' would be that if you wish to have a licence to fly to HKG you must abide by the rules.

Effective policing of those rules in not necessarily by the responsible agency checking every fare, but rather through the passengers themselves. Plenty of folk on various FF forums will be the first to complain to the regulator if an airline is out of line.

There are other examples where rules apply outside the country of issue... the US's DOT regulations will apply to any airfare sold world-wide as long as the flight is to/from or within the USA. EU regs will apply to airfares sold outside the EU for EU carriers, and in some cases for non-EU carriers as well (for example a short delay exEU might lead to a missed connection outside the EU).

 

[basso]

I have a problem with the level off SQ award fees being charged in Australia.

You're not alone.....

 

[JohnK]

I was just thinking the same thing today.

One way award BNE-SIN-BKK in business class in September 2016 for 46,750 KrisFlyer miles and ~AUD373! :shock: Seriously? That is a joke.

I know it is comparing apples and oranges but I found a flexible one-way VA airfare codeshare on SQ earning 110 SCs and lot of points for ~AUD730.

These KrisFlyer miles would be coming from Amex MR account. Is there anything better out there? Think CX would be 60,000 Asia Miles points and roughly the same taxes?

 

[sitdown]

But you seem to miss the point. Americans using KF do not pay the say fees as us for equivalent journeys - they pay less than half. I would stick with KF if it was the same for us but it aint

 

[Jousams]

But you seem to miss the point. Americans using KF do not pay the say fees as us for equivalent journeys - they pay less than half. I would stick with KF if it was the same for us but it aint

Isn't the USD >30% more valuable than the AUD?

 

[Fiches Mouser]

But you seem to miss the point. Americans using KF do not pay the say fees as us for equivalent journeys - they pay less than half. I would stick with KF if it was the same for us but it aint

But it's not about Americans tolerance for higher fees – they do pay the same as everyone else, since the fee amount is dictated by arrival and departure port, rather than buyer's location.

 

[sitdown]

already took that into account

 

[sitdown]

Not the fuel surcharge

 

[dajop]

Isn't the USD >30% more valuable than the AUD?

This is a good point, the "carrier surcharges" LAX-SIN return (in business) are $460 USD = $663 AUD. The fuel surcharges PER-CDG return are $816 AUD. The distances(return) of the two routes are 17,540 miles and 18,170 miles respectively. On a cent/mile basis the PER-CDG route is admittedly 19% higher..... but not as dramatic as $1079 vs $532.

But it is futile to even bother trying to understand or make sense of the surcharges formerly known as "fuel surcharge", they are what they are. QF, as I mentioned above charges more than double for same flights just based on ticketing location, EK &QF used to (not sure if they still do) charge more for flights from MEL-SIN than MEL-DXB.

Of course this doesn't mean I think they are justified. Particularly now. They are as obnoxious as ever.

 

[albatross710]

There are always anomalies which is why I've recently booked fights departing MNL & CEB where the carries are not permitted to charge their fees on redemptions.

But, to try and support the OP, here is a comparison as of today:

Travel May 2016 -

BNE-SIN-BNE return 42,500 miles plus $499.86 taxes and surcharges
Same flights can be purchased outright for $896.

effectively valuing the 42500 miles at $396.

I think they can do better.

We also often read about the remedies available for flight delays within the EU. Perhaps it's time that Australian regulators took a firmer hand with the airlines.

Alby