Qantas Award Charges Outrageous

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Now this needs a Senate Enquiry...

I think they've got a few more important matters to consider than a *voluntary and basically free* airline loyalty scheme IMHO...

 

[ozmille]

I actually wonder what those fees and charges stand for, a SYD LAX cash fare in J has about 131 taxes, the same trip on points attracts an AUD488 fee, it actually looks like they removed the fuel surcharge on a cash fare but it is still there on a points "fare"

 

[cjd600]

I actually wonder what those fees and charges stand for, a SYD LAX cash fare in J has about 131 taxes, the same trip on points attracts an AUD488 fee, it actually looks like they removed the fuel surcharge on a cash fare but it is still there on a points "fare"

They did that some time ago, for revenue fares, rolled the YQ into the base fare

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I actually wonder what those fees and charges stand for, a SYD LAX cash fare in J has about 131 taxes, the same trip on points attracts an AUD488 fee, it actually looks like they removed the fuel surcharge on a cash fare but it is still there on a points "fare"

Yes that's what happened. It's no secret

 

[hossein_au]

Now this needs a Senate Enquiry...

Isn't outcome of an "enquiry" a "find"? What is it you expect a Senate Enquiry to find? We already know what the problem is and how it can be legally overcome. We just need to copy something akin to what Hong Kong has done. But I am afraid with the Senate-enquiry-hungry culture we have developed, we'll have to wait for years for the enquiry to complete its work (if ever), then a few more years for a decision to be made on what to do, and then a few more years for the implementation to kick in. In the meantime the duopoly we have in Australia will surely continue to gauge us the consumers, and think of how to overcome whatever legislation we'll end up having. Remember the case of credit card fees and how they were going to be made illegal... yeah right... now every one and his dog charge credit card fees...

 

[hossein_au]

... it actually looks like they removed the fuel surcharge on a cash fare but it is still there on a points "fare"

It doesn't just look like it; Qantas did indeed say that was what they were doing.

 

[Limewood]

Be good if we could start a poll here then direct Q to it, nah waste of time...

 

[ozmille]

It doesn't just look like it; Qantas did indeed say that was what they were doing.

I must have been living under a rock :shock:

 

[hossein_au]

I must have been living under a rock :shock:

No mate, I think you must just not looked past the marketing bull: ... blah blah, to the benefit of our customers, blah blah..., from date blah blah,... we are eliminating fuel surcharges from all our "revenue" tickets... blah blah...

Have I mentioned moving to Canberra has greatly sharpen my bull**** radar!!

 

[Limewood]

Like to go to HNL March 2017 (birthday) tried SYD/HNL/SYD on QF Y award for 2 its 140K points plus $750!! in fees etc. talk about price gouging.

 

[elan]

Used points for flights many times and constantly been disgruntled about the fees, particularly when flying OS. I recently purchased a flight for my daughter from LAX to Nadi, cost USD5.60 + points. I then purchased another flight from Nadi to Melbourne AUD165+ points, all in Y. I’d love to know how the system works.

 

[Limewood]

I’d love to know how the system works.

Its called gouging, its wrong.
In my case I have a lot of QF points and have had over decades, usually we do a Y or J to HKG and go from there with other OW airlines to places afar in J on mostly CX to beat this blatant charging that most other major airlines like AA and CX do not impose. I'm getting on in years so changing alliances not going to happen.

As said we'd like to go to HNL again but a QF award and paying $750 + points is simply ridiculous.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Its called gouging, its wrong.
In my case I have a lot of QF points and have had over decades, usually we do a Y or J to HKG and go from there with other OW airlines to places afar in J on mostly CX to beat this blatant charging that most other major airlines like AA and CX do not impose. I'm getting on in years so changing alliances not going to happen.

As said we'd like to go to HNL again but a QF award and paying $750 + points is simply ridiculous.

never too late to change alliances!!

if you rely on credit card points, a card which can credit to SQ works well... easy award availability, low redemption levels (compared to QF), but similar co-payments. Why fly business via QFFF when you can go first on SQ?

 

[JohnK]

if you rely on credit card points, a card which can credit to SQ works well... easy award availability, low redemption levels (compared to QF), but similar co-payments. Why fly business via QFFF when you can go first on SQ?

Co-payments on SQ are ridiculously higher than QF. But if you have points coming out of your ears a few hundred dollars shouldn't be an issue.

 

[serfty]

Looking back, I see a U class MEL-xBNE-LAX-xBNE-MEL redemption I did earlier this year had +++ of AUD906 (to go with the 192K points).

 

[mannej]

Its called gouging, its wrong.
In my case I have a lot of QF points and have had over decades, usually we do a Y or J to HKG and go from there with other OW airlines to places afar in J on mostly CX to beat this blatant charging that most other major airlines like AA and CX do not impose. I'm getting on in years so changing alliances not going to happen.

As said we'd like to go to HNL again but a QF award and paying $750 + points is simply ridiculous.

Just to clarify it's $375 + 70k in Y for the SYD-HNL-SYD award you are referring to.

 

[Limewood]

Just to clarify it's $375 + 70k in Y for the SYD-HNL-SYD award you are referring to.

it is Y and as you say for each pax.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

As always YMMV, however using points for award tickets in whY may not be the best choice to/from HNL when paid fares on QF are as low as they are now.

Last time we paid $879.00 return pp ex BNE to HNL via SYD each way.

It was a sale fare so we knew we couldn't do a points upgrade on that fare but elected to not pay the extra $222.00 each for an upgradeable saver fare on the outbound overnight leg that would've enabled us to use 48K points to upgrade QF3.

The day flight is doable in whY IMHO as a couple when you can allocate the two seats on the side on the A330.

 

[Quickstatus]

Qantas fine/tax:

$864.80 for a U reward return SYD-SFO// SFO-SYD in Feb 2017

$490.57 for a u reward SYD-MEL-LAX one way in Dec 2017

 

[fairbasa]

It was a sale fare so we knew we couldn't do a points upgrade on that fare but elected to not pay the extra $222.00 each for an upgradeable saver fare on the outbound overnight leg that would've enabled us to enter the ever harder-to-win lottery to have a chance at being able to use 48K points to upgrade QF3.

This is probably more accurate. Wise move on your half I believe!

I think there's very few good choices these days in how to burn points. Y is ridiculous no matter where you go, J is 'ok' value on a regular return trip. I think it's only great value as part of a J or F OWA. No doubt these rates will be enhanced in the near future.