Qantas Award Charges Outrageous

[redwoodw]

SYD-HKG
QF ~A$188
CX ~A$118

And the extra $70 is in the "airline surcharge"

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Another benefit of flying CX is they not only through check to themselves on separate pnrs but they will to other OW airlines after they had a rethink when the rules changed 01 Jun 2016.

Handu if you have a mixture of commercial and award tickets.

 

[Croupier]

I was just quoted over $250 AUD in fees taxes not including telephone booking fee waived for an economy reward CMB-HKG on CX??

That doesn't sound right to me, I would prefer to spend $550 USD on AS miles and book the same flight in J!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I was just quoted over $250 AUD in fees taxes not including telephone booking fee waived for an economy reward CMB-HKG on CX??

That doesn't sound right to me, I would prefer to spend $550 USD on AS miles and book the same flight in J!

Wouldn't you be able to buy a commercial fare for that?

 

[Croupier]

Wouldn't you be able to buy a commercial fare for that?

There is a $328 AUD fate on UL direct in Y but unfortunately the times don’t suit my connection in HKG (
Cheaper AirAsia option but blows a 5hr journey out to over 10hrs.

 

[Croupier]

I ended up booking the same CX flight for $380, I value the 28000 points greater than $130.

 

[SOPOOR]

Just Read the article posted today
Many years ago When I knew nothing about the program I redeems economy melb to Bali
I think I paid like $300 in taxes plus 70k points.
At the time I knew someone who bought the same ticket on sale for like $360

I also used once did j melb to France and paid like $1100 plus 290k points

I haven't redeemed since then but I didn't know the option to convert to aa miles and use less points and less taxes
I will now consider that

I find devaluing slightly a part of life similar to inflation but the changes Qantas makes and on top unreasonable fuel surcharges making the points virtually worthless as disgusting conduct

Maybe people could post their best qff point a usage strategies here.

For me. Rtw in j or f with multiple stops is the answer even though it's high taxes

 

[christine@81]

I naively thought that the air fare was what got us from A to B. I hadn't realised that the mis-named carrier charges were also added. And the CEO just keeps on being paid more and more money while treating loyal customers with disdain.

 

[burmans]

22 pages of whinging!

Look I agree that QF points aren't worth that much, if it were for the fact that they get handed out like confetti I wouldn't collect them. But if you don't like it, rather than whinging why don't you do something about it. There are ways and means of getting points in alternate rewards programs which don't have the massive YQ (Singapore, Alaska, United, AA to name a few). Whinging never actually achieved ANYTHING, doesn't actually make anyone feel any better and in this case we all have alternatives. So why not use them instead of whinging?.

 

[bmam]

Yes it was prior to March so that explains it. Thought you might've booked the SQ award via another *A partner like Avianca Life Miles.

Not that you can always join Alaska Mileage Plan and purchase miles which can be used for QF, CX plus several other airlines and the taxes are low.

Alternatively use your QF points for CX tickets ex HKG to somewhere as the taxes are the same whether in Y, PE, J or F. Our HKG/YVR award on CX in J using Qantas points the taxes were only AUD58.00 pp.

I've seen references to using points from one airline on another airline but how do you actually do this? If I go on the CX website for example, it will allow me to use whatever their FF scheme is but I can't see the ability to use QF FF. The QF website only seems to be open to bookings with partner airlines on very few segments.

Similarly there is a poster, perhaps not on this site, who is constantly advocating using AA as the carrier but again, how do I use QF points with them? Or am I completely missing the point here? Many thanks for any clarification.

 

[SOPOOR]

22 pages of whinging!

Look I agree that QF points aren't worth that much, if it were for the fact that they get handed out like confetti I wouldn't collect them. But if you don't like it, rather than whinging why don't you do something about it. There are ways and means of getting points in alternate rewards programs which don't have the massive YQ (Singapore, Alaska, United, AA to name a few). Whinging never actually achieved ANYTHING, doesn't actually make anyone feel any better and in this case we all have alternatives. So why not use them instead of whinging?.

