How do I minimise Qantas taxes and charges

[gfraser]

We are looking to book 2 Qantas FF tickets to either Rome or Milan next year but the charges are in excess of $900 each ( being half a normal fare).Can anyone " think outside the square " and come up with better alternatives? Thanks in advance.

 

[markis10]

What is it as an anyseat award?

 

[gfraser]

Thinking of a Classic Award but is any seat an advantage?

 

[oz_mark]

We are looking to book 2 Qantas FF tickets to either Rome or Milan next year but the charges are in excess of $900 each ( being half a normal fare).Can anyone " think outside the square " and come up with better alternatives? Thanks in advance.

If they are in Y, then wait till the fuel surcharge drops on July 1?

Of course this might be a gamble on whether award seats remain available.

 

[markis10]

Thinking of a Classic Award but is any seat an advantage?

It can be cheaper as costs are quoted including taxes etc but can be reduced.

 

[deejo77]

If you are travelling "Y" I think you would get better bang for your buck if you thought about the 140,000 RTW ticket - the taxes are similar

Flight 1	From	To	Flight	Departure Terminal	Travel Class	Baggage
Fri 20 Sep 13 ​	07:45 ​	Brisbane ​	09:20 ​	Sydney ​	Qantas flight QF507 ​	Domestic ​	Economy ​	Checked: 1 piece ​
​	10:40 ​	Sydney ​	18:00 ​	Hong Kong ​	Qantas flight QF127 ​	1 ​	​	​
​	19:00 ​	Hong Kong ​	22:30 ​	Beijing (Capital International) ​	Dragonair flight KA906 ​	1 ​	​	​
= Flight Operated by Dragonair ​
Flight 2
Thu 26 Sep 13 ​	10:55 ​	Beijing (Capital International) ​	14:25 ​	Helsinki ​	Finnair flight AY52 ​	3 ​	Economy ​	Checked: 1 piece ​
​	17:55 ​	Helsinki ​	20:05 ​	Saint Petersburg ​	Finnair flight operated by Flybe AY2169 ​	2 ​	​	​
= Flight Operated by Finnair ​ = Flight Operated by Flybe ​
Flight 3
Mon 30 Sep 13 ​	07:05 ​	Saint Petersburg ​	07:25 ​	Berlin (Tegel) ​	Air Berlin flight AB8487 ​	2 ​	Economy ​	Checked: 1 piece ​
​	08:35 ​	Berlin (Tegel) ​	10:00 ​	Budapest ​	Air Berlin flight AB8636 ​	​	​	​
= Flight Operated by Air Berlin ​
Flight 4
Fri 1 Nov 13 ​	10:55 ​	Zurich ​	14:45 ​	Helsinki ​	Finnair flight AY858 ​	​	Economy ​	Checked: 1 piece ​
​	23:40 ​	Helsinki ​	15:30 (Sat) ​	Hong Kong ​	Finnair flight AY69 ​	2 ​	​	​
= Flight Operated by Finnair ​
Flight 5
Thu 7 Nov 13 ​	12:35 ​	Hong Kong ​	23:20 ​	Brisbane ​	Cathay Pacific flight CX157 ​	1 ​	Economy ​	Checked: 20kg ​
= Flight Operated by Cathay Pacific ​

Key: = Qantas flight = Flight Operated by Dragonair = Flight Operated by Finnair = Flight Operated by Air Berlin = Flight Operated by Cathay Pacific = Flight Operated by Flybe
Note: Qantas flights QF1 - QF399 depart from and arrive at the International Terminals. All other Qantas flights depart from and arrive at the Domestic Terminals.

Total Price

Points available:​	439,293​
Number of seats:​	1​
	Points & Card Payment
Trip Price for - 1 x Adult: ​	140,000 ​	​	​
Total Trip Price:​	140,000 ​	​	​
Points required:​	140,000 ​	​	​
Points balance after this booking:​	299,293 ​	​	​
Card Payment:*​	$915.77 (AUD)​	​

 

[Mwenenzi]

We are looking to book 2 Qantas FF tickets to either Rome or Milan next year but the charges are in excess of $900 each ( being half a normal fare). Can anyone " think outside the square " and come up with better alternatives? Thanks in advance.

Most of this $900 will not be tax but the carrier imposed surcharge. Saying this is tax is playing into QF's hiding of income on reward flights (it is not deception) With QF no way to avoid this surcharge

 

[gfraser]

I realise that with Qantas you can't get out of the charges but I was hoping someone may have an alternative using QF points but not the high charges

 

[oz_mark]

Most of this $900 will not be tax but the carrier imposed surcharge. Saying this is tax is playing into QF's hiding of income on reward flights (it is not deception) With QF no way to avoid this surcharge

Don't think anyone said it was a tax, the word mentioned was 'charge'.

Anyway, as I said, from July 1 as Emirates and Qantas align their fuel surcharges, the fuel surcharge on an economy fare Australia to Europe will decrease from $380 each way, to $230 each way.

 

[aikman]

Choose Emirates flights all the way and you will pay minimal surcharges. But book before 1 July because Emirates will be matching QFs surcharges from that date.

 

[Rebekkap]

Choose Emirates flights all the way and you will pay minimal surcharges. But book before 1 July because Emirates will be matching QFs surcharges from that date.

Any suggestions how to make Emirates flights show up if I'm searching for reward tickets to the US?

 

[aikman]

Any suggestions how to make Emirates flights show up if I'm searching for reward tickets to the US?

It shows up for me on a normal search. Perhaps customise your searches using multi-city?

Just for fun, MEL-LAX-JFK on QF comes up as $494 in taxes and MEL-DXB-JFK on EK comes up as $185 in taxes, at least for another 5 more days.

 

[Rebekkap]

Thanks - so Emirates fly via DXB rather than direct to LAX?

 

[madrooster]

If you book before the end of the month, yes.

 

[Rebekkap]

If you book before the end of the month, yes.

Thanks TBH, I'd pay a fair bit extra to have a non-stop flight!

 

[madrooster]

Thanks TBH, I'd pay a fair bit extra to have a non-stop flight!

Look at the bright side, you'll get to check out the EK F lounge at DXB at least which is better than the LAX oneworld F lounge that's for sure!

 

[JohnK]

If they are in Y, then wait till the fuel surcharge drops on July 1?

Anyway, as I said, from July 1 as Emirates and Qantas align their fuel surcharges, the fuel surcharge on an economy fare Australia to Europe will decrease from $380 each way, to $230 each way.

Aahhhh.

But not to Asia or domestic?

 

[grussellt]

Thanks - so Emirates fly via DXB rather than direct to LAX?

The EK award via DXB to JFK is still 64000pts(Y) - same as QF via LAX. Maybe a good way to avoid QF transpacific fuel surcharge after July 1.

 

[Rebekkap]

Look at the bright side, you'll get to check out the EK F lounge at DXB at least which is better than the LAX oneworld F lounge that's for sure!

LOL - every international lounge I've ever been in has been better than the LAX oneworld F lounge!

 

[casanovawa]

Imagine its would be similarly cheaper from the east coast, but for random return dates in March 2014 i get Perth-Milan return for 112,000 points and $281 on EK in Y... Sounds like a much better use of points than QF, but book these before July 1st because then EK's fuel surcharges rise i believe...