Airfares shown on QF site do NOT include taxes & charges!

[JohnK]

I thought there was a ruling about 12 months ago that all airfares, domestic and international, shown on the QF website had to include taxes & charges on the front page.

Now that seems to be the case except when booking flights to NZ destinations. You look at the airfare on the front page and it looks good so you start to select some dates and as the available flights are listed a message appears.

Note:

Price is for 1 adult and excludes charges and taxes. Total price for all passengers will be shown on the next page. Credit card payments attract a fee of A$4.40 per passenger per booking

Isn't this misleading advertising? Again?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

QF never made the change. Its a proverbial pain when the 3 main airlines across the tasman (NZ, QF and EK) all have different way of showing "taxes".

 

[serfty]

... Isn't this misleading advertising? Again?

Qantas have been dragged "kicking and screaming" at least twice to inclusive pricing in advertising by the ACCC (and also a similar body in NZ).

I'm sure the Qantas legal eagles have studied this closely. I reckon they resolved that it's either quite legal, or it's such a fuzzy situation they can get away with it.

Interestingly, I have noticed that when looking at one-way flights to NZ you get inclusive pricing.

 

[JohnK]

Interestingly, I have noticed that when looking at one-way flights to NZ you get inclusive pricing.

Where on the website did you notice these?

I found that the NZ destinations one way or return were the only offending flights not showing taxes and charges on the selection pages.

 

[oz_mark]

Interestingly, I have noticed that when looking at one-way flights to NZ you get inclusive pricing.

I have noticed this as well. I am not sure why they would do it like that.

 

[JohnK]

Interestingly, I have noticed that when looking at one-way flights to NZ you get inclusive pricing.

I have noticed this as well. I am not sure why they would do it like that.

I have just noticed this happening as well. When selecting one way flight the airfare displayed is including taxes and charges and showing the following message

Note:

Price is for 1 adult and includes charges and taxes. Total price for all passengers will be shown on the next page. Credit card payments attract a fee of A$4.40 per passenger per booking.

Would appear some gremlin has got into the QF airfares for NZ destinations depending on selection of one way or return flight.

 

[kyle]

Perhaps it's because the NZ departure tax is paid at NZ airport and not collected by Qantas?

 

[JohnK]

Perhaps it's because the NZ departure tax is paid at NZ airport and not collected by Qantas?

No. I would just say it an error in the programming from QF when displaying one way airfares versus return airfares to NZ destinations.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

No. I would just say it an error in the programming from QF when displaying one way airfares versus return airfares to NZ destinations.

It wont be because of departure tax. However it could well be deliberate - make the oneway look expensive to encourage pax to book return ex-Australia instead of saving money by 2 one-ways.

 

[Reggie]

I believe Qantas show their NZ fares excluding taxes as Air Newzealand do the same thing. I know it is chicken and agg who started it, but they are both quoting their fares ex tax on the Aus - NZ flights. It was a trap I almost got caught in when getting a quote off of the Air Newzealand web page.

 

[JohnK]

It wont be because of departure tax. However it could well be deliberate - make the oneway look expensive to encourage pax to book return ex-Australia instead of saving money by 2 one-ways.

Interesting theory. Purchasing a one-way from NZ back to Australia would be a lot cheaper than purchasing a one way from Australia to NZ.

I looked at SYD-AKL return for 18th July and the price on the selection page was $147 there and $147 back. But when selecting flights the airfare rose to $500+ with the inclusion of taxes and charges. When looking at one way price SYD-AKL on the same date the airfare on the selection screen was ~$260 which was including taxes and charges.

I can see how some people purely doing research for flights would be confused.

 

[dajop]

It wont be because of departure tax. However it could well be deliberate - make the oneway look expensive to encourage pax to book return ex-Australia instead of saving money by 2 one-ways.

Think you are definitely onto something. Recently, my parents purchased tix MEL-AKL return - if they had booked it as a return ticket it was going to be $80 (or 15%) more expensive than purchasing separate one ways on exactly the same flights.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Prices ex-NZ on QF are significantly cheaper than ex-Oz for the same flight, and getting more so with the fall in kiwi peso this year.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I believe Qantas show their NZ fares excluding taxes as Air Newzealand do the same thing. I know it is chicken and agg who started it, but they are both quoting their fares ex tax on the Aus - NZ flights. It was a trap I almost got caught in when getting a quote off of the Air Newzealand web page.

That used to be the case but NZ changed after losing the court case last year. Now the headline price includes fuel and other non government surcharges and the other costs are shown on the same page (and not in tiny 3 point font) - whether this be ad on the main webpage or fare selection on the booking pages.

EK does it differently again - includes all taxes other than those collected at airport (ie NZ departure tax).

Hence my comment earlier that the 3 main airlines for trans-tasman all show taxes differently (currently).

 

[serfty]

Interesting theory. Purchasing a one-way from NZ back to Australia would be a lot cheaper than purchasing a one way from Australia to NZ. ...

Not theory mate; practive.

I have done this three times saving between $15 and $40 AUD!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Not theory mate; practive.

I have done this three times saving between $15 and $40 AUD!

Given the way the kiwi peso is falling the savings keep rising.

 

[JohnK]

Not theory mate; practive.

I have done this three times saving between $15 and $40 AUD!

Totally agree with you. Just as well they treat the east isles like the 7th state and allow the purchase of a one-way airfare for half the price of the return airfare. Say no more....

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Totally agree with you. Just as well they treat the east isles like the 7th state and allow the purchase of a one-way airfare for half the price of the return airfare. Say no more....

If you're coming over to NZ more than once a year you probably be better off getting return tickets ex-NZ, especially if you know the date of next visit (or have a flexible ticket eg on LA ).

 

[JohnK]

If you're coming over to NZ more than once a year you probably be better off getting return tickets ex-NZ, especially if you know the date of next visit (or have a flexible ticket eg on LA ).

Yes that is wise advice. Unfortunately for now I do not know when I will next be in shaky isles but if a business class/first class ticket is flexible up to a year in future with LA then this is a definite possibility.

I know my travel patterns for SE Asia and I will use points to get over to SIN next trip and then keep buying return tickets from SIN back to SYD. Should save some money, to be used on status runs, off course, in the long run.

 

[wandering_fred]

The QF Singapore web site certainly does not include the additional charges until the final accounting. But even when adding in the approx $SG290 for a SIN-PER-SIN ticket (in economy) the fare is enough lower to be (very) attractive. Expecially with the one year validity. Haven't tried to change the return date for the $SG75 fee though.

Perhaps QF would reconsider their oneway award policy
if more people decided to base their tickets ex-SIN rather than ex-Oz.........

This is also one case where the QF web site is definitely cheaper than AA's.

Happy wandering

Fred