I havnet read the 22 pages, as I havent used qff points for years,
but yes, lets post up a few ways we can get the most value!!!

ive posted up mine, and im not an expert

its a daunting world out there with so many options that can be used with QFF points

 

[MikeG]

Hi Guys, I'm wondering if you can help me. I'm planning to book four (4) round the world business class flight bookings with QFF Points and wonder if anyone has any clue how much in "Qantas Tax" this would accrue? Are we talking thousands??? Is there a calculator somewhere?

Shouldn't this be covered under the ACCC inclusive pricing laws, to have advertised points prices including all taxes?

M

 

[mannej]

I've seen references to using points from one airline on another airline but how do you actually do this? If I go on the CX website for example, it will allow me to use whatever their FF scheme is but I can't see the ability to use QF FF. The QF website only seems to be open to bookings with partner airlines on very few segments.

Similarly there is a poster, perhaps not on this site, who is constantly advocating using AA as the carrier but again, how do I use QF points with them? Or am I completely missing the point here? Many thanks for any clarification.

If you are looking to use QFF points to fly on CX (or any other partner airline), you have to book the flight through QF. The confusing thing is not all flight appear online, so you have to do some digging about before contacting QFF over the phone to book

 

[SOPOOR]

If you are looking to use QFF points to fly on CX (or any other partner airline), you have to book the flight through QF. The confusing thing is not all flight appear online, so you have to do some digging about before contacting QFF over the phone to book

so what is a person supposed to do, needs to book via QFF but cant see availaiblity

BA site shows most if not all flights of their partners

 

[kcelik]

TAX TAX TAX, we kind of have to live with it. But this said one of the above posts mentions the fact that the best use of points is to use them for cabin upgrades.
Well I can honestly say that would be true if in reality there was enough seats to upgrade too.
In the last 3 years I have tried on almost all international flights to get an upgrade using points, first into Business class then drop into Prem. ECO. if the other is not avail.

I can count on my two hands how many times the upgrade got approved versus the 100's of odd flights I have taken.
The approval ration for me is maybe one in 11 flights.( and this is my best guess, i think its worse)

Now I know you clever folks will say well maybe you don't have enough status.
I can clearly state that I am a Lifetime Gold and have been for some time. I have been Platinum for well over 15Y give or take a few drops.
I managed to get double platinum a few times and I am sitting on almost 20000 lifetime Status archived.
Status is not the issue.

What is the volume of seats allocated to upgrades. Versus paying customers for the same seat.

Its a Money grab. Tax on fuel or lack of upgrade seats to force for paying customers.

The cabin upfront are always full and to me the FF points have become a devalued currency.

When all is said and done maybe somebody at Qantas can look into this and provide some valuable solid feedback to folks that have shown considerable loyalty to them and provide some answers.
I am certain I am not the only LEMMING saying this. There are others.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I've seen references to using points from one airline on another airline but how do you actually do this? If I go on the CX website for example, it will allow me to use whatever their FF scheme is but I can't see the ability to use QF FF. The QF website only seems to be open to bookings with partner airlines on very few segments.

Similarly there is a poster, perhaps not on this site, who is constantly advocating using AA as the carrier but again, how do I use QF points with them? Or am I completely missing the point here? Many thanks for any clarification.

Book these flights via the Qantas web site.

 

[SOPOOR]

Book these flights via the Qantas web site.

But he can't see them on the Qantas site

 

[Dr Ralph]

But he can't see them on the Qantas site

Flights aren't necessarily available every day with CX for example. Its unreasonable to expect this. Try different dates. The advice I have provided is sound. It has worked numerous times for me.

 

[SOPOOR]

Flights aren't necessarily available every day with CX for example. Its unreasonable to expect this. Try different dates. The advice I have provided is sound. It has worked numerous times for me.

It's sound for your situation.
He is saying that flights available aren't showing up on Qantas website.

It's not unreasonable to expect available flights to actually show up unless they are reserved for status or the prime minister

 

[Dr Ralph]

It's sound for your situation.
He is saying that flights available aren't showing up on Qantas website.

Then as I have clearly indicated the OP should try different dates. The OP is not correct in indicating there is limited availability. Id suggest that the OP has not planned far enough ahead hence why all of the flights have been taken.