Hi everyone
I have been researching the situation re fuel surcharges in light of the recent drop in the price of oil. I came across a couple of articles talking about how the Phillipines Government has now outlawed fuel surcharges, it appears for flights both to and from the Phillipines.
CAB to sanction airlines imposing fuel surcharge | Business, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/01/06/15/expect-lower-airfares-end-week
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/01/12/15/pal-cebu-pacific-comply-fuel-surcharge-removal
It appears all foreign carriers must comply with this directive as well.
Assuming all airlines who fly to/from the Phillipines are forced to comply, does this mean we can avoid fuel surcharges to Europe by booking two separate legs with our points each way eg Sydney to Manila and then Manila to Paris?
Theoretically no surcharge could be levied on either ticket.
I did a quick test on the Qantas booking engine and found that taxes and charges for say a Melbourne to Amsterdam round trip were as follows
Mel - Manila (Qantas) $297.81 (isn't it illegal now for Qantas to maintain its fuel surcharge - this amount seems high?)
Manila to Amsterdam (Cathay) 448php = $12.82
Amsterdam to Manila (Cathay) 108.93E = $154.27
Manila to Melbourne (Qantas) 1333php = $38.16
Total charges = $503.06
But of the above amount close to $300 is a charge that Qantas maybe incorrectly or illegally charging.
Assuming that Qantas are incorrectly charging this amount I estimate that the total taxes and fees r/t Melbourne to Amsterdam would work out at about $300 or less. I recognise that there is an increased cost of points in booking two legs but for those who have plenty of points but not so much cash this might be attractive.
Thoughts? Can this be leveraged further? Is Manila to become a new stop on the Kangaroo route for Australian Frequent Flyers?
cheers Peter
I have been researching the situation re fuel surcharges in light of the recent drop in the price of oil. I came across a couple of articles talking about how the Phillipines Government has now outlawed fuel surcharges, it appears for flights both to and from the Phillipines.
CAB to sanction airlines imposing fuel surcharge | Business, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/01/06/15/expect-lower-airfares-end-week
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/01/12/15/pal-cebu-pacific-comply-fuel-surcharge-removal
It appears all foreign carriers must comply with this directive as well.
Assuming all airlines who fly to/from the Phillipines are forced to comply, does this mean we can avoid fuel surcharges to Europe by booking two separate legs with our points each way eg Sydney to Manila and then Manila to Paris?
Theoretically no surcharge could be levied on either ticket.
I did a quick test on the Qantas booking engine and found that taxes and charges for say a Melbourne to Amsterdam round trip were as follows
Mel - Manila (Qantas) $297.81 (isn't it illegal now for Qantas to maintain its fuel surcharge - this amount seems high?)
Manila to Amsterdam (Cathay) 448php = $12.82
Amsterdam to Manila (Cathay) 108.93E = $154.27
Manila to Melbourne (Qantas) 1333php = $38.16
Total charges = $503.06
But of the above amount close to $300 is a charge that Qantas maybe incorrectly or illegally charging.
Assuming that Qantas are incorrectly charging this amount I estimate that the total taxes and fees r/t Melbourne to Amsterdam would work out at about $300 or less. I recognise that there is an increased cost of points in booking two legs but for those who have plenty of points but not so much cash this might be attractive.
Thoughts? Can this be leveraged further? Is Manila to become a new stop on the Kangaroo route for Australian Frequent Flyers?
cheers Peter