Is there a split payment option with Qantas for expensive airfares?

maaz

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Mar 1, 2011
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I want to book an airfare which is above my AMEX card limit. The airfare departs and returns to Australia. I can see a "hold payment" on the Qantas website but I am not sure if you can split the payment into two equal payments. The airfare is approx $21,000 for the two of us. I would be fine if I could do 2 equal payments. I have contacted AMEX and they have said I cannot load my card and then pay over my limit - even if it is all there in the card. Rules and regulations apparently.
Is there a way to pay for Qantas n Airfare in two installments?
I want us both on the same booking so paying for each individually is not an option. Thanks for any help
 
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You can't preload your Amex because they aren't an authorised deposit-taking institution in Australia. Some bank credit cards will allow this, and Amex will sometimes authorise a temporary credit limit increase, if the fares are not too far above your limit (10-15% if you have a reasonable repayment history has been doable for us in the past).

Otherwise, Qantas has a pay per person facility that would let you split between two cards, or if you use a TA most of them will let you make multiple payments (including over a day or two to pay down the Amex in between).
 
Ring them up and tell them what you want/need to do. Surely, once they've established you're not money laundering, they'll be all too keen to take your cash in these economic times. I reckon you wouldn't be the first to be in this situation. I don't have a credit card with a limit >$15k.
 
I want us both on the same booking so paying for each individually is not an option. Thanks for any help

The QF website does let you pay with a different card per person, and the contact centres can also do it. Similarly, all travel agents can do it as well with even more capability of payment splitting.
 
I have been able to pay using two different cards (nominating the amount to charge to each card) by calling Qantas.

Alternatively if it's a simple one-way or return booking departing Australia, you could buy a gift voucher for part of the amount and then pay for the remaining amount using a different card when redeeming the voucher. With a gift voucher, you also avoid paying all credit card surcharges.
 
Thanks for the advice - I did try a travel agent and I could only get Business Saver fares and not the Flexible Business that I wanted. Perhaps I should try another TA.
 
Thanks for the advice - I did try a travel agent and I could only get Business Saver fares and not the Flexible Business that I wanted. Perhaps I should try another TA.
Or try the spit payment direct on the QF website (as mentioned).
Alternatively if it's a simple one-way or return booking departing Australia, you could buy a gift voucher for part of the amount and then pay for the remaining amount using a different card when redeeming the voucher. With a gift voucher, you also avoid paying all credit card surcharges.
The downside to “Gift vouchers” (and “credits”) is the portal doesn’t allow split payments…😔.
 

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