Qantas rewards ticket taxes ripoff - 50% of a Virgin paid fare

[flyingsyd]

I was about to book a reward flight LAX-MEL
when the taxes was US$405. The taxes on Virgin was $62 - 15% of Qantas
How does Qantas justify this amount? Is the ACCC looking at this?
Basically the Qantas taxes is 50% of a Virgin paid fare.
Screenshots attached

 

[Gold Member]

Welcome to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.

 

[flyingsyd]

Welcome to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.

I don't book Y rewards flight that often - this is probably why.
Not so bad if it's a J or F, but these taxes are ridiculous

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't book Y rewards flight that often - this is probably why.
Not so bad if it's a J or F, but these taxes are ridiculous

They're not taxes. That's the fuel surcharge. You pay it once on your revenue ticket to earn the points, and then a second time to redeem the points. So in effect you're paying double.

 

[Buzzard]

My BIL likes Qantas points. He's more than happy to swap me for his Velocity points.
I usually take him up on the offer :mrgreen:

 

[sausagefingers]

Is that $405USD for a one way redemption+45k in points?
or return redemption?

 

[flyingsyd]

Is that $405USD for a one way redemption+45k in points?
or return redemption?

yes, one-way, LAX-MEL

 

[NM]

They're not taxes. That's the fuel surcharge. You pay it once on your revenue ticket to earn the points, and then a second time to redeem the points. So in effect you're paying double.

And also note that fuel prices have been low for quite some time now, but we are still being conned into paying the fuel fines on reward tickets. This is why I book the same reward seat using AA miles and save my QFF points for upgrading paid fares.

 

[flyingsyd]

...This is why I book the same reward seat using AA miles and save my QFF points for upgrading paid fares.

Good tip. I'll do that next time.

 

[flyingsyd]

This is why I book the same reward seat using AA miles and save my QFF points for upgrading paid fares.

Wow. USD$21.00 versus $405

 

[JohnK]

One of my biggest gripes.

Completed a QFF survey this week comparing frequent flyer programs, Woolworths rewards etc and gave QFF very low scores and mentioned numerous times the reason was outrageous fuel surcharges on "free" award tickets.

Interesting to see if they call but I don't think they care.

 

[Steady]

One of my biggest gripes.
Interesting to see if they call but I don't think they care.

I agree with both points

 

[Limewood]

Try a J to USA return rip off about 192K points but $850 in fees!, simply outrageous.

 

[wandering_fred]

AA charged 80K miles and about AU$100 PER-xx_-ORD - long haul J - domestic USA downgrade in Y. Pity about the changes they made to the AA program. Though flying long haul PEY/Y+ enough to make AA Gold is probably a useful option once lounge access (and IRROPs assistance) is assured elsewhere. (Note: the question of where to credit flights after you have earned QFF WP has more threads I care to contemplate)

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Walter_Plinge]

I just paid AUD $547 for MEL>DFW economy.

 

[Limewood]

I'm looking at 2 x J award CX - HKG/BOS (yes BOSTON!) then QF LAX/BNE all up charges AUD$750 Qantas is more than double that BNE/LAX/BNE!, its wrong and we should not be gouged like we are. From memory I think VA is half award costs of QF.

 

[ftm]

I paid $450 in taxes for an SQ reward seat to SIN and back. So they aren't cheap either.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I'm looking at 2 x J award CX - HKG/BOS (yes BOSTON!) then QF LAX/BNE all up charges AUD$750 Qantas is more than double that BNE/LAX/BNE!, its wrong and we should not be gouged like we are. From memory I think VA is half award costs of QF.

I'd be using QF points for CX flights to take advantage of the low taxes then consider purchasing AS miles to use for QF flights or CX for that matter.

Just did a J award on CX HKG/YVR using 92,000 QF points plus taxes of HKD340.00 (AUD58.00) pp one way. Also did an award ticket in whY on AA LAS/xPHX/HNL for 22,500 QF points plus USD5.50 pp taxes. It's definitely not all doom and gloom.

One thing to point out with VA awards to/from the USA is the taxes are different each way ie ex Australia the VA taxes will be approx 3 times that compared to the reverse direction so make sure you do any comparisons in both directions. We using Velocity points on HA HNL/BNE in July so in that direction we didn't pay much.

If you think QF are expensive you'd better avoid EK, SQ awards and EY flights using VA points as you'll be in for a rude shock.

 

[serfty]

...

One thing to point out with VA awards to/from the USA is the taxes are different each way ie ex Australia the VA taxes will be approx 3 times that compared to the reverse direction ...

That is not a VA thing.

The difference is mainly due to the $55 AU departure tax assessed for most PAX departing Oz.

There is none such for those coming into Oz.

This is levied for travel on all carriers and includes those travelling by boat.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

The facts are QF raised their fuel surcharge 3 times during the so-called 'oil crisis' - the last raise just before oil prices crashed to US$40 a barrel from a high of US$110. VA removed their fuel surcharge for US flights hence the obvious difference in taxes yet minimal movement from QF (don't forget their fuel hedging locks in cheap fuel regardless of market movements).

Best charted here;