Qantas Award Charges Outrageous

[TheInsider]

Are there any guides on how to minimise fuel charges when redeeming QFF points ?

Not really, unless you find an airline that doesn't charge it.

 

[JohnK]

The surcharges charged by QF are not only for fuel, you have to add in the airport taxes etc.

CX doesn't charges airport taxes on awards?

I guess I'm not going to get an answer on why QF is charging more than what CX charges on this route.

 

[mitti]

We are doing HKG/JFK/HKG in J x 2 CX a 16 hour flight fees are a mere total of $197 - Qantas SYD/LAX/SYD in J for two $1800!, its dam wrong and should be addressed.

Similarly doing an F award trip strategically departing from HKG - doing HKG-DXB-MXP//LHR-DXB-BNE in EK F for a grand total sum of about $600 for 2 people.

Leaving from Aus the taxes would have been at least 3x the amount, the agent who processed it for me on the phone couldn't believe how low the amount to be paid at the end of it was. Apparently QF tend to tax the EK flights as much or more than their own.

 

[CaptJCool]

The vagaries of the 'free market' when fettered with Government legislation.

Because we can - it's called price points.

And since we are a happy high wage economy, it is pitched higher and higher (noting at least 4-5 price points in fully paid fares) so this behaviour of QF IS ABOUT maximise profit. After all, if you've accumulated that many points, you must be able to afford the higher surcharge. I doubt our Govt will interfere in these pricing decisions.

The positive part is this forum provides previously unheard of options to minimise spending on these surcharges and fares.

 

[jetpack]

Can anyone familiar with the Krisflyer program comment on whether seat availability has reduced following SQ's decision to remove fuel surcharges?

I am thinking that if QF removed fuel surcharges then award flights will become more attractive, even in economy, resulting in even less availability. The complaints will then shift from outrageous charges to no seat availability.

 

[cove]

Krisflyer sear availability has reduced a bit. Still ok.

 

[sjk]

Can anyone familiar with the Krisflyer program comment on whether seat availability has reduced following SQ's decision to remove fuel surcharges?

Don't forget that it wasn't a freebie, points actually went up substantially.

Unlike some, I don't have the capacity to generate points at will. So I fly a little less than before.

I have six Japan-Australia oneways booked in F over the next year, which cost me a total of 630,000 points. That would have bought me 7.8 oneways before, with the extra cash not a critical factor in my case.

Not sure how realistic it is to hope for QFF to reduce the copay without also hiking points.

 

[cove]

Yes it affected the other part of my family and he is scratching to rake in Miles pretty much for every booking. Cash wasn’t his problem.

 

[Limewood]

The vagaries of the 'free market' when fettered with Government legislation.

so this behaviour of QF IS ABOUT maximise profit. After all, if you've accumulated that many points, you must be able to afford the higher surcharge.

The positive part is this forum provides previously unheard of options to minimise spending on these surcharges and fares.

Maximising profit to the detriment of FF by whacking us with high award fees. And yes there are options as I continually say - depart from ASIA like HKG as we have been doing for years to avoid these ridiculous award fees. Of course finding OneWorld flights in J/F out of the likes of HKG long haul direct to so many USA and European cities is a big plus and are usually a breeze to find, and award fees a pittance on the likes of CX.

 

[rock86]

Maximising profit to the detriment of FF by whacking us with high award fees. And yes there are options as I continually say - depart from ASIA like HKG as we have been doing for years to avoid these ridiculous award fees. Of course finding OneWorld flights in J/F out of the likes of HKG long haul direct to so many USA and European cities is a big plus and are usually a breeze to find, and award fees a pittance on the likes of CX.

Qantas Frequent Flyer is not owned by the members, it is a company that is a profitable part of the Qantas Group owned by shareholders - and the owners want the maximum profit from charges that are palatable by the members.

Now people might whinge and whine about the fee's (as is the Australian way), but obviously they are still palatable to members as they continue to accrue and utilise QFF - and it continues to deliver excellent returns for the Qantas Group and its shareholders (which is the main goal).

 

[Mattg]

Now people might whinge and whine about the fee's (as is the Australian way), but obviously they are still palatable to members as they continue to accrue and utilise QFF - and it continues to deliver excellent returns for the Qantas Group and its shareholders (which is the main goal).

It could be argued that many Qantas Frequent Flyer members continue to accrue Qantas points because they are not aware just how high these charges are. Qantas doesn't exactly make it easy to find out this information.

 

[rock86]

It could be argued that many Qantas Frequent Flyer members continue to accrue Qantas points because they are not aware just how high these charges are. Qantas doesn't exactly make it easy to find out this information.

Happy for there to be more transparency on the fee's and for them to have to publish them more openly on their website.

But the point still stands that Qantas Loyalty is not owned by the members and is a business owned ultimately for shareholders & to maximise profit sometimes to the detriment of its members (as long as the financial benefit out ways the potential 'outrage').

 

[Limewood]

I have many friends who are members and can categorically say "they are not palatable" as they are, half of what they are currently would be. We the flying public do not give a hoot who owns the FF program we want value award fees like on AS, AA and CX for instance.

 

[rock86]

I have many friends who are members and can categorically say "they are not palatable" as they are, half of what they are currently would be. We the flying public do not give a hoot who owns the FF program we want value award fees like on AS, AA and CX for instance.

Don't use the program then. But continuing to accrue and utilise the program accepts the fees as being palatable for their intended purposes (award redemptions) - whinging doesn't change that, only real action does.

 

[Limewood]

Oh no I use it to my advantage fly out of ASIA!!, just booked 2 x J on CX HKG/USA return fees $197.

 

[rock86]

Oh no I use it to my advantage fly out of ASIA!!, just booked 2 x J on CX HKG/USA return fees $197.

Same here - I'll be booking AUS to HKG, then HKG-USA-AUS all in premium cabins. The one-way from AUS-HKG will be pretty much the same surcharge as per the few legs between HKG-USA-AUS, but coming to around $360 p/p - I am more then happy with that!!

 

[JohnK]

Now people might whinge and whine about the fee's (as is the Australian way), but obviously they are still palatable to members as they continue to accrue and utilise QFF - and it continues to deliver excellent returns for the Qantas Group and its shareholders (which is the main goal).

Some continue to accrue QFF points because they have status and do a lot of domestic flying?

I stopped going out of my way accruing QFF points a few years ago but still have a healthy points balance waiting to book Oneworld awards for family when time permits.

 

[Limewood]

Ive lost count of how many millions of QFF points I've used over decades, and all those years ago realised departing out of HKG made a lot of sense, always stay one or two nights and have a few expat mates who live there too.

 

[davidj]

I guess I'm not going to get an answer on why QF is charging more than what CX charges on this route.

Because people will pay. CPA could be slow and will eventually come around, like most carriers.

 

[nickfromeastryde]

It could be argued that many Qantas Frequent Flyer members continue to accrue Qantas points because they are not aware just how high these charges are. Qantas doesn't exactly make it easy to find out this information.

Does that include contributors to this forum???

Pound for pound, we probably chase points harder and redeem more award flights than the general population so clearly we must as a group see value in the scheme