Qantas charging random taxes and fees

[Ktan89]

I did a dummy OWA redemption yesterday to see what the tax difference will be if I make changes to my booked OWA.

Funny how you can select the exact same flights, in the same cabin class, and have two totally different amounts within a day.
Yesterday it was quoted $1,305SGD (i wrote it down) and today it jumped to $1,822.90SGD - screenshot below.
I know fuel can got up and down and exchange rates but this is a BIG difference. could this be a system error or something?

Also, my original booking cost $1,197SGD
the flight I'm changing is Vancouver to Singapore: instead of flying via HKG with CX I would like to go via NRT with JL.
I've read JL have cheaper taxes too so why is this going up?

 

[opusman]

Which charges went up?

 

[Ktan89]

Which charges went up?

Unfortunately I don't know. I didn't take a screenshot of yesterdays breakdown, just wrote down the total.

I just did a calculation on taxes through ITA and this is what I got:
SIN-CPH $481
HEL-JFK $300.15
JFK-NRT-TPE $139.19
MNL-NRT-YVR $136.34
YVR-NRT $144.37
NRT-SIN $105.12

Total Tax: $1,306.17

I added everything but fare cost to calculate the taxes and other charges. example:

 

[Ktan89]

Just checked my original booking flying YVR - SIN VIA HKG with CX and it was actually $1200


this is retarded..

 

[Ktan89]

Just checked my original booking flying YVR - SIN VIA HKG with CX and it was actually $1200
View attachment 202561

this is retarded..

just did a dummy booking on my original PNR (different dates) and got the below total charge. Something increased.



hmmm.. unless i am missing something, instead of reducing carrier charges per the Qantas Sepetember award overhaul thepoints AND prices went up. Well done.

Reminder: Qantas pricing changes come into effect next week

This guide summarises all the changes made to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, which represents the largest overhaul of the program in 32 years.

www.pointhacks.com.au

 

[madrooster]

just did a dummy booking on my original PNR (different dates) and got the below total charge. Something increased.

View attachment 202572

hmmm.. unless i am missing something, instead of reducing carrier charges per the Qantas Sepetember award overhaul thepoints AND prices went up. Well done.
View attachment 202574

Reminder: Qantas pricing changes come into effect next week

This guide summarises all the changes made to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, which represents the largest overhaul of the program in 32 years.

www.pointhacks.com.au

QF don't dictate what other carriers charge and by law, they can't either. They reduced their own fuel fines but what another carrier chooses to charge, is what is passed on by QF.

For your ticket total to be 1197 SGD, you clearly have a lot more segments in the ticket rather than just SIN-HKG-YVR and back. What else is in your booking? You haven't posted your full story.

 

[StochasticFlyer]

My guess would be via HK routes have lower taxes.

 

[Ktan89]

Original Ticket already issued:
SIN - doh - CPH (QR)
HEL-JFK (AY)
JFK-hnd-nrt-TPE (JL)
MNL-NRT (JL)
NRT-YVR (JL)
YVR-hkg-SIN (CX)

Total: $1,197.00SGD

Dummy booking completed today based on the above with same flight numbers
SIN - doh - CPH (QR)
HEL-JFK (AY)
JFK-hnd-nrt-TPE (JL)
MNL-NRT (JL)
NRT-YVR (JL)
YVR-hkg-SIN (CX)

Total: $1,389.80


The change i want to make.:
SIN - doh - CPH (QR)
HEL-JFK (AY)
JFK-hnd-nrt-TPE (JL)
MNL-nrt-YVR (JL)
YVR-NRT (JL)
NRT-SIN (JL)

Total Showing $1,519.90 now.

 

[odysseus]

You're actually making 3 substantial changes, and the change at current pricing is only $130 (1519-1389).

You want to change from:
MNL-NRT (JL)
NRT-YVR (JL)
YVR-hkg-SIN (CX)

to

MNL-nrt-YVR (JL)
YVR-NRT (JL)
NRT-SIN (JL)

Given you are both changing carrier, and also the origin/destination of each of those flights it's quite plausible for a $130 increase with all those changes.

As it's a new year, that's also the likely cause of increase from 1197 to 1389 from your original booking (seemingly booked mid last year) and current pricing. These charges periodically increase and it's not uncommon for that to be done around the end of the calendar year.

 

[Ktan89]

You're actually making 3 substantial changes, and the change at current pricing is only $130 (1519-1389).

You want to change from:
MNL-NRT (JL)
NRT-YVR (JL)
YVR-hkg-SIN (CX)

to

MNL-nrt-YVR (JL)
YVR-NRT (JL)
NRT-SIN (JL)

Given you are both changing carrier, and also the origin/destination of each of those flights it's quite plausible for a $130 increase with all those changes.

You are completely right and $130 increase is plausible due to the changes. I will be happy to accept this charge in an instance.

As it's a new year, that's also the likely cause of increase from 1197 to 1389 from your original booking (seemingly booked mid last year) and current pricing. These charges periodically increase and it's not uncommon for that to be done around the end of the calendar year.

This also makes sense, after reading JL fuel charges and increases here:

Japan Airlines to increase fuel surcharges on international flights – Business Traveller

Japan Airlines will increase its fuel surcharge on international tickets purchased between August 1 and September 30 from Japan

www.businesstraveller.com

Fuel Surcharge For travel outside Japan(International Fares) - JAL

But i still find it strange because my search this morning came in at $1,822.90SGD! (now at $1519.90SGD)

I did a tax calculation with ITA earlier and now with Qantas directly by selecting the individual flights and adding up the total
Here are the figures.

Is there a new charge Qantas is charging us separately to make a OWA booking now that we do not know about??

Wonder if anyone else is experiencing this.. make a dummy booking and compare pricing.

 

[Ktan89]

Update: Got everything sorted. After changing the flights the total tax is: $1,243.10 which i am happy with.

I called Qantas and the CSA quoted my change request at $1,333.80 (system generated). But after I request the breakdown of those taxes, she put me on hold, talked to a senior member, did some calculations and said they will refund me $90.70 due to the difference of the changed sectors (last two flights).

Here is the breakdown she gave me:


There's still a difference between $1,243.10 and $1,216 but she said she can't do anything for the flights already booked since they were booked months ago which made sense.

Not going to complain because this is much better than the $1,520 - $1,800 quoted.

 

[RichardMEL]

Just as a side observation you have a lot of foreign currencies involved with sometimes wildly fluctuating forex rates. I've noticed AUD-SGD for example has shifted a bit recently, let alone other currencies to/from SGD, which can also account for some changes in taxes quoted simply due to forex movements let alone anything else.

 

[Ktan89]

I should say all rates above is in SGD.