Domestic classic reward - is this surcharge normal?

[ajd]

Trying to book PQQ-CBR via SYD next month as a classic reward.

It's been a loooong time since I've booked this route as a reward, so maybe I'm just very ignorant, but the surcharges look rather higher than I expected...

AIR TRANSPORTATION CHARGES
Carrier Charges $28.00
TAXES, FEES AND CHARGES
Goods and Services Tax (GST) $8.29
Passenger Service Charge - Dom $22.39
Passenger Service Charge - Dom $26.97
Safety and Security Charge $5.53
Total per Passenger $91.18
Number of Passengers 1
Total Amount (AUD) $91.18
Grand Total Amount (AUD) AUD$91.18

​

For comparison, the VA surcharge is $49, and the last time I can find a QF reward booking in my email archives for this route (going the other way) I paid $40.32 (though that was in 2010...)

For the PQQ-SYD leg alone:

Carrier Charges $14.00​

TAXES, FEES AND CHARGES​

Goods and Services Tax (GST) $3.93​

Passenger Service Charge - Dom $15.25​

Passenger Service Charge - Dom $4.50​

Safety and Security Charge $5.53​

Total per Passenger $43.21​

Number of Passengers 1​

Total Amount (AUD) $43.21​

For SYD-CBR alone:

Carrier Charges $14.00​

TAXES, FEES AND CHARGES​

Goods and Services Tax (GST) $4.91​

Passenger Service Charge - Dom $7.14​

Passenger Service Charge - Dom $22.47​

Safety and Security Charge $5.53​

Total per Passenger $54.05​

Number of Passengers 1​

Total Amount (AUD) $54.05​

Any thoughts?

 

[Mattg]

Sadly this is normal with QF these days.

The amount would be roughly the taxes for both the PQQ-SYD and SYD-CBR flights added together, minus one of the safety and security charges (as you only need to clear security once).

 

[ajd]

Sadly this is normal with QF these days.

The amount would be roughly the taxes for both the PQQ-SYD and SYD-CBR flights added together, minus one of the safety and security charges (as you only need to clear security once).

Indeed, it's exactly equal to surcharges for both legs added together, minus one safety/security charge, with GST adjusted.

Where the hell did all these charges come from? And when? And why does VA advertise much lower surcharges - apart from the $14/leg "carrier charge" aren't all the items in that list airport or government fees?

 

[ajd]

Indeed, it's exactly equal to surcharges for both legs added together, minus one safety/security charge, with GST adjusted.

Where the hell did all these charges come from? And when? And why does VA advertise much lower surcharges - apart from the $14/leg "carrier charge" aren't all the items in that list airport or government fees?

Evidently I'm wrong, as the VA breakdown has a lower safety/security fee among other things. Sigh.

 

[samh004]

While the mystery has been solved, the prices of roughly $45 for each sector seem about right.

 

[serfty]

But where's the $14 per segment fee coming from? Is at a fuel fine?

 

[ajd]

But where's the $14 per segment fee coming from? Is at a fuel fine?

"Carrier Charges" is perfectly descriptive, right?

And I've also just discovered that if you want to pay your surcharges with points (which I have never, ever considered doing before) - it's now Points Plus Pay whereas I'm pretty sure it used to be a fixed rate? Not that I ever paid attention before because I never ever planned on doing it...

edit: wow, it really has been a while... apparently the surcharge-points change happened in 2013. Wow that was a steep increase.

 

[serfty]

From ITA:

Here's VA's on a revenue base fare of $301.82 ($150.91 each way):

[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]Australian Goods & Services Tax (UO)[/TD] [TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-f"]A$39.11[/TD] [TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]Australia Passenger Service Charge Domestic Arrival (QR)[/TD] [TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-f"]A$40.79[/TD] [TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]Australia Passenger Service Charge Domestic Departure (QR)[/TD] [TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-f"]A$40.79[/TD] [TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]Australian Safety & Security Surcharge (WG)[/TD] [TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-f"]A$7.50[/TD]

Take $30.19 off and thats

For QF on same route: (Base fare of $340.22)

[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]Australian Goods & Services Tax (UO)[/TD] [TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-f"]A$45.00[/TD] [TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]Australia Passenger Service Charge Domestic Arrival (QR)[/TD] [TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-f"]A$49.36[/TD] [TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]Australia Passenger Service Charge Domestic Departure (QR)[/TD] [TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-f"]A$49.36[/TD] [TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]Australian Safety & Security Surcharge (WG)[/TD] [TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-f"]A$11.06[/TD]

GST on fare for VA is $30.18 so a (fare free) +++ of $99.09.

GST on $340.22 fare for QF is $34.02 so the fare free $120.76.

There must be higher charges for using T3 over T2 in SYD.

Also, there is no $7 per sector fuel fines on revenue bookings.