Carrier charge for flights originate out of HK

[Haplo]

I just booked a few flights to Europe originate out of Hong Kong and got charged the following carrier charges and taxes (price in HKD which is about 6:1 to AUD), all on business class

Hong Kong to Milan on EK / Paris to Shanghai on MU / Shanghai to Singapore on CX / Singapore to Sydney on QF:
2.2k taxes + 2.2k carrier charge

Hong Kong to Milan on EK / Paris to Singapore on EK (1st class) / Singapore to Sydney on QF
forgot the breakdown but was 2.6k in total so there will be a carrier portion

Now I thought HK currently ban carrier charge so Qantas shouldnt be charging it, or are they calling it something else to bypass regulation. I didnt want to wait in case I lose the reward seat.

Should I be calling Qantas for a refund of the carrier charge portion?

P.S The Sydney to HK leg on QF is $130 carrier charge and $90 tax so all in between $600 and $900 worth of taxes isnt too bad (but I could reduce it down to $500 if I can get the carrier charge back on the HK originated ticket). If the same fare is booked out as one continues fare out of Sydney the tax is a mind bogging $1700.

 

[Steveinparadise]

Are you using multi-city? I may be wrong but I think that if you do, you will only get the low carrier fees ex HKG on yr first leg (HKG to wherever). If you book a straight HKG to wherever to HKG return (even if you choose a flight option such as Emirates via Dubai) you will get low fees.

 

[Haplo]

Yes it was a multi city ticket. However i think there is some strange formula involved as one-way Paris to Singapore if booked standalone would have 230 EUR in tax and charges and Singapore to Sydney is generally 300 AUD in total charges.

 

[mannej]

Isn’t only the legs out of HKG that are regulated (only for a couple of days only)?

I wouldn’t bank on getting any refunds on taxes out of QF.

Charges to Rise as Hong Kong Fuel Surcharge Ban Lifted

 

[Haplo]

I always thought it is the entire ticket as the ticket follows HK condition of carriage, but I could be wrong.

Yes i booked it to beat the 1st November change.

 

[Kiwifruit]

It was also my understanding that HK conditions of carriage apply to all sectors if on the same ticket originating in HK.

Recently did a 280K J reward booking HKG-AMM-DOH-NBO-DOH-EZE-LIM-MIA-BDA-JFK-HND-HKG for less than $1200 in taxes so I'm assuming that there are no carrier charges included.

 

[Haplo]

Is the $1200 HKD or AUD

 

[zenyattamondatta]

Isn’t only the legs out of HKG that are regulated (only for a couple of days only)?

No.

A recent example we booked:

HKG-DXB-PRG/OSL-DXB-HND: HKD706

One-ways:

HKG-DXB-PRG: HKD436

OSL-DXB-HND by itself: NOK4,000 (=roughly HKD3,758)

And there are of course much more extreme examples.

 

[Haplo]

I found the same. Flying J out of France via Dubia to Singapore has 530 EUR carrier surcharge (almost 5k HKD) !!! which is more than the surcharge I pay for all of the legs.

Looks like some strange formula in the background but just couldnt work out what it is.

 

[zenyattamondatta]

HKG-DXB-PRG: HKD436

This hasn't been hiked as of now.

 

[Limewood]

We booked using Qantas award points flying CX in J x 2, HKG/JFK/HKG 3 months ago paid the grand sum for fees and charges AUD$192, its gone up since but no idea to what. Been award flying out of HKG for years instead of paying Qantas ridiculous charges. Award seats are usually OK to find too (big plus), Europe, USA city direct etc..

 

[Haplo]

I ran out of points to see if QF have changed it, but I would assume there would be some announcement before they do.

I did call Qantas and they refused to refund, unless I get proof from the HK government that it is the law and it applies to reward booking. The premium agent even said to me that even for flight booked before 1 November, Qantas have always charge a YQ for a one way reward ticket from Hong Kong to Sydney and the law banning YQ does not apply to reward booking.

 

[serfty]

law banning YQ does not apply to reward booking.

That is certainly incorrect. However, here is a breakdown of a HKG-MEL flight I have, it was ticketed in the first half of this year:

 

[sevenfourtyseven]

Article from the SCMP a couple of days ago. They did a review of all the airlines and charges applied post 1 November.

Half of airlines slap extra fee on travellers flying out of Hong Kong

 

[sudoer]

here is a breakdown of a HKG-MEL flight I have

Mind if I ask which tool/site shows you the breakdown like that?

 

[serfty]

Mind if I ask which tool/site shows you the breakdown like that?

Conversation Message sent.

 

[rock86]

It would seem QF haven't updated their award pricing on the website since 1 November, as when I do a dummy award booking I'm still getting the surcharges much cheaper exHKG then exAus.