minimising fees for booking QF ex-Europe

[shearsense]

.....actually strictly speaking it is a query on minimising TA, CC and online booking fees on QF codeshare flights on Emirates metal ex-Europe (since QF only use their metal for LHR).

I generally prefer to book online to avoid the TA commission for simple itineraries (and Aussies TAs generally do not have good deals for flights originating outside of Oz anyway), but all such online bookings automatically default to the European Qantas websites and where you can not us Bpay and the FOREX charges using and Australian credit card are quite steep (with the exception of 28 degrees, which I deliberately keep to a very low credit limit due to risks of foreign purchases).

The other payment options are debit card and Qantas Cash card - both of which are only fee free within 7 days of departure when the fares are prohibitively expensive wiping out any savings on fees. Even the QF vouchers can only be used for ex-Australian flights. If I increase the credit limit on the 28 degrees and use it, I note that Emirates websites do not seem to charge the booking fees for the same flights compared to the Qantas website - but apparently you can't book the QF flight number and so don't get the status credits.

So I can not see any way of minimising all three types of charges (TA, CC and online booking fees) for ex-Europe flights.

Booking two return flights ex-Australia to mix and match the inbound and outbound parts is not an option.

Any suggestions?

 

[Isochronous]

Get a Bankwest Qantas Platinum Mastercard - this gives you the same exchange rate as 28Deg and allows you to at least earn QFF at $1:1pt

 

[shearsense]

Get a Bankwest Qantas Platinum Mastercard - this gives you the same exchange rate as 28Deg and allows you to at least earn QFF at $1:1pt

On my 'to do' list for a while now. To add to 28 Degrees and Citibank Plus. A great little card.

But still doesn't avoid the $30 per person credit card fee on the Qantas website unfortunately. I think I recall they have to provide at least one fee-free option to pay, but this option Bpay) is no good for offshore customers